The New Zealand Sapling Stakes has been conducted by the Ashburton TC since 1919 with Saturday 23 February 2019 representing its one hundredth running (not run in 1990 – see details later).
The Sapling Stakes is the longest surviving juvenile feature event in NZ and is currently run at Group Three level. Granted Group One status for 1980 and 1981 contests, it was revised to Group Two level 1982 – 2006 (Group Three in 1995) before reverting to Group Three in 2007.
Background –
President Harry Nicoll (1906 – 1955), originally a Committee member from 1900) persuaded the Ashburton TC Committee to launch the NZ Sapling Stakes in 1919, not the earliest two year old pacing event in NZ but initially the most important annual feature.
Inaugural Sapling Stakes
Apart from the inaugural Sapling Stakes race, all fields were large at the Ashburton TC Winter meeting held on a sunny Thursday afternoon, 12 June 1919. On that morning two special trains departed Christchurch for Ashburton : a) large contingent of horses left at 6.35am/arriving 9.40am, returning at 6.10/arriving Christchurch 8.55pm with stops as required b) passenger train departed Christchurch at 9.20am/arriving 10.55am for the first race 11.30am, returning to Christchurch at 5pm/arriving 7.15pm. On the same morning, Andy Pringle’s dispersal sale of well-bred trotting stock took place at D Friedlander’s West Street mart, Ashburton at 9.30am.
Official Result : 12 June 1919
NZ SAPLING STAKES of 375 sovereigns split 250/75/50 for two year old pacers; including Silver Cup valued at 25 sovereigns presented by President; 1½mSS
Fourth favourite Fred (FE) Jones’ bf Doraldina by OYM – Dollar Princess (Rothschild), tr/dr Fred Jones**
Favourite Harry (HF) Nicoll’s cf Lady Swithin by St Swithin – Lady Cherry (King Harold – 3), dr Don Warren
Eighth favourite Randle McDonnell’s chc Wild Brair by Wildwood Junior – Aileen (Rothschild), dr Randle McDonnell
Eight started; 3l, nk; 3:35.2. ** Note – not until the 1926/7 season were trainer’s names included in race results (confirmed that Jones trained Doraldina). Details of mile rates started appearing from the 1952/3 season whilst halves and quarters began to be reported by clubs at Addington and Alexandra Park from the 1993/4 season. A blue ribbon was also presented to the winner by Mrs HF Nicoll.
As appoint of interest after a small number of nominations received for inaugural Sapling Stakes, one hundred nominations were received the following year (1920).
Preview and reviews of the inaugural Sapling Stakes as contained in the NZ Referee of 11 and 18 June 1919 below outline the perceived abilities of each individual runner and what actually transpired in the race.
Doraldina recorded significant three year old victories in NZ Derby (hosted by New Brighton TC 1914 until March 1925 and NZMTC since November 1925) and Champion Stakes (held at Addington from 1917 – 1927 before being reinstated by the Ashburton TC in 1932 running until 1988 when last won by future NZ Cup winner Inky Lord). The daughter of OYM (Australasian bred) and Dollar Princess (Rothschild mare, family of Lutie Rodgers, U304) won just the three races in fourteen starts over five seasons (two – six), 14:3-1-0, 2:20.8, £970 ($1,940) and was dam of ten (seven live) foals for three winners including two fillies who bred on leaving extensive families :
- Daphne De Oro (NZ/GN Derbies), descendants include All Around (Wellington Cup), Safe Return (ID Pacing Consolation)
- Dusolina, descendants include Gold Chief (NZ Derby), Lady Nugent (NZ Oaks), Our Maestro (ID Pacing Final, WA Golden Nugget, Miracle Mile, QLD Pacing Championship), Rufus Young Blood (SA/NSW/QLD/AUS Derbies, VICSS3c/4h), Man of the Moment (Victoria Derby), Royal illusion (NZ Breeders Stakes), Sparkling Melody (QLD Oaks), Rocket Jason (inaugural Bathurst Gold Crown)
Sapling Stakes : Facts and Figures
All but one of the ninety nine Sapling Stakes contests have been run at Ashburton Raceway. The exception being in 1940 (1 June 1940) when the race was held at Addington Raceway. Contested on the grass track at Ashburton until Saturday 5 June 1982, first day of two day Queens Birthday meeting when the all-weather track was first utilised.
1990 was the one year that no race took place , the reason being that eighteen nominations were received for the $30,000 Group Two event but only five paid up to compete. Thankfully removal of this race from future year’s fixture lists has never been necessary.
Dates/Timing of the Sapling Stakes has changed on several occasions throughout its history. In its earliest years it was contested on the Saturday of the second weekend of June (1920 – 1935, exception being Friday 12 June 1925). The meeting was moved to Saturday of the first weekend in June for the years 1936 and 1937. In 1938 – 1956 it was moved to be contested on the Monday of the King’s/Queen’s Birthday celebration in NZ – that being the first Monday in June. The exceptions being 1940, 1941 and 1954 when it was postponed due to adverse weather and took place on Saturday. The 1938 meeting on Monday 6 June was recorded in the Year Book as a “special meeting” and that of Monday 5 June 1944 as a “patriotic meeting” during the course of World War II.
The Ashburton clubs first two day Kings/Queens Birthday meeting was held in 1946 with the first day held on Saturday 1 June while the proposed Monday 3 June meeting was postponed until Saturday 15 June due to inclement weather. The first full two day Kings/Queens Birthday meeting was held the following year on Saturday 31 May and Monday 2 June 1947.
The Sapling Stakes reverted back to a permanent Saturday date at the two day Queens Birthday weekend meeting between the years of 1957 and 1986 with the only exceptions being in 1983 (Friday 3 June) and 1985 (Friday 31 May). This was due to clashes with All Blacks test matches held at Lancaster Park the following day (4 June 1983 : Lions, 16 – 12 to All Blacks and 1 June 1985 : England, 18 – 13 to All Blacks).
Undergoing yet another date movement, the Sapling Stakes moved between 1987 and 1998 to the Monday of Queens Birthday weekend. Since 1999, the Sapling Stakes has been run at a one day February meeting of the Ashburton club. This move was made due to the club not getting a field worthy of the race in June. Between 1999 and 2017, this was usually around or week after Waitangi Day (6 February), while last year and for 2019 it has moved back a fortnight to a late February race date. It is still the first of the seasons feature races for two year old pacers.
Distances have changed on a couple of occasions, the first run at the imperial distance of 1½ miles SS from 1919 until 1972, changing to the metric equivalent of 2400mSS in 1973, it remained as a standing start event until 1986 (on all-weather track from 1982, previously grass track) when first run behind the mobile barrier (establishing a New Zealand record time for a two year old at that distance). The race reverted back to a standing start between 1991 and 1995 before again becoming a mobile 2400m from 1996 – 1998. A complete distance change for the Sapling Stakes occurred in 1999 when it became a one mile mobile event which it has remained ever since.
Sponsorship of the Sapling Stakes commenced in 1985 when the Sapling Stakes was known as the RA Burnett** Memorial Sapling Stakes (remained sponsor until 1993). The Bank of New Zealand (1994 – 1998), Couplands Bakeries (1999 – 2009), Teltrac Communications (2010-2017) and current sponsors Canstaff (2018 – 2019) have all contributed for lengthy periods supporting Ashburton’s feature two year old race. ** elected to Committee in 1965 following death of Mr Gudsell. Steward (1966 – 1976, 1978 – 1979, 1983 died in office), on Committee (1977, 1980).
The stake for Sapling Stakes has increased greatly from its first running in 1919 when 375 sovereigns were paid out to the three place getters. Today’s level of $25,000 is applicable to a Group Three level fixture. Stakes have moved around over the years as shown below :
1919 (375 sovs), 1920 (525 sovs), 1931 (850 sovs), 1934 (£850), 1935 (£1,000) 1947 (£1,250), 1950 (£1,500), 1956 (£2,000), 1967 (£2,500), 1968 ($5,000), 1976 ($9,000), 1980 ($11,750), 1987 ($20,000), 1988 ($25,000), 1989 ($30,000), 1991- 1992 ($25,000), 1993 ($22,000), 1994 ($26,000), 1995 ($16,000), 1996 – 1998 ($20,000), 1999 – 2005 ($25,000), 2006 – 2010 ($30,000), 2011 – 2018 ($25,000)
Breeders payments commenced in 1937 at a level of £75 for first and £25 for second. These were reduced in 1942 to £50 for breeder of winner only before increasing again to £75 in 1948, £100 in 1956 which became $200 post decimal currency introduction in 1968, $250 in 1970 before being discontinued in 1972.
Fillies have a good record having won a fifth of Sapling Stakes run to date (19/99) although only three filly winners in the past forty years (Olga Korbut 1975, Hilarious Guest 1981, the last being twenty five years ago in 1993 Just Reason). The last filly to contest a Sapling Stakes was Holloway, fourth in 2005 while Champagne Princess (second) the last to place in 2002.
Leading winning drivers : Blair Orange (Lennon 2003, Ohoka Arizona 2007, Mapua Legend 2009, Isaiah 2013, War Dan Delight 2018) leads the Sapling Stakes driver stats with five winners ahead of Maurice Holmes (Arethusa 1930, Slavonic 1944, Tobacco Road 1957, Noodlum 1974) and Mark Purdon (Light And Sound 2002, Advance Attack 2004, Sir Clive 2008, Follow The Stars 2014) and four each. A large group of drivers have driven three winners – James Bryce, Dan Warren, Manny Edwards, Freeman (FG) Holmes, Roy Berry, Bob Young, Wes Butt, Richard Brosnan, Colin De Filippi.
Trainers : Not surprisingly Mark Purdon is a clear leader with ten training successes all this century, five on his own account, four in partnership with Natalie Rasmussen and one with Grant Payne (Light And Sound 2002, Lennon 2003, Advance Attack 2004, Ohoka Arizona 2007, Sir Clive 2008, Isaiah 2013, Follow The Stars 2014, Chase The Dream 2015, Pacing Major 2016, War Dan Delight 2018).
Until Purdon’s winning streak of ten victories in sixteen years (twice three successive years), Richard Brosnan’s four victories led the way from Roy Berry, Manny Edwards and Dan Warren with three.
Owners – Harry Nicoll (Durbar Lodge, Ashburton; President NZ Trotting Conference, major owner) and Ben Grice (owner, trainer, breeder – Kingcraft Farm) both won four Sapling Stakes as owners. Nicoll (1920 Childe Pointer, 1921 Latona, 1925 Nantwich, 1930 Arethusa) and Grice (1953 Buccaneer, 1959 Jonboy Star, 1969 Glamour, 1979 Royal Lopez). Those with three winners are Richard Morten, only owner to win Sapling Stakes in three successive years (1922 Ahuriri, 1923 Taurekareka, 1924 Kohara), John Seaton (Il Vicolo fame), Philip and Glenys Kennard (part owners of Lazarus). Nicoll and Morten won seven of the first twelve Sapling Stakes between them.
Winning owner/trainer/drivers feature throughout the history of the Sapling Stakes : Fred Jones (1919 Doraldina), RC (Bob) Frisken (1927 Enawah), Freeman (FG) Holmes (1951 Forward, co trainer), William Cosgrove (1962 First Battle, part owner), Richard Brosnan (1976 Castle Derg), Royce Belcher (1977 Glide Time).
Times run in the Sapling Stakes need to be broken down into grass/all weather tracks and distances of 1½ miles, 2400m standing start/mobile and 1 mile mobile. The following race records table shows the quickest and slowest times in the various categories :
| Grass | All Weather | All Weather | ||
| 1½mSS | 3:14.0 (1973) | 2400mSS | 3:04.5 (1992) | 1m M Follow The Stars |
| Spry Guy | He’s A Ten | 1:53.8 (2014) | ||
| 3:39 3/5 (1925) | 3:16.0 (1993) | Misjudge 2:01.6 | ||
| Nantwich | Just Reason | (2001) | ||
| 2400mSS | 3:11.2 (1978) | 2400mM | 3:00.0 (1996) | |
| Genesis | Lavros Voodoo | |||
| 3:30.4 (1977) | 3:07.4 (1995) | |||
| Glide Time | Warloch |
New Zealand records for a two year old pacer were set in many editions of the Sapling Stakes including Sir Julien (3:21.4 1939, NZ/Australian record for 1½mSS), Noodlum (3:24.6 1974, 2400Mss), Race Ruler (1986 3:07.2, 2400mM), Proclaimer (1991 3:06.1, 2400mSS), He’s A Ten (1992 3:04.5, 2400mSS) and Lavros Voodoo (1996, 3:00.0, 2400mM).
Winning margins : the biggest winning margins were Cigar’s ten length victory in 1998, eight lengths by Slavonic (1944), six lengths Taurekareka (1923), five lengths Spry Guy (1973) and Warloch (1995), four and a half lengths Noodlum (1974) and Glide Time (1977) and four lengths by Just Reason in 1973. The smallest winning margin of a nose was recorded by Forward (1951), Royal Walk (1967), Race Ruler (1986) and He’s A Ten (1992). Margins of a half head (twice), head (five occasions), half neck (twice) and neck (eighteen) represent a just over quarter of all winning margins.
In the breeding barn, leading sire with five Sapling Stakes credits is In The Pocket (2002 Light And Sound, 2003 Lennon, 2004 Advance Attack, 2006 Jackson Street, 2009 Mapua Legend). Those with four credits are Rey De Oro, Jack Potts, Local Light while sires with three winners are Cathedral Chimes, Light Brigade, Lordship (only winner to sire multiple winners [Olga Korbut, Malaz, Inky Lord] with his winning sons Noodlum and Tuapeka Knight each siring a winner), Bettors Delight and Art Major. As dam sire of Sapling Stakes winners Rey De Oro and Rothschild lead the way with five winners followed by Vance Hanover and Smooth Fella with four credits.
On the maternal side Dairy Maid (U30) has provided seven winners (1950 Buccaneer, 1959 Jonboy Star, 1969 Glamour, 1980 Fouroux, 1989 Seafield Inca, 2011 Mongahan, 2012 Boom Gate) spread over a lengthy period of nearly seventy years. Pride Of Lincoln (N1) is next with five winners while families with four winners are Bessie B (N2), Red Diamond (N3) and with three winners Verity (A1), Boudrie (N28), Harolds Rest (N6), Black Betty (U300). It is notable that seven of the top ten leading Australasian maternal families are represented (Boudrie exception).
The other two major “open” (not sex based) two year old races on the annual NZ calendar currently are the Welcome Stakes (Group One, Addington, celebrated 75th running in 2017) and Kindergarten Stakes (Group Three, Young Quinn Raceway, Wyndham). Horses successful in both these two races and Sapling Stakes include only two winners of all three. The first being champion pacer and sire Lordship who in 1961 won the Welcome Stakes in February (first run in 1943), the inaugural Kindergarten Stakes in March and Sapling Stakes in June. Fifty five years later Pacing Major achieved the same feat in slighter different order – Sapling/Kindergarten/Welcome Stakes.
Winners of Kindergarten/Sapling Stakes double are : Lordship (1961), Holy Hal (1966), Young Quinn (1972), Fouroux (1980), Natural Guy (1983), Cigar (1998), Lennon (2003), Sir Clive (2008) and Pacing Major (2016), War Dan Delight (2018).
Winners of Welcome/Sapling Stakes double are : Acropolis (1943), Sprayman (1945), Vivanti (1950), Forward (1951), Rupee (1952), Tobacco Road (1957), Blue (1958), Lordship (1961), Sam Carter (1970), Noodlum (1974), Glide Time (1977), Tuapeka Knight (1987), Light And Sound (2002), Advance Attack (2004), Ohoka Arizona (2007) and Pacing Major (2016),
Sapling Stakes winners named NZ Two year Old of Year since 1974 when this Award commenced are : Noodlum (1974), Olga Korbut** (1975), Hilarious Guest** (1981), Race Ruler (1986), Tuapeka Knight (1987), Light And Sound (2002), this Award ceased in 2002 (sex based Awards thereafter); Colt and Gelding Two year Old Pacer of Year and Sapling Stakes winners have been : Lyndon Robert (1982), Lennon (2003), Follow The Stars (2014), Chase The Dream (2015).
** fillies, all others colts/geldings.
Points of interest concerning Sapling Stakes winners :
- 1980 winner Fouroux won the race on 31 May 1980, lost it on protest following alleged interference to second placed Melton Monarch in the home straight and reinstated as winner of the race two days after an appeal commenced on 26 July 1980
- First “Triple Crown” winner of Sapling Stakes and three year old NZ/GN Derbies was Taurekareka (1923/4); Parisienne (1936), Race Ruler (1986/7) while Hilarious Guest completed female equivalent of Sapling, GN/NZ Oaks (1981/2) and added the NZ Derby for good measure
- Half brother and sister combo of Noodlum (1974) and Olga Korbut (1975) won back to back Sapling Stakes and Two Year Pacers of Year while their dam Deft was dual NZ Broodmare of Year (1974 and 1975)
- 1991 winner He’s A Ten was a $16k purchase at 1991 Karaka ID Sale and like 1992 winner Knight Fox by Tuapeka Knight (three wins from five starts) was sold to Australia shortly after Sapling Stakes victories
- 2007 field of eleven contained ten starters from Direct Scooter sire line (In the Pocket 3, sons Christian Cullen 3 and Courage Under Fire 1 plus Mach Three 3)
- 2005 winner Fleet Magic was purchased by Lew Driver from the September 2004 Ready To Run sale for $66,000
- debut winners in Sapling Stakes in recent years have been Misjudge (2001), Sir Clive (2008), Boom Gate (2012), Chase the Dream (2015), Cole Porter (2017), War Dan Delight (2018)
- Sapling Stake winners to have won significant NZ Open Class races : a) NZ Cup (1926, 1927 Ahuriri; 1927 Kohara; 1962, 1966 Lordship; 1989 Inky Lord; 2011, 2012, 2013 Terror To Love); b) Auckland Cup (1964 Lordship; 1974 Young Quinn; 2014 Terror To Love) c) ID Pacing Champions (1938 Parisienne; 1975 Young Quinn)
Peter Craig
20 February 2019
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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