This is the fourth 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).
1997 GLOBE DERBY – PRIDE OF PETITE
Returning to Adelaide for the first time since 1984, this was Globe Derby’s third Trotters Interdominion and fourth overall (no Trotters ID in 1990). With standing starts being used throughout, the handicaps allocated for the championships were the subject of some considerable debate, mostly negative, prior to the running of the heats and Grand Final. It was to see the crowning of only the second two time Trotters Grand Final winner, both mares (first was Scotch Notch in 1983 and 1985) and first in successive years.
Wednesday 5 March, 2230m : first round of heats
Heat One – HOLDONMYHEART, tr Michael House, dr Clark Barron, T2:54.1/T2:05.7, Lt; Kyvalley Prince (dr Gavin Lang) 2nd; Pride Of Petite (dr Mark Purdon) 3rd
Over the sprint distance of 2230m, the all American bred entire Holdonmyheart (Valley Victory/Lovelorn) owned by Clive and Rona McKay (raced Island Glow in Pacers championships) from the front line clearly defeated those off lengthy handicaps of Diamond Field (30m) and Pride Of Petite (40m) by nine metres.
Heat Two – WAGON APOLLO, tr/dr Graeme Lang, T2.52.7/T2:04.7, 30m; Maoris Dream (dr Trevor Kelly) 2nd; Inda Bank (dr Barry Purdon) 3rd
Wagon Apollo off 30m sustained a lengthy run home to score well but narrowly over his opponents, the closest being Maoris Dream who went down by a neck with 1.2m to Inda Bank. Knight Pistol ruined his chances by breaking.
Saturday 8 March, 2645m : second round of heats
Heat Three – WAGON APOLLO, tr tr/dr Graeme Lang, T3:26.7/T2:05.8, 30m; Diamond Field (dr Paul Cavallaro) 2nd; Maoris Dream (dr Trevor Kelly) 3rd
Holdonmyheart went off stride 300m out when appearing likely to be in the thick of the finish. Wagon Apollo again off 30m over the longer journey sprinted home strongly to win by 5.5m covering his final quarter in 30.4.
Heat Four – PRIDE OF PETITE, tr Mark Purdon, dr Tony Herlihy MNZM, T3:25.9/T2:05.3, 40m; Knight Pistol (dr Kerryn Manning) 2nd; Kyvalley Prince (dr Graeme Lang) 3rd
Rosanna Hest led with Knight Pistol sitting parked out. Backmarker Pride Of Petite made her run with a lap to go for Tony Herlihy, MNZM, powering home to defeat Knight Pistol narrowly but convincingly by three metres, her last quarter in 29.8.
Saturday 15 March, 1997 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 3075m, $100,000
PRIDE OF PETITE (1987 Royal Prestige/Petite Evander mare, family of Brighton Girl N51), owner Frank (FR) Weaver, trainer Mark Purdon, driver Tony Herlihy MNZM, 40m, T3:59.2, T2:05.2, sht ½ hd, ½hd, 22/10 favourite [T1:57.4, $811,816]
Wagon Apollo, tr/dr Graeme Lang, 30m, 2nd
Knight Pistol, tr Peter Manning, dr Kerryn Manning, Lt, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Holdonmyheart, Kyvalley Prince, Diamond Field, Inda Bank, Torledo, Alias Beau, Homer Hawk, Staralee, Maoris Dream, Weston Gee, Rosanna Hest
Consolation : 3075m, $15,000
KAZ, tr/dr Matty Feiss, T4:12.0/T2:1.9, Lt; Gee Ay (dr Gavin Lang) 2nd; Wild Chariot (dr Ricky Thurlow) and Golly Gosh (dr Dick Lee) dead heated for third
The Grand Final field of fourteen consisted of eight off the front line, two off 10m, one off 20m, two off 30m and lone backmarker Pride Of Petite off 40m for the 3075m distance race. One of the great Interdominion Trotters Grand Finals saw literally a hairs breadth between the first three home, the three “big guns”.
Knight Pistol led early before being joined by Holdonmyheart, together they poured the speed on. With a lap to run Pride Of Petite had thirteen others in front of her being well back with Wagon Apollo. With 400m to go, Holdonmyheart took over the lead from Knight Pistol. Pride Of Petite and Wagon Apollo were rattling home from well back and seemingly impossible positions. Knight Pistol regained the lead over Holdonmyheart turning for home. There were three different leaders over the last 200m, initially Holdonmyheart, then Knight Pistol followed by Wagon Apollo but right on the line Pride Of Petite was in front to record successive Trotters Grand Final victories. In the closest of photo finishes she pipped Wagon Apollo by a short half head with a half head back to Knight Pistol and Holdonmyheart only a further neck back.
Pride Of Petite was bred by her owner’s father and son combination of Frank Weaver Snr and Snow (Frank Weaver jnr). By North American stallion Royal Prestige (Speedy Crown/Rosemary; half brother to Magna Force, sire of Amour Angus, dam of the three famous Garland Lobell “Hall” full brothers, Angus, Conway and Andover) out of outstanding Great Evander mare Petite Evander from Light Brigade mare Thearle, she was the winner of twenty one NZ races, T2:02.2 (T1:59.8TT, Alexandra Park, 12 March 1977), $51,670 before venturing to North America, T1:58.0, $765,842, including a win in Sweden in T1:59.1, she became a successful broodmare.
N.B. : The seasons prior to Pride Of Petite’s Globe Derby Trotters Grand Final success (3yo – 8yo) will be covered in the Moonee Valley articles on the Interdominion Trotters Championships at a later date.
Taking a look at her race record from nine years of age (1996/7 season) to retirement to the broodmare paddock shows that Pride Of Petite won on a further thirteen occasions, eight in NZ (six at Alexandra Park, one Cambridge, one Ashburton) and five from fifteen starts in Australia (three at Moonee Valley, two Globe Derby) over two seasons. Major wins were recorded in NZ in Morrinsville Trotting Cup, City of Sails FFA (twice, won on four occasions), National Trot (third win), Challenge Stakes, Ashburton Trotters Mile and ID heat at Alexandra Park. Significant placings were recorded with seconds in NZ Trotting FFA, Dominion Hcp and National Trot. In Australia, her five wins came in two heats of Australasian Trotters Championship (second and third in finals), ID heat and Grand Final at Globe Derby and Bill Collins Mile with thirds in a Dullard Cup and two ID heats (Globe Derby, Harold Park).
Pride Of Petite has the impressive record of the most starts in the Interdominion Trotters Grand Finals with six – 1993 Auckland last place, 1995 second to Call Me Now at Addington, winner in 1996 at Moonee Valley and 1997 at Globe Derby, fourth at Harold Park in 1998 and fourth at Alexandra Park in 1999, her final career start. Fraggle Rock and Diamond Field, both ID Grand Final winners have made the next most Grand Final appearances with five each.
Pride Of Petite was 4yo trotting and four times aged trotting mare of year in NZ, NZ Trotter of Year once, held NZ Trotting Mares Mile record (until One Over Kenny’s T1:57.0 in 2007) as well as leading trotting stake earner in Australia in 1995/6 season. Her quickest mile rate in NZ was her T1:57.4 ID heat win at Alexandra Park in 1999 (final victory) and in Australia T1:59.7 at Moonee Valley. At various times she held eight NZ trotters’ records. When retired following the 1999 Auckland Interdominions her overall career record showed : NZ 114 starts : 24 wins (21 at Alexandra Park), 22 seconds, 11 thirds, $414,996; Australia 24 : 11 – 4 – 4, $364,320; Norway, 1 start, $5,000; Sweden 2 starts $7,500; Denmark 1 start, 1 third $20,000, a total of 142 starts : 35 – 26 – 16, $811,816, T1:57.4, then Australasian record stake earner.
Pride of Petite was the dam of eight live foals, six to race for five winners plus two qualifiers i.e. all eight at least qualified. They included in order of foaling a) Petites Pride (Sundon), non-winner, dam of 11 race winner Regal Petite T2:00.5, $92,541, GN Breeders Stakes – OMT; b) Petite Sunset (Sundon), 7 wins, T2:06.1, $115,070, Greenlane Cup, dam of two foals for two winners Petite Royal (three) and Petite One (seven) for Heather and Lex Williams, fourth Jewels Ruby – 3T; c) Petite Sunrise (Sundon), four NZ wins T2:03.2, $86,167, NZ Trotting Stakes – 2, Jewels Ruby – 2T, Two year old filly trotter of year; one foal to race Rise To Success, winner; d) You’re The Man (Sundon), winner of three, T2:08.1,$19,871; e) Mel Gibson (Pegasus Spur), two race winner T2:06.9, $11,875, sire stood at stud at Pinelea Farm (died); f) Our Dainty Lady (Pegasus Spur), five NZ wins, T 2:04.2, $61,409, third GN Breeders Stakes – OMT, twice fourth in Greenlane Cup, fifth in Cambridge Trotters Flying Stakes; thirteen wins in Australia, T1:57.1, $106,431, Bulli Trotters Cup, second La Coocaracha, third Summer Trotters FFA, now in Queensland, total earnings $167,840.
Pride of Petite is an inductee of the New Zealand Trotting Hall of Fame.
2007 GLOBE DERBY – UNCLE PETRIKA
The most recent and final ID Trotters Championship hosted by Adelaide (fourth and in the case of pacers eleventh hosted in Adelaide) commenced with a first night of heats at Moonee Valley, courtesy of Harness Racing Victoria’s assistance to enable Harness Racing South Australia to provide a traditional ID carnival. Horses were then transported over to Adelaide for the remaining heat and Grand Final. While the pacers had a second series of heats on Wednesday 3 January 2007, the trotters had a longer break until their second round held on Saturday 6 January. Originally 55 nominations received for the trotter’s championship, New Zealand was represented by Glenbogle, Whatsundermykilt, Delft, Summit Invasion and Romper Stomper. One of the carnivals talking points was the walk in method of standing starts, halfway between NZ and European/Scandinavian countries methods. When it worked all was good, when it didn’t, the process had to start all over again.
Friday 29 December at Moonee Valley, 2575m : first round of heats
Heat One – GLENBOGLE, tr Kevin Fairbairn, dr Chris Alford, T3:20.0/T2:04.5, 10m; Viva La Fever (dr Gavin Lang) 2nd;Tamra Dawn (dr Kerryn Manning) 3rd
After being three wide early and during the middle stages, Glenbogle moved into the one by one spot at the bell before managing a 1.5 metre win over Viva La Fever who initially led before surrendering it to Tamra Dawn. Trailing Tamra Dawn at the bell, Viva La Fever used the sprint lane in finishing second although he did break briefly under pressure in the straight. Tamra Dawn after being three wide early took the lead which he held at the bell before succumbing to Glenbogle and being 3.2 metres in arrears of Viva La Fever in third place. Glenbogle came home in a 60.5 last 800m with a final quarter of 30.7 in the opening Moonee Valley heat.
Heat Two –A TOUCH OF FLAIR, tr Russell Thomson, dr Daryl Douglas, T3.20.1/T2:04.1, 20m; Whatsundermykilt (dr Shane Walkinshaw) 2nd; Flying Hardwick (dr Chris Lang) 3rd
Series favourite A Touch of Flair commenced his ID campaign with a 3.8 metre victory after being three wide without cover with a lap to run and whilst three wide with no cover for the last lap he still managed a convincing win. Whatsundermykilt was three wide and two back at the bell and remained there until late with no cover before finishing second in front of Flying Hardwick, 2.8 metres further back after also being three wide early and then parked throughout afterwards outside leader Backa Beyond who wilted to run fifth. Uncle Petrika finished sixth in this later Moonee Valley heat. A Touch Of Flair had run his last 800m in a quicker 57.4 and quarter in 28.4 compared to Glenbogle although a marginally slower overall time was recorded.
Saturday 6 January, 2645m : second round of heats
Racing now moved to Harness Racing South Australia’s Adelaide venue Globe Derby Park. Several withdrawals occurred after the Moonee Valley heats – Delft, Summit Invasion and Romper Stomper leaving just two NZ entrants to compete in the remaining heats and Grand Final.
Heat Three – A TOUCH OF FLAIR, tr Russell Thomson, dr Daryl Douglas, T3:24.1/T2:03.2, 20m; Glenbogle (dr Chris Alford) 2nd; Jauriol (dr Gavin Lang) 3rd
A Touch Of Flair confirmed his pronounced favouritism for the final when a clear winner of his second night heat. After being three wide early Glenbogle took the lead from A Touch Of Flair who settled into the trail. Rounding the home turn he took over running his last 800m in 59.4 with a final quarter in 29.6, to be a five metre winner over Glenbogle with another 9.5 metres back to third place getter Jauriol. A Touch Of Flair who finished second to Delft in his 2006 Melbourne Trotters Grand Final success is by SJ’s Photo from a great producing broodmare in Fionas Flair (see my Classic Mares series article 11 October 2017).
Heat Four – WHATSUNERMYKILT, tr Kevin Fairbairn, dr Shane Walkinshaw, T3:27.5/T2:05.8, 10m; Flying Hardwick (dr Chris Lang) 2nd; Viva La Fever (dr Gavin Lang) 3rd
Under a hard drive from 1000m out when seeking to improve his position, Whatsundermykilt, half-brother to Glenbogle just managed to hold out Flying Hardwick by a half head. Flying Hardwick ran home well after being three wide in the middle stages with Viva La Fever third 2.1 metres away. With a final 800m in a marginally quicker 58.9 and 400m in 29.4, Whatsunderykilt’s overall time was just on 3½ seconds slower than that of A Touch of Flair’s earlier heat win. Uncle Petrika finished fifth after breaking at the start and being held up later, just gaining sufficient points to make the final. Of the twelve starters in the Grand Final, seven were NZ bred trotters.
Final points : A Touch Of Flair 32, Glenbogle/Whatsundermykilt 29, Flying Hardwick/Viva La Fever 24, Motu Miss Anna 18, Bonito/What Ever You Like 17, Jauriol/Uncle Petrika 15, Code Of Honour/Tamra Dawn 14, Backa Beyond 13 (emergency).
Saturday 13 January, 2007 TROTTERS GRAND FINAL, 2645m, $6,000
UNCLE PETRIKA (1999 Britewell/Jenola Bay, family of Mah Honey N191), owner Colin Croft, trainer/driver Lance Justice, Lt, T3:23.1/T2:03.6, hd, 5.1m, 7/7 [T1:56.4US, $342,383]
A Touch of Flair, tr Russell Thomson, dr Daryl Douglas, 20m, 2nd
Whatsundermykilt, tr Kevin Fairbairn, dr Shane Walkinshaw, 10m, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Viva La Fever, What Ever You Like, Motu Miss Anna, Bonito, Code Of Honour, Flying Hardwick, Glenbogle, Jauriol, Tamra Dawn
Depending on which betting agencies odds one considers, this year’s ID Trotters champion paid between $51 through to $76 for the win. With a front running performance from barrier two and a twenty metre start over backmarker A Touch of Flair, Uncle Petrika prevailed by an ever lessening head margin at the finish. Whatsundermykilt finished best of the two half-brothers coming in 5.1. metres behind the first two. Uncle Petrika’s closing sectionals were 59.5 and 29.8. A Touch of Flair was second for the second successive year after coming round three wide in the later stages with his last mile timed in a stunning T1:56.8 and his overall time broke the track record. Whatsundermykilt who followed A Touch Of Flair had to survive a protest from Viva La Fever who finished fourth before confirming his third placing. Stable mate Glenbogle after being three wide in the middle stages and working overtime eventually faded to run tenth. Training on the beach in Adelaide after his arrival following the Melbourne heats certainly assisted Uncle Petrika’s preparation.
Owned by South Australian Colin Croft who earlier had a share in Markovina winner of 1978 Melbourne Pacers ID, raced Sokyola from the same stable as Uncle Petrika who was trained and driven by former South Australian and now Victorian based horseman Lance Justice. Uncle Petrika’s Grand Final victory could almost be classified as a local win (Uncle Petrika was trained in Victoria). Purchased from Canterbury horseman Kevin Townley, son of Doody Townley for a reported $100,000 as a three year old and handed to Justice after having won the SA Trotters Derby heat and first past post in SA Trotters Derby. He was later to lose SA Trotters Derby after returning a positive swab and ran eighth in the Holmfield for his NZ connections.
Uncle Petrika (fourth foal) was bred in New Zealand by Nick and George Katsoulis being by Stars Pride line stallion Britewell (sire of 97 NZ winners including Neville Vaughan, Super Command, Too Much To Do; broodmare sire of 57 in NZ including Bordeaux, Irish Whisper, Sunny Ruby, Superbowlcheerleader) out of non-winning Count Bay mare Jenola Bay (dam of thirteen foals for six winners including Uncle Petrika’s full brother Neville Vaughan T1:56.6, $273,668; Alec Ross five wins). Britewell was also sire of Tamara Dawn who finished last in the Adelaide Trotters Grand Final (T1:57.1US, $141,424, Cochran Trotters Cup). This is the family of Mah Honey N191 whose leading descendants are Uncle Petrika and Neville Vaughan.
Commencing racing as a three year old (2002/3), Uncle Petrika’s three NZ wins included winning first up at Blenheim in January 2003 and twice at Alexandra Park (T2:07.5) while significant placings were seconds to Thedonsson in Hambletonian (timed in T1:59.0 for mile) and GN Derby, fourth NZ Sires Stakes – 3T and fifth NZ Trotters Derby. Taken to Australia where the first three of five three year old starts were for his NZ connections (Margaret Townley, L Farac, Nick and George Katsoulis) including victory in SA Trotters Derby heat before his sale to Colin Croft. He had two starts for Colin Croft at three, winning VIC Trotters Derby heat and placing second to Kyvalley Road in the final.
At four in Australia (2003/4), he recorded five victories from nineteen starts at Maryborough (2), Bendigo and Moonee Valley (2). Competing at his first ID Trotters Championship at Moonee Valley in 2004, his fifth and seventh in the heats got him into the Grand Final where Uncle Petrika finished second last. As a five year old (2004/5), he again crossed the Tasman to compete in the Auckland ID’s where his solitary third, fifth and eighth placings in the heats meant he again started in the Grand Final, this time finishing eleventh. His Australian season comprised three wins at Moonee Valley (two including FFA, T2:03.1) and Kilmore together with a third in SA Trotters Cup. His three Moonee Valley victories at six (2005/6) included Coulter Crown and a FFA.
Uncle Petrika’s final Australian season in 2006/7 saw him annex the ID Trotters Grand Final as described above, finishing third in a heat of Australasian Trotters Championship and on his way to North America late in the season. He left Australasia with earnings of $292,226; NZ seventeen starts for three wins, two seconds, four thirds, $35,158, T2:07.5; AUS 88 : 14 – 12 – 7, $ T2:03.1. In North America, he won on four occasions in a best time of T1:56.4US as a nine year old. His career stats showed total starts of 164 for twenty one wins, twenty one seconds and seventeen thirds, T1:56.4US, $342,383.
Peter Craig
1 May 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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