This is the twenty fifth and final in a series of articles covering the Interdominion (ID) Trotters Championships conducted over the period 1948 – 2012. These articles have been 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 covering the championship and this article providing a statistical analysis of the championships.
Dates – the vast majority of ID Trotters championships were held in either February or March. There were exceptions and these included those held in April – Moonee Valley (1989), Addington (1990, 2003), Alexandra Park (2011 on behalf of NZMTC) and Albion Park (2001); May – Harold Park (1998) and those split over the late January/early February period principally Moonee Valley (2000, 2009, 2010), Melton (2012) and Globe Derby’s split carnival in 2007 (first night Moonee Valley 29 December 2006 with remaining fixtures at Globe Derby in early/mid-January 2007).
Sponsorship played an important and increasing role in most of the ID Trotters carnivals.
Stakes – the stake for the ID Trotters Grand Final has increased substantially since its first running. In 1948, the stake money paid out totalled £2,500 plus £50 Gold Cup increasing significantly through to final year’s running for a purse of $250,000 in 2012. A timeline of stake increases and decreases to the prize money available for the ID Trotters Grand Final is set out below :
1965 for the final series held in pounds sterling, the stake money on offer had increased to £3,125 for the Trotters final at Forbury Park
1966 the first series using decimal currency had $6,000 offered for the Grand Final at Harold Park
1971 Addington was the first to provide a five figure sum for the final with a stake of $10,000 (Globe Derby 1976 also)
1983 with Alexandra Park funding $60,000 for the Grand Final (halved to $30,000 the following two years in Adelaide and Melbourne)
1987 first six figure Trotters Grand Final worth $125,000 run at Addington ($75,000 Moonee Valley 1988 and 1989)
1990 when Addington increased the Grand Final to $160,000 (1995 $150,000) with Alexandra Park almost maintaining this with $150,000 in 1991 (1993 $125,000, Australian tracks maintained at near same levels until Globe Derby in 1997 reduced it to $100,000
2000 Moonee Valley offered what was to prove the biggest ever Grand Final stake of $500,000. Subsequent years saw this decrease appreciably to $200,000 (2001 – 2004, again 2006 – 2007) with an increase to $250,000 for 2005 and remaining years 2008 – 2012
Note – dollar values shown are either NZ or Australian depending on year of championship quoted.
Winners by location – New Zealand trotters clearly led the way winning thirty two of the forty two ID Trotters Grand Finals. Followed by the Victorian trotters with eight wins (three NZ breds won four Grand Finals) and NSW with two (one NZ bred). Precocious was the first Kiwi trotter to win an ID Trotters final on Australian soil in 1973 (Harold Park) while Scotch Notch was the only Australian trotter to win a Grand Final in New Zealand (1983 Alexandra Park). Of the forty two ID Trotters championships, eighteen were held in NZ and twenty four in Australia.
Mares – have an impressive record in the ID Trotters Final saluting the judge on nine occasions (seven individual mares) during the forty two championships including dual winners Scotch Notch and Pride Of Petite. Conversely, geldings won on twenty one occasions (eighteen individual geldings) and entires on twelve.
Leading winning drivers – with four winning drives in ID Trotters Finals Tony Herlihy, MNZM leads the field (Diamond Field 1994, Pride Of Petite 1997, Buster Hanover 1998, Delft 2006 plus eighteen trotting and fourteen pacing heat winning drives). Those with three wins include Anthony Butt (also one Pacing G/F, fourteen trotting and nineteen pacing heats), Mark Purdon (also two Pacing G/F, eight trotting and eight heats) and Gavin Lang (sixteen trotting and nine pacing heats).
Trainers – it is hardly surprising that Mark Purdon features prominently having trained five ID Trotters Final winners, two in partnership with Grant Payne – I Can Doosit (Pride Of Petite 1996, 1997, Buster Hanover 1998, I Can Doosit 2011, 2012 plus sixteen trotting and ten pacing heats and two Pacing G/F). With three wins are Tim Butt (nine trotting and eleven heats, one Pacing G/F) and Chris Lang (fourteen trotting heats same as his father Graeme who trained two Trotters Grand Final winners and a pacing heat winner).
Owners – the most successful apart from those whose horses were dual winners was (Sir) Roy McKenzie with Geffin (1971) and Castletons Pride (1975). Also owning Pacers Grand Final dead heater Jay Ar (1965, Forbury Park. The dual winning owners and respective horses were : Jim Wong (Scotch Notch), Frank “Snow” (FR) Weaver (Pride Of Petite), Long Drive Syndicate (Take A Moment), Neven Botica (Sundons Gift) and Breckon Bloodstock (I Can Doosit).
Distances – the distances for the ID Trotters Grand Final were many and varied depending on the track concerned and also a combination of standing and mobile starts e.g. stands (1948 – 1983; 1995 – 1998; 2000 – 2002; 2004; 2006 2007) and mobiles, the first of which was at Globe Derby in 1984 (1984 – 1994; 1999; 2003; 2005; 2008 – 2012). In the days before metric distances, the shortest final was Addington’s 1 mile and 5 furlongs (13 furs) in 1951 and longest the 16 furlong/2 mile finals at Alexandra Park in 1948, 1951, 1968, Forbury Park in 1965 and Addington in 1971, all standing starts. As for metric distances, Moonee Valley’s mobile 2575m finals from 2008 – 2010 were the shortest with Harold Park’s 3370m standing starts in 1998 and 2002 the longest distances run (3300m at Moonee Valley 1978 stand, 1985 mobile).
Times – as for times run in the ID Trotters Grand Finals, the mile rates in the pre metric era showed the fastest being Stylish Major’s T2:08.2 at Alexandra Park in 1968 and slowest Battle Cry’s T2:12.5 at Alexandra Park in 1955, both from standing stars. In the metric era, standing start records were set by Take A Moment T2:03.2 at Albion Park in 2001 over 3157m while Castletons Pride’s T2:12.8 at Alexandra Park in 1975 was the slowest. Using the mobile starts, the fastest mile rate and only sub two minute time was Sundons Gift first Grand Final victory albeit over the shortest distance at Moonee Valley in 2009 (T1:59.7) while Scotch Notch in her second Grand Final victory in 1985 at Moonee Valley (T2:09.4) recorded the slowest mobile time over 3300mM.
Handicaps – the record for the greatest handicap overcome to win the Trotters Grand Final in the days of the imperial measure is held by Precocious (1973 Harold Park, 48 yds over 15 furs 92 yds) with the 40m handicap overcome by Pride Of Petite in her win at Globe Derby in 1997 the largest in the metrics era (post 1973). Pride Of Petite (1995) and Buster Hanover (1998) both winning off 30m.
Winning margins – the very first ID Trotters Grand Final resulted in a winning margin for Aerial Scott of 2½ lengths, the same as achieved by Stylish Major in 1968 and Play On in 2005. Using a metric measurement, the largest winning margins have been those of Precocious in 1973 (10m) and Sundons Gift’s second Moonee Valley Grand Final victory in 2010. The narrowest margins of victory have been recorded by Take A Moment(2003) and I Can Doosit (2011) – nose; short half head by Pride Of Petite (1997); half head Yamamoto (1966); head in 2004 by Sunthingaboutmaori and Uncle Petrika (2007) with neck victories to Geffin (1971) and Night Allowance in 1993.
Multiple winners – no trotter has won three ID Trotters Grand Finals while there were five dual winners : Scotch Notch (1983, 1985), Pride Of Petite (1996, 1997), Take A Moment (2001, 2003), Sundons Gift (2009, 2010) and I Can Doosit (2011, 2012). Multiple heat winners included Sir Castleton with five; those with four were David Moss, Delft, Scotch Notch, Take A Moment, True Roman, Tussle and Wagon Apollo.
Most starts in Grand Finals – the trotter to have started in most ID Trotters Grand Finals on six occasions was Pride Of Petite (fourteenth Alexandra Park 1993, second Addington 1995, first 1996 Moonee Valley and Glove Derby 1997, fourth Harold Park 1998 and Alexandra Park 1999); those with five Grand Final appearances were Fraggle Rock (eleventh 1990 Addington, first 1991 Alexandra Park 1991, second 1992 Moonee Valley, thirteenth 1993 Alexandra Park and second again in 1994 at Harold Park), Idle Scott (tenth Addington 1990, fifth Alexandra Park 1991, sixth Moonee Valley 1992, failed to finish Harold Park 1994, ninth Addington 1995), Diamond Field (fourth 1993 Alexandra Park, first 1994 Harold Park, third 1995 Addington, sixth 1996 Moonee Valley and sixth again in 1997 at Globe Derby), and Special Force (first Alexandra Park 1999, seventh Moonee Valley 2000, third Albion Park 2001, eleventh Harold Park 2002, fifth Addington 2003).
Youngest winners – four year olds – Geffin (1971) at start number twenty one and (Our) Real Force (1990) at start number twenty nine were the youngest winners of an ID Trotters Final while the oldest winner was Bay Johnny as an eleven year old in 1976 at Globe Derby; ten year olds in Precocious (1973) and Tussle (1987).
Betting – among the longer priced winners have been Derby Royale (50/1, Moonee Valley 1978); Play On (11/11 $49.85 Alexandra Park 2005); Our Real Force (11/11, $42.30 Addington 1990); Fraggle Rock (9/9, $35.85 Alexandra Park 1993); Uncle Petrika (7/7, $31.30 Globe Derby 2007) and Galleons Sunset (8/8, $30.80, Moonee Valley 2008). Outright favourites prevailed in approximately half the Trotters Grand Finals with sub two dollar favourites recording victories in 1985 (Scotch Notch $1.35); 1987 (Tussle $1.45); 1988 (True Roman 6-4); 1996 (Pride Of Petite 5-4); 1997 (Pride Of Petite 22-10); 2003 (Take A Moment $1.50); 2000 (Lyell Creek $1.40); 2010 (Sundons Gift $1.60) and 2012 (I Can Doosit $1.50).
Siring lines – in the breeding barn, leading sire with four ID Trotters Grand Final credits is Sundon (Delft, Galleons Sunset, Sundons Gift twice) with all victories coming in a five year period (2006 – 2010). Surprisingly pacing bred stallion Johnny Globe chimes in next with three credits while those with two credits are Armbro Invasion, Game Pride, Muscles Yankee, Royal Prestige, Scottish Bret and Tuft. These eight stallions account for nearly half of the forty two ID Trotters Final winners. As a dam sire of ID Trotters Grand Final winners Chiola Hanover clearly leads the way with six (Delft, Galleons Sunset, Sundons Gift/I Can Doosit both twice), followed by Great Evander with three and those dam sires with two credits in Game Pride, Jet d’Emeraude, Light Brigade, Lumber Dream, Noodlum, Tarport Kid, Tuft and Widower Scott.
Dam lines – on the maternal side Pride of Lincoln (N1) leads with four winners (Tussle, True Roman, Take A Moment twice) from those families with two each in Dora Parrish (N235), Narelle (N238), Violet M (N26), Brighton Girl (N51), Jessie B (N9), Jane Hunt (U10), Ab (U14) and Fanny Fern by Blind Tuckahoe (U302). Dams of two winners were Ada Glenfern (Scotch Notch twice), Castletons Queen (Castletons Pride, Sir Castleton), Landoras Gift (Sundons Gift twice), Nakura (Take A Moment twice), Petite Evander (Pride Of Petite twice) and Sheezadoosie (I Can Doosit twice).
Major race doubles – the Rowe Cup/Interdominion Trotters Grand Final double in the same year/season was first achieved by Gay Belwin (1950/51, Addington ID), Sir Castleton (1983/4 Globe Derby ID), Yankee Loch (1989 Moonee Valley ID), Diamond Field (1994 Harold Park ID), Lyell Creek (2000 Moonee Valley ID), Take A Moment (2003 Addington ID), Sundons Gift (2009/10 Moonee Valley ID) and I Can Doosit (2010/11 Addington at Alexandra Park ID and 2011/12 Melton ID). A few completed the same double but in different years – Aerial Scott, No Response, Tussle, Yankee Loch and Diamond Field.
The Dominion Handicap/Interdominion Trotters Grand Final double in the same year/season was first achieved by Tussle (1986/7, Addington ID), William Dee (1991/2, Moonee Valley ID), Lyell Creek (1999/2000 Addington ID) and Take A Moment (2002/3 Addington ID). Others completed the same double but in different years/seasons : Precocious, Scotch Notch, Call Me Now and I Can Doosit.
Those to achieve the treble of wins in a Rowe Cup, Dominion Hcp and ID Trotters Grand Final are limited to Tussle, Lyell Creek, Take A Moment and I Can Doosit.
NZ Trotters of Year – of the ID Trotters Grand Final winners, those to have been accorded NZ Trotter of Year status since 1973/4 are : No Response (1979), Scotch Notch (1983), Tussle (1987), Yankee Loch (1989), William Dee (1992), Call Me Now (1995, 1996), Pride Of Petite (1997), Special Force (1999), Lyell Creek (2000, 2001), Take A Moment (2003, 2004), Delft (2006) and I Can Doosit (2011, 2012). No Response (1979), Sir Castleton (1984 jointly with Australian pacer Steel Jaw) and Lyell Creek (2000), Take a Moment (2003) and I Can Doosit (2012) were also named NZ Harness Horse of Year.
Australian Trotter of Year – (since 1976) was awarded to ID Trotters Grand Final winners in Scotch Notch (1983, 1984, 1985), True Roman (1986, 1988, 1889, 1990), Buster Hanover (1998), Lyell Creek (2000, 2001), Take A Moment (2003), Sunthingaboutmaori (2004), Delft (2006), Sundons Gift (2008, 2009, 2010) and I Can Doosit (2012). No trotter has been named Australian Harness Horse of Year since its instigation in 1976.
As can be seen from the listings above, Australasian trotter’s awards reflect a true Trans-Tasman competiveness.
Interesting facts concerning ID Trotters Grand Final winners include –
- Aerial Scott 1946 Rowe Cup winner became first ID Trotters Grand Final winner at Auckland in 1948 (first Rowe Cup/Interdominion Trotters Grand Final winner)
- Doody Townley holds a unique Interdominion driving record with two trotting finals (Stylish Major 1968, Hano Direct 1980) and two pacing final victories both in unusual circumstances – the first a dead heat with Jay Ar when driving Robin Dundee in 1965 at Forbury Park together with victory at Addington in 1971 after finishing second driving Stella Frost who was awarded the Pacers championship title after Juniors Image returned a positive swab
- Half-brother to 1975 Auckland ID Trotters Grand Final winner Castletons Pride, 1984 Adelaide ID Trotters Grand Final winner Sir Castleton’s dam was 1982/3 Broodmare of Year Castletons Queen
- Other ID Trotters Final winners dams awarded NZ Broodmare of Year were Heatherloch (1989 Yankee Loch), Sheezadoosie (2011, 2012 I Can Doosit)
- 1998 winner Buster Hanover’s dam Broomfield Ann was awarded NZ Standardbred Breeders Association Broodmare of Excellence Award
- Only person to breed, own, train and drive an ID Trotters Grand Final winner was the late Carl Middleton with Fraggle Rock at Alexandra Park in 1991
- Trainer/drivers to win ID Trotters finals : Colin Berkett, Charlie Hunter, Jack Carmichael, Cliff Powell, Richard Brosnan, Doody Townley, Peter Davis, Carl Middleton, John Langdon, Barry Purdon (part trainer with father Roy Purdon), Mark Purdon (once on own, twice training in partnership with Grant Payne), Lance Justice, Chris Lang (twice)
- Owner/trainers to win ID Trotters finals : Mawson MacPherson, Dr Cliff Irvine, Carl Middleton, Paul Nairn (part owner of Call Me Now), Brent Lilley, Bryan Healy, Peter Lamb
- Owner/drivers to win ID Trotters finals : Carl Middleton
- Breeder/owner/trainers to win ID Trotters finals : Carl Middleton, Brent Lilley
- Owner/breeder : Fergie Grinder (bred Hano Direct with Clem Scott and owned her with Audrey Townley, wife of trainer/driver Doody), Carl Middleton, Frank “Snow” (FR) Weaver, Bernie Lim, Brent Lilley
- Trotters that completed a clean sweep of all the heats and Grand Final were : Battle Cry (1955), No Response (1979), Sir Castleton (1984), Tussle (1987), True Roman (1988), Yankee Loch (1989), Buster Hanover (1998), Take A Moment (2003), Delft (2006), Sundons Gift (2009, 2010) and I Can Doosit (2012)
- Several members of the millionaire trotters club won the ID Trotters Grand Final over the final decades of the Championship – they were Lyell Creek, Take A Moment, Sundons Gift and I Can Doosit
- ID Hall of Fame inducted trotting horses : I Can Doosit, Pride Of Petite, Scotch Notch, Sundons Gift, Take A Moment
- ID Hall of Fame drivers with links to Trotters Finals are : Anthony Butt, Tony Herlihy MNZM, Gavin Lang, John Langdon, Mark Purdon, Doody Townley,
The calibre of trotters, trainers and drivers revealed in the history of the ID Trotters Grand Finals discloses the outstanding nature of trans-Tasman rivalry amongst our very best square gaiters during the period the championships have been contested. It was a pity that this regular series was not held in the 2013 – 2017 period, equally very pleasing to see it restored to its rightful place at the 2018 Melbourne Interdominions.
Peter Craig
1 November 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
