The sixth Melbourne Interdominion Pacing Championships took place in 1985 at Moonee Valley. The championships featured West Australia’s champion pacer Preux Chevalier, french for “valiant charger”, dubbed “The “Frog” by adoring Perth trotting fans. However, as with almost all Interdominions, it was not necessarily all plain sailing for him as a Grand Final night drama played out before the final commenced.
The championships were determined over three rounds of mobile** heats ($12,000) at 2400m, 1970m and 2870m with the Grand Final over 2870m for a prize of $180,000, consolation ($12,000) over 2870m and Markovina FFA ($10,000) over 2400m (pacing series total of $346,000). The ID heats were run on Saturday 23, Wednesday 27 February and Saturday 2 March with the Grand Final on Saturday 9 March. Fields were limited to ten starters, six on front row and four on second with a preferential draw applying – five lowest assessed horses randomly drawing barriers one to five and five tightest assessed randomly drawing positions six to ten.
** Victorian Harness Racing Board announced championships would be standing starts after in 1978 hosting the first all mobile series at Moonee Valley. In mid-1984 Interdominion Trotting Council agreed to a revision of the original conditions to allow for an all mobile series.
New Zealand representatives were Enterprise (1984 Auckland Cup winner), Camelot (1984 NZ Cup winner), Joy Boy, (Our) Lady El, Direct Kiwi and (My) Lord Louie.
The major series sponsor was Ultimate Computer Ltd with additional sponsors “The Big 6 in Sport” – the Herald, the Sun, 3DB, the Sporting Globe, HSV7 and the Weekly Times providing sponsorship in excess of $200,000 of the total $408,000 for Pacing and Trotting ID’s. The sixteenth and second Trotters Championships at Moonee Valley were held in conjunction with the Pacers Championships. The Trotters Championships are fully covered in the harnessbred article of 21 August 2018.
https://baringbloodstock.com.au/interdominion-trotters-championship-moonee-valley-part-one/
Lead up racing prior to the Interdominions gave an insight into the leading chances by Australian state. West Australian representative Village Kid inflicted a rare defeat on the other NZ bred WA star Preux Chevalier in the WA Pacing Cup. Preux Chevalier went on to win the Sydney Miracle Mile in a race record 1:56.7 before dead heating with Paleface Bubble in the Harold Park Cup. After his brilliant win in the Hunter Cup by twenty three metres (record 1:58.5MR for 2870m) he confirmed favouritism for the ID’s. His record then stood at forty one starts for thirty wins, four seconds and three thirds, $491,281.
Local Victorian hopes rested with dual ID winner Gammalite seeking to become the first three time winner after recently winning the SA Cup at Globe Derby in a race record 2:02.9MR. Victories followed in the Ballarat Cup and Australia Day FFA at Moonee Valley although following his withdrawal from the Lyn White Memorial Cup at Moonee Valley in mid-February his odds lengthened to 25/1. Other locals included recent winners for Bob and Vin Knight in Ima Orphan (VSS – 4) and Panyan (Geelong/Maryborough Cups and third in Hunter Cup).
NSW chances included the strong trio of Bundanoon, Karamea Duplicity and Paleface Bubble. Wondais Mate second in the Hunter Cup but subsequently withdrawn would have been Queensland’s best hope while SA had only moderate performer Otani to represent their interests.
Saturday 23 February 2400mMS : first round of heats
An opening night crowd of 16,818 (22,376 in 1978) attended the first of four nights that were the centrepiece of Victoria’s 150th anniversary.
Heat One – BUNDANOON, tr/dr Brian Hancock, 3.01.5/2:01.7; Toby Duane (dr David Aiken) 2nd; Gammalite (dr Bruce Clarke) 3rd
Heat Two – KARAMEA DUPLICITY, tr Lou Cini/dr Brian Gath, 2:56.8/1:58.6; Village Kid (dr Chris Lewis) 2nd; Quite Famous (Jim O’Sullivan) 3rd
Heat Three – GOSH, tr/dr Henry McDermott, 3:00.5/2:01.0; Rite (dr Fred Kersley jnr) 2nd; Elteei (dr Chris Lewis) 3rd
Heat Four – PREUX CHEVALIER, tr/dr Barry Perkins, 3:05.5/2:04.4; Game Oro (Ken Pocock) 2nd; Panyan (dr Vin Knight 3rd
NSW veteran Bundanoon repeated his opening night first heat win from Globe Derby a year earlier (third in final to Gammalite) coming from the second line to defeat fellow NSW pacer Toby Duane who was late clear by a neck. Gammalite after covering considerable territory and looking beaten at the 600m, came again for third less than a length from the winner followed by Gallant Thor. Joy Boy finished sixth after pulling his way to the lead before compounding in the straight while Camelot was eighth after a rails run which left him no room to improve.
Brilliant NSW mare Karamea Duplicity rated a swift 1:58.6 set up by tearaway pacemaker Dyama (VIC, opening half 56.8, mile 1:57.4) winning the second heat by ¾l. She established a new track (world) record taking 4/10 second off Popular Alm’s record. Victorian Brian Gath stood in for regular driver Robert Martin who handled Paleface Bubble throughout the series. Village Kid finished on from well back for second with Quite Famous (VIC) three metres back third followed by NZer Enterprise who came home well from five back on the rails. Direct Kiwi was last after being parked for most of the journey.
Bendigo trained Gosh (VIC) led throughout defeating West Australians Rite and Elteei by a neck and head respectively with Man Of the Moment (VIC) fourth. Our Lady El finished last after a hopple shortener pin jammed after hanging badly in the trail.
The final heat on opening night was ultimately a stroll for Preux Chevalier who won by five metres from pacemaker Game Oro (VIC) who set a muddling early pace. Game Oro’s final half mile was no stroll timed in 56.3 but “The Frog” bettered that with a 56.1 last half. Panyan (VIC) finished a half-length back third with Wattle’s Winger (QLD) fourth. The overall time was the slowest heat with Preux Chevalier receiving a poor passage in a stop-start affair but this didn’t stop him cruising around the field to sit outside Game Oro from the 1300m, taking the lead on the home turn. My Lord Louie finished eighth beating home Royal Three and Paleface Lyndy.
Wednesday 27 February 1970mMS : second round of heats
Attendance on a cold midweek Wednesday was 9.800 (18,313 in 1978).
Heat Five – ENTERPRISE, tr/dr Peter Shand, 2:26.0/1:59.2; Nardins Castle (dr Andrew Peace) 2nd; Crystal Glenmar (dr Graeme Morgan) 3rd
Heat Six – PREUX CHEVALIER, tr/dr Barry Perkins, 2:22.8/1:56.7; Quite Famous (dr Jim O’Sullivan) 2nd; Toby Duane (dr David Aitken) 3rd
Heat Seven – GAME ORO, tr/dr Ken Pocock, 2:26.1/1:59.4; Panyan (dr Vin Knight) 2nd; Rite (dr Fred Kersley jnr) 3rd
Heat Eight – VILLAGE KID, tr Bill Horn/dr Chris Lewis, 2:29.5/2:02.1; Henry Bruce (dr Noel Shinn) 2nd; Gammalite (Bruce Clarke) 3rd
A torrid pace was set first by Elteei and then Paleface Bubble which suited Enterprise who from his bad draw took the lead at the 600m. He won by two metres (last half 58.5) from Victorians Nardins Castle (ex Canterbury pacer), Crystal Glenmar and Thor Lobell, with Joy Boy a struggling ninth.
Preux Chevalier’s 1:56.7MR (last mile 1:57.2) was almost two seconds inside Popular Alm’s class record and nearly a second inside Dyama’s track record. From his wide second row draw he moved up to sit outside speedy leader Dyama being urged on from the top turn the last time (300m) to score by just over a length from Quite Famous who finished ten metres ahead of third placed Toby Duane, the rest well beaten led in by suicidal pacemaker Dyama. Camelot finished ninth.
Game Oro won the seventh heat from Panyan, Rite and Karamea Duplicity with My Lord Louie ninth. Village Kid held a seven metre margin over Henry Bruce (VIC) with a further metre to Gammalite and Our Lady El in the night’s final and slowest heat, a leisurely 2:02.1MR.
Saturday 2 March 2870mMS : third round of heats
Heat Nine – BUNDANOON, tr/dr Brian Hancock, 3:38.8/2:02.8; Camelot (dr Robin Butt) 2nd; Toby Duane (dr Gavin Lang) 3rd
Heat Ten – GAMMALITE, tr Leo O’Connor/dr Brian Clarke, 3:41.6/2:03.9; Gosh (dr Henry McDermott) 2nd; Rite (dr Fred Kersley jnr) 3rd
Heat Eleven – PREUX CHEVALIER, tr/dr Barry Perkins, 3:37.9/2:02.3; Village Kid (dr Chris Lewis) 2nd; Our Lady El (dr Robin Butt) 3rd
Heat Twelve – PANYAN, tr Bob Knight/dr Vin Knight, 3:38.7/2:02.6; Crystal Glenmar (dr Graeme Morgan) 2nd; Joy Boy (dr Trevor Thomas) 3rd
Bundanoon gained his second heat victory comfortably beating Camelot, Toby Duane and Quite Famous in the first heat on the third night. Camelot had been troubled with a blood disorder over the last week and showed considerable improvement on the third night. Karamea Duplicity finished sixth and missed inclusion in the final field (emergency).
Local Victorian idol and dual ID Grand Final winner Gammalite produced a typical grinding performance in the open to wear down his rivals winning his heat from Gosh, Rite and Elteei in the slowest MR of the four heats in what was his final victory. Enterprise was beaten into sixth by a nose, failing to qualify for the final field in which he was one of the emergencies. He was badly checked by Nardins Castle who broke after 100m and was pushed five wide when improving from last at the 800m. Peter Shand switched him to the inside from the 400m to make up ground from the back but Rite’s driver Fred Kersley bottled him up on the inner with Enterprise being too late in clearing the pocket. The irony was that another New Zealander My Lord Louie beat him for fifth place and his chance of making the final field.
Preux Chevalier went through the heats undefeated when winning the eleventh heat of the series. After drawing the outside of the front row with Village Kid drawing two, he was trapped four wide early before sitting on Village Kid’s girth for two laps and dashing to the lead 500m out to win by five metres in the nights fastest MR, last 800m in 57.9. Our Lady El battled on well for third after her improved showing for fourth on the middle night.
Panyan in the hands of Vin Knight recorded an easy win over Crystal Glenmar and New Zealander Joy Boy in what was the weakest field of these Interdominions to round out the heats stage.
Leading points scorer in the forty fourth Pacers ID series was undefeated Preux Chevalier (WA), winner of his three heats for maximum thirty three points; Village Kid (WA) 29, Bundanoon (NSW), Panyan (VIC) 28, Gammalite (VIC) 27, Gosh (VIC) 26, Rite (WA), Toby Duane (NSW) 25, Quite Famous (VIC) , Game Oro (VIC) 24, Emergencies Enterprise (NZ) and Karamea Duplicity (NSW) 23, neither made the grand final.
There was no live TV coverage of the Pacing Grand Final in NZ due to “the time difference between NZ and Melbourne” (two hours). As the final was held at an awkward time after midnight NZ time, the expense involved exceeded the numbers that would have watched it. Film of the final was shown in Sunday news telecasts. Oh how times have changed!!
A record crowd for Moonee Valley of 37,805 attended Pacers Grand Final night hoping to witness Gammalite become the first to win three Grand Finals. Preux Chevalier started the equal shortest priced favourite (1/2) for the Grand Final (Young Quinn 1975).
Grand Final evening brought its own drama with favourite Preux Chevalier the centre of attention. Half an hour before the race trainer/driver Barry Perkins informed the stewards his charge was acting abnormally shifting around on his hind quarters. A veterinary inspection was undertaken at which point Preux Chevalier emptied his bowels relieving what appeared to be a mild bout of colic. After two preliminaries Perkins declared Preux Chevalier fit for action in the delayed Grand Final.
Saturday 9 March– PACERS GRAND FINAL, 2870mMS $180,000 ($111,000, $30,000, $15,000, $6,000, others $3,000), Cup, inscribed rug, sash
PREUX CHEVALIER (1978 Lumber Dream/Heather Frost entire, family of Bessie B (N2), owners Ken and Wendy Lavin, trainer/driver Barry Perkins, 3:34.6/2:00.3, 2m, ½ hd [1:54.3, $791,331]
Village Kid, tr Bill Horn/dr Chris Lewis, 2nd
Game Oro, tr/dr Ken Pocock 3rd
(also in finishing order) : Gammalite, Toby Diane, Gosh, Quite Famous, Rite, Bundanoon. Panyan
Six year old entire Preux Chevalier was badly checked when Rite broke at the start, cannoning into Bundanoon and momentarily locked wheels causing “The Frog” to lose twelve or more lengths settling last on leaving the straight the first time. Village Kid led and was immediately challenged by Quite Famous who was unable to wrest the lead. After recovering Preux Chevalier made a sharp first lap move down the back straight that took him around to arrest the lead from Village Kid after one circuit. He never surrendered the lead with Perkins ensuring the pace was solid with no other drivers prepared to take him on.
Village Kid trailed Preux Chevalier but Perkins did not let him go until Game Oro had lodged his claim wide out. Village Kid managed to squeeze out between Gosh and Game Oro but was two metres in arrears of the winner at the line. Village Kid (5/1) was a half head in advance of third placed Game Oro (100/1) who finished well after racing near the tail of the field with Gammalite 2½l back in his last race shading Toby Duane and Gosh in sixth place. The opening 800m of the final 2400m was run in 57.9, three quarters in 1:28.8 and the first mile in 2:00.8 before the pace eased until the final home straight sprint. The overall time of 3:34.6 was a new track record with the last mile in 2:01.5, half in 58.7. Gammalite retired to stud as Australasia’s only millionaire harness horse ($1,386,480), second only to great galloper Kingston Town ($1.6m).
Preux Chevalier had completed a clean sweep of the heats and Grand Final, together with Village Kid providing a great quinella for Western Australia and the New Zealand breeding industry, Village Kid was also bred in New Zealand (Gramatan out of Regal Yankee mare Totara Valley). This was “the Frog’s” thirty fourth victory from 45 career starts for earnings of $627,481. He improved his seasonal record to $448,678 (record) with a further win and two placings before seasons end.
Consolation : 2870mMS, $12,000 ($8,400, $1,800, $1,200, $600), trophy and inscribed rug
ENTERPRISE, tr/dr Peter Shand, 3:36.3/2:01.3; Karamea Duplicity (dr Brian Gath) 2nd; Our Lady El (dr Robin Butt) 3rd
The Grand Final’s two emergencies fought out the consolation. After a good beginning Enterprise was shuffled back to second last. Sent forward with a lap to run, he was pushed three wide when Our Lady El moved from the trail to sit outside the leader. Enterprise waited until the home turn before pouncing. Our Lady El had gained the lead from pacemaker Springfield Rajah but was unable to repel the bids of Enterprise and Karamea Duplicity with similar margins of 1½m between them at the finish with Henry Bruce fourth. The final mile was paced in 2:01.7, half in 59.9 and quarter in 30.7.
Markovina FFA : 2400mMS, $10,000 ($7,290, $1,258, $729, $243, others $40)
Direct Kiwi**, tr/dr John Langdon, 3:00.6/2:01.1; Raging Bull (dr Vin Knight) 2nd; Otani (dr Jim Hurley) 3rd
A race for those who missed out on the consolation was won on the night by Man Of The Moment (VIC), only to be disqualified later for a positive swab. He had defeated Direct Kiwi (NZ) who had missed the second/third night of heats due to a cough with pacemaker Raging Bull a neck away third. Camelot who sat outside Raging Bull most of the way tired over the last 150m beating home only fellow Canterbury pacer Joy Boy. The final mile was paced in 2:01.0, half in 60.1 and quarter in 30.2.
Preux Chevalier was by Lumber Dream (Knight Dream/Miss Dominion Watt by Dominion Grattan), leading sire in NZ twice (stakes)/winners (once), nine time leading BM sire in Australia and three time leading BM sire in NZ (stakes)/winners (once), probably best known other than Preux Chevalier as sire of for free legged pacer Robalan and double millionaire Western Grant’s dam Westburn Vue. Lumber Dream was broodmare sire of Blossom Lady, Roydon Glen, Sapling, True Roman, Tuapeka Knight, Yankee Loch as well as Westburn Grant.
Preux Chevalier’s dam was unraced Thurber Frost mare Heather Frost from Heather Mary, a daughter of Thurber Frost and U Scott mare Heather Mary, a granddaughter of 1938 Christchurch ID Pacing champion Parisienne. Heather Frost’s female progeny have bred on to some extent, notably she is the fourth dam of Living On Fire, SA Derby, VIC SS – 2c. Heather Frost was purchased by Roy Adam, Pinjarra from Roydon Lodge in 1976. He put her in foal to Scottish Hanover (foal Pierre Scott sold to Southland interests) followed by a service to Lumber Dream. The resultant foal Preux Chevalier (breeders Roy and Lil Adam) was foaled at Tony and Gay Abell’s Fernside Stud on 13 September 1978. He was sent to Perth as a yearling to be prepared by Adam for the 1980 Perth yearling sales.
Preux Chevalier was passed in at $3,000 at which point former Auckland dairy farmer Ken Lavin and his Cambridge born wife Wendy entered into negotiations with Adam regarding his sale. A price of $5,000 plus $1,000 contingency payable after he won his first race at Gloucester Park was agreed between the parties. The Lavin’s became Preux Chevalier’s owners with Mandurah horseman Barry Perkins his trainer/driver.
Over the space of five seasons Preux Chevalier was the winner of forty one races (twenty three in Perth – 17 Gloucester Park, 6 Richmond Raceway), six seconds, three thirds from fifty six starts, $791,331, 1:54.3 (QLD/AUS Pacers record defeating Popular Alm’s race mile record by two tenths of second). This included eight Group Ones (first WA horse to win Gp1 in both AUS and NZ) and four Group Threes; in 1984/5 season – AUS four year old and older Pacer of Year, stake earner of year, Grand Circuit Champion and Harness Horse of Year.
By season his victories included :
- at three, a win and four placings from eight starts before put aside due to a cannon bone fracture in his near hind leg sustained shortly after the start in WA Derby. Won first race at Gloucester Park at odds of 40/1 on ID Grand Final night 1982 (Rhetts Law)
- at four, seven wins and two thirds from nine starts including WA Triple Crown – 4h, 4/5 Championship
- at five, nine wins from ten starts including WA Pacing Cup (part of thirteen straight sequence) in world record 1:56.9MR for 2275m
- at six, eighteen wins from twenty one starts including sequences of nine and eight. Victories included Fremantle Mile (1:57.4), Winfield Gold Cup (1:59.6), Miracle Mile (race record 1:56.7), Harold Park Cup dead heat with Paleface Bubble, Coca Cola Classic (1:59.6), Hunter Cup (world record 1:58.5), ID Grand Final/three heats; second to Village Kid in WA Pacing Cup
- at seven, six wins from eight starts including QLD Championship/two heats; in New Zealand in November 1985 won NZFFA after a fourth in Borana’s NZ Cup which was followed by a second in Travelodge FFA
The Travelodge FFA in NZ proved to be his final race as a recurring suspensory ligament injury forced his retirement announced in mid – January 1986 for a stud career. He initially stood at Sam Ballantyne’s Eastwood Lodge stud at Prebbleton, Christchurch, NZ on a two year deal before moving to Victoria in April 1989.
Preux Chevalier proved a handy sire leaving 126 winners that included SA Cup winner, Ryans Day, Chivalrous (Tatlow Memorial – 2c), Maudes Gift (Southland Oaks) and as a broodmare sire, his 124 credits included top race mare Fleur De Lil, 1:51.2US, $1,041,636, Breeders Crown 3f, WA Oaks, AUS 3yo Filly Pacer of Year; millionaire Miss Galvinator, 1:50.3US; Saucy Legend, Newcastle Mile.
Peter Craig
7 December 2022
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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