This is the seventeenth 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).
2005 AUCKLAND – PLAY ON
The ninth Auckland Trotters ID featured the presence of four former Grand Final winners and two future ones in addition to a newly crowned champion. Former winners were Special Force (1999), Lyell Creek (2000), Take A Moment (2001 and 2003) and Sumthingaboutmaori (2004). Those to greet the judge in future championships were Delft (2006) and Uncle Petrika (2007). Australian representation consisted of Uncle Petrika, Sumthingaboutmaori, Gold N Gold, Stirling Kiwi and Sammy Do Good. These Interdominons also featured the unbeaten run in the heats and Grand Final of the Pacers section by Falcon Seelster stallion Elsu.
The Australasian Young Drivers Championship was held during the duration of these Interdominions with heats on the third night (11 March) and Grand Final evening (18 March). Those taking part included James Rattray, Andrew McCarthy, Johnny Cox, John Dunn and defending champion Trevor Mundy (NSW). James Rattray (Tasmania) was eventually crowned champion on countback from Andrew Skalecki (WA) with New Zealand’s Johnny Cox third.
Friday 4 March, 2200mM : first round of heats
Heat One – ALLEGRO AGITATO, tr Phil Williamson, dr Tony Herlihy, T2:45.1/T2:00.7; Sumthingaboutmaori (dr Gavin Lang) 2nd; Lyell Creek (dr Anthony Butt) 3rd
Lyell Creek worked to the led after being beaten off the gate for pace. Allegro Agitato’s performance was the more impressive of the two heats after she was parked for the last 1200m outside Lyell Creek with Sumthingaboutmaori sitting on her back. Allegro Agitato went to the line well winning by a neck margin from Sumthingaboutmaori with a further neck back to Lyell Creek followed half-length back by Pompallier and Uncle Petrika. Her final 800m passed by in 58.8 with 400m in 28.8.
Heat Two – DELFT, tr Michelle Wallis, dr Tony Herlihy, T2:44.4/T2:0.2; Martina H (dr Derek Balle) 2nd; Play On (dr Craig Thornley) 3rd
Delft’s heat win was slightly quicker with Tony Herlihy again doing the steering of his second heat winner on opening night, a neck to the good of Martina H with a final 800m in 58.9, 400m in 29.6, Play On was third three lengths back with another length to Sammy Do Good fourth. Take A Moment was back last and made little ground in the straight finishing eighth.
Tuesday 8 March, 1700mM : second round of heats
Heat Three – TOO MUCH TO DO, tr Mike Austin, dr Blair Orange, T2:06.0/T1:58.2; Lyell Creek (dr Anthony Butt); Sumthingaboutmaori (dr Gavin Lang)
Too Much To Do established a new national mare’s record for 1700mM with her sub two minute mile rate time of T2:06.0/T1:58.2, final 800m in 58.9 and closing 400m in 29.6. Only just managing to win, she had a head to spare over Lyell Creek, a further neck back to Sumthingaboutmaori and three quarters of a length to Marie Wishes. Opening night heat winner Delft finished sixth.
Heat Four – MARTINA H, tr/dr Derek Balle, T2:07.0/T2:00.2; Allegro Agitato (dr Tony Herlihy) 2nd; Uncle Petrika (dr Lance Justice) 3rd
Martina H’s win in the second heat on night two was a little slower than her female counterpart Too Much To Do with little to spare finishing a nose in front of first night winner Allegro Agitato but three lengths clear of Uncle Petrika and a half neck back to Glenbogle with Take A Moment next home.
Friday 11 March, 2700mM : third round of heats
Heat Five – POMPALLIER, tr/dr Richard Brosnan, T3:28.6/T2:04.3; Allegro Agitato (dr Mark Purdon) 2nd; Too Much To Do (dr Blair Orange)
1979 Grand Final winning trainer/driver Richard Brosnan was back in the limelight in tonight’s opening heat with Pompallier completing his thirteenth win at Alexandra Park, all at 2700m.He went onto record a further five wins at Alexandra Park (eighteen in total) with only one not at 2700m (2200m with another two wins coming at Addington. Pompalier won by a head from Allegro Agitato with a last 800m in 58.4 and 400m in 30.2. Too Much To Do finished three quarters of a length behind Allegro Agitato with Take A Moment a similar distance further back.
Heat Six – DELFT, tr Michelle Wallis, dr Tony Herlihy, T3:26.1/T2:02.8; Martina H (dr Derek Balle) 2nd; Sammy Do Good (dr Kate Gath) 3rd
Lyell Creek was checked by the galloping Lanson causing him to gallop and finish tenth of twelve starters. Delft dominated with a three quarters of a length victory over Martina H with half-length to Sammy Do Good and Play On three lengths away fourth. Delft ran his final 800m in 60 seconds, last 400m in 40.7.
Tonight’s Australasian Young Drivers heat was won by Andrew McCarthy.
Friday 18 March, 2005 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 2700mM, $250,000
A big night for the small mid Canterbury township of Darfield who had two ID Grand Finalists this evening. In the Pacers final Steve Roulston’s Bobs Blue Boy who won a heat on night three represented Darfield finishing ninth in the hands of Craig Thornley. The Trotters final produced a somewhat different result for Darfield’s representative Play On as outlined below.
The final Australasian Young Drivers heat was taken out by defending champion Trevor Munday (NSW). As reported earlier James Rattray (Tasmania) was crowned champion after this evening’s heat.
PLAY ON (1997 Bellam/Fair Paly gelding, family of Dusky Morn N20), owner/trainer Peter Lamb, driver Craig Thornley, T3:24.5/T2:01.8, 2½l, 2¾l, nose,11/11 favourite [T2:01.8, $290,649]
Major Decision, tr Joseph Clementson, dr Glen Wolfenden, 2nd
Pompallier, tr/dr Richard Brosnan, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Glenbogle, Delft, Lyell Creek, Sammy Do Good, Too Much To Do, Sumthingaboutmaori, Take A Moment, Uncle Petrika, Allegro Agitato, Martina H (disqualified from second)
Consolation : 2700mM, $30,000
LANSON, tr Kevin Walker & Tanaia Wallwork, dr Nicole Thorn, T3:26.6/T2:03.1; Prince Sundon (dr David Butt) 2nd; Young Pointer (dr Brent Mangos) 3rd
Play On drew one and the obvious race plan from Craig Thornley was to use her devastating sprint finish. Thornley’s cousin Todd MacFarlane had driven the most recent Alexandra Park ID Trotters Grand Final winner Special Force in 1999 – he was contesting his sixth Interdominions although he didn’t make the final (ran in five Grand Finals between 1999 – 2003). Glenbogle led with Major Decision trailing him while Play On was three back on the marker pegs. Martina H went clear but galloped at the 250m mark when appearing to be home for all money, later being disqualified from the second placed position she finished in. Play On made maximum use of the passing lane sprinting home to win by the clear margin of 2½l from Major Decision who had a further 2¾l to spare over Pompallier who just got up by a nose to nab Glenbogle out of third.
Delft and Lyell Creek were well back at the 800m with plenty to do and so it proved. As for past/future ID champions, Delft ended up fifth, Lyell Creek sixth, Take A Moment tenth and Uncle Petrika eleventh. Play on trotted his final 800m in 60.4 and 400m in 30 seconds. Play On was at the lucrative odds of 50/1 ($49.85) and eleventh favourite in the thirteen horse field. Play On’s win made up for Addington in 2003 when he was scratched on the morning of the Grand Final after suffering from a cold and the hard series he endured.
Hororata couple Gavin and Helen Mills were Play On’s breeders. A modestly bred gelded trotter from Plat Du Jour stallion Bellam (winner of fourteen, seven at three, Rosso Antico Stakes [GN Trotters Derby], $111.410, T2:05.6, sire of thirty seven mainly trotting winners in NZ, broodmare sire of My Rhythm Of The Night, Yearling Sales Series Trot, T1:56.1US) was out of pacing bred mare Fair Play (Vance Hanover) who Mills advised could pace but trotted like a stag.
Play On, owned by former Policeman and hobby trainer Peter Lamb, who is now the starter at Addington Raceway and Canterbury tracks plus a Racing Investigator/Stipendiary Steward based in Christchurch for the New Zealand Racing Integrity Unit. Lamb initially leased Play On with a $5,000 right of purchase which he soon exercised.
Play On started on ninety eight occasions (four in Australia for two thirds, $4,000) for fourteen victories, seven seconds and eleven thirds in New Zealand for stakes of $286,649, T2:01.8. Racing for seven seasons between the ages of four and ten with almost half of his wins coming in his first season, six from sixteen starts, twice on the grass at both Methven and Rangiora and at Addington. Two victories at Addington as a five year old together with a third in the Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup on the grass at Motukarara. At age six, again winning at Addington and placing third in the Ashburton Trotters Flying Mile.
Play On’s biggest season as a seven year old commenced with a third in the Dominion Hcp to Lyell Creek prior to his Interdominion heroics in Auckland in March 2005 as described above – heat placing and winner of ID Trotters Grand Final, finishing leading stake earning trotter in 2004/5 ($143,929).Travelling to Australia at eight recording thirds in the Knight Pistol Trot and Bendigo Plate to go with a fifth and tenth in ID Trotters heats (emergency for the Grand Final but did not gain entry into the field). In NZ he won at Rangiora, ran second in NZ Trotting FFA and third again in Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup.
Up until now Peter Lamb had been his trainer but this task passed over to Joanne Burrows from the start of his nine year old career. Play On finally won the Banks Peninsula Totting Cup as well as Ashburton Boxing Day Trot and his final victory at Addington to go with a third in Ashburton Trotters Flying Mile. Six unplaced starts as a ten year old brought a conclusion to Play On’s career. Driver Craig (CD) Thorney remained his constant attendee throughout his career with Todd MacFarlane just four times, Mike De Filippi twice and Colin De Filippi once driving him for a win. Peter Lamb trained him for eleven of his wins and Joanne Burrows three.
2011 AUCKLAND (on behalf of NZMTC, Addington) – I CAN DOOSIT
The tenth and final Auckland Trotters ID at Alexandra Park in March/April 2011 was held on behalf of Christchurch’s NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club as a result of the 6.3 earthquake on Tuesday 22 February 2011 which caused widespread devastation in the garden city of Christchurch. A little over a month later, the whole ID carnival had been transferred to Alexandra Park following an offer from the Auckland Trotting Club to accommodate Addington’s “latest” Interdominion. It would simply not have been possible to have run the Interdominions in Christchurch at that time.
The Australian contingent consisted of Let Me Thru, Sundons Gift going for three consecutive Interdominions, Ronerail, Kyvalley Mac and Danny Cash part owned by Sharon Lang, wife of Chris Lang Snr (CW Lang). European interest was provided with the entry of Swedish trotter Annicka with caretaker trainer Kerryn Manning looking after her through the opening round of heats prior to the arrival of trainer/driver Jurgon Westholm for the second round of heats and finals night.
Although not achieved on race night, Imthemightyquinn recorded the first of his three consecutive ID Pacers Grand Final wins (2012 Gloucester Park, 2013 Menangle). Smoken Up was first past the post but later disqualified after returning a positive test.
Friday 25 March, 2700mM : first round of heats
Heat One – DR HOOK, tr Paul Nairn, dr Jim Curtin, T3:25.2/T2:02.2; Springbank Richard (dr Nathan Williamson) 2nd; Beat The Monarch (dr Mark Jones) 3rd
Trained by master trotting trainer Paul Nairn, Dr Hook won the opening heat of the carnival by a nose over a fast finishing Springbank Richard with 1¼l to Beat The Monarch and half-length to Raydon who produced a good finish for fourth. I Can Doosit was fifth ahead of Swedish trotter Annicka but Sundons Gift was out of sorts placing eleventh. Dr Hook’s closing sectionals were 58.5 and 28.7.
Heat Two – LET ME THRU, tr Chris Lang, dr Chris Lang Jnr, T3.24.5/T2:01.8; Sovereignty (dr Maurice McKendry) 2nd; Stylish Monarch (dr Ricky May) 3rd
Let Me Thru was an impressive winner for Chris Lang jnr although having only a neck to spare over Sovereignty who placed after a tough run three quarters of a length to the good of Stylish Monarch with Great Getaway 3¾l away fourth. The final 800m was completed in 59 seconds and 400m in 28.5.
Friday 1 April, 2200mM : second round of heats
Heat Three – RAYDON, tr Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan, dr Tony Herlihy, T2:44.8/T2:00.5; Stylish Monarch (dr Ricky May); Sovereignty (dr Maurice McKendry)
After a fourth in his opening heat, Raydon scored his first win for fifteen months at Alexandra Park. Following a false start Raydon’s was a strong win over Stylish Monarch who finished well from near last with a lap to run roaring past Sovereignty in the final twenty metres. Lets Get Serious finished fourth while first night winner Dr Hook was buried in the field running on for seventh.
Tony Herlihy’s winning drive was his seventeenth in trotter’s heats to go with four trotters Grand Final wins (Diamond Field, Pride Of Petite, Buster Hanover, Delft) and a trotter’s consolation with Breton Abbe. Overall he has had a total of thirty six ID victories (Pacers/Trotters heats, consolations and Grand Finals), second only to Anthony Butt with thirty seven which includes 11 trotters heats and three trotters Grand Finals. From an Australian perspective, Gavin Lang is tops on the trotters side with seven heats, three Grand Finals and a consolation victory (eleven plus with pacing successes twenty one overall). Brian Hancock is leading Australian with thirty two ID victories, all pacing including five Pacers Grand Finals. All aforementioned are ID Hall of Fame Drivers.
Heat Four – LET ME THRU, tr Chris Lang, dr Chris Lang Jnr, T2:44.9/T2:00.6; Springbank Richard (dr Nathan Williamson) 2nd; I Can Doosit (dr Mark Purdon) 3rd
Let Me Thru was again impressive although the margins were small. With only one behind him with a lap to run and further back than second place getter Springbank Richard, Let Me Thru used his speed coming from well back to win with a last 800m in 58.8, 400m in 29.4. Springbank Richard having caused the second false start of the evening and being sent from barrier two to the outside, flashed home for his second placing a half neck from Let Me Thru. I Can Doosit led Annicka turning in before the spirited finishes of Let Me Thru and Springbank Richard were unleashed. I Can Doosit was 1¼l in arrears and three quarters length clear of fourth placed Danny Cash with Annicka in ninth place. Chris Lang jnr was fined $250 for not having Let Me Thru on the gate at the start.
Friday 8 April, 2011 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 2700mM, $250,000
A notable achievement for the Lang family with Chris Lang jnr (CA Lang) joining older family members to have driven in ID Trotters Grand Finals. Grandfather Graeme (seven drives for two wins with Scotch Notch), uncle Gavin (sixteen for three wins with True Roman, Game Bid, Sumthignaboutmaori), father Chris Snr (CW Lang, eight for two wins with Sundons Gift; ninth drive with Sundons Gift in 2012 final at Melton) and now Chris Lang jnr having his first drive in the Auckland final on Let Me Thru.
Grand Final night was named the “Red and Black Race night” in support of Christchurch city following the recent earthquakes, Red and Black being the colours of local sporting teams including the Crusaders Super Rugby team.
I CAN DOOSIT (2005 Muscles Yankee/Sheezadoosie gelding, family of Ab U14), owner Breckon Racing Syndicate, trainer Mark Purdon & Grant Payne, driver Mark Purdon, T3:23.0/T2:00.9, neck, neck, 1¼l, 5/5 favourite [T1:55.5, $1,377,319]
Let Me Thru, TR Chris Lang, dr Chris Lang Jnr, 2nd
Stylish Monarch, tr Murray Tapper, dr Ricky May, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Raydon, Sovereignty, Dr Hook, Great Getaway, Springbank Richard, Lets Get Serious, Lleyton H, Beat the Monarch, Danny Cash, Master Bomber
Consolation : 2700mM, $28.800
ANNICKA, tr/dr Jorgen Westholm, T3:25.1/T2:02.2; Mon Star (dr Ricky May) 2nd; Ronerail (dr Grant Campbell) 3rd
The favourite Let Me Thru drew the outside barrier position behind the mobile arm while I Can Doosit was only one better drawn inside him. Heat winner’s Raydon started from ten and Dr Hook eight respectively. In a stunning Kiwi triumph over an inform Australian horse in Let Me Thru driven aggressively by Chris Lang jnr, I Can Doosit succeeded by the merest of margins a neck with Stylish Monarch closing late for third a further neck back followed by Raydon 1¼l away after being in the open most of the last lap. Let Me Thru rallied after being passed in the straight to be half a length back at 50m closing to within a neck of I Can Doosit at the winning post.
Earlier Stylish Monarch was the early leader before Sovereignty took the lead after which Maurice McKendry handed up to Chris Lang jnr when he came looking for the lead with Let Me Thru. At this point Let Me Thru had Springbank Richard parked outside him, Sovereignty trailing him and Stylish Monarch three back on the rails. Raydon gave I Can Doosit a good drag up to the home straight after which he powered home for a close victory from a gallant Let Me Thru and the unlucky Stylish Monarch who flew home from three back the rails. The final 800m was trotted in 57.1 and 400m in 28.5.
Annicka struck a blow for the European trotter with her win in the consolation making her the first Swedish trotter to win a race in the Southern Hemisphere. After sixth and ninth placings in the heats, she won the consolation by a neck from Mon Star with Ronerail three quarters of a length back a half neck clear of fourth placed Kyvalley Mac. Annicka remained in New Zealand for a further two starts, third in the Group One NZ Trotters Championship at Addington behind Stylish Monarch and I Can Doosit and thirteenth in the Rowe Cup to I Can Doosit. In her five starts, she had won once and placed third in Group Three races for stakes of $25,505, T2:02.2 (T1:55.1 Sweden, Swedish Trotters Oaks).
I Can Doosit was bred by Breckon Bloodstock Ltd, principal Ken Breckon who with his brother the late Peter Breckon founded Hydroflow in 1985, initially specialising in servicing pump shops and milking machine companies with predominantly rural water regulating products. Hydroflow operates from purpose built warehousing and distribution facilities in Auckland, Christchurch and Melbourne.
The Breckons initial harness racing involvement was with fine mare Megaera (1:56.8, $250,646), two year filly pacer of year and winner of Delightful Lady/Caduceus Club Fillies Classics, Fillies Yearling Sales Series at both two and three, Thames Golden Mile and three year old Fillies Sires Stakes, dam of Penthouse Pete (1:54.1US), grand dam of Katy Perry (1:51.1, $500k+, at two Tatlow Memorial, Yearling Sales Series and Breeders Crown for fillies, AUST 2yo filly of year) and third dam of Shandale (1:53.7), Our Major Mama (WA Oaks).
This led to numerous other ownership interests over the years and the purchase of Sandy Yarndley’s property at Ohaupo (Yarndley Farms), now Breckon Farms. Based near Te Awamutu in the Waikato, Breckon Farms is home to the finest in Australasian harness racing including broodmares, weanlings, yearlings and race horses.
I Can Doosit was five when he won the Trotters ID in Auckland and both he and runner up Let Me Thru were bred using frozen semen from champion American stallion Muscles Yankee (millionaire, T1:52.2US, Yonkers Trot, Hambletonian, Breeders Crown). A leading sire worldwide including Muscle Hill, Deweycheatumnhowe, Mr Muscleman and in Australasia High Gait, Let Me Thru, Our Twentyten, Skyvalley to mention just a few. I Can Doosit was from Chiola Hanover mare Sheezadoosie (Speedy Crown/Becalm Lobell), a good trotting mare the winner of seven races, second in GN Breeders Stakes, $48,631, T2:04.2 and twice NZ Broodmare of Year. In addition to I Can Doosit, all her six live foals were winners including full brother Snos Big Boy (fifteen wins, T1:58.4, $215,308, Cambridge Flying Stakes, City Of Sails FFA), Heezadoo Early (five wins) and full sister Yankeedoosie (four wins).
I Can Doosit was owned by the Breckon Breeding Syndicate, an early product of the Breckon racing empire. His race record up to the completion of the Interdominion championship in Auckland showed twenty five starts in NZ for thirteen wins, two seconds, three thirds, $367,753, T1:56.7 and one NZ record over 2700mM of T3:22.6. In Australia to this stage, I Can Doosit had started on four occasions for two wins, $57,876, T2:03.8.
At three, I Can Doosit won two of his four starts at Timaru and Oamaru, finishing twelfth in the Jewels Ruby at three. Bigger things were achieved at four when he won eight from thirteen starts including NZ Trotters 4/5yo Championship, Greenlane Cup and Jewels Ruby for four year old trotters at Cambridge in T1:56.7 together with a third in NZ Trotters Championship and fifth in Rowe Cup. He had won five straight at one point during the season, five at Alexandra Park, two at Cambridge and one at Addington.
Moving to a higher level at five, when up to the conclusion of the Auckland Interdominions he had won three of eight starts, two at Auckland including ID Trotters Grand Final and Lyell Creek Stakes together with Kaikoura’s South Bay Trot, with placings achieved in ID heats (third and fifth) and a second in Dominion Hcp. In Australia, his four starts yielded wins in Cochran Trotters Cup and a heat of Australasian Trotters Championship (fourth in final) and fifth in Australian Trotting Grand Prix. I Can Doosit had reached and was achieving at the highest level of Australasian trotting ranks.
The balance of I Can Doosit’s race career will be outlined as part of the Melton 2012 ID Trotters Championship. His overall career record showed forty seven starts in NZ for thirty victories, four seconds and three thirds, T1:55.5, $1,139,694; in Australia his eight starts brought six wins, $306,080, T1:59.8.
Peter Craig
1 August 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
