This is the second part of a look at a random selection of NZ horses from over the past century proficient at both gaits. It contains top liners, good horses and those of a lesser capability from the late 1960’s to the present day. It does not purport to be a fully comprehensive review of all horses that have performed at both the pacing and trotting gaits during this period.
TOPEKA (1968h Goodland/Tat Scott, U318 Betsey Austin), began racing as a pacer at three prior to mixing gaits for the next two seasons before racing solely as a trotter in final two seasons of racing in NZ. A winner of two races pacing from nineteen starts (2:11.7, $1,350) with two placings together with seven races trotting (five Addington, one Alexandra Park), T2:07.6, $19,545 and fourteen placings from 54 starts, trained by Derek Jones. Total NZ earnings were $20,895 and Included in the trotting wins were National Trot and Canterbury Park Trotting Cup. His sale to Canadian Yves Baillargeon prior to the 1976 Globe Derby Interdominion series (transfer after series concluded), saw Topeka win two heats, start 4/5 favourite and finish eighth in the Trotters Grand Final (five starts for two wins and one second, T1:19.7, $4,540 in Australia). Half-brother Merrin won a trotters heat at the 1971 Christchurch Interdominions.
Exported to North America, Topeka raced at both gaits, without success as a pacer for earnings of $1.928 but recording a time of T2:03.2US as an eight year old trotter – earnings of $112,574, total US earnings of $114,502.
Dam Tat Scott’s other descendants include open class trotters in Drott Moss, First Grade, Whizzing By, Tough Girl, Alabama Whiz, Eastnor Lad, Avatar, Kazzle Dazzle,
RITCH HILL (1970h Battlefield/Little Etta, A5 Honest Kate), sired by Battlefield (Light Brigade/Ingle Belmer, Purple Patch family), Ritch Hill gave the Runnings (Eric and Bruce of Easton Light fame) their second Rowe Cup in three years in the late 1970’s. Earlier he won seven races pacing having started out as a pacer at three, mixing his gaits over the following four seasons. Pacing wins came at Alexandra Park (four), Hutt Park, Cambridge (two).
Four trotting wins, all at Alexandra Park included Rowe Cup, an invitational FFA, Members and Perth Trots. Career record in NZ : pacing, 73 starts, seven wins, fifteen placings, 2:06.7, $17,018; trotting, 19 starts, four wins, two placings, T2:04.2, $20,930; total NZ earnings, $37,948. Exported to North America, Ritch Hill trotted T2:00.1US on a mile track as an eight year old, total US earnings of $48,618.
TOUGH GOING (1970h Tuft/Sarona, N24 Mavis Wood), raced entirely in New Zeeland as a trotter before covering both gaits in North America. The winner of five races with six placings in NZ from 46 starts, including Rosso Antico Stakes, one of four victories at three and one of Maurice Holmes’s four winning drives on his final day in the sulky, Saturday 20 July 1974 at Alexandra Park. Colin Berkett trained him for his five wins (two Alexandra Park/Hutt Park, T2:14.0, $8,460) prior to export to North America.
In the United States, Tough Going achieved times of T2:02.2US as a seven year old ($43,141) and as an eight year old paced a best mile time of 2:01.0US ($19,819) for total US earnings of $62,960.
SHARMBRO (1971g Armbro Del/Shy Bess, N211 Minnie Tracey), trotted for first seventy five starts in NZ recording eight victories for trainer Frank Murfitt (five at Addington, T2:07.7) and nine placings for stakes of $15,847. Had five pacing races as an eight year old (one placing in C7-8 class, $500) before leaving NZ for North America. In USA, Sharmbro took a time record of 2:00.0 as an eleven year old pacer, $27,673 (did not race as a trotter in USA).
CHARLIE WOOD (1972h Perfecto Hanover/Lucky Wood), started out and concluded career as a pacer but in between mixed his gaits with some success for breeder/owner/trainer/driver Doug McCormick. A five time pacing winner (three at Addington, 2:02.9, $13,170) from 74 starts with sixteen placings, Charlie Wood also won two trotting both at Ashburton (T2:10.6, $3,445) plus a placing from fifteen starts, total stakes of $16,615. As a sire, Charlie Wood left twenty six winners, a mix of pacers and trotters including two year old Trotting Stakes winner Charlotte Wood, grand dam of Lets Get Serious, T1:52.2US, $656,652, Prince Sundon and Queens Rhapsody.
FABIAN (1973g Game Pride/Polydorus, N142 Merry Bow), one of the few dual gaited horses reviewed who mixed the pacing and trotting gaits throughout their five year career for Highbank trainer/driver Carl Middleton. For all that, Fabian was unsuccessful as a pacer (fifteen starts for one third placing, $461). As a trotter he managed six wins and twenty one placings from 98 starts, T2:10.9, $14,410, total NZ earnings of $14,871. Exported to North America, he trotted in T2:01.2US, $62,791.
VIVA REMERO (1977g Crockett/Viva Rior, A34 Dolly by Stockwell). By the dual gaited North American stallion Crockett, whose race record efforts of 1:59.1US pacing and T2:01.1 (best mile rate T2:00.3, 5 furlong track) trotting made him a one-time dual gaited world champion on half mile tracks. Earnings of $141,588 included the 1965 Reynolds Memorial (three-year-old colt trot) worth $13,906 won in a time of T2:04.3 in the hands of Fred Parks. Crockett recorded six sub two minute pacing miles.
Viva Remero raced as a trotter in New Zealand with six wins (one at two, five at three), T2:09.4, $14,172, winning three-year-old Rosso Antico Stakes and placing third in New Zealand Trotting Stakes for Eric Ryan. In North America Viva Remero raced as a pacer recording a time of 2:02.0 US, $27,415 for combined hemisphere earnings of $41,587. Viva Remero was Crockett’s major success from a number of dual gaited horses sired,
LIGHT BAY (1980f Count Bay/Hearty Hanover. N3 Red Diamond), started out as a pacer who won one race at Timaru from seventeen starts. Greater success came with conversion to the trot, unplaced on three occasions at five before winning five as a six year old and a further three at seven (two at Alexandra Park including FFA trot) after which Light Bay was exported to United States.
Career stats : NZ – pacing, seventeen starts, one win, two placings, $1,865, 2:07.2; trotting. 44 starts, eight wins and nine placings, T2:06.3, $43,390, total NZ earnings $45,255; USA, T1:59.4US, $92,547.
BELLAM (1983h Plat Du Jour/Armbro Play, U30 Dairy Maid). by a pacing stallion son of Meadow Skipper, Plat Du Jour was the sire of both good class pacers and trotters among his 251 winners (leading sire of juvenile trotters in NZ late 1980‘s). Bellam was one of three, Rosso Antico Stakes/now GN Trotters Derby winners for Plat du Jour (French Accent, French Dynamite). The propensity to trot no doubt influenced by Nevele Pride being Plat Du Jour’s dam sire and Armbro Del Bellam’s dam sire (fifth of NZ winners were trotters).
Bellam’s dam was successful pacing mare Armbro Play. Commencing race career as a pacer, first eleven starts produced just the one third placing as a two year old at Addington. Converted to the trotting gait after three three year old starts, Bellam was successful at the first time of asking, trotting to victory at Addington for owner/trainer and farrier Dave (DA) Condick and driver Felix Newfield.
Progressing through to open class, Bellam was successful in fourteen of 61 trotting starts (four wins from Roy and Barry Purdon stable), winning Hambletonian Classic and Rosso Antico Stakes at three, second in Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup, thirds in NZ Trotting Stakes at three and Canterbury Park Trotting Cup, fourth in NZ Trotting Championship and fifth in Rowe Cup. Three year old Trotter of the Year, setting two national 3yo standing start records over 2200m and 2400m, with earnings of $111,510 ($615 as pacer), T2:05.6, Bellam from limited opportunities sired 37 winners, the most notable being ID Trot Grand Final winner Play On.
STRIETROSS (1986g Macatross/Striesand, N12 Miss Kate), although pacing bred and racing twenty to twenty five years ago in NZ, Strietross is the most recent example of a top level dual gaited horse at both gaits. Owned by Lauriston, mid Canterbury trainer Hopa MacDonald, along with regular driver Kerry O’Reilly and Bill Sides,
Strietross began training as a trotter but commenced his career as a pacer from age four – early six year old with a further two unplaced efforts as nine year old. Pacing wins included seven in his first campaign at four, Ashburton (4:08.6)/Wellington Cups (win advanced to open class as pacer), four wins at five, five of pacing wins were at Addington, a 1:57.3 mile at Ashburton parked three wide most of journey; second in Hororata Cup; thirds in Nelson/Invercargill/Kurow Cups/Pacifica Shipping Flying Mile to Christopher Vance and Blossom Lady. Following Wellington Cup win, winner of eleven of thirty one pacing starts.
Strietross was assessed as a maiden trotter when contesting his first trotting event in December 1992 as a six year old and from eleven attempts he produced victories at Greymouth and Nelson in January 1993 when handled by Bill Forsyth (seven drives, two wins). Reverting back to pacing with four unplaced efforts before becoming a fully-fledged trotter, trotting wins included Ordeal and Group Three Dunedin Trotting Cups (T4:14.4 for two miles defeating ID Trot Grand Final winners Fraggle Rock and Call Me Now, win moved to open class trotting ranks; second two seasons later), Addington Tip Top Ice Cream Mobile FFA and equaled number of pacing wins at Addington of five as a trotter.
Career stats : pacing, 53 starts, eleven wins, thirteen placings, 1:57.3, $89,820; trotting, 46 starts, nine wins, ten placings, T2:03.7, $62,220; total earnings $152,040.
Spread over a period of thirty years, the family of Mavis Logan has made some impact when it comes to dual gaited performers. Starting out with Tee Kahu, whose fourth dam was Mavis Logan, we can follow further lines of descendants that were dual gaited to Little Mo, racing today with Mavis Logan being her seventh dam.
BY THE WAY (1980f Nardins Byrd/Tee Kahu, N145 Mavis Logan), from an unraced mare who left eleven foals, five to race, four winners and a qualifier. By The Way was dual gaited, T2:07.1/P2:11.2, $23,410 ($3,480 pacing), winning five trotting (all at four, three at Addington) and one pacing at Kaikoura. By The Way was 4yo mare Trotter of Year, left one trotting winner Milkshake from seven foals and was grand dam of Lord Vance, 2:04.9, $40,195, five wins (Waimate Cup).
HARNETTS CREEK (1996g Sokys Atom/Kahu Del, N145 Mavis Logan), dam was 2016 recipient of the coveted Broodmare of Excellence Award awarded by NZ Breeders Association. Kahu Del was the 1981 foal of Armbro Del/Tee Kahu (half-sister to By The Way), while major family credit for Mavis Logan is champion square gaiter Lyell Creek. Kahu Del was the winner of five races, placed on six occasions, $17,395, 2:05.6. Breeding record shows the dam of seventeen foals for thirteen to race with eight winners plus a further two qualifiers. Winning progeny were a mix of both pacers and trotters, the true dual gaited matron of Mavis Logan breed.
They include Swan Creek, 2:01.1, $75,335, eight wins (Geraldine Cup) and dual gaited half-brother Harnetts Creek, whose thirteen NZ wins came with twelve at the pacing gait (five at Addington) and one trotting win at Motukarara (final three starts as a nine year old were as a trotter). Harnetts Creek had six starts as a pacer in Australia for two placings. Winner of major races Kaikoura/Invercargill/Avon City Ford New Brighton Cups, Ashburton Flying Stakes; second Kaikoura Cup; thirds Northern Southland/Thames/New Brighton/Geelong Cups, Waikato Flying Mile. Career record 70 pacing starts for twelve wins and twenty placings, 1:57.7, $291,623; three trotting starts for one win, T2:10.1, $3,750; total earnings of $295,373.
LITTLE MO (2009g Courage Under Fire/Kahlum, N145 Mavis Logan), represents Mavis Logan in the current generation. Descending from Kahlum, responsible for Lyell Creek, Jacquimo and other descendants in Arabess, dam of Marcoola; Amaretto Sun; dual gaited Little Mo has recorded four wins to date for trainer Ken Ford (Marcoola fame). Starting out as a pacer with one win from thirty four two – four year old starts, Little Mo began trotting career at four. Fifty seven starts later, he has three trotting victories (one at Addington) on the board. Current career stats show one pacing win and three placings from thirty four starts, 2:04.9, $10,359 while trotting three wins and sixteen placings from 57 starts, T2:04.2, $38.810; total earnings of $49,169.
In the current era, a few examples of dual gaited horses exist. These include –
OUR DOLLY WOULD (2007f Artsplace/Dixie Darlin, N52 Entice), one of few Artsplace trotters and a classic winner to boot. Initial two starts in NZ as a pacer, the second against A future three time NZ Cup winner (Terror To Love finished seventh) finishing ninth. Moving to Kevin Townley’s stables from Wayne Ross, (Our) Dolly Would won three (Alexandra Park, Cambridge twice) of twenty two and three year old starts trotting for Jill Coppins (trainer) and driver Brent Mangos.
In addition, she placed second in NZ Trotting Stakes (two) and three year old Sires Stakes, named three year old filly trotter of year before exported to Australia. In Australia she continued on her successful way with seven victories from 44 starts, annexing the NSW/SA Trotters Oaks and later the SA Trotters Cup among them. At the conclusion of her racing career, she had started on 66 occasions for ten trotting wins (Globe Derby/Menangle twice; Melton/Alexandra Park once) and eighteen placings, time trialled in T1:58.7 for earnings of $117,447.
SCARRYMCLEARY (2007g Elsu/Ballymenna, N26 Violet M), commenced racing as a pacer in NZ where during his first two seasons thirty four starts from the Tony Barron stable yielded eight victories. Sent to Australia, as a five year old, nineteen pacing starts brought five successes (heat of the Australasian Young Drivers at Menangle) and at six from a further twenty starts just four placings. At this stage a career change instituted with an initial trotting performance in Australia before returning to New Zealand.
From a seven year old onwards back in NZ for John and Joshua Dickie, Scarrymcleary has been kept to the trotting gait where another forty six starts have brought eight wins (six at Alexandra Park) equalling the number of wins recorded pacing. One major victory was the Invercargill Summer Cup pacing, then he recorded a sizzling 1:52.3 at Menangle during his Australian campaign. His major trotting performance has been a third in the Greenlane Cup.
Career stats to date : pacing, 73 starts, 8 NZ/5 AUS (all Menangle) wins, 1:52.3AUS, $137,216; trotting, 47 starts, eight NZ wins, T2:01.3, $93,564; total earnings, $230,780.
SHARDONS PEARL (2009f Elsu/Shardons Way, N41 Lady Clare), whilst from pacing bred parents, this has not deterred Shardons Pearl from mixing gaits in recent seasons. Pacing only at two – four, she attained six of seven wins from 51 starts, it was as a five year old that she switched over to the trotting gait. Successful in two of twelve starts trotting with a placed effort from four pacing starts. At six, a mix of pacing (six starts for a placing) and three unplaced trotting starts followed while as a seven year old stuck to the pacing gait to record another win. Career stats read 79 pacing starts for seven wins and 22 placings, 1:58.2, $59,499; trotting 15 starts for two wins and two placings, T2:03.0, $10,875; 91 : 9 – 24, $70,374 (three at Alexandra Park, four at Cambridge).
DON PIERRE (2011g Diedre Don/Paris Belle, N21 Peri), by a trotting sire from a pacing mare, Don Pierre has to date won three races pacing from 36 attempts, whilst unsuccessful from six trips trotting as a four year old. Back to the pacing gait this season for trainer Sam Smolenski, the latest of three wins came pacing this season. Career record of 42 starts for three wins and four placings, 2:01.0, $23,144 ($581 trotting).
It would be remiss not too at least make mention of a couple of prominent Australian dual gaited horses. In earlier times, this included :
HAPPY VOYAGE (1911h Direct Voyage/Honest Meg, A61 Our Nell), from a trotting family, first tried as a trotter winning five consecutive races, best in T2:26.0. Turning to pacing, he became a champion, possibly second only to Globe Derby in his era. Winner of 1917 Melbourne Thousand, first race in saddle and with hopples on, he missed the 1918 Melbourne Thousand after which Billy (WJ) Tomkinson took over training. In his second Melbourne Thousand off 96 yards in 1919 he finished second. In the other major race of this period, the best he could do in the Sydney Thousand was dead heat for third.
Prior to his move to New Zeeland in 1922 with Tomkinson, Happy Voyage won numerous pacing races at Melbourne venues such as Victoria Park, Richmond, Showgrounds (1921 Show Time Test) and Sydney’s Epping track. This included setting an Australasian mile record of 2:09.0 at Victoria Park on 1 May 1920 (standing start). In New Zealand, a feature race win came in the Craven Hcp at Addington together with NZ mile time trial record of 2:04.2TT (NZ only earnings of £1,134) – achieving this time twice after the first recording was rejected due to the pacemaker racing in front of him to reduce wind resistance. These times were set on the grass tracks at New Brighton (14 April 1923) and Alexandra Park (30 April 1923).
Standing at stud in NZ, sire of 54 winners, twelve in Australia – included Regal Voyage (dam of Haughty, dual NZ Cup winner/NZFFA and first two minute mare in Australasia, 1:59.6TT), Rocks Ahead, Dusty Voyage, Pola Negri.
The current modern era has seen MISTER ZION (2005g Red River Hanover/Cross Lady, N106 Cross Battery) achieve a Group One double in Australia – SA Pacers Cup and Australasian Trotters Championship and become the only sub two minute dual gaited winner in Australasia – 1:56.8 and T1:58.7, $392,737 with twenty four wins (thirteen pacing, eleven trotting) and twenty placings. Other victories included
Cobram/Mildura Pacing Cups; trotting True Roman/Lenin FFA‘s, Freestone/Kilmore Trotters Cups, Australasian Trotters Championship heat; second Bill Collins Mile, Cochran Trotters Cup; third SA Trotters Cup; fourth Ballarat Pacing Cup.
Mister Zion (Zion in New Zealand) was exported as a three year old after six NZ starts as a pacer for two wins and two placings, 2:03.2, $11,963 for breeder/owner Ernie Knight and trainer/driver Jim Curtin.
Current Group One trotter ON THUNDER ROAD (2010g Bettors Delight/All The Way Home) began his career as a pacer in Australia, starting on seven occasions for one pacing win at Menangle (Flying K 1000m final) before converting to the trotting game. Success here currently stands at thirty one trotting wins from 59 starts, T1:55.1 and total combined stakes of $395,665. Trotting wins include Australian Trotting Grand Prix, Bulli/VIC Winter/VIC Cochran/NSW Spring/NSW Tabcorp Trotters Cups, NSW Trotters Marathon, Wagon Apollo/Sundons Gift/Sumthingabout Maori/Tabcorp Menangle FFA’s, Franco/Australian series.
Peter Craig
24 May 2017
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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