This is the sixth in a series of articles covering the Interdominion (ID) Trotters Championships conducted over the period 1948 – 2012. These articles will be presented on a track by track basis as opposed to a chronological order with the exception of the first (background and first championship) and last two articles (final championship and statistical analysis).
1980 HAROLD PARK – HANO DIRECT
The seventh Interdominions to be held at Harold Park but just the third featuring the Trotters took place in March 1980 with an all standing start programme for the trotters. Unbelievably, it was the first trotter’s event held at Harold Park since the $10,000 Trotters Cup which ran with seven starters in November 1976. Two heats were held on the first night with the Grand Final set down for the third night of the championships. Waipounamu, Hano Direct, Gin Gold and Stormy Morn represented NZ with all four making it into the Trotters Grand Final field. Each trotter received a $3,000 subsidy from NZ Trotting Conference and A$2,400 subsidy apiece from NSW Trotting Conference and Interdominion Trotting Council. Originally 37 trotters were nominated but only seventeen ended up accepting (11 Victoria, 4 NZ, 2 NSW).
Friday 14 March, 2700m : first and only round of heats
Heat One – HILTON BEAR, tr Vic Rothacker, dr Stuart Rothacker, T3:39.5/T2:10.8, Lt; Hano Direct (dr Doody Townley) 2nd; Courting Appeal (dr Ralph Ford) 3rd
The first of two Victorian trotters to take out an opening nights ID trotters heat was Hilton Bear who was an all the way leader. Hano Direct sat parked on Hilton Bear’s wheel finishing two and a half metres in arrears with Courting Appeal a neck back third.
Heat Two – HAMPDENS PRIDE, tr/dr Dick Lee, T3:41.4/T2:12.0, 10m; Stormy Morn (dr Trevor Thomas) 2nd; Gin Gold (dr Kevin Newman) 3rd
Hampdens Pride also scored an all the way victory in the second heat on opening night with New Zealanders Stormy Morn parked most of the way running him to a head and Gin Gold who broke in the running a further nine metres back third.
Friday 21 March, 1980 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 3090m, $30,000
HANO DIRECT (1974 Truant Hanover/Indirect, family of Cindy L U314), owners Mrs Audrey Townley, Fergie Girdler, trainer/driver Doody Townley, 10m, T4:09.4/T2:09.9, 10m, 3½m, 1¾m, 8/1 [T2:06.1US, $82,180]
Courting Appeal, tr/dr Ralph Ford, Lt, 2nd
Hampdens Pride, tr/dr Dick Lee, 10m, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Billboard, Splashdown, Waipounamu, Stormy Morn, Bold Apeta, Gin Gold, Hilton Bear
HanoDirect’s owners were Audrey Townley, wife of trainer/driver Doody Townley and Christchurch cash register salesman Fergie Girdler. Hano Direct’s victory was Tinwald, Mid Canterbury horseman’s Doody Townley’s fourth as a driver in ID Grand Finals –
- 1968 Trotters with Stylish Major
- Pacing finals with Robin Dundee who dead heated with Jay Ar in 1965 Dunedin final and Stella Frost promoted to first after disqualification of Juniors Image in 1971 Christchurch final
Hano Direct became sore two days before the Grand Final with swelling in the off fore fetlock which meant she was a chance to miss the race.
Townley’s training effort and clever drive guided Hano Direct (second favourite) home by ten metres from Victorians Courting Appeal and Hampdens Pride a further 3½ metres away third home. Hano Direct settled back early moving up to seventh at the bell as Stormy Morn (favourite) tackled Hampdens Pride for the lead in the middle stages. Townley moved Hano Direct up to the leaders in the back straight the final time before drawing clear of her rivals in the run home. Hano Direct was contesting her second ID Grand Final having broken and finished ten of twelve the previous year in No Response’s Addington triumph.
Hano Direct was a five year old mare by Adios stallion Truant Hanover (dam of El Cordobies, Truant Armagh; grand dam of Bee Bee Cee, Poplar Alm) from two time winning Goodland mare Indirect, bred by Fergie Girdler and South Canterbury horseman Clem Scott. Indirect left just the two foals of which Hano Direct was the first and only winner; the other Mirect left Our Prize, winner at Tweed Heads (2:02.7) and grand dam of Molto Buono (T2:10.7). A member of the US family of Cindy L U314, Hano Direct traces from imported mare Loretta Napoleon (imported by Sir John McKenzie in 1926), a family which includes trotters Franco Hunter, Acacia Ridge, Rosalie Bay and pacers David Garrison, Pride of Hilary, Victorys Phil.
Hano Direct had the one two year old start (1976/7) for a third in NZ Trotting Stakes – 2T. At three (1977/8), her sixteen starts yielded four victories at Greymouth, Winton, Methven and Addington with a third in NZ Trotting Derby. Recording her best season of wins at four with five wins coming from twenty six starts in 1978/9. Four of these wins were recorded at Addington (voted four year old Addington mare of year), the other in Forbury Park’s Dunedin Trotting Cup (T2:09.4 NZ best mile rate). Hano Direct was NZ four year old trotting mare of year.
No wins in NZ at five from twelve starts, she was placed on several occasions including seconds in Ordeal Cup, Canterbury Park Stewards FFA and third in Canterbury Park Trotting Cup (CPTC) to go with her Sydney ID deeds. Hano Direct’s five year old 1979/80 Australian season consisted of two starts at the Sydney ID’s for a win in the Grand Final and second placing in her heat bringing riches of $20,300, T2:09.9. Hano Direct was named NZ five year old and older trotting mare of year. Somewhat amazingly, Hano Direct had been balloted out of the 1979 Dominion Hcp despite her sterling four year old season at Addington.
As a six year old (1980/81) her solitary victory from seventeen NZ starts was at Hutt Park together with a second in NZ Trotting FFA and another third in CPTC Trotting Cup. Racing on five occasions at Moonee Valley for a win (Dullard Cup), a second (Chris Howe Trotters FFA), two thirds (heat and final of Australasian Trotters Championship won by No Response over Stormy Morn; fourth in other heat) and once at Cranbourne for a second in Trotters FFA, $11,700, T2:11.3. Seven NZ starts at seven brought no rewards before her export to North America.
Hano Direct’s career CV shows 79 NZ starts, ten wins fifteen seconds, eight thirds, $40,830, T2:09.4; AUS eight starts, two wins, three seconds, two thirds, $32,000, T2:09.9; overall Australasian stats of 87 : 12 – 18 – 10, $72,830, T2:09.4 and once in North America, she trotted T2:06.1US as a seven year old, career earnings including converted Australasian winnings of $82,180.
1994 HAROLD PARK – DIAMOND FIELD
A Kiwi clean up occurred at the 1994 Trotters Interdominions held together with the Pacers series in Sydney. They dominated throughout providing half the Grand Final field and winning three of the four heats held.
Friday 25 February, 2350mM : first round of heats
Heat One – LORD WHIZZ BANG, tr Peter Carson, dr Catherine Carson, T3:01.0/T2:04.0; Diamond Field (dr Tony Herlihy) 2nd; Telern Reb (dr Russell Thomson) 3rd
Ex Kiwi now NSW domiciled Lord Whizz Bang in winning the opening heat was the only non-Kiwi trotting winner at the ID carnival. Lord Whizz Bang was an all the way winner for Catherine Pitt (now Carson). Diamond Field circled the field from third last in the middle stages to sit parked outside Lord Whizz Bang for final lap. He went down by a little over a length with Victorian Telern Reb third after being close up throughout.
Heat Two – BRETON ABBE, tr Roy & Barry Purdon, dr Tony Herlihy, T2:58.2/T2:02.0; Idle Scott (dr Dave Gibbons) 2nd; Lilly The Pink (dr Carl Middleton) 3rd
Diamond Field’s stablemate Breton Abbe prevailed in the second heat on opening night thereby giving NZ based stallion Gee Whiz both heat winners. Kiwi trotters Idle Scott and Lilly The Pink finished in the minor placings rounding out a Kiwi trifecta.
Tuesday 1 March, 2700mM : second round of heats
Heat Three – FRAGGLE ROCK, tr/dr Carl Middleton, T3:30.8/T2:05.6; Diamond Field (dr Tony Herlihy) 2nd; Lenin (dr John Justice) 3rd
The 1991 Auckland ID Trotters champion and runner up in Melbourne in 1992 Fraggle Rock was appearing at his fifth ID Trotters championship. Following a first night seventh, he desperately needed points to make the final field. After leading for the entire journey, Fraggle Rock (12/1) managed to stave off Diamond Field (9/10) who trailed by a half neck with two lengths back to Victorian Lenin.
Heat Four – LILLY THE PINK, tr/dr Carl Middleton, T3:30.8/T2:05.6; Lord Whizz Bang (dr Catharine Carson) 2nd; Game Paul (dr Wayne Innes) 3rd
Completing a notable double for the evening Carl Middleton became the only owner/trainer/driver to ever win two Trotters heats on the same might and in addition his two trotters recorded identical times of T3:30.8/T2:05.6. His second success on the second night was with Lilly The Pink, the all American bred mare (Jazz Cosmos/Working Girl) purchased from National Bloodstock Corporation who had time trialled at Ashburton in 1:57.9 (January 1994), becoming the second quickest NZ trotter behind Thriller Dee’s T1:57.8TT (Alexandra Park, 1983). Ex Kiwi trotters Lord Whizz Bang and Game Paul filled the minor placings. Middleton had to make a decision over which of his two fine trotters he would drive in the Grand Finalsettling on Lilly The Pink handing the reins ofFraggle Rock to top driver Anthony Butt.
Friday 4 March, 1994 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 3090mM, $110,000
DIAMOND FIELD (1986 Yankee Jolter/Robyn Evander, family of Pottery Mountain N82), owner Southland Standardbred Number Two Syndicate, trainer Barry Purdon, driver Tony Herlihy MNZM, T3:56.0/T2:02.9, 3.5m, 2.5m, favourite [T1:59.3, $536,607]
Fraggle Rock, tr Carl Middleton, dr Anthony Butt, 2nd
Lilly The Pink, tr/dr Carl Middleton, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Telern Reb, Lord Whizz Bang, Lenin, Game Paul, Breton Abbe, Hope Reins Supreme, Idle Scott
Sent out 11/8 favourite after beginning well Diamond Field broke going down the back straight on the first circuit losing 50 metres. Catching the bunch with two laps to run, coming four wide round the home turn and registering a game win by a little over a length from Fraggle Rock and stablemate Lilly The Pink. Fraggle Rock was given a good trip by Anthony Butt being handy and in the one one for the last lap fighting on in good fashion to run second with Lilly The Pink who was left in front when Idle Scott broke down with 1300m to run, led before being run down in the straight finishing third. Telern Reb was best of the rest in fourth place.
The 1994 Trotters Grand Final was Fraggle Rock’s fifth final in successive years, a new ID Trotters record (winner and twice runner up) which Diamond Field was to equal with his fifth Grand Final in 1997 (fourth 1993, winner 1994, third 1995, sixth 1996 and 1997). Both these records were to be eclipsed when Pride Of Petite contested her sixth ID Grand Final at Auckland in 1999 (1993 last, 1995 second, winner in 1996 and 1997, fourth in 1998 and 1999).
Diamond Field was bred by Southlanders Nigel and Marianne Sim. The now seven year old gelding by American trotting stallion Yankee Jolter (grand dam of trotters Aramid, Clover Don, Dr Hook, Master Bomber, Midnight Invasion, Zuri) standing at stud for Southland Standardbreds Ltd owner Grant Sim was out of Great Evander mare Robyn Evander. Robyn Evander was the winner of eight races, T2:09.9, $23,310 including 1975 Rowe Cup and was a half-sister to 1967 Rowe Cup winner Mountain Pride, both trained by Takanini trainer Jim Smith. Robyn Evander was dam of seven foals with three winners including Diamond Field; Earl Evander (won seven reaching open class); Robyn Tudor purchased by Norwegian Captain Oddvar Anderson and a winner in Scandinavia of approximately NZ$40,000 and non-winner Tabella Robyn dam of multiple winners including Rob The Nest in NZ (Broodmare of Year – grand dam of Galleons Assassin [T1:55.2US, NZ Trotters Derby], King Of Strathfield [T1:56.8], Thedonsson [T1:54.4US, GN/NZ Trotters Derbies]; third dam of Wilmas Mate [T1:55.5, VIC Trotters Derby, Breeders Crown – 3T, Jewels Ruby – 4T] and Rowe Cup winner Temporale, T1:57.5, Lyell Creek Stakes, National Trot] and in Australia Galleons Son, Son Of Galleon, Pinevale Ellason (dam of Duchess Ella T1:57.2) and Pinevale Acer.
Throughout his one hundred and fifty start and thirty three win career, Diamond Field had a multitude of trainers and drivers. Those recording wins with him as trainers were Roy and Barry Purdon (12), Allan Beck (8), Mark Purdon (6), Neil Cavallaro (5), Patrick O’Reilly jnr (2) with successful drivers being Tony Herlihy MNZM (15), Allan Beck (7), Paul Cavallaro (4), Mark Purdon (3), Patrick O’Reilly (2), AL Chapman (1) and Kirk Larsen (1).
Diamond Field established a number of New Zealand records during his career, these being 2200 metre stand, Alexandra Park T2:48.8 (11 May 1996); 2700 metre stand, Alexandra Park T3:26.6 (04 May 1996); 2000 metre mobile, Addington T2:29.3 (18 March 1995), a record that stood for seventeen years until beaten by I Can Doosit’s T2:25.0 on NZ Cup Day 2012 (NZ Trotting FFA). Among his major wins were two Group Ones – Rowe Cup, ID Trotting Championship, four Group Two’s – City of Sails FFA Trot, New Zealand Trotting Free For All, Challenge Stakes, Thames Trotting Cup, six Group Threes – Cambridge Trotters Mile, New Zealand Trotting Championship, three ID heats, heat of Australasian Trotters Championship. Feature race wins included three FFA’s/Dean Johnson Memorial at Globe Derby, FFA at Moonee Valley, Ashburton Boxing Day trot, Montana Wines FFA (Cup Day) at Addington.
Significant placings were recorded in Group Ones – seconds in Dominion Handicap, Rowe Cup; third in Dullard Cup (twice); other Group race placings included seconds in four ID heats, Cambridge Trotters Flying Mile, New Zealand Trotting Championship, Cochran Trotters Cup, Ordeal Cup (feature race); thirds in New Zealand Trotting FFA (twice), ID heat, National Trot, Challenge Stakes, Chris Howe Trotters Cup, Canterbury Park Trotting Cup, Australasian Trotters Championship final.
Diamond Field’s career CV shows : NZ 122 starts for twenty four wins (eight Addington, seven Alexandra Park, first seven of eight victories in Southland), twenty two seconds, sixteen thirds, T1:59.3 (Cambridge Trotters Mile), $383,429; Australia : 28 starts, nine wins (four Moonee Valley/Globe Derby, one Harold Park), seven seconds, four thirds, T2:02.9, $153,178; grand total of 150 starts, thirty three wins, twenty nine seconds, twenty thirds, T1:59.3, $536,607.
Peter Craig
16 May 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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