By Duane Ranger
Memories of Hutt Park and past Wellington Cup victors will come flooding back at the Otaki Racecourse on Friday.
It’s been 14 years since the Geoff Dunn trained and Todd Mitchell driven Agios Nikolaos won the last Wellington Cup at Hutt Park which was based in Seaview (Lower Hutt).
At 5.40pm the 2016 El Cheapo Car Wellington Cup for the C2 and faster pacers will be run. It is worth $10,000.
The Nicky Chilcott trained and driven Jet Black Shadow is the only horse in the race to have won two races on the track and together with the Paul Chalklen trained Mischief Maker (James Stormont), they look the toughest to beat.
Wellington-based harness racing bookmaker for the New Zealand TAB and Wellington Trotting Club historian – Stephen Richardson said the meeting would be one filled with nostalgia.
“Four past presidents and four past committee members will be there on ‘Cup Day’ along with about 24 others with past connections to the race. It’s going to be a Wellington Trotting Club’ Nostalgia Day,” Richardson said.
The twilight meeting is the first day of the Kapiti Coast Harness Racing Club’s two-day meeting. The $10,000 Otaki Cup for C3 and faster pacers will be staged on Sunday.
Richardson has made reference is made to trainers and drivers who have horses which have had a connection to past Wellington Trotting Cups.
2002 – Agios Nikolaos. Willie Fleming who has horses in race 5 Bim Bom Bay and race 6 Rangi Rangdu trained Tricky Devil to finish 5th. Stephen Doody trained and drove Smokey Range to finish 6th. Peter Ferguson finished 7th on Dashing Dave.
2001 – Panky’s Pacer. Disprove trained by Nicky Chilcott and driven by David Butcher finished 2nd. Ball Of Lightning finished 4th driven by Peter Ferguson. Holme And Away finished 7th driven by Scott Phelan who drives at todays meeting. Tony Herlihy finished 10th on Armbro Illusion and Stephen Doody finished 13th on Royal Trickster.
2000 – All Around. Stephen Doody drove Hanover Mae to finish 4th. Peter Ferguson drove Strike Master to finish 5th.
1999 – Shredder. The winner was trained and driven by Nicky Chilcott. Peter Ferguson drove Elite Warrior to finish 11th. Elite Warrior was trained by Doug Gale who has runners in races 6, 7 and 10 today.
1998 – Motorbel. The winner was driven by Peter Ferguson. Nicky Chilcott who has runners in races 2,7,8,9 & 10 trained & drove Waharoa to finish 8th.
1997 – No Race.
1996 – Supreme Award. Peter Ferguson drove the winner. Tony Herlihy drove Ceilidh Boy to finish 9th. Stephen Doody drove Spend A Dollar to finish 11th.
1995 – Quick Trip. Stephen Doody who has a runner in race 6 Bankcard today drove Chessman to finish and Peter Ferguson drove Tigerish to finish 9th. Tony Herlihy drove Mark C. to finish12th. Graham Neill who has Mistress Castleton in race 5 and also Lady Molly in race 10 today trained Saratoga Chief who finished 13th in the 1995 Cup.
1994 – Abdias. The winner was trained by John & David Butcher and driven by Philip Butcher and to make it a real family affair Abdias was bred and owned by John and his wife Colleen. Peter Ferguson finished 3rd on Terminating. Desperate Comment driven by Tony Herlihy finished 9th.
1993 – Remote’s Dream. Peter Ferguson drove Kirchdorf to finish 7th.
1992 – Strietross. Smooth Genghis driven by Tony Herlihy finished 3rd. David Butcher drove Bay Century to finish 7th.
1991 – Lookahead. The winner was driven by David Butcher and beat Tania’s Boy driven by Peter Ferguson.
1990 – Machsimo. Saieda Girl finished 11th driven by Peter Ferguson.
1989 – Vulcan Lady. The trotter Drott Moss trained by Brooklyn (Wellington) trainer Pat Harnett started in the Cup and was driven by local trainer/driver Bill Marwick. Drott Moss finished last of 11 runners but added a lot of interest to the running. Reggies Mate driven by Peter Ferguson finished 6th.
1988 – Bionic Chance. Peter Ferguson who drives at today’s meeting drove John Paul to finish 6th. John Paul was bred by past Vice-President Laurie Meo. Laurie also raced this horse to record around 6 wins before selling the horse. Skipper Vantar returned to finish 9th & Mike Nicholas drove the horse again.
1987 – Rolls Hanover. David Butcher finished 3rd on Gaelic Skipper & Skipper Vantar finished 4th trained by Mike and Owen Nicholas.
1986 – Master Mood. David Butcher who drives today finished 11th on Gene Evander. Tony Herlihy who has runners in today -Cerberus race 4 and River Polka race 7, finished 7th behind Greg Patron.
1985 – Premiership. This horse was Anthony Butt’s first winning drive at Hutt Park on September 3, 1983 in a maiden race but was beaten a nose by the Bronze Ruler who paid $33. Premiership was trained by Anthony’s grandfather Derek Jones who was a staunch supporter of Hutt Park Raceway and actually began his career there. Anthony only had to wait until the second night of the meeting to record his first ever win when Premiership turned the first night result around when starting the $4.35 favourite and beating Bronze Ruler by half a length.
1984 – Joy Boy.
1983 – Mels Boy (Sharvid Skipper (7th) trained by Owen and Mike Nicholas. Mike has runners in race 1 – Te Kouka Breeze and race 3 – Lite Giovani.
1982 – Sweet Jessica.
1981 – Bonnies Chance.
1980 – Locarno.
1979 – Roydon Scott.
1978 – Rocky Tryax.
1977 – Balgove.
1976 – Palestine (black entire Scottish Hanover – Coo Doo). Trained by Terry M. May, Methven.
1975 – Young Quinn.
1974 – Robalan.
1973 – Robalan.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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