This is the eighteenth 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).
1978 MOONEE VALLEY – DERBY ROYALE
The first Trotters Interdominons in Melbourne came about with the shift from the old Melbourne Showgrounds track (host to Pacers only ID’s in 1950, 1959, 1964 and 1970) to the new 900m Moonee Valley track located inside the 1800m galloping track. The new track opened for racing on 30 October 1976 with all horses racing on it immediately improving their mile rates when compared to racing on the Showgrounds three furlong circuit.
Spartan Prince, Yadran and Waipounamu set out to uphold the Kiwi trotter’s mantle at the 1978 Melbourne Interdominions. This year’s Trotters Interdominion provided another example of a top trotter failing to win the Grand Final as will be seen.
Saturday 4 March, 2400m : first round of heats
Heat One – TOUCH MERCHANT, tr/dr Graeme Wilson, T3:10.0/T2:07.0, 10m; Bold Apepa (dr Guy Robinson) 2nd; Spartan Prince (Doody Townley) 3rd
The unfancied eleven year old Victorian Touch Merchant (20/1) became Australia’s highest trotting money earner ($114,777) with his thirty ninth win (137 starts) in the opening heat. He defeated pacemaker Bold Apepa (Victoria) by two metres with New Zealand rep Spartan Prince third after racing all the way in the death followed by a battling Derby Royale off 10m. Trainer/driver Graeme Wilson’s father Dave (Darky) owned the Canny Scot gelding with Mrs ED Wilson, Darky Wilson having trained him when second to Precocious in Sydney’s 1973 Trotters Grand Final. Darky Wilson had previously driven Avian Derby to win the 1952 Pacers Grand Final in Sydney.
Heat Two – MAORIS IDOL, tr Rick Healy, dr Bryan Healy, T3:12.3/T2:07.4, 25m; Waipounamu (dr Peter Jones) 2nd; Storm Raider (dr Noel Shinn) 3rd
Five year old Maoris Idol (Ike Frost/Maori Miss) was the first Australasian trotter to break the two minute mark in a race having done so at Moonee Valley in the $6,000 One Mile FFA on Saturday 19 November 1977 winning by 30 metres in a time of T1:59.3 (Nigel Craig had gone under two minutes in NZ but his T1:58.8 was in a time trial in February 1977). Court Jester held the previous Australian race record at T2:00.7 while Nigel Craig had gone T2:00.3 in NZ. Driven by Bryan Healey, son of owner/trainer Rick Healey) and 1/7 favourite, Maoris idol came off his 25m handicap after being checked early by the breaking Gay David to win his heat by 10m from the New Zealander Waipounamu and Victorians Storm Raider and Silken. His time was two seconds slower than his track record and a couple of days after the heat Ric Healy lodged an application to scratch him from his second round heat on the grounds that veterinary opinion stated he was suffering the effects of hard racing. This application was rejected and as Maoris Idol’s condition was considered to have improved and failing to start in the second round of heats would have debarred him from starting in the Grand Final, Ric Healy therefore continued with his ID campaign.
Wednesday 8 March, 2900m : second round of heats
Heat Three – STORM RAIDER, tr/dr Noel Shinn, T3:53.2/T2:09.4, Lt; Touch Merchant (dr Graeme Wilson) 2nd; Spartan Prince (dr Doody Townley) 3rd
Victorian Storm Raider defeated first night heat winning compatriot Touch Merchant by six metres with leader Spartan Prince again third placed twelve metres away. This heat was the entrée to the evening’s main event involving Maoris Idol.
Heat Four – MAORIS IDOL, tr Rick Healy, dr Bryan Healy, T3:50.8/T2:06.8, Australian record, 30m; Bold Apepa (dr Guy Robinson) 2nd; Hilton Adios (dr Stuart Rothacker) 3rd
In winning the final heat, Maoris Idol equalled Lucky Creed’s (pacer) twenty four race wins which established an Australasian trotters successive winning sequence, unbeaten to this day (Lyell Creek attained 20). Maoris Idol, the 1/6 favourite was last turning into the home straight the second last occasion and three wide outside the leaders at the bell having sprinted up to be third within a 100m. Bold Apepa led down the back straight leading Maoris Idol by a length turning for home but unable to hold him out going down by six metres. Hilton Adios was a further ten metres behind with a length to New Zealand representative Yadran for Tony Milina. Maoris Idol time of T3:50.8/T2:06.8 was an Australian record for 2900m.
Saturday 11 March 1978 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 3300m, $25,000
DERBY ROYALE (1969 The Critic/Amber Gold gelding, family of Greta A38), owners Don and Jim Perkins, Andy Curtain, trainer/driver Cliff Powell, 10m, T4:26.7/T2:09.7, 4m, 1m, 50/1 [T2:05.4, $79,275½]
Bold Apepa, tr Bill Robinson, dr Guy Robinson, Lt, 2nd
Maoris Idol, tr Rick Healy, dr Bryan Healy, 30m, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Spartan Prince, Waipounamu, Touch Merchant, Storm Rider, Rockin Dale, Silken, Hilton Adios, Albey Logan, El Cordibes
A crowd of more than 25,000 turned up to hopefully witness 4/9 favourite Maoris Idol establish a new record of twenty five consecutive victories but alas it was not to be. Derby Royale (50/1) was well positioned in the one by one by his Elmore trainer/driver Cliff Powell while Bold Apepa again set the pace. Derby Royale’s finishing burst gave him the win by four metres from Bold Apepa with Maoris Idol a metre away third. Maoris Idol had been at the tail of the field most of the journey and only really moved with 600m to run. Pushed extremely wide when making his run and eight lengths from the leaders, whilst finishing stoutly in the home straight he was never able to catch the first two home [Maoris idol was retired at the ned of 1978, the winner of forty of his forty six starts]. Derby Royale’s career record stood at 25 wins, 16 seconds and eight thirds from 83 starts for stakes of $66,113 following his Grand Final victory.
This was to be Derby Royale’s third time lucky in a Trotters Grand Final. Placed second to Castletons Pride in Auckland’s 1975 final and last in Bay Johnny’s 1976 Globe Derby final when he choked down after leading. On Pacers Grand Final night (18 March), the $7,500 FFA Trot (2900m) was taken out by Bold Apepa driven by Guy Robinson in T3:53.2/T2:09.4, with Derby Royale and Cliff Powell finishing second.
Derby Royale was owned by brothers Don and Jim Perkins and brother in law Andy Curtain. The Perkins boy’s father Jim (former drain layer) had purchased Derby Royale as a youngster and trained him for most of his career included his two previous Interdominion appearances. Jim Perkins snr died in 1977 and the training of Derby Royale was handed over to Cliff Powell just five weeks before the ID carnival. Bred by Mrs J Heath of Ardlethan, NSW, a product of The Critic (Robert Derby, son of Globe Derby from Jean Pronto) and Amber Gold (Trader/Lady Violet). Both paternal and maternal influences coming from Tasmania. Derby Royale was a product of one of Australia’s most prolific winning families that of Greta A38, dam of leading racehorses and sires in Rock Huon, Lulu Boy, Dexter and Marble Arch. Derby Royale’s fourteen immediate ancestors in his first three generations were all pacers, some free legged with the one exception, Raider who was dual gaited.
Beginning his race career at three (1972/3), Derby Royale won four races at Maryborough, Cranbourne (2) and the South Australian Trotters Derby at Globe Derby (best mile rate of T2:10.0). Placed second in the Victoria Trotters Derby and third in the NSW Trotters Derby. As four year old (1973/4) his seven victories were throughout Victoria at Geelong, Yarra Glen, Bendigo, Ballarat. Shepparton, Melbourne and Kilmore (best mile rate T2:10.7).
As a five year old (1974/5), Derby Royale began hitting the headlines with his performance which included six wins (best mile rate T2:05.7) at Harold Park (Spring Trotters Cup heat and final), Melbourne (Gala FFA, Melbourne FFA), Shepparton and Kilmore. Placed second to Bay Johnny in Dubbo Open, to Touch Merchant in Australasian Trotters Championship , to Bundanoon in Dullard Cup ; third in Gold Crown FFA and when taken to NZ for 1975 Auckland Interdominions, he followed up his fourth and second places with a runner up performance behind Castleton’s Pride in the Grand Final. A fifth placing was recorded in the First ANZAC Trot on Pacers Grand Final night.
Derby Royale’s six year old season brought five wins (career best mile rate T2:05.4) at Melbourne (2, including FFA), Bendigo, Ballarat FFA and a heat win (and second) at 1975 Globe Derby Interdominions. He was to tail the field home in the Grand Final after appearing to choke down with 600m to run. The following season (1976/7) produced just the solitary victory at Warragul (T2:13.6) and a second to Touch Merchant in Cranbourne Trotters FFA.
His eight year season’s(1977/8) four successes (best mile rate of T2:09.1 and seasonal earnings of $30,856) were focused around the Interdominions in Melbourne as reviewed earlier – fourth and seventh in the heats together with the Grand Final victory at Moonee Valley, one of three Moonee Valley wins and the Adelaide Trotters Cup at Globe Derby. Placings included a second in the Bendigo Trotters Cup and over a mile (to pacer Adri Eagle, 2:05.8) at Moonee Valley. Derby Royale’s final two seasons produced little other than three placings in1978/9 at ten and a single placing as an eleven year old before he was retired. His career record showed stake winnings of $79,275½ of which $4,915 was earned in New Zealand, best mile rate of T2:05.4AUS.
1985 MOONEE VALLEY – SCOTCH NOTCH
With Sir Castleton back to defend his ID Trotters crown attained at the 1984 Adelaide Interdominion at Globe Derby Park, only Zebec joined his countryman seeking another NZ Grand Final victory. As was expected, Sir Castleton and Scotch Notch dominated the trotter’s championship. Scotch Notch confirmed her greatness with this her second ID title and first double winner following her win two years earlier in Auckland. Her Australasian and world record time trial the night of the Pacers Grand Final capped her domination of the carnival which was a feature of Victoria’s 150th anniversary.
The first reins women to compete at an Interdominion carnival, Betty Lewis and Kath Ford drove in the trotter’s heats although they were unplaced.
Saturday 23 February, 2400mM : first round of heats
Heat One – SIR CASTLETON, tr Mawson MacPherson, dr Doody Townley, T3:05.3/T2:04.2; Scotch Notch (dr Gavin Lang) 2nd; Super Spree (dr Adrian Douglas) 3rd
The spirited rivalry between Sir Castleton and Scotch Notch continued in the opening heat of the ID’s with Sir Castleton winning by a mere metre (half length) in a quick 2400mM. Scotch Notch had been stopped in her tracks shortly after the start while Sir Castleton had narrowly avoided the same trouble. Sir Castleton had scooted clear with 1800m (two laps) to run and whilst trotting roughly over the closing 100m as a result of his leg problems, his final 800m passed in 59.4 and 400m in 29.8 for the closest of victories. Scotch Notch was 110m away from the leaders after settling and she was timed to run her last mile in T2:00.6, final 800m in 58.9 in running second. Super Spree was another 4.5m away in third place.
Heat Two – DOWNSOUTH CLARE, tr/dr Dick Lee, T3:07.0/T2:05.4; Fourjay (dr Mark Boyle) 2nd; Joanie Toliver (dr Clinton Welsh 3rd
Second favourite Downsouth Clare managed a two metre victory over Fourjay with a further two metres back to Joanie Toliver in a slightly slower time than the first heat between the series two most favoured trotters. Trained and driven by Victorian Square Trotters Association President Dick Lee, Downsouth Clare completed an all the way victory in her opening night heat. A slower closing half in 61.1 and 30.1 closing 400m contributed to the time difference.
Wednesday 27 February, 2870mM : second round of heats
Heat Three – SIR CASTLETON, tr Mawson MacPherson, dr Doody Townley, T3:43.8/T2:05.7; Mount Alm (dr Darren Redwood) 2nd; Super Spree (dr Adrian Douglas) 3rd
Sir Castleton continued on his winning ID way since the first heat of the Adelaide ID’s – he had won four heats and a Grand Final without defeat at an Interdominion which went back to the 1983 Auckland ID Grand Final win of Scotch Notch (Sir Castleton was third). An easy win by 4.5m came in the faster time of the nights two heats with a 59.6 last 800 and quarter in 30.1. Sir Castleton drew the outside of front line of the mobile leading for the final 2200m of the journey after engaging in a 600m tussle with Super Spree for the lead.
Heat Four – SCOTCH NOTCH, tr/dr Graeme Lang, T3:45.0/T2:06.2; Zebec (dr Robin Butt) 2nd; Downsouth Clare (dr Dick Lee) 3rd
Leading for the final 2400m, Scotch Notch won by handy margin of six metres , final 400m in 29.2 when 1/12 favourite. It confirmed her outright favouritism for the Grand Final. In addition, she did not have to over exert herself timewise to achieve this easy victory from the trailing Kiwi trotter Zebec who had done enough to make the final, two metres in advance of Downsouth Clare.
Scotch Notch and Sir Castleton both drew the second line for the final under the preferential draw system, Scotch Notch at nine one inside Sir Castleton in ten for the 3300mM Grand Final.
Saturday 2 March 1985 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 3300mM, $30,000
SCOTCH NOTCH (1977 Scottish Bret/Ada Glenfern mare, family of Narelle N238), owner Jim Wong, trainer/driver Graeme Lang, T4:25.1/T2:09.3, 6m, 3m, favourite [T1:55.6TT, $670,755]
Sir Castleton, tr Mawson MacPherson, dr Doody Townley, 2nd
Super Spree, tr/dr Adrian Douglas, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Sadie Gale, Skipper Don, Fourjay, Magazine McDonna, Zebec, Joanie Toliver, Downsouth Clare
Super Spree took an early lead setting a slow pace for 2½ laps with Sir Castleton settling five places back on the third line. Scotch Notch had struck trouble when Downsouth Clare struck her sulky and was near last for a large part of the race. Sir Castleton pulled three wide with 900m to run with Fourjay providing him suitable cover. Challenging for the lead Sir Castleton went clear with 300m to run. Scotch Notch had moved from near last at the 600m to be in a position to launch a final challenge from the home turn.
Scotch Notch produced a massive effort to swiftly sprint past a game Sir Castleton to win by a six metre margin. Super Spree was third three metres further back. While the overall time wasn’t quick, the leaders had run their final 800m in 58.6, 400m in 29.6 with Scotch Notch timed in 57.9. Sir Castleton had broken down approximately 100m from the finish but this in no way detracted from Scotch Notch’s wonderful performance. Following this the seventh clash between the two titans of Australasian trotting in the mid-1980s’, the final score was Scotch Notch four and Sir Castleton three. In a sad footnote to the Grand Final, Sir Castleton’s trainer Mawson MacPherson died on 9 July 1984.
On Pacers Grand Final night a week later, a Trotters FFA had been planned. With Sir Castleton out with his leg injuries, Scotch Notch scared away all her rivals. Instead Scotch Notch raced against time in an attempt to better Amazon’s Australasian record of T1:57.7. Scotch Notch had previously set a best mile time of T1:58.6TT on 13 February 1983 at Moonee Valley, two years earlier. Scotch Notch did not let anyone down stopping the clock at T1:55.6TT, a new world record for a mare on a 1000m track defeating The Onion’s Swedish time of T1:55.8. It was also a new Australasian record, with quarters of 28.2, 29.5 (57.7), 28.7 (1:26.4) and 29.2 (T1:55.6). Graeme Lang’s son Gavan drove the prompter Rise Above. Her mile was the fourth fastest ever at Moonee Valley to that point of time behind pacers Popular Alm (1:53.2TT), Copper Way (1:55.4TT) and Dyama (1:55.5TT).
For a review of Scotch Notch’s breeding and race career up to the end of 1982/3 season, refer to the Interdominion Trotters Championships – 1983 Alexandra Park (3 July 2018 ).
The 1983/4 season was her second and final trip to New Zealand for trotter’s races at the November NZ Cup carnival. Three starts produced seconds to Paras Star in the No Response Hcp (Cup Day) beaten 1½l over 2600m (off 45m hcp shared with Stormy Morn); second to arch rival Sir Castleton in NZ Trotting FFA on Show Day, 2600mM beaten ¾l in T3:19.5/T2:03.4 and the ultimate win prevailing in New Zealand’s premier trotting race the Dominion Hcp a little over a week later. Scotch Notch beat home Sir Castleton by 2½L in a time of T4:17.0/T2:09.2, both off 10m with only Stormy Morn off 20m further back (due to Rowe Cup winner previous season). These three races meant she collected a further $36,400 in stake earnings. In Australia, Scotch Notch won five and placed second four times in her other six year old starts for the season ($80,165). This included two heats wins and placing second to Sir Castleton in Grand Final of 1984 Globe Derby Interdominions plus three early season (pre NZ Cup campaign) victories at Moonee Valley and second to pacers in Kilmore Cup won by Distant Thunder.
The final Australian season was at seven in 1984/5 where Scotch Notch had twenty two starts (four against pacers winning one) produced a record sixteen wins, a second and a third, $124,196 and a sensational T1:55.6TT for a trotter at Moonee Valley. Winning her second ID Trotters Grand Final with a comprehensive victory over Sir Castleton and Super Spree as described earlier. In addition, prior to the Interdominions, victories included Chris Howe Cup in a track record T2:03.5MR for 2870m and after the ID’s she took out heat (55m) and final (60m) of Australasian Trotters Championship (track record T2:06.3MR for 3300m) and Cochran Cup (second time), her final race in Australasia before departing for North America.
Leaving for North America, Scotch Notch had made 72 appearances for forty seven victories, fifteen seconds and two thirds and prizemoney of $334,866 (29 victories at Moonee Valley, then a record for track). On arrival in North America at stables of Mike Gaghardi, Lakewood Farm, New Jersey, Jim Wong sold a half share in Scotch Notch for US$200,000 to a breeding syndicate shortly before her first USA race start. Meadowlands provided an all-expenses paid trip for her to contest the Statue of Liberty Trot series (sixth in world record time for 1½m by Meadow Road who also won in T1:54.2 when Scotch Notch was fourth). Following three seconds she was excluded from the field for the Roosevelt International. Like many Southern Hemisphere horses, a virus did not assist her earlier racing in the States. In time however, she proved well up to the best class of trotter at The Meadowlands and major American tracks.
Scotch Notch was to spend two seasons racing in North America with following results : at eight, six wins from sixteen starts, six seconds and a third US$116,050; at nine, initially five wins from fifteen starts, five seconds and two thirds for stakes of US$149,449 including her best North American mile in T1:57.1US at the Meadowlands. Retired at this stage, but failing to get in foal she was returned to work. Requalifying in T1:59.3US on 5 September 1987, she won a further eight races against lesser opposition before finally retiring and being bred to Speedy Crown.
Scotch Notch’s overall North American record showed nineteen wins from sixty starts with twenty one placings for stakes of US$334,899. In foal to Speedy Crown, Jim Wong bought Scotch Notch back, including Graeme Lang in the new ownership. Her Speedy Crown colt Speedy Scotch was born in March 1989 but never raced. Scotch Notch became ill and tragically died within months of her return from America. Trotting buffs were denied an opportunity to see how good members of her prospective progeny might have been.
Sufficient to say that Scotch Notch’s overall career stats read, New Zealand, 7 starts, four wins, three seconds, $85,765, T2:04.3 and in Australia forty three wins, T1:55.6TT (T1:59.1, second in T1:57.7), combined Australasian (NZ/Aus) earnings of $334,866 and in North America, T1:57.1US (8yo on 1 mile track), $557,103 (includes converted Australasian earnings). HRA website shows her overall worldwide record as 134 starts, 66 wins, 30 seconds, 8 thirds, $670,755, T1:55.6TT/T1:57.1US.
Scotch Notch was 1983 NZ Trotter and Aged Trotting Mare of Year (also 1984), 1983/1984/1985 Australian Trotter of Year, 1983 and 1985 Australian trotting stake earner of Year, an inductee into Victorian Trotting Hall of Fame and Interdominion Hall of Fame. Scotch Notch was simply an outstanding world class trotter.
Peter Craig
21 August 2018
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