MARK’S MAGNIFICENT 7 -HIS MEMORIES OF THE GREAT ONES-

(7) LAZARUS -Bettor Than the Best (also his original name !)

LAZARUS  51 STARTS 37 WINS  12 2NDS AND 3RDS  $4.43M (includes North America)

 (Phil and Glenys Kennard, Trevor Casey, Kevin Riseley)

Well Mark hardly necessary to talk about how good a champion like this was but I wondered about your thoughts on his two year old career, the only time he wasn’t a Horse of the Year. Immaturity perhaps or were you playing a longer game ?

 I thought he was the victim of circumstances as much as anything. Chase the Dream was a very good juvenile but I thought Lazarus was at least as good if not better and the voting was close. We won the Sales Pace and the Harness Jewels and he won the Sires Stakes and the Young Guns. Even though Chase the Dream was brave in the Sires Stakes final we got locked up and were a certainty beaten really (rapid  finishing third)

The Young Guns defeat was really just lack of racing. We went north in December and won two races but the second one they combined a Sires Stakes heat with a Young Guns heat which meant there were no more races for him as a SS heat winner before the Young Guns final. It was 8 weeks without  race. That is what beat him. 

What was your assessment of him as a yearling ? Did you see something special ?

Not at that stage. Phil and his syndicates were largely doing their own thing by then  though they would ask us our opinion of course. He looked a really nice horse to me and the price assessment was good. If I had a reservation it was that he was a little narrow behind as a young horse but he filled out well by his three year old season.

Going into the Sires Stakes final just second up was a big call ? He only just got there

I wasn’t worried about it as much as the draw and Chase the Dream got a break on us in the straight.But he wound up so strongly on a fast quarter and got it done. He had raced in the Jewels and as I have said it can be a challenge peaking them again for November if they have a reasonable break. He was good enough to do  that.

The rest of the season seemed a doddle to him but you put him aside after the Derby and before the Jewels. Presumably you were looking at a Cup tilt by then. The connections were happy ?

Very happy. The owners have always been very good in that regard when it comes to programming and  it is a big help. Saying you give up the Jewels  because  you think you can win the NZ Cup is good news for any owner.

I notice in so many of his races, compared even to other stars you have had, he was often parked which is unusual for a driver with your style. I assume it was deliberate. Was it just sheer confidence ?

He was such a beautiful horse to drive. When you were out on the track you could feel  that sync between you and him  that was magic really. Only driving him could you fully appreciate it. Hard to explain in words. He just gave you such a great feeling.

That is partly because one of the things about him  was his intelligence. He could do whatever you wanted. When you got a bad draw you usually had to make a run in the middle stages or track one up and end up parked but it was no bother to him. He just dropped the bit and waited for you to tell him what to do next. Because he could sprint more than once in a race and was such a great stayer you did have that extra confidence as you do with the best ones. 

He broke 26 for the last quarter in the Sales race after Natalie dictated the pace cleverly on Chase the Dream and you trailed.  But he got there. He made a big impression in the Victoria Derby. Same last quarter Christen Me ran in the Victoria Cup. Both Derbys were fairly easy affairs.

He just kept getting better. He had just had the one run since the Sires Stakes in the Sales race and probably wasn’t at his sharpest but Nat and Chase the Dream were good that day. He went well enough after that to look at the Cup. He had a fight on his hands for a while in the Derby when parked and they went a record but he just had that bit extra when you needed it. He was a very special horse even at that stage

His first up run leading into the  Cup was, well, average. Disappointed ?

Not at all. I knew he would need the run because he was first up since the Derby. He won his next two before the Cup.

It will be a long time before we see a Cup like that again. 3.53.1; 55.1 home and a 10 length margin over horses like Tiger Tara Christen Me, Franco Nelson and Smolda.  What are your first memories of that amazing race.?

“Actually the thing that first comes to mind was the furious pace early. I was thinking, we can’t go through the race at this speed and keep going. Tim went out hard with Smolda and Tiger Tara was not handing up easily and we were left parked. I took over about the mile and we were still going along but  he felt terrific at the turn. I could hardly believe it considering that early pace. He just left them to it when I clicked him up. Two days out I knew only bad luck could beat him the way he was working and I didn’t want any bad luck.

 To show how good he was about 70m out when we were on our own I raised the whip to salute the crowd and, believe it or not, he thought he had to go again and began to sprint up! An unforgettable day”  ( All Stars also won 6 out of the 8 races they contested).

In Australia that season you were tossed by Smolda in the Ballarat Cup, won the Victoria Cup so brilliantly and then the Bonanza and the Chariots . Going into the Miracle Mile you must have been full of confidence 

“No I wasn’’t. And I think I made a mistake in his buildup that could have cost him the race.

He was short of a run going into the Ballarat Cup and really Smolda was just in the zone that night for Anthony. He went sensational sectionals and we were caught out a little. The Victoria  Cup was a memorable win (Mark drove five winners on the night) and the Bonanza was good. But after the Chariots (beating Waikiki Beach by a neck) I was  concerned that the racing was getting to him.

I  decided to just go a little easier  on him leading up to the Mile compared with what I might have normally done. I regret that now, one of the few regrets you would have with  a horse like him. They went 1.49 and he was beaten a nose and 2m by two great horses in Lennytheshark and Smolda but I often think if I had trained him up as I normally would have we could have won.”

Just to jump ahead a year the Miracle Mile seemed his nemesis race. He didn’t fire in 2018.

He was beaten when the draw came out for one thing and I wish now I hadn’t started him. The trap for trainers with great horses is that they can fool you. Because they are so good they can do work that makes you happy but they are not actually 100 per cent. 

He went an enormous race in the Hunter Cup. One of his three best runs (mile rate 1.54.1 over 2760m) and it was a tough race.Tiger Tara went for the doctor early and when Todd (McCarthy) got him settled we were parked and still travelling. We got to Tiger Tara  and then a wave of them came at us. He just kept giving and giving. Any other horse we had would have been beaten and with a good excuse.

I lined him up in the Canadian Club (third) and he didn’t feel a 100. It turned out he had a bug and not much time to overcome it.  

The vet said to me “I wish we had another 7 days Mark” and I should have listened to that. I worked him up during the week and he felt good for what I asked him to do. He was always like that. When you went out in the morning he seemed to say “What are we doing this morning boss?” And whatever it was he would just do it.  The great thing about Bettor’s Delights is that they give you 90 per cent in training and 100 per cent on raceday and you could second guess yourself on that The draw was the nail in the coffin but given my time over   I would not have run him anyway.

He was supreme again in the New Zealand Cup, in a class of his own, and then came that great Inter Dominion victory. He had to run four races in 14 days a challenge even for a horse like that. Was that a concern for you and how did you approach it ?

It was some concern because Perth over the years had not been kind to New Zealand horses given the environment and the track but the big thing I found as an aid was swimming. I used it quite a lot and found it just kept them fresh  and kept them eating up.

On the morning of the final for example instead of giving him a jog up and light work we just went to the pool and freshened him up. He thrived on that. The same as with Smolda over there the previous year. 

The final was my biggest thrill with him. It was not that hard a race in that we sat parked outside Tiger Tara and I  felt I had them beaten a long way from home. But there is a lot of pressure in a series like that and he still had to run home in 54.6. I  was saluting with the whip a good way out so he could have gone faster. It was something really special that one, a great feeling.

The smaller track over there no problem ? He sometimes used to lug a bit at Addington I recall.

Yes he tended to run a bit wide on left handed track turns, even at Addington. Before the Inter Dominions because of the smaller track I tried him with a pole. He took to it well -the temperament again- and it was a big help over there

Then he got beaten and still showed what a great horse he was 

The Fremantle Cup. Yes it was an amazing run and showed why Perth could be such a tough place to race. He was three wide in the open the whole way and with the two locals (Bettor’s Fire and Chicago Bull) hard at it up front we just couldn’t get up to get where I wanted to be on that track. He still had it won everywhere but the last few strides. Enormous performance. 

Did you ever consider taking him to America yourself ? He was such a great horse and was bound to do well there.

No. I really wouldn’t consider taking a horse there to race unless I had a substantial  ownership share. Not a lot of point to it from a business aspect and  with the commitments we had at home it was never really on the radar.

Did you have a role in his sale at least in an advisory capacity ?

Well it was complicated because there were so many offers and of different sorts. For example the team who ultimately bought him made an approach to me that involved us training him under their ownership for the New Zealand Cup and possibly the Inter Dominions. Knowing the owners would not be at all happy over that and it was difficult for us too, I said I would not even present an offer like that to them. There was a good deal the owners pursued that did involve racing on for another Cup win but in their interests. But the last  offer  which raised the price considerably was really too good to turn down. 

It was the third offer from that source from memory. He just couldn’t win that sort of money and may not even have won the trainer’s percentage for all we knew then. There is always a risk factor with any horse.

It must have been a wrench to watch him go, a horse like that

Well he was actually spelling away from home at the time so it wasn’t anything dramatic at the stable but yes, you wait a long time to get a horse like that and saying goodbye is never easy even with the money.You get used to it as an aspect of training that you just have to develop the professional point of view and get on with it. Getting his chance in America with a stable we had visited over there and was so impressive made it easier too. He was going to the best.

How did you assess his American career ?

I thought it was very good especially first up before he got that bug they all get when they go up there. But I don’t believe Americans saw the best of him. He was not quite the horse he had been here. I don’t blame anyone for that. Yannick drove him the way I would have and Jimmy Takter is a master trainer. Just for whatever reason I think at his peak here he would have been too good for those racing there at that time.

Were you surprised about the reports of fertility problems ?

He doesn’t have a fertility problem. His tests were all good and he did well in America. I think it was related to the heat. He has never really been exposed to strong heat for any length of time and he would take time to adjust. It wouldn’t be a worry for me.

How would you sum him up compared to your best Mark ? A class above ?

I wouldn’t say a class above. I don’t think he could have sat outside Auckland Reactor when he was at his peak at three and beaten him. Having said that Auckland Reactor couldn’t have sat outside him and beaten him either. Laz was a true champion and as I have said I don’t use that word often. He won nearly everything  and did it year after year on all sorts of tracks against some terrific horses.A special horse to me in many different ways. Very special.

(6) SMOLDA - 68 starts -32 wins 16 seconds -$2,558m

No prizes for guessing Smolda was one of your all time favourites Mark .One aspect interests me. He won more races (17) in Australia than in New Zealand and fair to say most of his greatest triumphs were there. Was there a special reason for that or just how it worked out ?

There is no doubt he suited the racing over there probably better than here. In Australia every big race tests how tough your horse is. There is nowhere to hide even if you have the best horse. In New Zealand if you have a superior horse the other drivers tend to respect that. You can often get a softer sectional in a race which makes the difference. They don’t respect reputations over there, they just force the issue. Often you find it is the second last quarter that is the killer and the last one is for the strong survivors, He was at his best in that sort of racing and of course he had the ability and the toughness to carry it out. I think that was the difference. He was less of a glamour horse than some we have had and I think it was because he was such a deceptive horse in a hard race, just doing his thing.

You bought him in Australia the same year as Fly Like An Eagle and it could have been that one might have cost you the other ?

It was such a coincidence I often think it was just meant to be. That was our first year buying over there and it was a punt really. I didn’t have much financial backing for what I was doing and I was fairly nervous to be honest,

Pilch, a big Courage fan, and I saw Smolda before the sale and in the ring and we liked him but we had to consider the budget. I was determined to buy Fly Like an Eagle and bring him home. I estimated he would cost $60,000 so we couldn’t afford Smolda before the other colt  came up and Smoe went through the ring at $50,000. Then Fly Like an Eagle came in and we got him for $35,000 so we could have just about bought Smo after all. Then  fate played a heand. There was a disputed bid, he came back into the ring and we got him with one bid. They ended up being the quinella in the NZ Derby (and both second in a NZ Cup). A sale ring story all right

Why were you buying in Australia ? Cheaper horses ?

No that was not the real reason though it often worked out that way especially then. We were looking for options. Often here we were running maybe three horses in races like the Sires Stakes -we had six in the final one year- and I was thinking that the option of some running in the Australian age group races like the APG series might work better for our owners - give them another income stream.

But not a rush to buy Smolda who I am sure was the last yearling who had shares  offered on the website and for good reason!

Phil and Glenys were in and Pilch of course but we were having trouble selling the other half and went to quarters shares. We had an open day for them and he didn’t seem to star in that. Then Marcus rang up from Australia and said he was looking for a new direction for recreation and had seen Smolda on the site and inquired about  a share. He joined us and we wore special colours to support his charity during Smo’s career. Good people and good owners.

He didn’t make a two year old ?

He was ready to qualify later in the season and by that time I had really taken a liking to him and knew he was going to be a fairly nice horse.  I said to the guys, look qualifying is going to be the easy part with him so we waited.

Considering he was a first season horse he had a stunning campaign topped by the Harness Jewels in all aged record time and the NSW Derby but I guess the NZ Derby result was a disappointment even though you ran that quinella

He should have won but he beat himself. Fly Like an Eagle got a  lovely sit in the trail behind Scandalman but when we went around in the middle stages Smo  started pulling double and that is what beat him, There was nothing in it but  the other horse had had a soft trip. Phil and Glenys and Pilch were in both of them of course.Ours was the run of the race but that is racing. He set a record winning the New South Wales Derby so that was some consolation.

The Harness Jewels run at Cambridge in which he took a second off the outright (all aged) mile record was a stunning performance. I think it still stands as the Cambridge record for a three year old. You seemed to be on a mission that day.

No not really but when I went for the front it wasn’’t there with ( $2 favourite) Ideal Scott wanting to hang on there. I wanted to too so there were some fast quarters. The horse felt good and could hold his speed even then  so we pressed on. I think maybe he was still an underrated horse in some quarters then. Not so much after that. Some of us rated that as his best win.

His four and five year old seasons were a mixed bag Mark. He only had 10 starts at four and 3 at five. Did he go amiss ?

Not from an injury we could find. He ran second to Christen Me in the Chariots and that came down to the fact we got a good run and Christen Me got a better one. But he was mixing his form and in the end he had nearly a year away from racing. We went all over him and so did the experts, spent a lot of money,  and there was nothing we could find to explain it. His work was below par for him and he just didn’t seem himself. The owners  requested a second opinion and it was our present veterinary surgeon Lindsay Colwell who  made the breakthrough.

Which was ?

She thought it might be an allergy and her research confirmed it to be the problem

You couldn’t just treat it and move on ?

Lindsay recommended a good long spell. I must say we wondered about that but I like to follow the advice of the professionals and we stuck to her timetable. He came back and won the Summer Cup first up in January nearly 10 months after the Chariots. So it was good advice. He qualified for the Inter Dominion final running second to Terror To Love in his next start and went a big race in the final after working to the front. Beautide was too good in a fast time.

qWe had to pull him out of the Cup later that year because he was just not himself but  then he bounced back again in the autumn and won the Len Smith Mile for Natalie  (beating Beautide) and we ran him through the winter in Brisbane. He was good there but probably not quite as good as he could be at that stage.

After that great Flying Stakes win in October when I think  he broke 54 for his last 800m you had to settle for an oh so close Cup second that you probably should have won. You had to be confident going into that ?

He galloped early and there was no pace on for the first mile. We had to make a big run to get around and then we ran home in 55.  He was normally so reliable from a stand too.  He only just missed, still gaining ground at the finish. It was one that got away all right.

Placed in the Auckland Cup but then a stunning campaign in Australia Won the Ballarat Cup; won the Hunter Cup; 2nd in the Victoria Cup and then his third G1 in the Bohemia Crystal. As I recall you were very disappointed he missed a start in the Miracle Mile he was going so well.

I don’t think he was quite the same horse right handed in Auckland. Yes he would have been very competitive in that Mile as he showed the next year. Lennytheshark beat him in the Victoria Cup and he was a great horse really in his prime then. He just nudged us out of the Miracle Mile the next year. You have to consider the horses Smolda was running against and beating-Beautide, Christen Me, Lenny, Hectorjayjay,Ohoka Punter Lazarus etc He ran great times in many of his races, As I said earlier he did not have the brilliance of some top horses but he had a high cruising speed that was deceptive and  he could maintain it over long distances. That won him the big ones over there. He could play them at their own game.

I think most know how hard it is to adapt to racing in Perth and he went over there and  won an Inter Dominion final-and at double figure odds

It was amazing really. He was among the favoured horses. He had won a heat and placed in two others and we were getting our fair share of attention. Then the draw came out and we got a bad marble and just everyone seemed to drop us. Phil (Kennard) and Glenys could hardly believe it. They were the only owners in the race not interviewed after the draw!. They all just wiped his chances. But he went around them and just kept fighting in the straight to head off Hectorjayjay. I rate it as my biggest thrill with him just ahead of the Harness Jewels. It was a different type of win. We were a long way from home, he  was just so brave under fire and we had proved a point. Never easy to win in Perth in particular. The track trips some and the heat can be a problem. He overcame all that.

He went out in a blaze of glory in Australia nearly tipping out Lennytheshark in the Miracle Mile and even beat Lazarus home

Anthony drove him as we had three in it that year.He got a nice trip and there were no excuses because the winner had to work but he was coming on strong at the finish and only got  beat a nose, He broke 1.50 that day.

I still find some of his times amazing besides the Jewels. He broke the Hunter Cup record by a wide margin, smashed a record in Adelaide his sire Courage Under Fire had set all those years ago; set a track record for all ages in the NSW Derby; broke the record in the ID final by I think nearly two seconds and when Anthony Butt drove him in the Ballarat Cup in another track record he ran  three successive quarters in the first mile in under 28 seconds !  (mile rate for 2700m 1.54.8) What sort of horse was he off the track ? Easy to deal with?

He was so laid back and casual around the place that it was sometimes hard to get a line on him. You take most horses out to the paddock after a good workout and they’d buck and play and go off on a gallop. Smolda would just walk into the paddock and no fuss. A lot of his work was like that too. Sometimes hard to assess, He always saved his best for raceday. He had a mind of his own though and he could get up on the nickel in his races though most of the time he was fine. 

What actually caused his retirement ?

Basically wear and tear. He was getting to be high maintenance with joints and at his age you knew he  couldn’t get back to where he was and better he went out on a good note.

You have only trained two horses to win over $2m. So he must feature high among the many outstanding horses you have trained ?

A great horse.Top three.

BACK TO NEWS

(5) ADORE ME -36 starts 26 wins 7 placings $1.67m

*****

Just before we look into Adore Me’s magnificent career  Mark lets go back in time because  you figured in the story of her dam Scuse Me 

Yes quite a story. I drove a mare called Time Lag for Brian Notman and won about three races for him, and then I decided to buy her.

Cost much ?

$25,000. A bank manager I was working with helped with a loan. When I said it was for a horse he said no it is for a car. I said yes but it  was  actually for a horse but he said no Mark we will put it down as a loan for a car. Lending money for horses wasn’t bank policy !

And she bred Super Smooth for you by Smooth Fella who became the dam of Adore Me’s mother Scuse Me right?

She was a beautiful mare Super Smooth, really classy but I couldn’t get her to do much. Jim Dalgety was up on a trip and and was really taken with her. He asked if he could give her a try and then put her in foal and we agreed to a joint venture with her.

I think when she arrived Cran was there and very impressed. He  told the float guy to “take her further up the road”! He rang me and asked  could he try her. I said that was up to he and Jim. She really was an eye catcher, but Cran tried her but couldn’t get her to go and I think Jim had a crack too before deciding to send her to B G’s Bunny which he stood there. The result was Scuse Me, which raced for Jim and Vicki and we trained her. We had a number of foals from Super Smooth at some stage of their careers and Tricky Woman was one whose foals we have raced. 

You are the official breeder of Scuse Me -but not taking the credit ?

No  Jim’s name should have been there at least. As far as I am concerned he bred her.

So you later  sold Scuse Me to America and later Charlie Roberts repurchased her ?

She had bled and was  better suited there. She was always in demand from buyers. She won the Northern Oaks and set a mile record (1.53.5) in the Taylor Mile when Frank Cooney drove her. She trailed a hot pace set by Eric Ryan’s horse but beat a good field.(OK Royal, Kate’s First, Bogan Fella)/ She had been under offer already  and they were really keen then so she went

And you ended up with most of her best offspring. Good business!   You  trained her second foal Splendid Dreams too who was such a great producer for the family later

I won one race with her at her first start ut was sidelined about that time. Charlie naturally wanted to keep racing her and she went north to Tony. She didn’t go as well up there as I expected. I thought  she had quite  lot of potential but I think Tony had some leg problems with her. Tendons I recall

She left Hands Christian, Dream About Me and Christen Me that you also had a lot to do with early on.

Well Christen Me was raced by Charlie and Vicki and left us after a couple of starts and went to Cran’s. I thought he was a  lovely horse and it was hard to part with him to be honest. You have to do what you have to do. Cran and Dex did a great job with him and he was a Grand Circuit Champion the year  Adore Me was second.

Hands Christian put up some terrific runs for Mark and Dennis Dunford but he sometimes beat himself by hanging on the corners and he had tendon problems later. But he always tried and was a top horse on his day  (Easter Cup) and in a very good crop I remember.

 You got to drive Dream About Me to win the Ladyship Mile

Dream About Me was a terrific mare and yes, fair to say her achievements against the boys were understated because of what Adore Me had done so recently. Not many mares these days can match the boys in the big races but she could. She went close in a New Zealand Cup for Tim. Her troubles were in her feet, a structural problem.

You would have good runs with her and then setbacks but she was another to show the  Australians how good she was in a Ladyship Mile.I remember when she won the Auckland Cup we had real problems in her prep. We were staying with Graeme Rogerson and he let us train her on the grass track. Otherwise we might not have got her to the race, A little  different in type to Adore Me, similar in some ways but a more solid build. She had a terrific record really.  So yes we have done well with the family.

Scuse Me’s first 12 foals all won races and there was another superstar in Have Faith In Me. He didn’t cost you a lot of money to buy for Dennis and Mark Dunford

No and  Have Faith in Me was just about unbeatable as a three year old too and looked like being anything. He only raced late in his two year old career over winter,  He put up some terrific runs and of course he went even faster than Adore Me winning the Miracle Mile. He was only four as well. He really had done a huge amount in a short time,  An amazing run that was.

How similar to her ?

  He gained in stamina as he got older but was more of a speed horse than Adore Me perhaps though she was good at everything. He wasn’t the clean pacer she was either. He could go  a bit rough at times as he did in the Miracle Mile and just lose momentum. Not easy to drive. But quite incredible you could have a brother and sister both break 1.48 virtually at the same time. He had a few problems later but had a big  motor. They got him back to good form in the States too.

We had Imagine Me too, an earlier foal and she was a top mare and got to Cup class I think. But not quite as good as the other two.

Most unusual that Scuse Me’s  10th and 12th foals were the most brilliant. Usually they come earlier  ?

Yes usually we are told to buy one of the first five foals or something but she showed its only a theory

When did Adore Me arrive and what was your assessment ?

She came down as a yearling. She wasn’t a standout but there was  lot to like about her. Well put together and had a great temperament. Learned things quickly and no fuss.

But not raced at two ?

Well she wasn’t through the Sales and not paid up for some other series. She qualified nicely though. Actually Charlie was very keen to take her up north and race her late in the season there saying there was no point in paying grazing down here when she could be racing. So I offered to pay all the grazing  so she wouldn’t have to go anywhere  and he agreed to that. There was no guarantee we would get her back or tht something wouldn’t go wrong  and I didn’t want to risk that !

She made up for lost time winning the Sire Stakes Final at start five. She must have been a special first up (Addington) at $4 odd

No, I wouldn’t have said that. We had a few in that race. I described her  then as a very good maiden who could win it but no, I don’t think I would have rated her a special.

The second start was a Sires Stakes heat at Forbury and she rated under 1.56 for 1700m. You must have been impressed then.

That was the race that really  showed me she was something out of the box. Funny story there. The Spyder carts had just come in and we had just got two of them. Expensive. Blair put both of them on the back of the float. I said no we are not taking that sort of risk on a trip to Dunedin and got him to take them off and put on two of the good work carts. That she still went so fast told it own story

She won the Pascoe Oaks at her 7th start by 7 lengths after going 1.52.4 in a Nevele R heat at Ashburton and you took on the Woodlands Derby at her 8th start. Bet you never thought you would have a filly who could do that. And she went a great race

She had a second row draw as I remember and was still last at the 2000m. Border Control was in front and going along keenly and Tony’s horse, (Ohoka Punter) had done some early work but ran to the top well before the turn. We moved at the 1200m and got up there but couldn’t peg him back. But she never gave up. She came back to beat Franco Nelson out of second. Ohoka Punter was brilliant then, just about unbeatable and considered up with the best earlier three year olds, so it was no disgrace to go down to him. 

After a Jewels win she was kept mostly to New Zealand at four and against her own sex as I guess you didn’t want her to have too hard a season looking ahead . She won the mare’s races and leadups with ease ($1 to win in the G1 Breeders Stakes) ! Then it was off to the Ladyship Mile but there was one better.

She was three wide for most of the way as I recall  then hit the front and Vansumic got a late split and upset us. We came home for the Auckland Cup a week later. There was a lot of hassle on that trip and it was mostly that experience that caused me to hand the reins to Natalie the next year.

And another second when you got home

She went a great race in the Auckland Cup, a big ask for a four year old mare, and the ones I was most worried about got good runs. I tried a break on them at the top of the straight but Terror To Love was a bit too strong for her late. Beaten but not disgraced -as always.  

She then went on to set a NZ 2600m record at Addington (which she still holds) the Easter Cup, the Taylor Mile and the Jewels. 

Yes that race time was sensational and she really wasn’t ready just getting to peak  for the  Easter Cup. Blair drove her  in the Cup too and she beat Terror To Love and I think broke four minutes (3.59.9), In the Taylor Mile Blair drove again because we had horses in Australia. She had an awkward draw, was three wide and parked and rated 1.53.5. Yet she went to the Jewels with no signs  of a lot of racing. Nathan, who was her biggest fan and knew her so well,  said she never missed an oat. She got a nice rest in the middle of the Jewels and won it well. It had been a great season. Unreal really.

Did you really plan to run in the New Zealand Cup the next season with only two leadup runs ?. Maybe a few older mares did it in the old days but some traditionalists would say it was a risk ?

Well it’s because of the Harness Jewels. Before them horses often went out after Easter or in early May but now they are into June before they get into the paddock. You have to give them 6 weeks out-or we would with a mare like her- then its 6 weeks base work and 6 hoppled and trials so it is often well into September before they are ready to race anyway, I also don’t think a horse with her  ability needs a lot of racing to hit peak form. After two starts they are nearly there. Times have changed,

First up that season she galloped which must have been a worry from a Cup perspective then she began brilliantly at Ashburton. Hard to think now she was paying nearly $12 that day .But that is the thing about this mare. The quality of many of the fields she met in the big races was strong compared to previous years.

Yes a good point  Hands Christian ran second (Christen Me third) and Terror To Love was always a tough one to beat in the big ones. She could make mistakes from the stand-she was pulled up in a Hunter Cup after making a complete mess of the start-and that was a worry because when she broke she often took a while to get her gait back. Luckily the Cup Day start was kind to her. She was sort of on the move when they said go so most of them got away ok. You couldn’t give horses like that too big a start and hope to beat them.

There was a nose in it at the line. Did you think you had won it ?

Hoped. In a normal race I would have said I had got there. But it was the Cup and in the Cup you just cross your fingers because it’s THE  race and they are so hard to win. I don’t like to qualify or assess things like field strength and luck in the running in a Cup. Whatever horse it is  -and a lot of real stars don’t win it-or how good the field is doesn’t really count. You’ve won the Cup.

My theory has always been that your decision to go at the 500m and run up to the leaders was the winning of the race because you had momentum up while Franco Nelson had to wind up in the passing lane which had looked to be a great spot when Terror To Love was leading. Your thoughts ?

Yes I think that is fair enough. I had got a drag up for a while (Pembrook Benny) but he was running out of gas so I decided to go forward 4 wide  and run right up to them at the turn. So I had gone for my mare and we had a little bit of a start and it probably made the difference. But it was a world record for the 3200m and they got home in 27.5 so she won on her merits.

 It was a tremendous thrill to beat a field of that quality especially with a mare who was quite lightly raced  and she really did deserve it. Christen Me beat her in the Free For All but she did it the hard way. Yes, she could have been feeling the effects of the Cup run but she showed no signs of it

 Tim drove her in 1.51.6 at Cambridge and then it was off to Australia where the form was mixed for a while.

Bit unlucky in the Victoria Cup being wide, then missed away hopelessly in the Hunter Cup. She won the Brian Hancock in about 51 but when it came to Ladyship Mile. I handed the reins to Natalie for the meeting and we also won the Oaks with Fight for Glory. Nat was winning them in a row that day.

Yes you mentioned earlier there was pressure on you the previous year that had become a problem for big race driving.

Border Control had gone over earlier than Adore Me and Luke McCarthy was looking after him and had him going well. We were staying at Brian Hancock’s with our team so I said to Luke to leave the horse in his name at Menangle and drive him.  Well there was a lot of distraction resulting from this. They sort of got on to my case. I was coming out of the Stewards room and going straight into the race and the horses were often not getting proper warm ups and I was in the wrong frame of mind to drive a big race or enjoy it if we won.. So I decided that one of us would concentrate on the training  and handling officials and that would be me. Natalie had a great record at Menangle and I was happy to concentrate on the rest of it.

So you actually got as much out of it watching ?

I did. Apart from being a different perspective it gave me the chance just to watch  what was a sensational race. We drew 10 and Natalie was soon outside Frith and they went to it. Whenever they called the sectionals the crowd was roaring and I was pretty stoked too just hoping they could keep going when it came to the last bit. Natalie sent her away and she won by around 18m  and the last quarter was nearly the quickest (26.5). She broke Smoken Up’s track record as well.  It was a moment I will never forget. It was just so very special, the times, the crowd the drama. In  a different way than a Cup win  perhaps, is but unforgettable.

The ups and downs of racing. Her next start the Auckland Cup was her last race but surely one of her best. She broke down, they smashed the record by about 2 seconds and she was still coming back at the end to Christen Me and headed Ohoka Punter both of wom had had easier runs,  You felt the injury happened about the 500m. Did it feel to you at the time anything serious or can’t you tell in the heat of the moment  ?

When a horse props like that it can often mean they have just caught themselves out and they recover quickly. She balanced up ok but I have to say hers didn’t feel like that to me. Brave s ever and then we found she had  fractured a sesamoid. Not many horses can do what she did that day and no mares I have had.

She had done it all. Had it been in your mind or a sign from Charlie, Mary or Paul that she would have gone on as a six year old all going well ?

Charlie and his team always left the racing plans to me. It was a great help actually. They didn’t interfere  just let me do what was best for the horse. Sometimes that is not easy for owners with a lot at stake and I appreciated it. Before that race yes I think we would have gone on for another season. In the end the decision was taken out of our hands

And of course her first foal,Sweet On Me, was a 2yo G1 winner. Similar to Mum ?

Well she was a Sweet Lou and a little bit more highly strung compared to the Bettor’s. Very good on raceday though and not hard to handle, just  not as relaxed as her Mum was.

And a sister coming up in Darling Me ? She can do the same ?

She has been lucky-one horse who has benefited from the corona virus !. She had been coming up well but then curbed a hock and we had to put her out for a while. She wouldn’t have made the two year old series but now they are delayed she will be a contender.

Mark, you may never have a better mare and I remember Natalie being quoted as saying driving her in the Miracle Mile was the closest any horse had felt to Blacks A Fake. So where exactly  does she rate in your eyes ?

The female Lazarus.

4) I CAN DOOSIT- 55 starts; 36 wins 7 placings $1.445m: 

FEATURE WINS INCLUDE ; Dominion Handicap-Rowe Cup (twice) -Inter Dominion Trotting Championship (twice)-NZ Trotting Free for All-Australasian Trotting Championship-NZ Trotting Championship-National Trot-Harness Jewels Ruby

New Zealand Horse of the Year Australasian Trotter of the Year

Obviously your top trotter Mark which is saying something compared to others on this list but you could have missed out on him 

Yes he was scheduled to go to the sales and about a month before he got tangled up in a fence. We were at Yaldhurst then but I went up to inspect him  and it was quite a mess. It would have devalued him too much at the sales even it improved. It was quite close to the tendon. You could have been worried how that would affect him.

He spent a long time in the box and I suggested he come down to us and I would do some work with him before we broke him in. It was with him that  I really learned the value of swimming as a therapy. He came on so well with it. I had used it often enough but his case really underlined its value. I regret now I didn’t put one in at Rolleston but the straight track was a higher preference for me and, well, there was a budget and you can’t have everything,

You trained his dam Sheezadoosie for Breckon Farms too. She was a record priced yearling and all American bred. I think she was the first trotter Ken had raced.  Was he very like her or a different type ?

Much the same in looks as in colour and head but different in other ways. He was bigger and stronger, especially later,  and had a great temperament.

 She won some nice races  for us down here  and on her day she was a very good mare. But I am sure she was hardly ever at her best, Even when things were going right with her you still had that feeling driving  that there was something underneath bothering her. She used to hit a hind leg just like I Can Doosit. She left other good stock but died in a paddock accident when quite a young mare and was already  Broodmare of the Year (American Pride, from a daughter of Sheecandoosit, Yankeedoosit, is a winner from Rolleston with more to come in the new season and Sno’s Big Boy a embryo transplant brother to I Can Doosit, won a lot of races).

You had trained Megaera for Ken and the late Peter Breckon in your first season when she was the Two Year old filly of  the year and a lot of horses for them since. How did that association start ?

Well a bit of a funny story the way I heard it  really. Peter and Ken were in business together and working hard at it and Peter said they should find a hobby and  decided on harness racing. They went along to the sales on their own and bid away on Megaera at big money then only to find they hadn’t realised they needed to be registered bidders and the horse would have to be put through the ring again if they couldn’t pay up straight away. 

Apparently Peter went off and arranged that and as I understand it they then went home and asked Sandy Yarndley who they should get to train it which they hadn’t really thought about too much then.  He  put them on to Roy and then it came to me. Tony drove her most of the time because Scuse Me was the same age and she actually beat Megaera in the Northern Oaks at 3. Unfortunately Megaera died foaling as a young mare and Peter died long before his time.  Ken has done a great job for the industry since and keeping Peter’s memory alive.

Once he got going did he show his potential straight away ?

It wasn’t really until he was a four year old he showed how good he might be though when you were educating him while he looked nothing special he had a good attitude and you could see he might develop into a top horse. He made the Jewels at three but he wasn’t strong, nothing like what he showed the next season-as you would expect from many trotters, especially then. 

You seemed to ease him into racing including your then stable assistant Brett Cusdin taking a turn  winning a race with him at Forbury

Yes he wasn’t strong enough to run in earlier age group stuff then. He started racing down south and I had won with him at Timaru  but the race Brett drove him in was to qualify him for the Jewels, he was so close to doing that. He broke in the race and we had a strong lineup that year. We gave him a good spell after that and he came back a different horse

He seemed to really hit his straps at Auckland that Christmas turning the tables on Pocaro who was the star in the stable up until then

Yes he won five or six in a row, including the 4yo Championship and was emerging. We  tried him in  a Group One  and he went a huge race for third in the Trotting Championship. He came from a long way back and only the leader (Stylish Monarch) and the trailer beat him.

 I’d always thought he had potential but we knew we had something special then. He went a good race in the Rowe Cup which set him up for the Jewels which he won easily. 

We then got him up  for the Dominion  and he was a bit stiff there. We drew the second line and I went around with a lap to go as you could do with him. He hit the front but was run down by Stylish Monarch who had a nicer run and a late split. When you think he ran 4.03 and no Dominion winner had run that ever it was a show of what he would become. 

Australia first time then. How did that go?

We went over for the Grand Prix where he went ok for third then we won the Cochran Cup when we went back in January and he won others but not quite at his best  Some of the tracks there didn’t really suit him with his shoeing problems. But back here he worked into his best form and won the Inter Dominion at Auckland beating Let Me Thru. We got a good run and he was  just too strong in the straight. There had been a bit of fun with Chris (Lang) earlier so it was a satisfying win. Let Me Thru and Chris had beaten us in a big one in Australia (Australian Trotting Championship)  so we got one back

His five and six year old seasons saw that remarkable trotting feat of winning 18 in a row and he just swept all before him. But it all started from a Dominion defeat

He galloped away and actually did well to get as close as he did (fifth). The Dominion was starting to look like a jinx race for the horse -and for me!

A winning streak lasting 12 months is a very rare feat for  a trotter. Many highlights. What stands out looking back now 

Difficult to choose but the Anzac Mile win sticks in the memory for that season. He AFTERwas just perfect that day (won by 8 lengths!) in great time and became a millionaire. Then  he won the Rowe Cup at his next start and set a race record. But the   Dominion win in the next season  was a big thrill for all of us. I had been trying to win that for a long time and I Can Doosit certainly deserved to win one. Those three races stand out for me

Then almost overnight it seemed, it was over. 

He trotted awful from the start in a mile at Cambridge and then was second to Stig in a race he would normally have won. I was holding my breath the whole time.  It was a worry the way he was trotting. We had had him checked out but the  real problem in the fetlock joints had not been picked up at that stage.  it seemed to be all clear and there was an Australian series coming up but he was well below his best even though winning a leadup and he came home for further investigation. That meant an operation and a long spell and it was soon obvious when he came back nearly a year later  that it wasn’t worth going on. He had given us everything. We didn’t want to spoil his great record. At that time all going well I thought he had two more top seasons in him if we looked after him but it was not to be

What was the basic cause of the trouble ?

Wear and tear because he tried so hard every time  but also he was very straight in front and hit the ground hard so the fetlocks were taking a pounding. It was Noel Power a northern veterinary surgeon who actually sorted  what the basic problem might be and it was confirmed by the experts. Bill Bishop was our veterinary surgeon then and handled the operation but he was not that optimistic about a return to racing. 

You have to love horses who try that hard even when they are really feeling  it 

He was just the greatest in that respect. He was always trying his best  and if he struck himself he just went on trying as hard as ever. That is gold in a trotting horse. The other great thing about him was his temperament. You could drive him around the field and sit parked and where that would fire up a lot of horses when he got there he just dropped the bit and relaxed. His temperament was a tremendous advantage to him in his races, especially staying races  and he was just so brave. He wanted to win as much or more than you did but he was sensible with it. A great trotter.

That will to win. Is that why he only ran 7 minor placings? Hard to think of a trotter winning 36 with that few placings

A good part of it,and he could always put himself in a race position to win. It is a rare trotter who can do that so long 

Did Europe ever feature in your plans after Pride of Petite’’s trip 

No he was not a suitable horse for Europe. He was a great staying horse and while he ran fast miles he was at his best over the longer distances. You need brilliance for European racing. Lucky used to take a while to get into gear and you can’t do that over there

What was actually the problem with his gait and couldn’t anything fix it ?

You could help it and Kerry (Estreich, All Stars blacksmith) and I did everything we could to try and alter his stride but nothing worked well enough to say you had beaten it. He was always well wrapped behind and never suffered but he would just touch that back leg and nothing seemed to change that.

Actually once in Australia in a leadup race at Ballarat  I reversed his shoes so they were on back to front. He trotted absolutely perfect on a track he never really liked. But  I didn’t want to risk that in the final at Melton and I reversed them again. You couldn’’t be sure it wouldn’t be a disaster next time and anyway I thought he would be fine at Melton.

So he is a clear number one still among the trotters you have trained. How about Oscar Bonavena. Could he match those deeds ?

Different type of horse, more brilliant. I Can Doosit  had to show he could beat the top ones with his staying power. Oscar  can sprint as well as  many pacers  but has to develop in other areas as he competes at the top level. He can do that, still a young horse, but he has a way to go to match I Can Doosit as an all rounder. But, of course, very few trotters would.

Nice to sit in the cart again at the Inter Dominions Apart from the fact he could have gone on a lot longer but for that problem -any other regrets ?

Great to see and drive him again. He felt great. Yes, one regret and a big one. I thought of running him against the pacers in the Auckland Cup and later I wished I had.  I am sure he would have measured up on his times and when he was at his peak he could really have given them something to think about in a race like that. That sums up how good I thought he was. A marvel really. 

BACK TO NEWS (OR READ MORE OF THE MAG SEVEN)

3 Auckland Reactor

Auckland Reactor =53 starts; 32 wins 3 seconds; $1.837m

He became, at least for a time, the most brilliant and best known harness horse since Christian Cullen. Where did it start with you ?

He came down  as a yearling and had just been broken in. There wasn’t anything about him at that stage that made me think he was something special. In fact almost the opposite.

Was there a reason Tony and Anne Parker didn’t put him in the yearling sales. They are prominent vendors these days ?

Well firstly they weren’t at that stage. They were selling the odd horse but not on the scale they do now and I think had only recently moved to a bigger property. The other more important thing was that he was quite backward as a yearling (November foal) not a good looking one and they knew he wouldn’t present as well as he should have so decided to try them themselves.

You had had Sharp and Telford for them. How did you get involved there ?

Well actually  that was a   wee bit embarrassing for a while. Anne rang one day to say that a friend Noel Gillanders a good bloke and a good farmer was interested in going into one of two horses the Parkers had being educated. She asked me to go over and sort out one of the two that might fit the bill. I selected the one who turned out to be Sharp and Telford which Noel raced with the Parkers and with great success.

However my arrival didn’t seem to go down too well with the hosts and, long story short, I left soon afterward with both of them. Just as well I had a two horse float! The second one was a younger half-brother to Auckland Reactor as it happened. He was Taihape Tickler and was a good young horse before he was sold. 

 Sharp and Telford  ended well though as I said earlier with a bit of luck he could have done even more.I had another horse for Anne and Tony about the same time, Hunka Hickling, that ran second in a Derby.

Did Auckland Reactor pick up quickly once in training ?

No ! He was one of the best eaters on the place but he just wouldn’t put any condition on. That was one of the main reasons he didn’t race at two. I was too embarrassed to take him off the place he looked so light on even though he was doing well. I remember even when he lined up and won the Sires Stakes Final I told the staff to keep the rug on him as long as possible so his frame wouldn’t show up too much. It didn’t seem to bother him. It was amazing  how much he could eat-one of the biggest feeds in the team-and not hold his condition. We gave him time off, did everything but it stayed with him quite a while.

There was another reason he didn’t race at two “?

He wasn’t paid up for anything so there was no need to rush him. I qualified him as a late two year old at Rangiora and that day he really impressed me. It seemed a big ask at that time but I suggested to the owners they make a late entry for the Sires Stakes. It was a lot less expensive then, maybe $5000, and it turned out a good investment

Quite spectacular to win a tough 3yo G1 at your 5th start. How confident were you going into the Sires Stakes Final from that 9 gate ?

It was spectacular but he handled it all pretty well  and the race panned out for us. He won a maiden at Timaru from memory ($1.10) and then into a  1 win race at Addington because I was still looking after him and he was doing it easy. It was harder in the Sires Stakes heat (Forbury Park) but we got a nice trip on the back of Steve McQueen who was pretty smart and just got up. We then had a quite easy run at Kaikoura as a leadup. I was not that confident on the day itself going into the race but everything just fell into place in a way

He gave a great sight that day. No excuses for anyone ?

We had 6 in the final that year which was a big thrill too. I went back and got around the field when the pace was eased a bit to be parked and he did the rest. Fiery Falcon (actually the biggest earning stable three year old that year) got pushed back at the wrong  time and we had it won by the time he arrived. It was a smart time but I don’t think we broke any records, Just what we wanted really.  He was just too good. A big thrill after what had happened

That continued an unbeaten season of 11 wins. But you didn’t take him “home”to Auckland for the Northern Derby ?

We gave him a break after that then took him south in January. Our focus was on the New Zealand Derby and also I have to say l didn’t think he was quite as good the Auckland way around. Used to touch a knee a bit that way. As it happened Fiery Falcon won that for us. We had a great crop of three year olds that season which made Auckland Reactor stand out even more.

The Derby meeting was a memorable one. That Derby win was magic

He ran out of the gate in the Vero and was so impressive (2.20.5 almost the same time as the latest edition 12 years on) so I knew he was right. He had to work in the Derby and then went clear as if he had had the trail. From memory they had not gone anything like that time before (two seconds faster and the time beaten a fraction by Have Faith In Me 7 years later) and he did it so easily. He was invincible that season. He was by now the best I had trained and I later  told the media he was a champion, a term I don’t like using much. He certainly felt like one anyway.

He was sold before he raced at 4 but it didn’t change his winning ways

Tony and Anne had already turned down big money for him. A million or 1.5 I can’t quite remember which. But they just kept coming back and then it was over $3m. Tony was guided then by the old  saying “Money never goes sore” and the deal was done.

He was never going for the Cup that year ?

We decided to  take the quieter option and run in the Firestone on Cup Day and then take on the big guns in the Free for All. On Cup Day he led and I think ran the fastest half recorded at Addington then (54.8) and in the Free for All he was just brilliant beating Cup winner Changeover after they had had a tussle. He stepped up to the big time that day.

He beat Monkey King in a 1.53 mile and then the winning streak of 17 came to an end at Cambridge

Well he just gave too much away at the start- I would have said 60m at least-the first time he had galloped so far at the races. He went a terrific race on a two minute mile rate and only just missed. It was better than some of his wins.

How important do you consider these record wins in succession. An incentive ?

No I am not that keen on them actually. Great for the public but driving them it is another pressure you don’t really need. When they come to an end, as they all do,its almost a relief really.

But he won the next three in a row, two at Addington and the Auckland Cup. The Cup was among his best runs ?

He drew the outside had to loop the field and just was too strong again. They gave him a great reception. He really was a star with the public, unlike any other horse I had had. 

Then disaster at the Inter Dominions 

Well not to start with it wasn’t. We  ran second the first night but they didn’’t like my waiting tactics and gave me a 6 week suspension. The way the race looked I would admit they had a case but 6 weeks was very harsh. Tony won with him the second night but couldn’t drive him in the final after his horse sneaked into the field. There was some fun over that. It became an owners decision after that. I was hoping Blair would land it. The race was a  disaster. He went out hard then pulled harder  outside Nat on Blacks a Fake hitting the wheels and and certainly  didn’t help her (2nd to Mr Feelgood). Then he just dropped out. I felt badly about what had happened, He never forgot that race I believe. He never settled early as well again as he had always done here.

You mentioned it was not in your original plan to go there ?

No I was planning to stay around here maybe give him a little break but one thing led to another and off we went. Shows probably that you stick with your original plan but you couldn’t blame the new owners for wanting to go. And he  came back here and won the Taylor Mile, the Messenger and ran 1.53.8 at Ashburton in the Jewels and did it easily. 

Barrier manners were the problem leading up to the Cup?

As I said he was never as settled again after that ID final and it didn’t help in standing starts. So we kept him to mobiles. In the New Zealand Free For All he was tackled all the way around by a horse who was beaten 500m out and the effort told. It was very controversial but  I just had to put that one down to experience.

Then came the Miracle Mile 

He bled in that race (6th)  It was caused by  a breathing issue and he was operated on and didn’t run again for five months. That was in  America.Jeremy Young who had been with him most of the time we had him went over too. It didn’t work out and there were several reasons I thought so he came back to us  and nearly got the national mile record at Ashburton first up. Then he went  a couple of ordinary races at Auckland where I don’t think he was ever at his best as I said and then he got colitis just before the Inter Dominion there and nearly died. Things were going against him then. 

His luck was out for a while

Yes sometimes good but often bad. Some new owners came in and preferred him to carry on racing. He won first up  in September and when he won the Flying Stakes I was pretty optimistic about the Cup. A hoof injury came along and spoiled that. So it was off to Australia in January and some mixed luck there too

The good ?

He just went down in the Hunter Cup beaten a neck but I was busy at home at that time so I didn’t go to Perth for the Inter Dominions. Logan  Hollis   was in our  Auckland stable then. He  took him over and we engaged Anthony Butt to drive. He won all his heats and Anthony decided to drive him instead of Raglan he was going so well. But he disappointed in the Final for no apparent reason. He wasn’t the horse he had been by then  but it was not really surprising.

The Cup Was Not So Good That Year Either 

He’d been disappointing in the lead up from the stands and Maurice McKendry took the drive. Maurice got him away  which was a good feat even if he was back. We had five in the Cup that year and he was the most disappointing fading away to last. But his form wasn’t really good enough going into that race to be expecting too much.

A last fling in Australia 

Nat drove him for the first time at Cambridge and he went well enough to have a crack at the Bendigo Cup where he was third to Sushi Sushi (placed in the NZ Cup for All Stars) and Mah Sushi. Then I drove him in the Ballarat Cup where he was last and that was the end of his career.

Its been noted that you haven’t  bought or raced many Reactors but  you have had the best one. Any comment on your thinking?

We took Chase Auckland for an Alabar syndicate and he was a nice horse. He was really outstanding as three year old especially but has raced on well since too. It would be fair to say I had some reservations about Auckland Reactor as a sire but I was thinking in terms of a comparison to a stallion like  Bettor’s Delight or Art Major. He hasn’t really made it at that level. Not many locally bred horses do. If I had a query it was that he was the 11th foal of his dam and not many colts had emerged from the family. At a lower level he has done a good job though

Still you thought the world of him on the track ?

Such a lovely mover, he seemed to just glide over the ground. He was  unbeatable at three and four better than any horse of his era. He was a kind horse to handle too and until those incidents I talked about he was a superstar. The public loved him and even outside racing everyone knew at one stage who Auckland Reactor was. They are the things you remember.

2. Pride of Petite

You had a great run with trotters through the 1990’s the best of a great bunch being Pride of Petite. How come you had so many in the stable?

Well in this game one thing leads to another and in the case of Pride of Petite and Buster Hanover, the best two, it was because I was able to drive them for outside trainers before they came to me. Pride of Petite was an example. I drove her in a lot of races before she came first to Roy and Barry and then under my name. 

It was quite an interesting story. We had trained her mother Petite Evander and they were very similar. Not big but with huge strides and terrific gaited horses. Pride of Petite especially.

But Frank would bring her round to work at our track and she had the habit of breaking around the corner the last time. She did it on raceday too. I suggested a pole but Frank said he had tried that and she didn’t like it.Finally I suggested he leave it with us and see what we could do. I tried the pole again, she adjusted to it fairly quickly this time,  and she really hit her form after that. 

She ended up running in 6 Inter Dominion Finals, an amazing feat. And went to Sweden for the Elitlopp. You went too.

Gareth Dixon and I went with her. They also invited Chiola Cola and Don Hayes for the supporting races. I think Chiolar Cola fell in love with her. He was a stallion then and could be a noisy one but with her he was as gentle as a lamb and good as gold always looking after her and she was the sme with him. It was a rare relationship between a stallion and a mare being with each other so much of the time. I haven’t seen anything else to match it. Most unusual.

She didn’t win on the trip 

She didn’t really have enough time to get ready for the racing there. It was so different. We trained our trotters for 3200m stands because that is what the big races were. Over there they were trotters as fast as pacers and you had to train them different but we just didn’t have the time. She should have won a race at Oslo. Because she was small they advised us to use a cart that they were sure was suitable but it turned out to be too small for her stride. She had an enormous stride for her size and  hit the wheels and broke. She felt good and would have won it in a  longer cart. She was never disgraced over there in any of her races. 

You didn’t feel like staying longer 

I was tempted to leave her in France to be trained because they were quite keen to have her and the marks she was having to race off here were getting to be too much. But  Frank was not keen and he had a good point. Petite Evander had raced all over the world and Frank knew from experience that it is fine when things are going well but when things go wrong the vet bills could break you. That experience meant that she headed home with us and fair enough from an owner’s point of view

Did you learn much else from the trip ?

We didn’t have much time to look around but I was taken with how they worked their horses on straight tracks and how good that would be to have at home. It took a few years but when we put one here here it was because I had never forgotten what  I had seen in Europe.

What was her greatest win 

The Adelaide Inter Dominion Final easily (see video below). She was off 40m and I asked Tony to drive her. It was such a tough mark and I was worried I wouldn’t do her justice. She was 4m last  at the bell on a tight track and still out of it at the home turn but came with a great rush to beat Wagon Apollo and Knight Pistol who were great horses. That is first in the memory for me. 

She was actually best at Moonee Valley and yes, fair to say she loved those smaller tracks because she was so wonderfully gaited. She  would swoop off the turns at high speed where a lot of trotters had to be nursed around the corners. In those days the trotting races, with the handicaps were much more exciting to  watch than the pacing mobiles.

She must have been sound too to last all those years at the top. Where do you think she would rate in the eras since ?

Always sound. She had a great temperament too. You have to remember she was giving big starts then on tight tracks to top horses when trotting was  very strong. She rates very highly and was probably better even than she seemed.

Because ?

I was in my early years of training then. I had a great grounding and we had been operating our own stable really for a few years so I was ready but you are still learning. The straight track would have been a great help. We actually train much differently now than we did then and I think it would have suited her. She would have been even better now I reckon. She played a major  role in my career and helped me along when I most needed it. So she is a fond memory.

Buster Hanover came along and also joined the stable later ?

Again I was driving him before I trained him. I remember taking him out to trial one day and I couldn’t control him . He just took off. I was lucky to restrain him to get to the start and then had a quiet trial. I said to Bill (Pemberton) who was training him when I went back that I almost lost control and he was going to make it hard for himself if he did that on raceday all the time. Bill was a character. 

“He does that every morning with me.”he said “ I just let him have his head for a lap or two then he settles down!”

I pointed out that was ok but about the worst thing for a horse who had problems was coming out cold and  going full speed straight off without a warmup. So he gave me the chance to solve the problem.He was fine at home  as long as he was following another horse or behind a screen so we could let him warm up normally like that. It made a big difference I think to the length of his career.

He seemed to be Tony H’s horse on raceday ?

Yes Tony drove him most of the time. Pride of Petite would always have been too good for him off equal marks but she was giving him starts and some big starts. She was also just a little past her peak when he came to his and she couldn’t give the starts  and beat him. 

Buster won 7 in Australia including two Inter Dominions and Pride of Petite won 11. Did the racing there suit them better ?

It was mainly the money. They were paying great stakes and you had to go for it. Here we had about 2 really big stakes and lesser for most feature races than they were paying over there.A lot of those races were for $100,000 and that was 25 years ago

You would have had 6 in the 1999 Inter Dominions if Buster had made it

He was standing up to a prep for a while but problems arose close to the time and I had to withdraw him. It was a shame. He would have been a huge chance. Probably the favourite. He had hurt a leg in Australia but went a top trial a week before the Championships. He came up sore in the same leg the next day.

 We had Merinai, Africa, Sunny Action and Sundon’s Way in from memory as well as Pride of Petite (4th in the final)   I only had Merinai a short time and she was coming to the end of it. A top trotter when she was right . We won a couple with her in a handful of starts but  she was below her best in the Inter Dominions and never as good again. Africa (2nd in the final for Colin De Filippi) came up from Bruce Negus (for Trevor Casey). They were all good but not  in Pride of Petite’s class.  Sundons Way beat National Interest and Knight Pistol in the Bill Collins Mile in Australia.

That was a great record with her for your stable in Inter Dominions. Five starts for 2 wins a second and two fourths.

She was battling a bit against the best in 1999 but ran the fastest time winning one of the mile heats (1.57.4) and just never went a really bad race. There aren’t many trotters that can claim that

But she never Won a Race at Addington. Did that nag you ?

Well it would have rounded off her career but she ran a terrific second to Call Me Now in an Inter Dominion Final and a second to Chiola Cola in the Dominion so most would take that as a win. The only thing was as I said was the way she could sprint off the turns on the smaller tracks in Australia. She didn’t have that help at Addington but she still went terrific races there. It is more just a stat than anything.

How many of Pride of Petite’s foals have you trained ?

Grant and I had Petite Sunset through one spring for big races at Addington (placed in Trotting FFA and Dominion) but the main one was Petite Sunrise who won the Trotting Stakes and a Harness Jewels for us as a two year old. She went back north after that. She was very like Petite in appearance.  They were the only ones we handled.

Hard to compare I know but how would Pride of Petite go against the best now ?

She’d be right up there. I have no doubt about that. Especially with the change in training I mentioned. We had I Can Doosit later but she would be better than all the others. A tremendous little mare. With what I have learned since I wish I had her now,

Pride of Petite’s unbelievable performance in the Inter Dominion Final of 1997

1) IL VICOLO -53 starts 31 wins-$1.58m

Il Vicolo Gave Your Training Career a tremendous start. What did you make of him as a youngster ?

Well I wasn’t involved with his purchase as a yearling. It was quite a story really. John (Seaton) had bought him for $21,000-about the middle range of price then as I remember -for Gary Hillier to train. Gary took him home and broke him in but soon after decided to give up training. I don’t know how much it counted but about that time Vicki and I had gone out to see John and Anne  around Easter on a Sunday drive for a cup of tea and a chat. We knew each other socially but had not done any business together at that stage.

I think it might have been a lucky decision, because then John had to find a new trainer at short notice and  I might have been the most recent he had talked to !

Anyway he rang up one day later  and offered a 50/50 deal to train him and I was more than happy to do that. Of course he raced under Dad and Barry’s name at two and three.

Did he show his potential right away for you ?

He was a natural really when we got serious with him. Lovely gaited, good attitude and had the ability. He took very little work at 2 but more later.  He was only beaten in one major race as a two year old -in the Welcome Stakes-and it was driver error. I made a wrong call and it was all my fault. He won first up at 2 and then won what is now the Young Guns at his second start. We went down to Addington and won the Sales Pace easily and the Welcome was his next start. We came back down to win the Sires Stakes Final and won the Two Year Old Championship. He he won most of his races easily. 

Unbeaten at 3.Some feat that 

He was unreal that season, I think it was 11 starts, and he won most of them pretty easily also . We took him over for the New South Wales Derby and he won that easily too. Besides how good he was he was the perfect racehorse. It was an unreal season. He was Horse of the Year at three and four and I think unanimous.

You must have had some good offers for him. Tempted ?

Well that is a story in itself. Vicki and I had bought a house and had a mortgage and Dad had drummed into us from early on that “nobody ever went broke selling a horse”

Anyway a local agent rang up and offered $100,000 after he had trialled early in the season and after another trial  the offer went to $200,000, big money then. I rang John and discussed it and he asked what I felt. I said that it was a great offer but I didn’t really want to sell him. “Right”said John “we’ll keep racing him then” 

That was fine with me but when  I did rang the agent to give him the news there was a special request. “Please don’t ever tell Dad how much that offer was”

So he was under your own name at 4. It still must have been a gamble to try and win the Cup at that age. Not many had managed it

I think it was the days of early nominations and I put one in because I thought well anything might happen between now and then. I thought he was good enough but I wasn’t certain to go for it at that stage. We took him down for the Superstars because he was such a good standing start horse which also figured in my Cup thoughts. He got beaten (4th) but he really wasn’t ready for that and  he did everything else right. We went back home and beat a good open field at Alexandra Park off 20m so it was all on then. He broke 3 minutes in the Kaikoura Cup on the way down and went a mighty race to win the Cup. They went close to 4 minutes and equalled Luxury Liner’s record. In the Free for All we beat Brabham and I think it was the fastest time since Armalight. It was probably his peak time looking back.

You drove him confidently both days. Was that your intention ?

The horse gave me a lot of confidence. He was a terrific horse to drive. He was always on your side. Even later in his career when his brilliance had dimmed a little bit he wanted to be with you. That was one of his greatest attributes. As he got older he could get a bit keen but at this stage he was a perfect racehorse. That Cup day we were getting a nice run on the outer then the pace eased a little and I made the decision go forward. The leader handed up to me quite easily at the bell and that was the winning of the race. I was going good down the back and while  Master Musician was there I thought I might as well stay where I am now. He did the rest.

(nb Robert Dunn,parked,is on record as saying he called out to Mark offering to go to the front and give him cover. “He didn’t even turn his head”

You say you felt you may have made a mistake with him after that ?

He went back for the Auckland Cup meeting and raced ok but below what he had done at Addington. I should have spelled him and I always regret that I didn’t. He felt good but just quite the same and I should have taken notice of the signs. We kept racing, went to Australia in March and we won the Ben Hur there with Tony driving and raced there through to July. The first Miracle Mile that year was in June and he went a big race in that just before the Ben Hur.

To be honest I don’t think he was quite the same horse again. Still good and he went a few terrific races but he just lacked that spark he had as a younger horse by the time we set him up for the second Cup. He came right for the Kaikoura Cup  (2.57.6) just before Addington and I was happy with him going into it on the day.

And won it again 

Another great effort but quite a bit slower than the previous year and maybe the field wasn’t as strong either. He got into a nice spot again as he always did especially from standing starts. He was a tough stayer and he held them out in the run home but he didn’t back up in the Free for All that year. Then we went back for the second Miracle Mile (December) and then eased him after the Auckland Cup that Sharp and Telford won. We got him up for a Brisbane winter campaign but he wasn’t the horse he had been and we retired him.

Two seconds in the Miracle Mile in the same year ? Rare feat
He worked hard to get to the front  in the first one and then we were attacked most of the way round. He was still going like a winner on the corner but Iraklis, who had a nice run but was blocked, got clear when the field broke up and he ran us down. In the second one Norms Daughter shot out from a wide draw and went clear and we towed the field up. We trailed then but got clear later than I wanted and it was good run in a top field (Master Musician and Desperate Comment). But I felt he had his chance.

He had his chance also at stud ?

We did a lease deal with Neville Benny and he got some good mares down there and good numbers. Later he stood at Woodlands.He left some top horses too  Jack Cade of course, who was very much like him but hardly ever fully sound. We never saw the best of him. Tricky Vic was another good one but who also had issues and Lord Vicolo did well.. A lot of bread and butter horses. 

That 1995-1996 season was a magic one for you in your first training term. There were a lot of standouts beside Il Vicolo.

Of the boys The Court Owl might have been up there with Il Vicolo but he had a wind issue and it affected him right through his career. He won both the Derbys that year. We were aware of the problem but the technology wasn’t there to help us solve it. 

Now they have what they call Dynamic Scope that can test horse’’s wind while they are working through  a little camera. You can download the pictures and the experts can see exactly what the problem is when and how  it is afffecting them giving you a much greater chance of fixing it, I just wish we had that in The Court Owl’s day. I think he would have been right up there.

Sharp and Telford was a giant and his problem was handling corners. He won the Victorian Derby, dead-heated in the Australasian Derby  and later won the Auckland Cup and the Kaikoura Cup before breaking down in the NZ Cup. His size was always against him whereas Il Vicolo was a great athlete and he glided around the turns. Sharp and Telford had tendon problems later and had a long spell away and so did The Court Owl after a wind operation on a problem that re-occurred. Both of them could have done more with a bit of luck 

BACK TO NEWS

TOP STAKES WINNERS SEASON TO SEASON-THE ROLL OF HONOUR

ADORE ME set many records on the track and now has one off it. She is the only horse to top the stable earnings every season she raced, at 3 4 and 5 years.Considering the opposition it was some feat. Even Lazarus couldn’t match it.

The downside of listing our biggest earners over all the years All Stars Stables has been in operation is how unlucky some horses are not to be on the list. They won a lot of money in their best season-enough to put them at the top of any other stable lists. Smolda was especially unfortunate having won over $1m in one season and finishing second ! That, as they say is racing. The money was in the bank.

So here is the roll of honour. With a few special mentions.

1995-96 Il Vicolo $522,000 (4yo)

19 starts -9 wins-5 seconds-3 G1

There was major opposition from the three year olds The Court Owl, and Sharp and Telford, both of whom won close to $250,000 but Il Vicolo, who had raced under Roy and Barry’s name as a three year old became the first horse to win a New Zealand Cup for a trainer in his fst season as a licence holder as well as the NZ FFA and the Kaikoura Cup. He also ran second in both the Chariots of Fire and the Miracle Mile and won the $A100,000 Ben Hur. He was a unanimous choice as Horse of the Year. So was Pride of Petite as aged trotter; Bogan Fella and Megaera in the two year old division and dual Derby winner The Court Owl HoftheY winners with Sharp and Telford and Party Party (Nevele R Filly Final) others of note.

1996-97 Il Vicolo $295,000 (5yo)

12st-4 wins-1 seconds-1 G1

Not so clear cut this season when Il Vicolo campaigned in Australia through the winter and had a shorter summer career. But he won the NZ Cup again and the Kaikoura Cup and beat out Sharp and Telford who won over $200,000 including the Auckland Cup.

Lifetime Il Vicolo had 31 wins from 53 starts and $1.58m

1997-98 Brabham $358,000 (7yo)

14st-4 wins-5 seconds-2 G1

Brabham after chasing Il Vicolo around for a while came into his own in this term and topped the list thanks to his success in Australia winning just four of 14 starts overall. But one was the $A250,000 Victoria Cup a result that squeezed out Buster Hanover from the top of this list who won $299,000 while Pride of Petite contributed $195,000. Brabham won the NZ Free for All and was second in the Auckland Cup to Kate’s First. For many years he was the oldest pacer to take the title

Brabham won 20 of 77 lifetime for $729,000

1998-99 Bogan Fella $299,000 (4yo)

14 st-4 wins-3 seconds-2 G1

Again the Australian stakes were decisive, Bogan Fella, placed in the Australian Derby at 3 returned this time to win the Ben Hur. He was a consistently top horse from his age group days though his strike rate did not match some on this list. He was third to Sir Vancelot in the Inter Dominion Grand Final at Auckland and was considered a shade unlucky on the night He also won the Summer Free for All in the north.

Bogan Fella had 16 overall wins for stakes of $374,000

1999-2000 Falcons Blue Jean $140,000 (3yo)

12st-2 wins-3 seconds-0 G1

The $155,000 Sales Final was a major player in perhaps one of the lesser lights of All Stars topping the list this season . He was one of a number bought by John Seaton in what was then a big budget year and this one was one of the most successful. John raced him in partnership with Suzanne Herlihy. Described by Mark as “a great little opportunist” he was beaten but not disgraced in both Derbys that season by Stars and Stripes. He did not win at 4 and was later sold to the US where he took a time of 1.51.8. He was the first stable topper out of an American mare, but would not be the last. Trotter Sundon’s Way was runner-up.

Lifetime here Falcons Blue Jean was 6 wins from 30 starts and $171,000

2000-2001 Rare Gem $139,000 (3yo)

15st-6 wins-3 seconds-1 G1

This was a desperately close year with only $2000 between Rare Gem and Young Rufus, who won the NZ Derby turning the tables on City Rogue and who was clearly the stables best. His turn would come. But Rare Gem, raced by Steve and Anne Phillips, won the $A100,000 Victorian Derby Rare Gem won 8 of 36 starts down under and $187,000. He was later trained by Tony Herlihy who had driven him earlier as had David Butcher.

2001-2002 Jack Cade $304,000 (3yo)

10st-6 wins-2 seconds-2 G1

Appropriate because Jack Cade was Il Vicolo’s best son and won over $700,000 in his career. What is more Mark raced him with Anne Seaton. He struck in the Sires Stakes Final early in his three year old season; was 2nd in the Northern Derby and then won the PGG Wrightson Sales Final the first of 5 successive wins the 4th being in the NZ Derby after which he was put aside Even in spite of Jack Cade’s success the effort of challenger Light and Sound winning over $300,000 in his first season at 2. ($303,000). He won 8 of 9 starts. Oddly he won less than $40,000 in the remainder of his career here. His string of victories included the Sapling and Welcome Stakes, Sires Stakes Graduate and much richer Final.Jack Cade however, was not finished yet.

2002-2003 Young Rufus $530,000 (5yo)

11st-5 wins-2 seconds -3 G1

Most unlucky to lose out at three on this list Young Rufus went out with a vengeance in Australia in this season winning the Victoria and South Australian Cups and the Ben Hur. Before that he had won the Flying Stakes and run second in the NZ Free for All and then won the Auckland Cup before heading off back to Australia for more spoils. This total was the new stable record and beat off stars like Likemesiah, Kamwood Cully, Imagine That and the John Seaton-owned juvenile Advance Attack, who won close to $150,000.

Lifetime Young Rufus won 22 from 107 and over $1m

2003-2004 Jack Cade $247,000 (5yo)

8st-4 wins-2 seconds-1 G1

This was all about the spring when Jack won the Hannon Memorial, the Flying Stakes; ran third in the New Zealand Cup and won the Free for All. Then in Australia he was beaten a nose by Sokkyola in the Miracle Mile in 1.54.6 after which he went amiss and did not race again that season. Lifetime Jack Cade won 16 of 36 and over $700,000

2004-2005 Jay’s Debut $120,000 (2yo)

3st-3 win- 1 G1

An odd season with a cluster of horses in or around 6 figures and it threw up a most remarkable result. Jay’s Debut was a two year old who only had three starts at that age and won them all including the Sires Stakes/N H Sales Race double and was the first juvenile to win this title.. It was enough to head off horses who were up and comers rather than the finished article like Born Again Christian, Likemesiah, Classic Cullen, Imagine That etc, the latter finishing second on $111.000. Jay’s Debut was a January foal from an embryo transplant. He won the PGG Sales Final at 3 (his next start and win was at Reefton-it was a warmup but added some flavour to the day) and ran a fast time in America

A regular drive for Blair Orange he won 6 from 22 overall for $239,000 before export.

2005-2006 Galleon’s Assassin $171,000 (3yo T)

11st-7 wins-2 seconds -1 G1

One of the stable’s lighter seasons with just 35 winners. It is also a tricky one because Galleons Assassin won his biggest stake, the Breeders Crown, in this season but officially as a two year old and the rest of his earnings at three. They included the NZ Trotting Derby and the Sales Final, placings in several other events and even a slow class trot at Reefton. Imagine Me was yet again the runner-up clocking $111,000 for the second season in a row.

Galleons Assassin lifetime won over $325,000 with 13 wins from 44 starts

2006-2007 Ohoka Arizona $236,000 (2yo)

8st-5 wins-2 seconds -2 G1

Another two year old comes out on top as the Harness Jewels kick in giving the younger ones a better chance. What is remarkable is that another stable two year old, Steve McQueen, chalked up a creditable $165,000 and even so was headed by yet another stable juvenile, Fiery Falcon,a $200,000 youngster who paid most of it back winning $173,000. The Harness Jewels was run at Listed for juveniles that year while the Welcome Stakes was G1.

Ohoka Arizona had problems later and only had 20 starts winning 8 and $274,000 in total before going to stud where he had some success. It was a tough year with Fiery Falcon chasing hard and a youngster called Themightyquinn threatening better things.

2007-2008 Fiery Falcon $360,000 (3yo)

17st-6 wins-5 seconds -2 G1

With Auckland Reactor ($328,000) looming in the rear vision mirror Fiery Falcon, a Woodlands Derby and Harness Jewels winner was King of the Kids when Auckland Reactor wasn’t around. Fiery Falcon, whose career was cut short, introduced Phil and Glenys Kennard to All Stars and their first season topper-though certainly not their last. He beat Auckland Reactor by $30,000 or so to the top. Two year old Highview Tommy (in which the Kennards also held a share) followed with a handsome $249,000 and stable toppers looked a cinch for age group horses on this trend. But history was about to take a turn. In retrospect Auckland Reactor must be the only All Star unbeaten as a 3yo not to win the most money. He was voted Horse of the Year as a consolation of sorts-a big consolation actually but still second best at home.

Fiery Falcon won 10 of 34 and close to $600,000 before a sad end as a four year old

2008-2009 Auckland Reactor $1.12M (4yo)

16st-13 wins-2 sec-5 G1

Here it was, the first million in a season All Star (or any NZ 4yo) and , appropriately, by the horse Mark rated as the best he had trained. He won 13 of 16 races and 11 of 12 in NZ. At one stage he had won 17 in a row. The highlights included the NZ Free for All,and the Auckland Cup. An Australian campaign had mixed results with a big win at Ballarat and in the Inter heats but disaster in the final.

He returned to win the Harness Jewels in one of the greatest performances put up in the series. The Auckland Cup in those days was worth $600,000. Oh happy day.

Sleepy Tripp would have been top in many another year winning $422,000 and Highview Tommy and Pocaro were not far behnd. A little note for Highview Tommy who won $100,000 or more in each of 7 full seasons and topped the million- but never made the top of this list.

Altogether in Australasia Auckland Reactor won 32 of 53 races and over $1.83m and went on to sire champion three year old of his year, Chase Auckland, for All Stars. His around $4m sale to America and subsequent disappointments there somewhat blighted his reputation but anyway you look at that four year old career it matches most

2009-2010 Russley Rascal $408,000 (3yo)

14st-9wins-3 sec 1-G1

What a competitive year this was with Russley Rascal just heading off brilliant two year old Major Mark ($385,000) and with Secret Potion ($268,000) , and the emerging I Can Doosit while Lancome topped $200,000 and rated fourth. Russley Rascal, unusually for contemporaries, raced largely in handicaps before taking out the $500,000 Woodlands Derby. Apart obviously from juveniles he was in his first season of racing and even with these winnings he was decidedly unlucky having to settle for third in the Harness Jewels a win in the $200,000 event would have added considerably. At least 6 All Stars runners that season topped $100,000.

Russley Rascal, raced by old mates Neil Pilcher and Bill Grice battled at 4 and was sold to the US. He won 12 of 25 and $470,000

2010-2011 I Can Doosit $398,000 (5yo T)

14st-6 wins-2 seconds 2 G1

Some outstanding trotters have failed to make this list and this one probably owes something to a growing and timely increase in the stakes for the gait. Moderate Group stakes in Australia and New Zealand had cost Pride of Petite for one, higher ratings. I Can Doosit won 6 of 14 starts as a five year old and while it was a vintage season it would not prove to be his best. His Inter Dominion Final win at Addington and the Rowe Cup were highlights and he also won at Group level in Australia. Fly Like an Eagle ($210,000 as a two year old) and Dancing Diamonds (also $216,000) led the chase.

2011-2012 I Can Doosit $621,000) (6yo T)

15st-13 wins-5 G1

Wow! what a season. After two unplaced runs in the spring (one the Dominion Handicap) came 12 wins in a row, including another Inter Dominion and Rowe Cup -and another 6 successive wins in the following season took his unbeaten streak to 18 and gave Mark a Dominion Handicap at last. Smolda with $405,000 put up a strong fight and being unlucky when running the NZ Derby quinella with Fly Like an Eagle who was next best.

2012-2013 Adore Me $392,000 (3yo)

12st-11 wins-1 sec=5 G1

An astonishing season especially a filly from All Stars unraced at 2, taking on the colts and geldings in the Woodlands Derby at just her 8th start. Rated fairly highly then. Border Control ($317,000) I Can Doosit ($265,000 from just 9 starts) and Fly Like an Eagle ($240,000 after a brave second in the NZ Cup) put up a strong fight

2013-2014 Adore Me $387,000 (4yo)

12st-8 wins-2 sec=4 G1

Follow the Stars is probably the best stable juvenile not to win this contest, He led the charge after the wonder mare with $272,000 and Isaiah was close behind him with $265,000. But it was more or less a one horse race this time.

2014-2015 Adore Me $796,000 (5yo)

12st 7 wins-2 seconds-3 G1

The NZ Cup helped fight off a hell of a challenge among a bunch of present and future stars -and superstars. Follow the Stars ranked third with $407,000 though the bulk of it was in August winning the Breeders Crown racing as a two year old. Second best was Have Faith In Me with $544,000 just ahead of Fight for Glory ($503,000) and what about Waikiki Beach unbeaten as a two year old in Oz (10 starts) and won $335,000

Bubbling under were coming stars Chase the Dream, Lazarus and Dream About Me who all won more than $200,000. Small wonder it was a record total won by the stable in any season. Who knows there might have even been some champagne being broken open !

Adore Me went amiss in her last start of the season, game until the end and won 26 of 36 and $1.67m. The greatest mare of modern times without any doubt.

2015-2016 Have Faith in Me $831,000 (4yo)

9st- 6 wins- 1 second 3-G1

The Miracle Mile was the icing on the cake after the Auckland Cup and the Chariots of Fire and though it was another hugely competitive season, Have Faith in Me held on. Smolda was again the unlucky one winning $760,000 .Lazarus (unbeaten in 9) won $636,000; Dream About Me $548,000,Waikiki Beach $392,000; Piccadilly Princess $347,000, two year old More the Better $339,000 and Spanish Armada $306,000. The champagne must have tasted even better at the end of season parties. The reds might not have been a big enough celebration but someone would have been pouring one for Mark at some time. Probably Pilch.

2016-2017 Lazarus $1.28m (4yo)

15st-12 wins-1 sec -7 G1-

A new record stake (soon to be eclipsed) and a big run in Australia topped by a third in the Miracle Mile put the winning break on the field. But how stiff was Smolda yet again winning $1.28m Partyon won $442,000 Spanish Armada topped that at $481,000; Vincent took $418,000 and Ultimate Machete $370,000

2017-2018 Lazarus $1.63m (5yo) st

13st-8 wins-3 sec 3 G1

Fairly well speaks for itself winning the NZ and Hunter Cups and Inter Dominion Final. Ultimate Machete his travelling companion in Australia won $404,000, Elle Mac $290,000 while Chase Auckland won $392,000 as the leading three year old. Princess Tiffany won $208,000 as a juvenile and late addition Shez All Rock chalked up over $100,000 in a short time. But there was little doubt now that Laz had taken over from Auckland Reactor as the best ever -so far anyway.

2018-2019 Spankem $869,000 (4yo)

15st-8 win-1 sec-4 G1

The Miracle Mile is the key to the win over Thefixer ($736,000), the Canadian Club Sprint and the G1 double in Auckland late in the season securing the title over the New Zealand Cup winner with Ultimate Sniper getting close to $500,000. Spankem’s rise to the top was somewhat rapid as he had been a minor upset winner of the Kaikoura Cup before the Inter Dominions thrust him into the limelight.

2019-2020 Cruz Bromac $470,160 (8yo)

11st-3 wins-3sec -1 G1

Few would have expected an All Star season champ being eight years old but in a bizarre season he was the right horse in the right place on NZ Cup day and continued to race well in the Inter Doms. Amazing Dream ($419,000) would probably (lets make that certainly) have topped him but her later curtailed opportunities and the sidelining of a number of the previous season stars aided the veteran who proved again the racing adage-being in the right place at the right time! Ultimate Sniper considering his light campaign which included the Inter Dominion Final did a great job too.

Incredibly this season All Stars had six of the top ten stake earners and all of the first five