This is the sixteenth 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).
1999 AUCKLAND – SPECIAL FORCE
Buster Hanover was a late withdrawal for the championships by trainer Mark Purdon after aggravating an old suspensory injury. Well credentialed Victorian trotters in attendance representing Australia were Knight Pistol, National Interest and Noppy Kiosk. Our Sir Vancelot became the first Pacer to win three (consecutive) ID Grand Finals (1997 Globe Derby, 1998 Hobart Showgrounds, 1999 Alexandra Park).
Saturday 5 March, 2200mM : first round of heats
Heat One – SPECIAL FORCE, tr Dave McGowan, dr Todd MacFarlane, T2:46.5/T2:01.7; Sundons Way (dr Tony Herlihy MNZM) 2nd; Merinai (dr James Stormont) 3rd
A renowned good beginner Special Force led throughout for a hard fought win after being tackled at the 1650m mark by pre series favourite Merinai. Merinai tucked in behind Special Force rounding the Showgrounds bend but it was Sundons Way who got closest, just a neck in arrears of Special Force with Merinai three quarters of a length away in third. Todd MacFarlane’s aggressive drive saw Special Force record a 58.7 last 800m, quarter in 28.3 for his fourteenth career win.
Heat Two – CEDAR FELLA, tr Warren Stapleton, dr Ricky May, T2:44.1/T2:00.0; Noopy Kiosk (dr Dave Gibbons) 2nd; Meander In Eden (dr Tony Herlihy MNZM) 3rd
Ten year old Cedar Fella whose trainer Warren Stapleton stabled with Alex Goryl (panel beater/trainer) showed gate speed to lead for Ricky May early before handing up to Noppy Kiosk who took off with a mile to run. Using the passing lane, Cedar Fella eventually managed to overhaul Noppy Kiosk by a neck with Meander In Eden (tr Alex Goryl) third. Special Force’s stablemate Kawarau Invasion had broken turning for home when a definite chance to place. Cedar Fella had taken two seconds off Flakey Jake’s NZ record of T2:46.2 for entires and geldings in winning in T2:44.1, a mile rate of exactly two minutes, 60.9/30.6. Polish born refugee Alex Goryl set an ID record in being the first owner/trainer of three horses in an ID Trotters series- Meander In Eden who made the Grand Final, Kingfish Kiwi and Liberator.
Tuesday 9 March, 2700mM : second round of heats
Heat Three – MOUNTAIN GOLD, tr/dr Jim Smith, T3:28.3/T2:04.1; Special Force (dr Todd MacFarlane); Pride Of Petite (dr Mark Purdon)
Special Force again led from pole position with Mountain Gold sitting on his back. Africa and Pride Of Petite circled from the rear with a lap and a bit to run with Pride Of Petite pouring the pressure on Special Force. This enabled Mountain Gold to make full use of the passing lane to secure victory by a nose from Special Force with two and three quarter lengths back to Pride of Petite after a speedy last 800m in 57.8, 400m in 28.5.
Heat Four – SUNDONS WAY, tr Mark Purdon, dr Tony Herlihy MNZM, T3:28.5/T2:04.2; Sunny Action (dr Mark Purdon) 2nd; Miss Whiplash (dr Glen Wolfendon) 3rd
Sundons Way who led after trailing Sunny Action was an easy winner by three quarters of a length while two and a half lengths further away was Miss Whiplash. Cedar Fella and Knight Pistol both made mid race moves wide out but didn’t trouble the leader whose spirited last 800m passed in 57.9 with a final 400m in 28.1. After a disappointing seventh, Mark Purdon lost another of his charges when Merinai was withdrawn having come into the carnival under an injury cloud but he still managed to train the quinella in this heat.
Friday 12 March, One Mile : third round of heats
The final nights heats were over the short course mile distance providing the opportunity for some particularly fast times to be set.
Heat Five – SPECIAL FORCE, tr Dave McGowan, dr Todd MacFarlane, T1:57.9; Diedre’s Pride (dr John Hay) 2nd; Meander In Eden (dr Tony Herlihy MNZM) 3rd
With another quick beginning from barrier four, Special Force eased to a two and a quarter length victory over Deidres Pride with two and half lengths to Meander In Eden, her second third in the heats. His T1:57.9 included a final 800m in 57.6 and 400m in 28.4.
Heat Six – SUNDONS WAY, tr Mark Purdon, dr Tony Herlihy, T1:59.3; Noopy Kiosk (dr Dave Gibbons); Andrew Eyre (dr Mark Jones)
Sundons Way was not hurried out from barrier five before cruising to the lead at 1000m and easing to the line in the “slowest” of the heat winners in T1:59.3, 800m in 58.6 and 400m in 28.7. He had a two length advantage over Noopy Kiosk, his second second placing in the heats with Andrew Eyre a neck in arrears third.
Heat Seven – PRIDE OF PETITE, tr/dr Mark Purdon, T1:57.4; Little Rock (dr Carl Middleton) 2nd; Knight Pistol (dr Kerryn Manning) 3rd
She might have been eleven years of age but no one had told her. Pride Of Petite established a new track record and NZ trotting mare’s record of T1:57.4. This took 0.7 seconds off her old record of T1:58.1 set over four years earlier on 10 December 1994 at Alexandra Park. It equalled the all comers NZ record of Sundons Way (entires and geldings) of T1:57.4 recorded earlier this season in the Ashburton Trotters Mile on 26 October 1998. Pride Of Petite had four lengths to spare over Little Rock at the finish with Knight Pistol’s best heat performance of third two and three quarter lengths afield. With both halves in under a minute, she had breezed her last 800m in 57.5 with a 29.1 final 400m.
At the conclusion of the three nights of heats spread over a week, Special Force had emerged as the race favourite which was confirmed when he drew two in the final and having won two of his five starts over 3200m (Thames/Greenlane Cups) simply emphasised this. Mark Purdon provided four of the Grand Finalists – Sundons Way, Pride Of Petite, Sunny Action and Africa. In the case of Pride Of Petite, it was her sixth Grand Final (record breaking that of five starts held by Fraggle Rock and Diamond Field, later equalled by Special Force with fifth final at Addington 2003) in six ID Trotters championships at what was to be her final start.
Another feature of the third night of heats was an Interdominion Grand Final driver’s challenge. To contest this event, drivers had to have driven a Grand Final winner, either pacer of trotter. The 2200mM pace winner was Facta Non Verba driven by David Butt (2:42.1/1:58.5, 3l, 2¼l, 1½l) from Tony Herlihy, on Montana Knight and Mark Purdon on Hi Ratio. The other drivers in finishing order were Brian Hancock, John Langdon, Gavin Lang, Jim O’Sullivan, Carl Middleton and Peter Jones.
Friday 19 March, 1999 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 3200mM, $150,000
SPECIAL FORCE (1993 Chiola Hanover/Special Pride gelding, family of Jessie B N9), owner Bernie Lim, trainer Dave McGowan, driver Todd MacFarlane, T4:09.2/T2:05.3, NZ record, 1½l, 3l, ½l, 2/2 favourite [T1:55.5EU, $624,823]
Africa, tr Mark Purdon, dr Colin De Filippi, 2nd
Noopy Kiosk, tr/dr Dave Gibbons, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Pride Of Petite, Mountain Gold, Little Rock, Sundons Way, Sunny Action, Andrew Eyre, Miss Whiplash, Meander In Eden, Knight Pistol
Consolation : 3200mM, $20,000
NATIONAL INTEREST, tr/dr Chris Lang, T4:13.7/T2:07.5; Avatar (dr Richard Brosnan) 2nd; Liberator (dr Maurice McKendry, MNZM) 3rd
With little point in changing what was a successful modus operandi, Special Force led from barrier rise with Africa in the trail and Noppy Kiosk tucked away on the rails. As no one attacked him, Special Force never looked like losing the Grand Final. The favourite Sundons Way simply didn’t perform up to expectations. Special Force won in a new NZ record of T4:09.2 breaking National Interest’s old record set in the consolation earlier in the evening by 4½ seconds. A final 800m in a swift 58.5 with a final 400m in 29.1, his closest rival the trailing Africa, 1½l back with Noppy Kiosk the first of the Australians home but three lengths away. Pride Of Petite in her final race was a creditable fourth, half a length back. This was Special Force’s sixteenth win in forty starts for earnings of $257,665, his best mile to date being T1:57.9 from the third night of heats. An invitation was issued and accepted for racing in Scandinavia – Elitloppet in Sweden and Copenhagen.
The Trotters consolation earlier on Grand Final evening was Chris Lang’s first win in NZ as either a trainer or driver and it had been in what became a short lived new NZ record of T4:13.7 for 3200m. After breaking in two of his three heats, National Interest raced four back on the markers after the opening lap, progressing into the one by one with a lap to run before going clear at the 500m. His winning margin was two lengths over Avatar with a half neck to Liberator and 2¼l to Deidres Pride. The Torado Hanover/Late Withdrawal gelding was owned by Sheron Park syndicate which included Lang and Melbourne businessmen Kevin Riseley and Wayne Chisholm.
Special Force was bred and owned by Pukekohe market gardener Bernie Lim (one of approximately sixty horses owned including fifteen broodmares) who purchased the then 18 year old Special Pride in foal to Chiola Hanover for $6,000 from a National Bloodstock dispersal sale (foal was Special Force). Special Force’s parents were were two special trotters in their own right, Chiola Hanover from Game Pride mare Special Pride. Chiola Hanover was USA Trotter of Year at age three, winner of Yonkers and Colonial Trots at three, T1:57.4US, $684,958 before his export to NZ. He was leading trotting sire twice for winners and once for stakes earned in NZ, leading BM sire of trotters in NZ (stakes/winners) twice and six time leading trotting BM sire in Australia (stakes). His winners included Castletons King, Chiola Cola, Chiola Lass, Enthusiast, Inda Bank, Mountain Gold, Special Force and as a BM sire Aldebaran Shades, Allegro Agitato, Delft, Earl Of Mot, Galleons Assassin, Galleons Sunset, Icandoosit, Kahdon, Lleyton H, Martina H, Pocaro, Romper Stomper, Skyvalley, Sokyola (pacer), Speeding Spur, Springbank Sam, Sundons Gift, Sundons Luck, Thedonsson, Tony H while in USA Continental Victory, Worldly Woman and in Europe Citation.
Dam Special Pride (Game Pride/Jingles) was the first four year old to win the Rowe Cup (nineteenth start), winner of thirteen of thirty eight starts, T 2:03.0, $51,130 including two FFA’s at Alexandra Park, four year Trotter of year, NZ Trotting Hall of Fame inductee. Her twelve live foals included seven winners from eight starters and apart from Special Force include Pride Of Pernod (three wins, dam of Makarewa Sun T1:56.8, Jacobs Whiz; grand dam of Makarewa Don, Makarewa Jake), Timmo (dual gaited, one pacing/nine trotting wins), Chiolas Special (four wins), Something Special (unraced dam of Braig, 18 wins, City Of Sails FFA, $248,561). This is the family of Jessie B (N9) with leading trotters including Flaming Way, Fraggle Rock (ID Trotters champion), Eastburn Grant but better known for its pacers including champion Village Kid and New Zealand Cup winners Lucky Jack (twice) and Cairnbrae.
Trainer Dave McGowan (with wife Clare) trained several horses for Lim and are well known for being the trainers of One Dream, NZ two/three pacing filly of year and Pure Power 1:51.0. McGowan worked for Christchurch trainer Peter Robertson at a time when he was campaigning trotter Melvander (NZ Trotting FFA, Ordeal Cup, Quinns Fashion Trot on NZ Cup Day twice).
Driver Todd Macfarlane worked for five years for Barry Purdon becoming stable foreman. To this stage of his career he has trained major winners in Mac De Stroyer (Kumeu Stakes, Taylor Mile, Spring Cup) and with Craig Sharpe Cyclone U Bolt (Jewels Ruby – 3T) while he has driven major winners in Special Force (Greenlane Cup, Cambridge Trotters Mile, ID Trotters Grand Final, two wins in Sweden, Dullard Cup, heat Australasian trotters Championship), Mac De Stroyer (Kumeu Stakes, Taylor Mile, Spring Cup), Ideal Scott (GN Derby YSS Open – 3) and Cyclone U Bolt (Jewels Ruby – 3T).
In a racing career that spanned eight seasons between ages three and eleven (not raced as ten year old), Special Force raced on 108 occasions for twenty seven victories (twenty in NZ, five in Australia, two in Sweden), T1:55.5 Sweden and stakes of $621,829. Beginning racing as a three year old, he recorded one victory. As a four year old his career took off with eight wins from fourteen starts including Thames and Greenlane Trotting Cups both over 3200m together with a second in National Trot and third in NZ Trotting FFA. In the 1998/99 season as a five year old apart from his Interdominion deeds, among his five NZ wins were a FFA at Alexandra Park and Cambridge Trotters Flying Mile while second placed again in National Trot with thirds in Lyell Creek Stakes and Rowe Cup. Australian victories came in Dullard Cup and a heat of Australasian Trotters Championship (second in another heat and third in final). Taken to Europe following the Interdominions, eight Swedish starts resulted in two victories and two third placings including Kalmarsundspokalen at Kalmar (1000m track T1:55.5) plus a third in Copenhagen Cup in Denmark.
At six, his sole NZ win was the NZ Trotters Championship at Addington with two victories in Australia, Bill Collins Mile and Cochran Cup (fourth in Dullard Cup). Winless in Australia at seven (2000/2001) with a third in the Brisbane Interdominion Trotters Grand Final to Take A Moment, he recorded his second wins in both Thames and Greenlane Trotting Cups in NZ. A FFA at Oamaru and a Cambridge victory off 60m were his NZ spoils at eight with third placings in Bank Peninsula/Canterbury Park Trotting Cups and Lyell Creek Stakes. In Australia Special Force won a further heat of the ID Trotters Championship (eleventh in Sydney final). One NZ victory at nine was his final win coming off 70m at Cambridge to go with second placings in City of Sails FFA, Cambridge Trotters Mile and a third in Dominion Hcp. Unraced at ten, he had just two further unplaced starts as an eleven year old in 2004/5 before being retired.
A winning mile heat in T1:57.9 at the 1999 Auckland ID’s was his quickest recorded mile in NZ while the T2:01.0 he set taking out the 2000 running of the Bill Collins Mile at Moonee Valley was his quickest in Australia, although these both pale in comparison to his T1:55.5 in Sweden. Special Force won on eleven occasions at Alexandra Park, five at Cambridge, once at Addington, on four occasions at Moonee Valley and once at Harold Park among his twenty seven victories. Special Force was four year Trotter of year in 1998, five year and older and NZ Trotter of year in 1999 as well as being leading trotting stake earner in 1999.
Special Force’s overall career stats show : NZ 80 starts, twenty wins, nine seconds, twelve thirds, T1:57.9, $319,164; Australia, nineteen starts, five wins, two seconds, two thirds, T2:01.0, $152,600; Sweden, eight starts, two wins, two thirds, T1:55.5, $116,410; Denmark, 1 start for a third, $33,656; total of 108 starts, 27 victories, eleven seconds, seventeen thirds, T1:55.5, $621,830.
Peter Craig
25 July 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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