GREAT HARNESS HORSES 1960-1980
NOODLUM
The Noodlum story starts about the early 1940’s when Andy Wilson, a long time secretary of the Wyndham Trotting Club, was given a mare called Nell Grattan. Wilson had been involved in harness racing for quite a few years up till then with nil result. Nell Grattan won 9 races for him before he eventually put her to Springfield Globe. Her first foal, a filly, won 8 races, but her second foal by Light Brigade, also a filly, was named Tactics and what a grand horse she became. Trained by the legendary Maurice Holmes, Tactics won 11 races including a New Brighton Cup. When she went to stud, however, she proved an even greater success.
Her first foal was Adroit, who was sired by Johnny Globe, and he won a number of races in NZ including the 1957 Golden Slipper Stakes, before coming to Australia and racing with more success at HP with Les Chant as his trainer/driver.
Her second foal, by U. Scott, was Guile who was also a good winner in Australia. Tactics third foal, by Meadow Chief, was called Astute, but raced in Australia as Astute Princess. Her fourth foal, by Captain Adios, was a filly called Deft who was the dam of Noodlum. Tactics also produced Tactile who won 5 Derbies in Australia and NZ before racing in America with success and then standing at stud at the late Martin Tananbaum’s farm. But back to Deft.
Wilson gave Deft to his wife to race and she won 10 races for her before being sent to stud. Deft’s first foal, by Hundred Proof, was called Fool Proof and, although he won a few races, never ‘set the world on fire’. Her second foal, by Batchelor Hanover, was a winner, as was her third foal Canny, by Scottish Hanover, who won a few races for owners Andy Wilson and Freeman Holmes. Deft was then sent back to Batchelor Hanover and this mating produced Noodlum. Mrs. Wilson owned Noodlum but sold a quarter share in him to Freeman Holmes when he was a rising 2yo.
Noodlum had his first start on 18-9-73 at Cambridge in the Morrinsville Juvenile Stakes and won first up, but only just! Last early, he then went around the field to sit outside the leader, was headed on the home turn but came again to win by a nose. His time was a new race record and it was obvious that here was a very promising young horse. Eleven nights later he won a 2yo event at Auckland by 2 lengths and was then given 6 weeks off. His 3rd start was at Addington on 17-11-73, and once again he ran a new race record winning the NZ Spring Time Stakes by 3/4 of a length. At his next start at Waimate he dead heated for first in the NZ Golden Slipper Stakes. The other dead heater was Astro Blue and they may have set some kind of record as they were both by Batchelor Hanover out of Captain Adios mares!
On New Year’s day 1974 he raced at Canterbury Park and finished 2nd to Don Lopez, but 3 weeks later won the Town Hall Stakes at Addington. At his next start, 6 days later, he contested the NZ Juvenile Stakes at Forbury Park. Half way down the home straight the last time he was 5 lengths in front and could only lose the race by falling over, so he….fell over! With just 30 metres to the winning post he appeared to shy at something on the track and came down in a big way. He was not badly injured, however, and only lost 2 teeth and had some bruising. Given 9 weeks to get over the fall, he resumed at Addington on 6-4-74, and finished 4th to Sly Kiwi, but that was the last time he would be beaten as a 2yo.
Up till now he had been driven by Freeman Holmes, but he handed the reins over to his uncle, Maurice Holmes, to help him in his quest to win the driver’s premiership at his last season of racing. Morrie ‘did the right thing’ by winning his last seven 2yo races in a row! His next start was a sensational effort winning the NZ Welcome Stakes. He lost 50-60 metres at the start but ranged up 5th on the home turn and absolutely bolted in by 5 lengths in record time. Two weeks later at Forbury Park he set a NZ record for 11 furlongs, winning by 6 lengths with 12 lengths to the 3rd horse! Ten days later at Addington, a 20 metre handicap didn’t stop him from winning, and 4 nights later he won the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes in record time, by 4 lengths. Next was the Canterbury Juvenile Stakes which he won by 1½ lengths, setting a NZ record, rating 2-5 for the standing start 10 furlong event.
Then on 1-6-74 he won the Sapling Stakes by 4½ lengths at Ashburton. He was ‘sashed’ that day by his namesake. Noodlum was named after the, then, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Robert Muldoon, Noodlum being Muldoon spelled backwards. Mr. Muldoon would go on to become NZ’s Prime Minister. At his last start for the season on 17-6-74, he absolutely bolted in the NZ Juvenile Championship at Auckland by 8 lengths and set a NZ record, rating 2-3 7/10 for the 11 furlong event. As a 2yo Noodlum had 15 starts for 11½ wins and 1 placing and along the way set 8 race records and 3 NZ records. He won $23,162 as a 2yo making him the 5th highest money earner for the season amongst ALL comers. He set a new record for the most wins by a 2yo, the previous record being 8 wins by Sam Tryax and Young Quinn. He was, quite simply, the greatest 2yo pacer ever produced in NZ.
Noodlum resumed as a 3yo 2 months later on 10-8-74 at Oamaru and won easily from 20 metres. Seven days later he came off 20 metres at Addington and won by 4 lengths in fast time and a week later repeated the effort in a similar event. It was his 10 successive win. Three weeks later, still at Addington, he came off 30 metres in a 3yo event, and again won easily rating a new NZ record for 10 furlongs of 2-2 3/10. He then travelled to Forbury Park and set another NZ record, this time for 11 furlongs, coming off 20 metres and winning by 6 lengths. A week later he repeated that effort in a similar event, this time over 13½ furlongs, winning by 5½ lengths and setting another NZ record, rating 2-6 4/5. A month later he was back at Addington off 30 metres, won by 14 lengths, and set ANOTHER NZ record, this time rating 2-4 2/5 over 13 furlongs.
On the 23-11-74 he contested the NZ Derby and, once again, made it a one act affair. It was his 15th consecutive win. Given a month off he next raced at Rangiora but could only finish 5th, from 20 metres, behind Commissioner and 5 nights later was beaten a head by the same horse in the NZ Champion Stakes. He then ran 2nd again, this time behind Parlez Vous and it was decided that he might be ‘stale’, so he was given a 4 month spell.
Resuming on 13-5-75 at Addington, he won a 3yo event by 7 lengths, from 20 metres behind, and 19 days later was beaten just 2 metres after giving the winner 20 metres start. He then crossed the Tasman for the first, and only time, to contest the Queensland Derby at Albion Park. He won his heat on 21-6-75 by 35 metres after starting at 1-6. Cedar King led early but Noodlum took him on, and after a 600 metre struggle took the lead. With 2 laps to go he was absolutely ‘bolting’ in front, leading by 2 lengths, and at the bell was ahead by 3 lengths. Down the back straight the last time he was given his head and raced away to a big lead and won very easily. In the final the following week he began badly and was 20 metres off the leader after settling down. With 2 laps to go he made a run around the field, 3 wide, but was caught out there and at the bell was challenging for the lead, still 3 wide! He took the lead half way down the back straight and looked
set to win easily again when James Armagh, who had been ‘buried’ in the pack, emerged with a big final sprint. In a driving finish Noodlum held off the fresh challenger and won by a long neck, bringing great relief to those who had taken the ‘tomato sauce odds’ of 1-10! He then went home and was spelled. As a a 3yo Noodlum had 15 starts for 11 wins and 3 seconds.
Resuming as a 4yo on 16-8-75 at Addington, Noodlum ran 2nd, beaten a head, by the top class horse Lunar Chance, and a week later was 2nd again to the same horse beaten a neck. Two weeks later he won an Invitation at Addington but 2 weeks after that could only finish 6th to Robalan in a FFA. He then won the Ashburton Flying Stakes before running 6th in an Oamaru Invitation. Back to Addington on 31-10-75 where he easily won a Flying Mile in fast time. He was then given a 7 week breather. He resumed at Auckland on 20-12-75 and won the National Flying Pace but the following week, from 15 metres, could only finish 5th to Why Bill. He then contested the Auckland Cup but was a well beaten 3rd behind Captain Harcourt and Speedy Guest. Ten days later he won a Wellington Invitation and 3 days later ran 3rd in the Wellington Cup. Noodlum then suffered a bad injury and was retired to stud. As a 4yo Noodlum had 12 starts for 5 wins and 4 placings and his
career record reads 42 starts for 28 wins and 8 placings.
Noodlum was probably the best juvenile pacer seen in NZ up to that time and, barring injury, could have gone on and won many racers at the highest level, but it wasn’t to be. As a 2 and 3yo he won many top class races by huge margins and STILL ran record times, indicating his class. Those who were there at the time won’t forget him in a hurry.
Jim Hogan
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
