This is the twentieth 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 basis with the exception of the first (background and first championship) and last two articles (final championship and statistical analysis).
1992 MOONEE VALLEY – WILLIAM DEE
A traditional Interdominion where both pacers and trotters competed to determine their individual Grand Champions proved a great success in Melbourne in 1992. NZ bred but Australian owned and trained Westburn Grant prevailed in the Pacers final. Originally planned to include a $125,000 Trotters Grand Final (reduced to $100,000), forty seven trotters (twenty from NZ) nominated eventually reduced to twenty two (two heats of eleven), with nine of the trotters having been bred in New Zealand. NZ trained trotters involved were Fraggle Rock, William Dee, Game Paul, Idle Scott, Gee Du Jour and Guardian Angel.
A number of NZ trotters took part in races leading up to the Interdominion championships, notably Idle Scott whose three starts produced a fifth, second (Cochran Trotters Cup) and a win in a discretionary handicap off 30m; William Dee, a second (Gramel Trotters Hcp) and a third (Cochran Trotters Cup) from two starts and Guardian Angel whose three lead up races resulted in a third (Gramel Trotters Hcp), an eighth and a sixth in the same three races contested by Idle Scott.
Saturday 22 February 2380mM : first round of heats
Heat One – GAME PAUL, tr Jack Carmichael, dr Patrick O’Reilly jnr, T3:00.4/T2:02.0; Cons Poem (dr David Semmens) 2nd; Gee Du Jour (dr Tony Herlihy) 3rd
First blood went to one of the strongly fancied Kiwi trotters when Game Paul took out the opening trotter’s heat. Dual ID Trotters Grand Final winning trainer Jack Carmichael (Precocious 1973, Yankee Loch 1989) combined with Mid Canterbury reinsman Patrick O’Reilly delivering victory by 2½m from Cons Poem with a further 2½m to Gee Du Jour, last mile in 1:59.0, 800m covered in 60.3, final quarter in 30.1. Game Paul started from the outside of the second row (barrier position 11) and benefitted sitting behind Gee Du Jour three wide over the last 1000m before coming with the last run in the home straight to gain victory. The Graeme Lang trained Happy Tom finished fourth in the hands of Gavin Lang. Guardian Angel’s prior runs on the Moonee Valley track did not assist her as she finished ninth in the hands of Jim O’Sullivan.
Heat Two – FRAGGLE ROCK, tr/dr Carl Middleton, T2:59.3/T2:01.2 equalled track record; Maoris Glory (dr Gavin Lang) 2nd; Lyns Choice (dr Neil Cavallaro) 3rd
In crossing the ditch Fraggle Rock sought to defend his 1991 Auckland Trotters championship title. He began by taking out the second opening night trotter’s heat in a track record equalling time (held by Lenin, set in October 1991 in Firestone Trotters Cup; Lenin finished ninth in this heat) with a last 800m in 60.7, quarter in 30.3. Lenin who was well supported (11/4) set a torrid pace such that Fraggle Rock was able to obtain the trail behind him from barrier six. Angled off Lenin’s back rounding the home turn, Carl Middleton pushed Fraggle Rock (16/1) through a tight gap on the inner to win by a neck from favourite Maoris Glory (2/1) with a further half head to ex Kiwi Lyns Choice who raced without cover. Kiwi trained trotters William Dee and Idle Scott were close up in fourth and fifth positions respectively. Stabled at Ken Tippett‘s Melton property, Fraggle Rock had been timed to run a final quarter in 28.4 on brother Glen’s Melton track prior to the opening nights heats.
Wednesday 26 February 2840mM : second round of heats
Heat Three – MAORIS GLORY, tr Ric Healy, dr Gavin Lang, T3:39.9/T2:04.6; Game Paul (dr Patrick O’Reilly jnr) 2nd; Fraggle Rock (dr Carl Middleton) 3rd
Winning trotter of the third heat Maoris Glory was a daughter of the champion Victorian trotter of late 1970’s Maoris Idol. Lenin gain led with Maoris Glory nicely placed in the one one. Lenin was joined on the home turn by Game Paul who had been last early, Maoris Glory three wide outside them with Fraggle Rock tracking her through. Game Paul hit the front in the home straight but was unable to withstand Maoris Glory challenge going down by five metres with Fraggle Rock a neck away. Fraggle Rock followed up his first night win with a strong third just ahead of Dark Edge another neck back for Graeme Lang. The final 80m had been run in a slow 63.7 with a quicker final quarter in 30.3.
Heat Four – LYNS CHOICE, tr/dr Neil Cavallaro, T3:35.7/T2:02.2 equalled track record; Gee Du Jour (dr Tony Herlihy) 2nd; Kwik Kiwi (dr Max Wishart) 3rd
Former Kiwi trotter Lyns Choice got up in the last stride to defeat glamour NZ mare Gee Du Jour by a short head in another track equalling record time (held by Lenin, set in April 1991 in Cochran Trotters Cup; Lenin had finished eleventh and last in Maoris Glory heat win). Dashing Chief set the pace with Gee Du Jour tacking onto the back of the leading five (Dashing Chief, Gee Du Jour, Lyns Choice, Kwik Kiwi, idle Scott) with a lap to run. Gee Du Jour took control before turning for home and looked as if she had the race in the bag until caught on the line by Lyns Choice. Kwik Kiwi a further ten metres away was third again followed in by William Dee (six metres back) and Idle Scott (six metres back), fourth and fifth as in their first night heat. Guardian Angel again disappointed having broken after racing roughly. A much quicker overall time in this heat with the last 800m pass in 60.6 with a final quarter in 30 seconds.
The point’s scores for the trotters Grand Finalists were : Maoris Glory (27), Fraggle Rock, Lyns Choice (25), Gee Du Jour (22), Cons Poem, Kwik Kiwi, William Dee (16), Idle Scott (14), Dark Edge and Happy Tom (13).
Saturday 29 February 1992 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 2840mM, $110,000
WILLIAM DEE (1984 Alias Armbro/Life Line gelding, family of Ashbys Mambrino King mare N212), owners Glen Curach, Tony Garelja, Eamon Green, Kevin O’Gorman, trainer/driver John Langdon, T3:35.7/T2:02.2, 2m, ½ head, 3/3 favourite [T2:00.8, $344,772]
Fraggle Rock, tr/dr Carl Middleton, 2nd
Kwik Kiwi, tr Cory Van Ryn, dr Max Wishart, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Maoris Glory, Gee Du Jour, Idle Scott, Game Paul, Dark Edge, Lyns Choice, Cons Poem, Happy Tom
Insert Photo (s) (without caption) : Grand Final field (1) and (2)
Sent out at odds of 10/1 William Dee from barrier position five began well taking the lead after 600m and from here on controlled the race well. Fraggle Rock who had led early before William Dee assumed control ran on gamely from his trailing position to be two metres in arrears at the finish a half head in advance of third placed Kwik Kiwi. Favourite Maoris Glory after one one positioning by Gavin Lang was four metres further in arrears just ahead of Gee Du Jour who had been last and three wide following Idle Scott from the 800m.
A number of chances were hindered at the start when Game Paul and Lyns Choice broke causing interference to Idle Scott, Cons Poem, Happy Tom and Gee Du Jour. Dark Edge broke at the 600m when Game Paul shifted out with Happy Tom and Cons Poem copping the worst of it.
John Langdon drove William Dee to a quick T3:35.7/T2:02.2MR which equalled the track record held by Lenin and Lyns Choice (night two heat winner) with a final mile in 2:00.2, last 800m in 59.5 and final 400m in 29.6. John Langdon became the fourth driver and third New Zealander to win two ID Trotters Grand Finals (1975 Castletons Pride) to go with his Pacing Grand Final win in 1975 with Young Quinn. Others to achieve this feat were Bob Young (1948 Aerial Scot, 1951 Gay Belwin), Doody Townley (1968 Stylish Major, 1980 Hano Direct) and Graeme Lang (1983 and 1985 Scotch Notch). Fraggle Rock’s trainer/driver Carl Middleton was the recipient of the Vin Knight Trophy during the ID carnival, the trophy being based on the best UDR for ID races, both heats and finals (win, second and a third).
William Dee’s victory was his eighteenth from sixty seven starts for stake earnings of $320,288 to that time. The seven year gelded son of colonial bred stallion Alias Armbro (Armbro Del/Charming Widow) from a Tuft mare Life Line was bred by Rangiora company director WD (Bill) Pearson.
Alias Armbro was an open class trotter who won fifteen (T2:04.5, $54,493) including Dominion Hcp, NZ Trotting Stake sat three (now NZ Trotters Derby), Ordeal/Banks Peninsula Trotting Cups. Apart from William Dee, included amongst his 41 NZ winners (29 trotting) were Lord Alias (NZ Trotting Stakes at two, NSW/VIC/SA winner, Alias Beau (SA winner), Dancing Armbro (Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup) and Rolleston Lad (VIC/SA winner).
William Dee’s dam Life Line won four (T2:12.2, $9,940) and placed on twenty occasions for Kumeu trainer Tony Perucich. Producing eleven foals, the first Great Life (T2:02.0) won six for Pearson before being sold to North America. Having five winners in total, William Dee (third foal), Great Life, Ashley Blossom (four wins, dam of Don King (T2:01.2, $172,475, Dullard Cup) and Ashley Harbour grand dam of Earl Harbour (T2:00.3, $182,386, Terang/Bendigo Trotters Cups).
His grand dam Harbour Light (T2:05.8, $26,055) was the winner of fourteen races including Canterbury Park Trotting Cup and NZMTC Stewards Hcps both twice. Apart from Life Line she left only one other winner. This is the family of Ashbys Mambrino King mare (N212), initially of pacing origin with an Ashburton Cup winner (Edith A), Lord Mina (WA Pacing Cup) before other trotting winners apart from those already mentioned Temple Star (NZ Trotting Stakes – 3T), Highly Likely (Aust Trotting Championship), Kylie Ree (Jewels Ruby and NZSS at two, T1:59.9, $112,730, dam of Springbank Lachie, NZ Trotting Stakes – 2).
Original owner of William Dee was Christchurch insurance salesman Kevin O’Gorman (retained half share) was joined by Aucklanders Glenn Curach, Tony Garelja and Eamon Green at the start of his 1991/92 season (current year). Raced on fifteen occasions (ten NZ, five Australia) for four wins, a second and two thirds for stakes of $184,213.
William Dee commenced racing as a three year old from the stable of Ms Kaylene McCormick where his four starts yielded a fourth pacing at Reefton at his initial start. After a fifteen month layoff when a bone splinter was removed from a leg, his training had been handed to Bevan Heron (Nigel Craig fame) where he took things to a new level at four (88/9 season). With seven starts he won on five occasions (three at Cambridge, twice at Alexandra Park) and placed second once at Claudelands winning stakes of $19,284.
A lengthy season came at five where back in the South Island for Heron and following twenty two seasonal outings, William Dee had added a further three wins ($24,720, Addington, two at Alexandra Park over Christmas period), two seconds and a significant third to his record. The third placing came in the race now known as the Ashburton Trotters Flying Mile, where Tobago recorded the fastest mile ever trotted in a race in NZ of T1:59.3. William Dee finished two lengths and a head from Tobago after racing three and four wide the entire journey and running fourth in the National Trot.
At the conclusion of his five year old season, post Rowe Cup in which he finished eighth, William Dee was left in the care of Cambridge trainer John Langdon. The first season with Langdon as a six year old (1990/91) saw him fully step up to the big time with six victories, six seconds and a third from nineteen starts, $91,870. Winning his first two starts for Langdon at Alexandra Park in October 1990 including Gp2 Challenge Stakes, a further two at Auckland during lead up to Christmas carnival, Cambridge Trotters Flying Mile in a career best mile rate of T2:00.8 and at an autumn Thames meeting at Alexandra Park. Notable placings were recorded with seconds in NZ Trotting FFA, National Trot, two ID Trotters heats at 1991 Auckland ID’s (seventh in final) and third in Dominion Hcp.
Following the 1991 Rowe Cup Kevin O’Gorman sold a half share in William Dee to his now partners Glen Curach, Tony Garelja and Eamon Green. In the current season (1991/2), seven year old William Dee started on fourteen occasions in NZ for four wins, a second (NZ Trotters Championship) and a third (Cambridge Trotters Flying Mile) for winnings of $127,895. This included going undefeated during the 1991 NZ Cup carnival with wins on NZ Cup day in the Corbans Wines FFA in a new national record of T2:34.1 for 2000m stand (O’Gorman also owned Idle Pride who finished third) , NZ Trotting FFA and Dominion Hcp with his remaining win coming in the Dunedin Trotting Cup. In Australia, in pre ID and ID starts totalling five he managed a win, a second and a third for $73,818 in stakes as described earlier. Finally, he was leading trotting earner of the year and also named NZ Trotter of Year.
William Dee’s final two season of racing brought scarce rewards. As an eight year old he had a solitary second in the Challenge Stakes at Alexandra Park to show for his labours over eleven starts ($6,745), fifth in National Trot and did not defend his ID Trotters title at the 1993 Trotters only Auckland Interdominions. In his final season (1993/4) at nine he was unplaced in six attempts, a ninth in his fourth Dominion Hcp being his final race day venture.
Overall his career record stood at eighty three NZ starts for eighteen wins, eleven seconds and three thirds, T2:00.8 for stakes of $270,954 while in Australia his five starts brought a win, a second and a third, T2:02.2, $73,818; total earnings of $344,772.
1996 MOONEE VALLEY – PRIDE OF PETITE
Last held at Moonee Valley in 1992 when the Grand Final was won by the John Langdon trained and driven Wiliam Dee, Melbourne again played host to Interdominion Trotters Championship (Perth hosted Pacers Championships in 1996).
Saturday 10 February, 2380m : first round of heats
Heat One – DIAMOND FIELD, tr/dr Mark Purdon, T3:06.0/T2:05.8, 30m; Melpark Maid (dr Don Smith) 2nd; Maoris Dream (dr Gavin Lang) 3rd
Diamond Field’s huge performance off 30m landed a confident betting plunge which saw his odds move from 9/4 to 6/4 in the championships opening heat.
Heat Two – WAGON APOLLO, tr/dr Graeme Lang, T3:06.0/T2:06.4 20m; Eastburn Grant (dr Ken Barron) 2nd; Weston Gee (dr Catherine Carson) 3rd
Wagon Apollo prevailed from 20m behind defeating Eastburn Grant who was a game second after working hard to sit parked in the death seat in the second heat. Breton Abbe was a luckless fourth after being foiled for a clear run in the short straight.
Heat Three – CHIOLA COLA, tr/dr Shane Hayes, T3:06.0/T2:05.8, 20m; Pride Of Petite (dr Mark Purdon) 2nd; Above The Stars (dr David Butt) 3rd
Chiola Cola edged Pride of Petite back to second in the final heat of opening night.
Saturday 17 February, 2840m : second round of heats
Heat Four – DIAMOND FIELD, tr/dr Mark Purdon, T3:42.1/T2:05.9, 30m; The Godfather (dr Tony Bond) 2nd; Weston Gee (dr Catherine Carson) 3rd
Old stager Diamond Field (now nine) beat his younger rivals over the longer 2840m standing start winning by three metres. Four year old Above The Stars in finishing fourth (third on opening night) had not quite bridged the gap to open class trotting events after his impressive Victorian/South Australian Trotting Derbies of the previous season.
Heat Five – WAGON APOLLO, tr/dr Graeme Lang, T3:43.9/T2:07.3, 20m; Breton Abbe (dr Barry Purdon) 2nd; Watagan (dr Brian Hancock) 3rd
Wagon Apollo overcame an early break soon after the start which cost him 40m winning impressively, his last mile in T2:01.2, half in 59.5 and final quarter in 30.1 (like Diamond Field) getting home with three metres to spare.
Heat Six – PRIDE OF PETITE, tr/dr Mark Purdon, T3:41.1/T2:05.2, 30m; Eastburn Grant (dr Ken Barron) 2nd; Make Mine Glory (dr Graeme Lang) 3rd
Pride Of Petite’s big effort won her the final championship heat after being pushed right to the line by Eastburn Grant. Her 1.5 metre victory came with a T2:05.2 mile rate and last half in 58.9. Prior to the Interdominions, Pride of Petite had won the Dullard Cup and Inter Colonial Mile with Wagon Apollo second on both occasions. This was her third ID Trotters Grand Final having fished fourteenth and last in 1993 and placing second to Call Me Now in 1995.
Saturday 24 February 1996 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 3280m, $125,000
PRIDE OF PETITE (1987 Royal Prestige/Petite Evander, family of Brighton Girl N51), owners the Frank Weaver’s Snr and jnr (Snow), trainer/driver Mark Purdon, 30m, T4:14.0/T2:04.6, 2.5m, 2.0m, 5/4 favourite [T1:57.4, $811,816]
Chiola Cola, tr/dr Shane Hayes, 20m, 2nd
Wagon Apollo, tr/dr Graeme Lang, 20m, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Make Mine Glory, Eastburn Grant, Diamond Field, Weston Gee, Maoris Dream, Breton Abbe, The Godfather, Watagan, Above The Stars, Prince Of Cooma, French Whiz
Last with a lap to run and still well back with three furlongs to go, Pride Of Petite managed a drag around the field behind Wagon Apollo. Confidently driven from then on, her 2.5 metre winning margin produced a T2:04.6 mile rate beating Fair Tally’s previous track record for 3280m. An eight year old at the time of winning the 1996 Trotters Grand Final, invitations were received to compete in a three race international series in Scandinavia – Elitloppet in Stockholm, Sweden; Oslo Grand Prix in Norway and 2011mM event in Copenhagen, Denmark. Pride Of Petite had won a high class ID from subsequent fellow Scandinavian traveller in Chiola Cola and local Wagon Apollo.
Bred to North American millionaire Speedy Crown stallion Royal Prestige (Peter The Great sire line), sire of Magician and Westgate Crown, Pride Of Petite’s outstanding mother was Great Evander (grandson of famous ancestor Single G, “the horse that time forgot”) mare Petite Evander from a Light Brigade mare in Thearle (non winning pacer, dam of dual gaited Light Evander). Petite Evander was the outstanding trotting mare of her era with twenty one NZ wins, T2:02.2 (T1:59.8TT, Alexandra Park, 12 March 1977), $51,670 (aged four to six years after two unplaced three year old starts) before venturing to North America, T7, 1:58.0, $765,842, USA four year old and older trotting mare of year plus she raced in Sweden winning in T1:59.1. Major race victories included NZ Trotting FFA, Cambridge Trotters Mile, Challenge Stakes and Canterbury Park Trotting Cup. Apart from Pride Of Petite among her North American bred foals were : Evander’s Gold (T2:03.1, $40,830, six NZ wins, sire of 62 winners (60 trotters) including Gold N Gold (Australian Trotting Grand Prix, ID Trotters Consolation), Young Pointer (T1:55.0US); Petite Serenade (T2:00.0US, dam of millionaire Cal chips Brute T1:54.3); Petite Victory (T1:57.1, $210,647, dam of winners in Italy); Petites Pride (winner and dam of winner in Finland). Petite Evander is a NZ Trotting Hall Of Fame inductee.
Pride Of Petite was bred by her owner’s father and son combination of Frank Weaver Snr and Snow (Frank Weaver jnr). Taking a look at her race record up to and including the Moonee Valley Trotters Interdominion and European campaign of the same year shows that eight year old Pride Of Petite had won on twenty two occasions, sixteen in NZ (15 at Alexandra Park, 1 Cambridge) and six from nine starts in Australia (all at Moonee Valley) over two seasons. Major wins were recorded in NZ, Rhodes Memorial Mile, Morrinsville Trotting Cup and twice in National Trot/Challenge Stakes/City of Sails FFA. Significant placings were recorded with a second in Ashburton Trotters Mile and thirds in National Trot and NZ Trotting Championship. In Australia, her six wins came in a heat of Australasian Trotters Championship, Inter Colonial Trotters Mile and Trotters Sprint (forerunners to Bill Collins Mile in later years), Dullard Cup, ID heat and Grand Final. In Europe, she finished sixth in Olso Grand Prix; fourth in heat and sixth in Elitloppet final and third at Copenhagen.
Pride Of Petite was 4yo trotting and twice aged trotting mare of the year in NZ as well as leading trotting stake earner in Australia in 1995/6 season. At this stage of her career, her quickest mile rate in NZ was a T1:58.1 time at Alexandra Park and in Australia T1:59.7 at Moonee Valley. At the end of the 1995/96 season after her European campaign, her career record was as follows : NZ 76 starts : 16 wins, 14 seconds, 7 thirds, $231,760; Australia 9 : 6 – 1 – 0 $186,000; Norway, 1 start, $5,000; Sweden 2 starts $7,500; Denmark 1 start, 1 third $20,000, a total of 89 starts : 22 – 15 – 8 $450,260.
The balance of Pride Of Petite’s racing career and breeding history was included in the article on Globe Derby Trotters Grand Finals (1 May 2018).
Peter Craig
12 September 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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