Over the years we have seen a few really good ‘small’ horses who had heaps of ability and captured the imagination of the crowds of the day completely. Caduceus, Hondo Grattan and Courage Under Fire were a few of the better ones and we can add Cocky Raider to that list. Only a ‘pony’ in size he made up for it with a never-say-die will to win which endeared him totally to the fans of that era.
Great Harness Horses 1960-1980
COCKY RAIDER.
In the late 60’s early 70’s, Cocky Raider was one of the most popular pacers to ever race at HP. He reached his peak as a 5yo in 1970 and then, inevitably, was sold to America. He was very much loved by the HP crowd because of his enduring will to win, he wouldn’t give up, and NOTHING endears a horse to the fans more than that.
Cocky Raider was by Lawn Raider from Lynstar and was owned by A.Hillam and J.A.McWilliam. McWilliam trained ‘Cocky’ throughout his career and drove him as a 3yo and early 4yo, but around October 1968 another member of the McWilliam family, G.J. (Gordon) McWilliam took over the driving, and it was with him that Cocky Raider became synonymous. They forged a partnership that saw Cocky Raider become the HP favourite that he was.
Cocky Raider was unraced at 2 and had his first start as a 3yo on 4-11-67 at Bathurst, winning first up. He then ran 5th in a heat of the Penrith Provincial Derby before winning at Cowra on 11-11-67 off 12 yards in a 3yo event. Four days later he won a beginners class event at Wagga and a week later had his first start at HP for a very easy win in a 3yo event. He was then given a 7 week ‘spell’ before resuming on 12-1-68 at Parkes in a heat of the W.D.T.A. Championship. In a very close finish he dead heated for first with Skyboy with Vensmore Nelson a head away third. Three days later in the final he ran 3rd to the same two horses. He followed this with a 2nd at Penrith before winning at Cowra on 26-1-68 and running 5th the next day.
He then travelled to Parkes and won his heat of the Western Districts Derby. This turned into one of the greatest ‘two horse wars’ ever seen, with Cocky Raider and the very talented Frosty Monarch clearing right out from the rest of the field for the last lap and a half. The winning margin was just a head with 120 yards back to the 3rd placegetter! He was beginning to show his fighting capabilities that would make him such a popular horse with the fans. In the final he ran 2nd to Frosty Monarch. Back to Cowra for 2 quick wins before running 2nd at Bathurst. He then ran 3rd, in the Country 3yo Championship at HP, to Frosty Monarch, before winning at Cowra off 24 yards on 8-3-68.
Back to HP for the NSW Derby heats where he ran 4th to Frosty Monarch who ran an Australian record, and in the final he finished 6th to Cardinal Garrison. Three weeks later he won a Forbes FFA before running 6th in the Eugowra Cup off 12 yards. He then won his next four in a row. The first was a FFA at Forbes, then a 2.23 class at Grenfell and then the heat and final of a 3yo classic race at Peak Hill. Back to Forbes where he ran 3rd in a FFA and he then finished 6th at HP. He won his final start for the season off 12 yards in a 3yo event at HP. As a 3yo Cocky Raider had 28 starts for 16 wins, including a dead heat, and 6 placings.
Cocky Raider had his first start as a 4yo three weeks later, winning a 2.24 class (C4) event off 36 yards. He then ran 2nd in a heat of the Rising Generation Championship at HP before running 3rd at Menangle and Fairfield over the next two weeks. He lined up for the final of the Championship at HP on 23-8-68 but could only finish 5th to Medicine Man. He then ran 5th at Parkes, from 48 yards, before winning a Graduation class event at HP on 13-9-68. In this race he led all the way and cleared right out in the final lap to win easily by a big margin. He followed that with a second a week later and on the 4-10-68 won a 2.21 (M2) event at HP by 15 yards from Ascot King. This was a particularly good run as he was 3 wide early for some time before settling midfield. At the 2 furlong mark he sprinted very quickly to win easily.
He then moved up a peg and took on the ‘big guns’ in the Kilmore Cup, running 3rd to Scottish Fusilier and Adaptor. Two more wins at HP followed quickly before he finished 5th to champion, Halwes. He followed that with a win in a Canowindra FFA and at his next start, on 22-11-68, won the West Indies Cup at HP beating Teeny Reena. In this race he was outside the leader all the way and sprinted very quickly from the 2 furlong mark to win easily. He then ran 3rd to Koala Frost in the Australasian 4yo Championship at HP, and then 2nd to Twinkle Hanover in the Menangle Cup, before winning an Invitation event, at HP, from Corale Oaks and Teeny Reena. This was a very strong win as he made his run a lap and a half from home and was 3 wide for over a lap before winning. The following week, 20-12-68, he won a mobile Invitation 4yo event from Koala Frost in fast time. Luck was with him this time as he was 4th, locked away on the fence, for most of the race and
last into the home straight, but Gordon McWilliam stayed on the rails and got a late split when the leader drifted out and he charged through the narrow gap to just win. It was a top performance by both horse AND driver.
A month later he ran 3rd, from 12 yards, in an Invitation and the following week won the HP Summer Cup from Adaptor and Corale Oaks. This was terrific performance as Adaptor, who had led most of the way, raced about 4 lengths clear with 2 furlongs to go, but Cocky Raider set out after him, in his usual never-say-die way, and just got him on the line. A week later he ran 4th to Twinkle Hanover in an Invitation after giving that horse 12 yards start, then ran 2nd to Sister Ede from 12 yards. On 28-2-69 he started off 36 yards in the Rising Star Stakes and easily beat Sure Proof. In this race he settled down second last a long way from the leader, with the field in indian file, but made his move mid race to move up and lead the outside runners and won easily. Two weeks later he lined up in the Miracle Mile but could only finish 4th, at 14-1, to the flying Adaptor. The following week he won an Invitation, from 12 yards, beating Viking Water. This was another
top class run from the little horse. He was second last early and made his run with 5 furlongs (1000 metres) to go. He was forced 3 wide for the entire last lap and a bit, but still won well. Eight days later he had his first start on the Melbourne Showgrounds, easily winning a 4yo Challenge. Back to HP he followed this Melbourne win with a 9th from 24 yards, a 4th in the Easter Cup from 12 yards, 3rd in the Winter Championships and 3rd in a FFA. He had raced every month for the last 17 months so was then given a 4 week ‘spell’ before winning at HP, from 24 yards, on 4-7-69. As a 4yo Cocky Raider had 32 starts for 14 wins and 10 placings.
Cocky Raider had his first 5yo start at Peak Hill on 23-8-69 in a FFA, winning easily. He followed that with two unplaced runs at HP, both from 24 yards, before winning the Lightning Mile there on 26-9-69. This was a top class effort as he was well back early and 5 wide into the home straight, but came down under the grandstand to win. The following week he ran a close 2nd to Golden Alley in a FFA and two weeks later won a FFA from Viking Water in record time. The next week he started in the Spring Cup from 12 yards and won easily from Viking Water and Hi Efficiency. This was another one of his really top class performances as he was 3 wide for the entire first lap but could not get a forward position, so he settled down 3rd last. Down the back straight he sprinted very quickly to record an easy win against top class company. He then travelled to Victoria for the Melbourne Pacing Cup. Handicapped off 36 yards, he easily won his heat on 8-11-69, beating
Last Flood and Bold David, and the following week, from the same mark, won the final in track record time, from Garry Rowan and Bon Adios.
A month later, back at HP, he was unplaced to Born To Trot from the back mark of 36 yards but 4 days later in a FFA ran a new record beating beating Bold Judy and Teeny Reena. He had won 5 of his last 6 starts and was racing in the best form of his career, so it was no surprise that the owners were receiving offers to buy their horse. Eventually American interests paid big money for him. The new owners decided to leave him here in Australia for another month to take in the HP Australia Day Cup and the Melbourne Inter Dominion.
On 23-1-70 he lined up in a FFA for his new owners with a new trainer/driver, Kevin Robinson. He ran one of the worst races of his career finishing last to Lucky Creed on level terms. There was some ‘discussion’ that maybe he wasn’t as good as the money they paid for him suggested he should be! It was suggested that he should be transferred back to his original trainer, with Gordon McWilliam to drive him in the Australia Day Cup to ‘prove a point’! To their everlasting credit the new owners agreed to the request and he lined up in the cup with his regular driver aboard. It was not going to be easy! He was handicapped off 24 yards and was giving 12 yards start to Lucky Creed who had won his last 24 races straight and was THE glamour horse of Australian harness racing at the moment! The scene was set for a memorable clash if McWilliam could get the best out of little ‘Cocky’.
Royal Society led early while Lucky Creed was quickly into the coveted 1×1 trail. With a lap and a half to go there were some challengers coming from the rear so Vic Frost sent Lucky Creed to the front. Down the back straight for the last time, Lucky Creed raced 4 lengths clear and looked all over a winner but Gordon Mcwilliam sprinted Cocky Raider strongly after the leader and was only a head behind him on the home turn. The race was on in earnest between these two great pacers with nothing else a chance. For the entire length of the HP straight these two champions fought a terrific two horse war with nothing between them and the crowd going wild with excitement. Right on the line little ‘Cocky’, his big heart bursting with the strain, put his nose in front to win by just half a head and end the 24 race winning streak of Lucky Creed. He returned to the judge to receive one of the greatest ovations ever accorded a pacer at HP, the sort of reception
normally reserved for Inter Dominion’s won by local pacers such as Hondo Grattan and Smooth Satin. The crowd knew they had witnessed one of the greatest clashes ever and showed their appreciation with prolonged cheering and clapping. It was one of those races that instantly become a classic and are never forgotten.
A week later he started in an Invitation from 36 yards but could only finish 3rd to Lucky Creed. He then travelled to Melbourne for the 1970 Inter Dominion carnival. He found his 24 yards handicap beyond him on the small circuit and only finished 9th, 5th and 2nd in the heats and failed to make the final. He did, however, win a Consolation on Grand Final night. It was his last start in Australia.
He was off to America but did not race during the rest of 1970 or 1971. In 1972 he had just 3 starts for a 3rd and was then retired. It was an inglorious end to such a wonderful pacer.
Cocky Raider was NSW harness horse of the year for 1969 and won 18 races at HP in just 3 seasons of racing. His full record, in Australia, was 78 starts for 39 wins and 19 placings. He remains one of the most popular horses ever to race at Harold Park and his 1970 Australia Day Cup victory will live on forever in the minds of those lucky enough to have been there at the time.
By Jim Hogan
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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