Melbourne hosted its first Interdominion (ID) Pacing series in 1950 at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds (first Melbourne ID incorporating trotters held at Moonee Valley in 1978).
These championships were determined over three heats of 11 furlongs, 15½ furlongs and 12½ furlongs with the Grand Final over 14 furlongs for a prize of £10,000, a 50 guineas trophy, sashes to first four finishers and a badge for each driver in the final. The ID heats were run in February 1950 on Saturday 11, Saturday 18 and Wednesday 22 and the Grand Final on Saturday 25. A total of £28,500 was allocated to the series by the Trotting Control Board of Victoria and a total of 54 nominations were received.
The original Melbourne Showgrounds track (ring) in 1883 was 880yds round, shortened to 660 yds in 1890 and then post WW1 to WW2 the track size was reduced to 550yds. The track was altered post WW2 to 600m (660yds/3 furlongs and opened for business under lights on 15 November 1947 (last TAB meeting at Royal Showgrounds held on 22 September 1998).
Thanks to a £100,000 loan from the Royal Agricultural Society, the track facilities were able to be brought up to the required standard. The track itself consisted of a six inch layer of volcanic sand, six inches of ashes and four inches of ground sea shells. Even with all that the track was of postage stamp proportions, similar to Adelaide’s metropolitan track of that period at the Wayville Showgrounds (550m circumference).
Saturday 11 February 11 fursSS : first round of heats
Heat One – GLOBE DIRECT, tr/dr Maurice Holmes, 2:59.2/2:09.2, 24 yds; Dawn Volo (dr Geddes Luck) 2nd; Dauntless Peter (dr Lester Maidens) 3rd
Heat Two – CLAUDE DERBY, tr/dr Roy Shaw, 2:56.2/2:08.1 (track record), Lt; Darby Globe (dr Dinny Brynes) 2nd; Sir Nigel (Alan Thompson) 3rd
Heat Three – AVIAN DERBY, tr/dr, Syl Bray, 2:59.0/2:10.1, Lt; Jack Hope (dr Tommy Wilson) 2nd; Meadow Chief (dr Matt Kelly) 3rd
Opening night was a triumph for the Globe Derby line horses with all three winners tracing back to the great horse. Coming from a seemingly hopeless position, Maurice Holmes got Globe Direct off 24 yards home an easy winner in the opening heat. Rising Victorian star Claude Derby bettered the previous track record by two seconds when narrowly winning the second heat. Avian Derby who would later win the 1952 Pacers Grand Final in Sydney, had a half head and half neck to spare in defeating fellow NSW horse Jack Hope and West Australian Meadow Chief, while Captain Sandy off 24 yards recorded the fastest time in finishing fourth in the third heat. Avian Derby became the first horse to pace a two minute time in Australia in 1952 at Harold ark (2:00.0TT, 16 April 1952). Ken Dyer was one of three timekeepers for this time trial attempt.
Saturday 18 February 15½ fursSS : second round of heats
Heat Four – CLAUDE DERBY, tr/dr Roy Shaw, 4:17.8/2:13.0, Lt; Sprayman (dr Clarry King) 2nd; Findon Queen (dr Wally Bowyer) 3rd
Heat Five – TIVOLI STAR, tr/dr Bill McKay, 4:18.8/2:13.5, Lt; Miss Wingate (dr Bob Hughes) 2nd; Congo Star (Clarry King) 3rd
Heat Six – DARBY GLOBE, tr George Gath, dr Dinny Brynes,4:19.0 2:13.6, Lt; Silver Peak (dr Frank Culbert) 2nd; Byraid (dr Tas Spink) 3rd
Second night victories over the longer 15½ furlong journey went the way initially of Claude Derby making it a double for the Championship with another close head and head victory over Sprayman and Findon Queen with Globe Direct fourth in the fastest heat time; Tivoli Star won his heat while Darby Globe won by a half head over Silver Peak and Byraid and Captain Sandy ended up seventh after meeting trouble at the half mile, breaking and losing 100 yards.
Wednesday 22 February 12½ fursSS : third round of heats
Heat Seven – FINDON QUEEN, tr Bob Norman, dr Wally Bowyer, 3:24.2/2:10.6, Lt; Congo Song (dr Maurice Holmes) 2nd; Hatteras (dr Albert “Darkie” Gath) 3rd
Heat Eight – NEVAMAID, tr/dr Tom Butterworth, 3:23.4/2:09.6, 12 yds; Jack Hope (dr Tommy Wilson) 2nd; Captain Sandy (Freeman Holmes) 3rd
Heat Nine – SPRAYMAN, tr Alan Holmes, dr Clarry King, 3:25.4/2:11.0, 12 yds; Silver Peak (dr Frank Culbert) 2nd; Dawn Volo (dr Geddes Luck) 3rd
Inevitably, every Interdominion has its sensation and Melbourne 1950 was no different, coming in the eighth heat won by Nevamaid. This heat was contested by backmarkers Globe Direct and Captain Sandy who made up considerable extra ground before placing third beaten six yards and two yards by Nevamaid and Jack Hope. However in doing so Captain Sandy’s driver Freeman Holmes (son of Free and brother of Maurice) was suspended for his driving tactics that caused pre post favourite Claude Derby suffer severe injuries necessitating his withdrawal from the Grand Final field (sprained off fore fetlock pulling up lame).
Holmes was suspended for three months for the alleged interference to Claude Derby, on appeal held only hours before the final, his suspension was doubled to six months. Captain Sandy only just made the final field after finishing fourth, seventh and third with fastest time in third heat. Leading Sydney driver Jack Watts was engaged to drive Captain Sandy in the Grand Final.
In the other two heats, Findon Queen ran down Congo Song who led from two furling’s out to be beaten by five yards and Sprayman sprinted home effortlessly to win the final heat.
The points leader at the ninth Interdominion series was Claude Derby (VIC) with ten points followed by Darby Globe, Globe Direct, Silver Peak (8), Sprayman (7), Findon Queen (6), Jack Hope, Nevamaid, Captain Sandy (5), Tivoli Star, Avian Derby, Miss Wingate, Dawn Volo (4) and Congo Song (3). The Trotting Control Board stated that the ten highest point’s scorers would start in the final with the right to increase this number. Eleven horses were slated to start in the final with Tivoli Star and Avian Derby missing out in the ballot of the four horses with four points.
Saturday 25 February – PACERS GRAND FINAL, 14 fursSS £10,000 ($20,000) plus 50 guineas trophy, sash to first four finishers and badge for each driver (£7,500, £1,750, £500, £250)
Claude Derby had to be withdrawn due to injury with driver changes necessary for favourite Darby Globe due to trainer/driver Dinny Brynes being injured in a car accident and Captain Sandy due to Freeman Holmes suspension. The record Melbourne crowd of 36,055 on finals night awakened to a day that dawned hot and humid with the heavens opening up three quarters of an hour prior to the Grand Final with torrential rain falling.
CAPTAIN SANDY (1933 Sandydale/Waikaura gelding, family of Rosebud by Tempest A231), owner/trainer Jock Bain, driver Jack Watts, 24 yds, 3:52.6/2:11.8, hd, 3 yds, 6/1 [2:02.0TT, $87,424]
Globe Direct, tr/dr Maurice Holmes, 24 yds, 2nd
Sprayman, tr Alan Homes, dr Clarry King, 12 yds, 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Darby Globe, Dawn Volo, Jack Hope, Nevamaid, Miss Wingate, Silver Peak, Findon Queen
After Silver Peak had lost all chance at the start, Dawn Volo was the early leader before Globe Direct (Maurice Holmes) went to the front with a little over a half mile to run. Finishing on from third last, Captain Sandy engaged in a two horse home straight battle with Globe Direct who ultimately was unable to withstand this challenge going under by a head. Sprayman rounded out an all New Zealand trifecta.
Consolations : 12½ fursSS, £1,000 ($2,000)
CONGO SONG, tr Alan Homes, dr Clarry King, 3:26.2/2:12.0, Lt; Amorous (dr Albert “Darkie” Gath) 2nd; Jacky Ranj (dr Roy Shaw) 3rd
HATTERAS, tr/dr Albert “Darkie” Gath, 3:29.0/2:13.8, Lt; Lu Raider (dr Bill Shinn) 2nd; Miraculous (dr Bruce Coram jnr) 3rd
New Zealand horses continued on their winning way when Congo Song narrowly won the first of two consolations while Albert “Darkie” Gath gained due reward following his close second with Amorous by taking out the second consolation with Hatteras.
Captain Sandy was by leading imported son of Abbedale in Sandydale (Abbedale/Ioleen McKinney), bred by Bob Ludemann, Kauru Hill, Oamaru and originally leased by him to Oamaru trainer Jock Bain. Following the 1951 Addington Interdominions Bain returned Captain Sandy to Ludemann who tried him with Wes Butt and George Benny for whom he recorded a couple of placings, After Benny returned him to his owner in mid-1952 (June), Dinny Nolan managed to purchase him nine months before the Perth ID’s for 525 guineas following a recommendation from Sandydale’s owner John Johnston of Oamaru. Johnston had first leased then purchased Sandydale from Gore breeder George Youngson. Dinny Nolan was later killed in a car accident near Menangle.
Sandydale (1933, 2:01¾US) was bred by the Village Farm, Pennsylvania and imported to New Zealand by George Youngson in 1937. Youngson had some insight as among his many imported stallions were Adioo Guy (sire of Grand Mogul 1940 Perth ID), Hal Tryax (Cardigan Bay, 1963 Adelaide ID; Robin Dundee, dead heated with Jay Ar, 1965 Dunedin ID), Dillon Hall who he bred to the filly Rustic Maid leaving 1950 NZ Cup winner Chamfer, sire of 1966 Sydney ID winner Chamfers Star who made a clean sweep of three heats and Grand Final.
Sandydale died in 1957 and as a sire left 185 winners (154 pacers, 31 trotters) including Beaudale (Fremantle Cup), Heliopolis (Otahuhu Cup), Invicta (NZ Cup), Navigate (Hannon Memorial) and as a broodmare sire he featured with Cardinal King (see later), Holy Hal (NZ Derby, two ID heats), champion pacer and sire Johnny Globe (NZ/GN Derbies, NZ Cup, NZFFA twice), Waitaki Hanover (GN Derby, Auckland Cup, NZFFA, Hunter Cup, ID Consolation/heat).
Captain Sandy’s dam was unraced Guy Parrish mare Waikaura from Misty Morn tracing back to Australian mare Ella G, a daughter of Vancleve and Andrew Town’s Childe Harold stallion Tempest. Waikaura was one of nine filly foals left by Misty Morn, purchased for 13 guineas at auction in the early 1930’s by Bob Ludemann. Waikaura produced nothing of note until Captain Sandy, refusing outright to allow her newly born foal to suckle although eventually permitting him to drink.
Captain Sandy’s full sister, the unraced Information (due to wind problem) left his “nephew” the speedy First Lord (competed in 1951 Addington ID’s) and gelding Cardinal King (2:01.1US, $202,662), a participant in Marty Tananbaum’s Yorkers international Series in 1967 of which he made a clean sweep. Cardinal King, trained by Jack Behrns was the winner of a number of feature races in NZ before being sold for $40k to clients of Stanley Dancer. In North America he won the open class paces US National Championship, Dan Patch FFA, International and Good Time Paces. Waikaura can therefore be accorded high status as either matron or grand matron of two fine performers although she herself was a fiery customer.
Captain Sandy commenced racing in NZ from the stable of Jock Bain who drove him in his early NZ races. Winning his first start for Bain as a four year old at the Winton Jockey Club meeting in February 1947 with a further five placings in another fifteen four year old starts. At five, he won three races and placed on seven occasions for stakes of £2,150.
At this stage Bain engaged James Bryce jnr (attended 1925 Australasian Championship in Perth with Great Hope and Taraire) to drive Captain Sandy. They combined for eleven wins and six placings from seventeen starts (£10,729) over the next two seasons including the Auckland Cups of 1948 and 1949 (36 yards) and a second to Loyal Nurse in her 1949 NZ Cup success. Bryce’s 1949 Auckland Cup (last of four Auckland Cups – others with Shadow Maid and Sea Born) success was the eleventh and final Auckland Cup victory for the Bryce family, starting with Cathedral Chimes in 1915 for trainer/driver Scotty Bryce.
Regular pilot James Bryce jnr, incurred a three month suspension in Auckland robbing him of the opportunity to drive Captain Sandy at the 1950 Melbourne ID’s. As outlined earlier, Freeman (FG) Holmes did the driving in Melbourne, at least for the three heats with leading Sydney driver Jack Watts driving Captain Sandy to win the 1950 Melbourne ID Grand Final following Holmes suspension.
Racing off long marks with no wins for two seasons in NZ after the 1950 ID’s, Captain Sandy qualified for 1951 ID Grand Final in Christchurch after placing second and fourth in heats but unplaced off 36 yards in the final for driver Tubby Gray. Captain Sandy didn’t contest the 1952 Sydney ID’s. The 1953 Perth ID’s were his third Interdominion championships where he became the first two time and oldest ever (ten year old) Interdominion winner as well as the first non-Tasmanian Interdominion Grand Champion in Perth (Evicus (1936), Logan Derby (1940) and Bandbox (1947). Captain Sandy now representing South Australia, was owned and trained by Adelaide resident, former West Australian Dinny (DJ) Nolan (born in South Africa) and driven by young Western Australian reinsman Bob (R) Pollock.
A number of notable performances followed closely after the completion of the Perth Interdominions. On the Monday following the Grand Final , Captain Sandy time trialled a 1:59.0 mile at Gloucester Park and another two nights later (Wednesday) on Bunbury’s half mile track time trialled in a sensational 1:57½. Neither time was approved officially by United States Trotting Association as the pacemaker headed the horse making the record attempt, which was not permitted.
Remarkably he contested two more Interdominions in Adelaide in 1954 where he finished a creditable fourth in the Grand Final and his fifth and final ID as a twelve year old in Auckland in 1955 where he was never in contention finishing well back in both of his heats.
In total, Captain Sandy won 15 races in New Zealand (£18,804) and numerous Australian feature paces prior to retirement after 1955 Auckland Interdominions. For longevity, toughness and an ability to compete at the highest level both in NZ and Australia (raced in every state where trotting conducted) where he was placed in most major Cups and FFA’s, tough NZ bred gelding Captain Sandy stood tall in the late nineteen forties to mid-nineteen fifties.
Peter Craig
28 November 2018
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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