This is the twenty first 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).
2000 MOONEE VALLEY – LYELL CREEK
This year’s Interdominions were unique and highly controversial in regards to their format. Rather than the normal heats and Grand Final concept, the championships featured two rounds of two heats plus the Dullard Cup and Australasian Trotters Championship as races in which points towards entry into the Grand Final counted. These latter races together with NZ’s Dominion Hcp, Rowe Cup and Victoria’s Millennium and Bill Collins Miles made up the inaugural trotters Australasian Grand Circuit.
European interest in the Interdominions was catered for by the entry of Euro Ringeat (France) and Storstadsbusen (Sweden), the latter ultimately not making the trip owing to injury. Euro Ringeat with a European Grand Circuit victory in Grosser Preis Von Bild (Germany) was the sole backmarker off 35m in standing start events. His presence was possible due to a near six figure sponsorship by the Victoria Harness Racing Club.
Saturday 15 January, 2540Mm, VL Dullard Cup
LYELL CREEK, tr Tim Butt, dr Anthony Butt, T3:10.4/T2:00.6; Euro Ringeat (dr Gavin Lang) 2nd; Buster Hanover (dr Tony Herlihy) 3rd
Lyell Creek drew badly at twelve (five on second row) in a twelve horse mobile field, moved around the field applying pressure by sitting parked outside Special Force, Special Force gave way on the final bend with Buster Hanover coming out of the one by one to oppose Lyell Creek, then galloping when challenging for the lead at 180m. Euro Ringeat made his appearance when sprinting powerfully from out of the pack although when asked for the supreme effort by Gavin Lang in an attempt to better Lyell Creek, when looking the likely winner, he broke two strides off the line. Euro Ringeat was a close and unlucky second but it was a top performance by Lyell Creek who was victorious for the thirteenth time in fifteen starts winning by a half head with 6½m to Buster Hanover third with Special Force a head back in fourth. Lyell Creek’s last half in 58.2, final quarter in 29.7 together with a neat two minute mile rate for the 2540m distance had proven the undoing of most of the field. Mountain Gold who had galloped away badly at the start, essentially losing all chance put up a colossal performance to finish seventh within nine metres of the winner.
Saturday 22 January, 2540m : first round of heats
Heat One – SUNDOWNER BAY, tr/dr Mike De Filippi, T3:21.1/T2:06.9, 10m; Sunny Action (dr Mark Purdon) 2nd; Homer Hawk (dr Rita Burnett) 3rd
The 6yo Sundon gelding Sundowner Bay off 10m prevailed by a neck from Sunny Action with Homer Hawk an eye catching third 8 metres away. Former NZ trotter (now in NSW) Tamra Nightingale who finished fifth was originally trained in NZ by Carl Middleton for the Lawson’s and leased by Brian Norman of Takahopa (Southland), won a race with her before her export to Australia. Sundowner Bay had earlier (15 January) won the BMM Trotters FFA on Dullard Cup night run over 2540mM in T3:14.8/T2:03.4/58.0/28.9 winning by 3½m over fellow Kiwi trotters Africa with 7.5m back to Miss Whiplash. Sunny Action returned to New Zealand after this heat not staying for the remainder of the carnival.
Heat Two – KAWARAU INVASION, tr Dave McGowan, dr Tony Herlihy, T3:19.9/T2:06.6, Lt; Miss Whiplash (dr Mark Purdon) 2nd; Africa (dr Colin De Filippi) 3rd
Kawarau Invasion held a five metre advantage over Miss Whiplash with Africa two metres further back with Victorian Lester Scot fourth. This was the faster of the two heats by a little over a second with a last half in 59.5 and quarter in 29.9. Kawarau Invasion began well and after being three wide in the middle stages was taken around to lead by Tony Herlihy, where the Armbro Invasion gelding remained to the finish.
Saturday 29 January, 3020m : second round of heats
Heat Three – HIGH RISER, tr/dr John Justice, T3:59.5/T2:07.6, Lt; Armbros Pride (dr Kerryn Manning) 2nd; Lacey Truscott (dr Chris Alford) 3rd
The five year old Golden Greek gelding High Riser took out the third and opening heat of the nights programme after a last half in 60.7 and final quarter in 30.8 by two metres over Armbros Pride with Lacey Truscott who was three wide early five metres back in third.
Heat Four – RIEGLE BOY, tr/dr Paul Railton, T3:59.2/T2:07.4, Lt; Lester Scot (dr Chris Lang) 2nd; Villa Glory (dr Max Wishart) 3rd
The six year old Riegle Lobell gelding Riegle Boy reared and broke badly at the start but still managed to get home with a margin of two metres to spare from Lester Scot with a head back to Vila Glory who had paced and broken while Noppy Kiosk after being three wide in the middle was fourth 2½ metres away. The marginally quicker heat had a slower last half in 62.2 and quarter in 31.6.
Australasian Trotters Championship, 3020m :
LYELL CREEK, tr Tim Butt, dr Anthony Butt, T3:56.5/T2:05.6, 10m; Sundons Way (dr Mark Purdon) 2nd; Africa (dr Ricky May)
Lyell Creek or Creek The Freak as he became known, was three wide in the middle stages before making his way around the field where no one was game enough to take him on. Cruising home and winning by seven metres from Sundons Way with Africa a head back and Mountain Gold completing the NZ first four after breaking at the start and being three wide in the middle stages. Six year old Lyell Creek had posted a 58.8 last half and 30.1 final quarter in the fourteenth of his sixteen starts and three Group Ones since the ID handicaps had been released – placed on 10m whereas if his Group One successes in Dominion Hcp, Australian Trotters Championship and Dullard Cup could have been factored in, he would likely have shared the back mark of 35m with Euro Ringeat (had also wo n two Group two’s in this period – National Trot, Challenge Stakes). ,
Leading into the Trotters Grand Final, Lyell Creek with 56 points and Sundons Way with 38 had accumulated most points in the “different” ID championship. Of the fourteen starts, eight were Kiwi bred, seven trained in NZ, six in Victoria plus Euro Ringeat. Chris and Sharon Lang provided two of the Victorian starters in National Interest and Lester Scot.
Saturday 5 February 2000 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 3020m, $500,000
LYELL CREEK (1993 Royden Glen/Kahlum gelding, family of Mavis Logan N145), owner Graham Bruton, tr Tim Butt, dr Anthony Butt, 10m, T3:56.3/T2:05.5, 6m, 2.5m, favourite [T1:52.2US, $2,653,428]
Africa, tr Mark Purdon, dr Ricky May, 2nd
Homer Hawk, tr Warren McDonald, dr Rita Burnett 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Armbros Pride, Sundons Way, Buster Hanover, Special Force, High Riser, Kawarau Invasion, Mountain Gold, National Interest, Riegle Boy, Euro Ringeat, Lester Scot
Consolation : 3020m, $50,000
VILLA GLORY, tr/dr Cory Van Ryn, T4:02.7/T2:09.3; Poets Corner (dr Gavin Lang) 2nd; Chiolas Dragon (dr Anne-Maree Conroy) 3rd
Although racing roughly Vila Glory managed a 4½ metre victory in the Trotters Consolation.
Lyell Creek arguably due to the timing of the release of ID handicaps was given an easier passage than he would have received if the Group One and Two events he had won in the intervening period were able to be considered. An easy winner off 10m, this was the finale of his complete dominance over his rivals throughout this ID Trotters carnival. Winning by six metres from Africa, completing a NZ quinella, with a further 2½m to Homer Hawk who led and didn’t hand up to Lyell Creek, a head to Armbros Pride with Sundons Way another head back in fifth place with prior year ID Trotting champions Buster Hanover (1998) and Special Force (1999) next in line. After being three wide early and in the middle stages. Lyell Creek arrogantly dealt with his rivals running his last half in 60.1 and final quarter in 30.6. Taking his career record to fifteen wins from seventeen starts, the first of which was only thirteen months previously in his second start at Nelson. A simply awesome performance by Creek The Freak.
A week later on Pacers Grand Final night (12 February), Lyell Creek recorded his fourth successive win at Moonee Valley taking out the Millennium Mile in T1:58.0/58.0/29.0, his first mile rate in under two minutes. A neck victory over Sundons Way came after sitting three wide in the open and being headed briefly by Sundons Way before digging deep and fighting back to gain the ascendency. Buster Hanover finished third 7½ metres away. This victory was the win of the whole Interdominion carnival achieved by sitting parked three wide all the way plus a time of T1:58.0 for the mile. It also confirmed Lyell Creek as the horse of the Melbourne ID carnival. Lyell Creek’s 1999/2000 season in total consisted of fourteen starts for fourteen victories, ten in NZ and four in Australia. From twenty starts to date, he had won eighteen of them; 14 wins, $206,325, T2:01.9 (2700m) NZ; 4 wins from 4 starts, $452,000, T1:58.0AUS; total of 18 wins, $658,325, T1:58.0.
Pacing bred being by one of NZ’s leading pacers of the mid 1980’s in Roydon Glen out of the Noodlum (star juvenile of the 1970’s) mare Kahlum, Lyell Creeks breeder was Peter (PH) Smith. Lyell Creek is from the NZ family of Mavis Logan (N145), one of the lesser known families. In recent years it has provided Arboe (T1:55.5), Sunset Tour (T1:55.7), Kincaslough, Kahdon, Marcoola(T1:56.3), Le Reveur, Amaretto Sun, Shezoneoftheboyz, King Charlie, Lough Neagh, Lough Beg, Le Duc, By The Way, Del Miller, Black Miller all in the trotting ranks. Harnetts Creek, Cullens Creek, Stoney Creek, Swan Creek, All Most, Lord Vance in the pacing ranks. The majority of the families’ better progeny descend from the mare Kahu (grand dam of 2016 Broodmare of excellence Kahu Del).
Throughout his career, Lyell Creek had a number of owners although Graham Bruton was the major constant in this regard. Purchased by Bruton after his first win in a $2,000 novice trot at Nelson on 4 January 1999, Lyell Creek raced solely in Bruton’s ownership until September 2000 when he was joined by Anthony Butt as a part owner (1/10 shareholder). This ownership arrangement continued until March 2001 when the Creek Syndicate (25% share) joined the other two partners. Following Lyell Creek’s return from the Northern Hemisphere in April 2004, Karen Butt took over Anthony’s share in Lyell Creek joining with Graeme Bruton and the Creek Syndicate in his ownership. Graeme Bruton was rather infamous with his temporary disappearing act when in debt to the NZ TAB (Totalisator Agency Board), all of which added to the Lyell Creek story down under.
Apart from his first two starts when trained initially by his owner/breeder Peter Smith (Kaikoura, November 1997) and at his second start and first win by Mark Smith (January 1999), all of Lyell’s remaining Australasian starts he was trained by Tim Butt. In the driving stakes, Anthony Butt drove him in every Australasian start (51 of 54) except when Andrew McPherson drove him to win a C1 & faster Junior Drivers trot at Addington, Gene Robb had the drive in a NZ Junior Drivers C/S trot at Addington (pulled up) and Mark Jones drove him into third in the Ordeal Cup at Addington.
Well-travelled, Lyell Creek raced in seven different countries over a period of eight seasons (1998 – 2005). His 113 starts resulted in a 50% win to start ratio and dependent on how you interpret exchange rates, he was essentially the first standardbred horse in Australasia to achieve $3m in earnings. His full career stats appear below :
Best mile rates of :
USA T1:52.2US recorded at Meadowlands in 2002 (second fastest Kiwi trotter – Mighty Dragon T1:52.0US, 2003 Meadowlands)
Canada T1:53.2
New Zealand T1:55.6 at Ashburton (23 October 2000)
Sweden T1:56.3
Australia T1:58 at Moonee Valley (12 February 2000)
No times for Denmark or Norway.
Taking a look at Lyell Creeks significant race wins shows :
Group 1 victories (15) :
Addington – Dominion Hcp (3), NZ Trotting FFA; Alexandra Park – National Trot, Rowe Cup (3); Moonee Valley – ID Trotting Final, Dullard Cup (2), Australasian Trotting C/S final (2), Bill Collins Mile, VIC Millennium Mile
Group 2 victories (10) :
Addington – Canterbury Park Trotting Cup; Alexandra Park – NZ Challenge Stakes (2), National Trot (upgraded following year to Group 1), City of Sails FFA (2); Cambridge : Trotters Flying Mile (2); Ashburton : Trotters Mile; Meadowlands, USA – Su Mac Lad
Group 3 victories (1) :
Moonee Valley – Australasian Trotting C/S heat
Other notable victories :
Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup (2), Ordeal Cup, Cambridge Flying Stakes, FFA at Moonee Valley
Lyell Creek’s overall record at Addington was 16 starts for 10 wins (4 Group 1, 1 at Group 2), 1 second and two thirds. Between 14 February 1999 (C0/C2 trot off 20m) at Trentham (grass) and 23 October 2000 in the Ashburton Trotters Mile where he established his best NZ mile rate of T1:55.6, Lyell Creek won 20 races in succession (including 4 wins in Australia), a record for a NZ trotter. During the 2000/1 season he won on eleven occasions from twelve starts (relegated 2nd to 3rd NZ Trotting FFA), T1:55.6 and T4:06.0 for two miles, seven wins in succession which carried on as part of his twenty wins sequence.
Achieving a number of multiple major race wins especially in our two feature Group Ones, Dominion Hcp and Rowe Cup – two of each before he ventured to the Northern Hemisphere and one each on his return as a 10/11yo. Lyell Creek won 34 of his 37 Australasian starts before his Northern Hemisphere campaign. Defeated at his first start finishing fifth (year before his second start), pulled up at his fourth start and finishing third in the 2000 NZ Trotting FFA. Racing competitively against the top free for all trotters in North America at venues such as Meadowlands (winner of Su Mac Lad) and second in the Titan Cup.
Awards won by Lyell Creek included : ANZ Grand Circuit Trotting Champion (three times); NZ Trotter of Year (twice); NZ Aged (5yo+) H&G Trotter of Year (three times); NZ Harness Horse of Year; Australian Trotter of Year (twice); NZ and Australian stake earning Trotter of Year (twice); Inducted into NZ Trotting Hall of Fame and Addington Harness Hall of Fame; has a lounge named after him at Alexandra Park – Lyell Creek Lounge.
Lyell Creek was a champion racehorse, the greatest trotter seen to date on the tracks of Australasia. Lyell Creek deservedly earnt his nickname of “Creek the Freak”.
2004 MOONEE VALLEY – SUMTHINGABOUTMAORI
New Zealand’s representation was a little sparse this year with only last year’s Addington runner up Castletons Mission, Lanson and Martina H flying the flag.
Friday 13 February, 2570m : first round of heats
Heat One – ANDANDON, tr/dr Andy Gath, driver Kerryn Manning, T3:19.2/T2:04.8, Lt; Mands Ralph (dr Grant Campbell) 2nd; Keystone Johnny (dr Geoff Webster) 3rd
Andandon led for the majority of the journey to get home a 6.2m winner form Mands Ralph who trailed him for the final lap. Keystone Johnny broke at the start but ran on from four back on the rails at the bell lap for third a further five metres away with Illawong Ian running fourth. Andandon had trotted his last 800m in 59.1 with the last 400m in 30 seconds. Castletons Mission settled last before joining the three wide train from 1200m but only plugged away in the straight finishing third last.
Heat Two – Martina H, tr/dr Derek Balle, T3:20.3/T2:05.4, Lt; Rainbow Maid (dr John Caldow) 2nd; Opal Invasion (dr Brian Gath) 3rd
Martina H’s win was impressive, having sat outside the leader throughout and just prevailing from Rainbow Maid by a half head. Opal Invasion had led before surrendering the lead to Rainbow Maid and trailing the leader thereafter before using the sprint lane finishing 1.8m away from the first two home. SumthingaboutMaori circled the field from her 10m handicap obtaining the one one trail at the 600m, running out her final 50m quite well to end up fourth. Martina H’s preparation had been aided by working on the beach at Geelong.
Saturday 21 February, 3050m : second round of heats
Heat Three – LANSON, tr Kevin Walker, dr Nicole Molander, T3:56.4/T2:04.8, Lt; Stoned At Midnight (dr Simone Walker) 2nd; Sophocles (dr Catherine Carson) 3rd
Lanson finished second last in his opening heat after suffering interference from Gavin Lang’s charge Illawong Ian in the early stages after which he galloped beating one home. Nine year old Lanson was just Nicole Thorn’s (Molander) second ever drive at Moonee Valley for a Group Three victory. Capitalising on the fast pace set after an early duel between Rainbow Maid and Andandon who faded late for sixth, Lanson had come from well back in the field to be one out and three back a lap from home. Lanson’s winning margin was four metres, last 800m in 61.8 and 400m in 30.9. Stoned At Midnight who sat one out and four back at the bell used the sprint lane to great effect with a sustained finishing burst to just snare second from Sophocles who had been two further places back one out and six back in the running. Castletons Mission after receiving the run of the race disappointed in finishing ninth.
Heat Four – SUMTHINGABOUTMAORI, tr Brian Healy, dr Gavin Lang, T3:59.1/T2:05.8, 10m; Martina H (dr Derek Balle) 2nd; Our First Jewel (dr Daryl Douglas) 3rd
Sumthingaboutmaori confirmed her favouritism for the Grand Final with a convincing win in the final heat after being three wide in the middle before leading for the balance of the race to win by 5.3m, last 800m in 59.5 and final 400m in 29.9. Martina H also three wide in the middle stages before parking herself outside Sumthingaboutmaori to run second although she fading somewhat over the final 50m. Our First Jewel also three wide in the middle stages before taking the lead only to give way to Sumthingaboutmaori settling for the trail, finishing 3.3m in arrears of the frontrunners in front of fourth placed Opal Invasion.
Saturday 28 February 2004 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 3050m, $200,000
SUMTHINGABOUTMAORI (1998 Pine Chip/Maori Princess mare, family of Problem N25), owner/trainer Brian Healy, driver Gavin Lang, 10m, T3:58.6/T2:05.5, hd, 5.6m, favourite [T2:00.9, $461,499]
Martina H, tr/dr Derek Balle, Lt, 2nd
Sophocles, tr Peter Carson, dr Catherine Carson, Lt, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Lanson, Andandon, Sir Gondola, Keystone Johnny, Rainbow Maid, Stoned At Midnight, Our First Jewel, Mands Ralph, Frosty Vee Bee, Uncle Petrika, Opal Invasion
Finally a win for the family of Maori Miss!! Maori Miss herself missed placing in the 1966 final. Maoris Idol shooting for 25 straight was third in 1978 for Sumthingaboutmaori’s owner/trainer Bryan Healy, then driver of Maoris Idol (winner Derby Royale) and Maoris Glory finished fourth when favourite in 1992. Sumthingaboutmaori became the first Australian winner since True Roman sixteen years earlier in Melbourne (1988).
Sumthingaboutmaori was three wide through the middle stages of the race and then three wide without cover from the bell before just outlasting Martina H. Martina H was also three wide early before reaching the lead and then handing up to Andandon who after an early gallop made a mid-race move round to lead. Martina H was in the trail with a lap to run, sprinting up to reach Sumthingaboutmaori with 80m to run before dying on her run as Sumthingaboutmaori dug in to win by a head. Martina H had possibly worked harder than Sumthingaboutmaori but she failed to find the line the last little bit, Sophocles was one out and three back at the bell lap and three wide later to finish 5.6m from the big two. The lightly raced five year old NSW trotter was the surprise package of the series, although driver Catherine Carson was outed for three weeks for excessive use of the whip and fined $1,000 for interference on the home turn. The stewards also put fourth placed Nicole Thorn with Lanson out for two weeks. Andandon wound up in fifth place after a gritty effort.
Sumthingaboutmaori’s connections received invitations to the USA Breeders Crown and Nat Ray. Eligible for the Hambletonian Society’s Breeders Crown under the Foreign Winners Eligibility Clause identifying that the Winner of the Inter Dominion Trotters Championship and other international races can participate subject to the payment of the prescribed fees.
Bred by R Mc D Healy & Co Pty Ltd, Victoria using frozen semen from Pine Chip (millionaire, T1:51.0TT, multiple group one winner, successful sire) out of Entrepreneur mare Maori Princess (T2:04.5, $75,352, vis Sires Stakes, Holmfield and El Dorado trots at three, two/three year Trotter of Year, grand dam of Needabacardi) whom dam Maori Trump was featured in the Classic Mares series number ten (June 2017). The ID Trotters Grand Final quinella was a good example of the value of international frozen semen with both Sumthingaboutmaori and Martina H NZ products of its use. They have both produced foals (now yearlings – Maori Daunou for Sumthingaboutmaori and Indian Wells for Martina H) through impregnating one of their eggs and using surrogate mothers to raise their foals. Both mares were able to race for longer periods as a result of this.
Owned by her trainer Bryan Healy, Sumthingaboutmaori traces back to the family of Problem, N25, known for being a tremendously powerful family with much trotting depth spread over a long period of time. It includes trotters of the calibre of Maoris Idol, Vulcan, Noppy Kiosk, Viva La Fever, Blitzthemcalder, Tennotrump, Our Sunny Whiz, Spidergirl, Maori Time, Custodian, Maori Miss, Marnoo Hall, Maori Monarch, Kind Of Hush, Maoris Glory, Maori Demon, Maori Princess, Maoris Dream, Maoris Crown, Our First Jewel, Master Maori, Skye Rocket, Broke As Usual, Danny Bouchea, Aftanoondelite, Asdenro, Illawong Armstrong, Sunnys Little Whiz, Needabacardi, Kyvalley Kyrie and that’s just the Group One winners from the family in New Zealand and Australia.
Sumthingaboutmaori retired the winner of thirty one of her seventy five career starts spread over six seasons (two to seven), placed on sixteen occasions, T2:00.9, $461,499. Winning four of her eight starts at two, plus a second at her first start and two third placings, the only real miss at two was falling in the Redwood Classic. As a three year old, two wins from nine starts were recorded at Bendigo and Geelong along with two placings but with a lack of success in major features VIC Trotters Oaks and SA Trotters Derby.
Coming into her own as a four year old, Sumthingaboutmaori recorded eleven victories in seventeen starts. These included VIC Auld Lang Syne Trot (heat and final) plus Redwood Day FFA (Presidents Trot) but no success at elite to date. This was to change in her five year old season when her six victories from ten starts included Aust Trotting Grand Prix (her first Group One), SA Trotters Cup prior to ID Trotters heat and grand final as outlined above, the ID Grand Final was her final start for the season, leaving her the winner of twenty three races at the conclusion of her five year old career. She had also run second in the Dullard Cup.
At six, Sumthingaboutmaori had a further seven victories from sixteen Australian starts and was placed on three occasions from eight starts in NZ. Her victories included Scotch Notch Memorial, Knight Pistrol Trotters Cup, Aust Trotting Championship heat with placings in Freestone Trotters Cup, Trotters Grand Prix and fourth in Bill Collins Mile. In New Zealand she placed second and third in 2005 ID Trotters heats and ninth in Grand Final. Earlier in the season in NZ she started in the Ashburton Trotters Flying Mile and in three races over the NZ Cup carnival with a best placing of second to Lyell Creek in the NZ Trotting FFA.
In her final year racing, her one solitary victory from seven starts was the Freestone Trotting Cup at Moonee Valley while she concluded her racing with two below par performances in the ID Trotters heats at Ballarat/Moonee Valley in January/February 2006.
In the broodmare department, Sumthignaboutmaori had three foals by surrogate mothers prior to retirement and ten live foals since. Of these, just the three have raced, for two winners in Justanothermaori (thirteen wins, T2:00.9, $64,609) and Gus An Maori (seven wins, T2:00.9, $35,985, Bendigo Classic – 3T). Of her six fillies, four have left winners including Maori Daunou, dam of Maorisfavouriteson (T1:55.1, $193,058, VIC Platinum Trot), Mason Magic, dam of Abitofmagic (T1:59.6, $50,025), Windsongs Maori, dam of Agent Maori (T1:55.8, $95,86) and Wannabeamaori, dam of Four Walls (T1:57.7, $73,826, Holmfield – 3T, seconds in NSW Trotters Derby, VIC Trotters Oaks).
Peter Craig
25 September 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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