After a recess of six years (1941 – 1946) brought about by the Second World War, in 1847 Gloucester Park (GP) entertained its third Interdominion carnival of the six championships held.
The same points system used at all Interdominions to date was retained i.e. the championship would be awarded to the most consistent horse based on points allocated for both heats and final for first three placings (3 -2 – 1) and three fastest times (3 – 2 – 1). The championships would be determined over three heats of 10 furlongs, 1½ miles and 2 miles with the Grand Final over 13 furlongs for a prize of £8,000, plus gold cup and championship sash. The Interdominion heats were run on Wednesday 12 February, Saturday 15 February and Wednesday 19 February with the Grand Final on Saturday 22 February 1947. Total stakes of £13,500 were offered.
The championships were again a triumph for Tasmania with the mare Bandbox joining Evicus (1936) and Logan Derby (1940) as ID Grand Champions. Trained and driven by Launceston reinsman Len Moriarty, Bandbox was the first Perth champion to be winner both on points and in the Grand Final itself. This was the final year fort the championship to be decided on overall points gained through heats and a final. In future, the winner of the Grand Final would be declared overall champion.
Opening night included a joint WA record for 1¼m by heat winner Diamond Globe (24yds) and runner up Para Derby (24yds) – both recording 2:09.4MR. Bandbox won her heat by 2yds from Brown Sheik and Charlock while Stormy Weather took the first of his three heat victories in the slowest winning time. Second night winners Kolrock (24yds) and Miraculous (12 yds) were slightly slower than Stormy Weather’s new WA record time of 2:09.4MR for 1½m journey, Bandbox finishing second to him from her back mark (12 yds).
Third night winner Para Derby produced an amazing effort to win over two miles in another State record time slashing a second off Grand Mogul’s previous 4:20.0. His 2:10.0MR saw him win by 51 yards. Stormy Weather recorded his third heat win and Miraculous his second in the other two mile heats. Bandbox emerged as leading qualifier one point ahead of Stormy Weather due to gaining bonus points for fastest runner in her heats.
Heat winners (night 1, 10 furlongs) : Stormy Weather (WA, 2:12.0), Bandbox (TAS, 2:11.4), Diamond Globe (TAS, 2:09.4)
Heat winners (night 2, 1½ miles) : Stormy Weather (WA, 2:09.4), Miraculous (VIC, 2:09..6), Kolrock (WA, 2:12.0)
Heat winners (night 3, 2 miles) : Para Derby (SA, 2:10.0), Miraculous (VIC, 2:15.4), Stormy Weather (WA, 2:11.8)
The Grand Final on 22 February 1947 was run on a good track before an estimated crowd of 30,000 (maybe as many as 35,000) with the Peter Stretta gelding Stormy Weather (trainer Cliff Clarke, driver Alex McLean) unbeaten through the heats sent out 6/4 favourite. Bandbox proved superior winning by six yards in a smart 2:10.8MR for 13 furlongs, trainer/driver Len Moriarty. Bandbox recorded fastest time for the third time in four races over the carnival. Stormy Weather led early, a punctured tyre resulted in a wheel buckling and he faded back through the field finishing eighth. Dixie Stretta handily placed throughout held second place to be the best performed local in the final. Para Derby (24yds) who was slow away came with a great finish from second last at the bell for third equalling Bandbox’s mile rate She ended up second equal with Stormy Weather on 13 points with Bandbox declared Grand Champion with 20 points having earned £6,120 for her Grand Final victory.
Final (13 furlongs) :
1st : 6m BANDBOX (TAS), Van Derby/The Mirror, by Dandy Patch, family of The Mirror; 12 yds, Len Moriarty (tr/dr), Mrs FC Eley (owner), AE Eley (breeder, TAS). Won by 6ydsx6yds, 2:10.8MR
2nd : Dixie Stretta (WA), 12 yds, Gus Tester (dr), Thomas Hoad/Clarence Adams (tr)
3rd : Para Derby (SA), 24 yds, Alby Smith (dr), Don Ryan (tr)
Other starters in finishing order : Miraculous (VIC), Loyal Rey (WA), Diamond Globe (TAS), Johnnie Robert (WA), Stormy Weather (WA), Lila’s Walla (WA), Kolrock (WA)
Consolations :
1st heat : Cheerful (VIC), 2:15¾), Leo Keys (dr)
2nd heat : Frisco Robert (NSW), 2:10¾, Norm Wilkes (dr)
Grand Champion (on points) : 6m BANDBOX (TAS), Van Derby/The Mirror, by Dandy Patch, family of The Mirror; 12 yds, Len Moriarty (tr/dr), Mrs FC Eley (owner), AE Eley (breeder, TAS)
Final Championship Points Table (heats and final) :
Notable points from the championship;
a) Len Moriarty (1947 – Bandbox), Jim Agnew (1936 – Logan Derby) and James Rattray (2014, March 2015 – Beautide) are the only Tasmanians to have driven an ID Grand Final winner
b) Globe Derby influence continued with four finalists having him as their dam sire; they won three of nine heats
c) Jack Watts, legendary NSW (Sydney) horseman, became only horseman to have driven in all three Perth ID Grand Finals to date – 1936 Minton Ribbons 7th, 1940 Radiant Walla 9th, 1947 Lila’s Walla 9th. He trained Minton Ribbons and Radiant Walla who represented NSW while Lila’s Walla was trained by Harold Mercer representing WA
d) Miraculous was full brother to three time NZ Cup winner Indianapolis owned/trained/driven by Victorian Ben Coram who won second ever ID Grand Final in Adelaide in 1937 with Dans Son. Miraculous won in good company at Harold Park (sire of 55 winners; dam sire of good Australian trotters Just Money, Miracle Note)
Bandbox – Grand Final winner and Grand Champion –
BANDBOX (1940f Van Derby/The Mirror), 2:08.7, 22 wins including TAS Meander Cup, SA Christmas Cup twice, SA ANA Cup, ID heat/Grand Final/Grand Champion.
Bandbox was by a leading son of Globe Derby in Van Derby (Globe Derby/Roselawn), bred and raced by Edgar Tatlow, a three quarter brother to Lawn Derby (NSW Derby, ID heat, AUS mile record 2:02.0TT, NZ mile record 1:59 2/5TT [Addington Nov 1938], first in Australasia under two minutes). Roselawn’s final foal Lawn Raider sired Idle Raider (Hunter Cup, 2 ID heats) and Cocky Raider (ID Consolation).
Van Derby established a Tasmanian mile record against time of 2:08.2TT at Launceston Show (Elphin) in 1937; shipped to NZ he won from stable of FJ (Wizard) Smith among others Manukau Summer Cup, St Heliers/Campbell Hcps at Alexandra Park (NZ earnings only $1,570). He defeated Lawn Derby in a match race at Alexandra Park in 2:01½ on 31 December 1938 before setting a world record on grass of 2:00 2/5TT at Alexandra Park on 11 February 1939. In addition, he set an Australasian 1½m record of 3:09 3/5, also at Alexandra Park. Returned to Tasmania for stud duties he sired Bandbox, was sold by Tatlow to South Australian interests where he sired Para Derby (third in 1940 ID Grand Final) and went onto leave 1959 Melbourne ID Grand Final winner Young Pedro. In total, he sired 313 winners.
Bandbox’s dam was Dandy Patch mare The Mirror (2:32.8). The Eley’s had a half sister to Bandbox in Golden Mirror (2:22.8) who had three foals to successful sire Raider – Bang Bang (2:23.0, minor sire), Bold Band (2:13.6, dam of Fiery Miss – SA Derby; 4th dam of Mont Denver Gold, Hunter Cup), Madam Sussex (2:18.0).
Bandbox began racing in Tasmania where she won 15 races, originally trained by R. Stewart who fractured his skull in a fall, she was passed to Len Moriarty considered one of Tasmania’s leading reinsmen to prepare. Moving to the mainland, she had her first three races all within a week at Adelaide‘s saucer like Wayville track, defeating all the best pacers in SA. This included winning the 1947 SA Christmas Cup from a massive handicap of 72yds behind. It was from Adelaide that Bandbox preceded to Perth for 1947 ID‘s. Bandbox went onto defend her ID title at Auckland in 1948, however like the relative failure of champion NZ pacer Highland Fling, Bandbox after starting favourite on opening day, never troubled the scorers and left NZ with zero earnings.
In total, Bandbox won 22 races, most from back marks before her retirement to the breeding barn in Tasmania. She was later purchased by NSW stud master Charlie Dickson and was 24 years of age when to Hundred Proof (by Scotland; also broodmare sire of Dimante Hanover, 2 ID heats, ID Consolation), she produced the filly Pure Band, dam of the legendary Pure Steel, certainly greatest WA horse never to win an ID (2nd to Carclew driven by WA Chris Lewis in 1976, 3rd to Koala King in 1980). Pure Steel’s record showed : 1:56.9TT, $915,302, WA Derby, SA/Fremantle Cups, four WA Cups, three Hunter Cups, Miracle Mile, two time Grand Circuit champion, twice 4yo+ Pacer of Year, Harness Horse of Year, WA Hall of Famer.
Bandbox’s fillies bred on notably her 1965 daughter Pure Band, grand dam of brilliant pacer Pure Steel, noted for his toughness. Both he and his grand dam had similar racing styles taking on the leaders a long way from home. They also exhibited a low head action when under pressure. Bandbox’s foals include : CHECK STATS
- Nelson Band – grand dam of :
1.Intrepid Prince (1:59.3US, $104,300, VIC Gippsland Marathon)
1..Intrepid Princess (2:02.3; dam of Clever Son, 1:59.3, $93,403, Gawler Derby)
2..Intrepid Pearl (2:12.3, dam of Dark Paul, 1:58.9, $399,406, NSW/VIC Derbies, Italian and Wagga Cups twice/Bendigo/City of Springvale/Ballarat/VIC 3MP Cups, Victoria Cup consolation; Sentinel, 1:59.9, $95,151, VIC Derby ht; Anasazi, 2:02.5, VIC VSBA Breeders Crown – 2f)
- Gay Kathryn – 3rd dam of Just Jasmin (1:58.5, SA Sires Produce, Country Graduation C/S, Gawler Cup)
Pure Band, unraced; dam of
1. Pure Steel (see earlier and above)
1.. Phoebe Lyn (2:05.4, grand dam of Blazeaway Macray, 1:54.6, $146,020, VIC Jodies Babe; Kano Blaze, 1:57.2, $66,085; Kano Ned, T2:04..4, $74,725, Coulter Crown, Terang Trotters Cup)
2.. Pure Gavil, unraced, dam of : a) Blazing Sprit, 1:59.2, $177,259, Nevele R Fillies, NZYSS – 3f; dam of Top Speed, 1:57.1, $268,098, NSW Derby, QLS 4/5 C/S; Shestherealdeal, 1:57.9, $60,471, Wanganui/Te Awamutu Grass Cups; grand dam of Moon Spirit, 1:56.8, $79,612, VIC Tailamade Lombo; b) Pure Trick, 3rd dam of Winjammer (2:00.6, $96,960), Stylish Jasper (1:54.2. $118,491, VIC Blossom Lady), 4th dam of Shadow Sax (1:58.8, $154,210, VICSS – 2c, Tatlow Memorial – 2c; 6 wins/12 starts); c) Tender Trap (2:03.0, $80,701, VIC Youthful – 2f
Peter Craig
8 December 2016
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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