New Zealand Horse Racing Legends and Memories

These are not necessarily the best New Zealand horses ever, some are out and out great, and some have put in one great or memorable performance. Horses have been included where there is video available, hence the inclusion of predominantly modern day horses.

PHAR LAP

By NIGHT RAID (Radium-Sentiment) from ENTREATY (Winkie-Prayer Wheel)
Trainer - Harry Telford (Australia)
Prize Money : 56,425 (Aus Pounds) plus $50,050 (US)

When it comes to NZ Legends, there is none bigger than Phar Lap. Bought for, what was at the time, a mediocre 160 guineas at the NZ Sales by American David Davis, he leased him to Australian trainer Harry Telford. Spurned on by a huge 14lb heart and large frame, Phar Lap went on to phenomenal success in Australia and the US, where he mysteriously died from an unspecified illness.

MAINBRACE

By ADMIRAL'S LUCK (Precipitation-Gainsborough Lass) from MANEROO (Siegfried-Haligan)
Trainer - Jack McDonald (New Zealand)
Prize Money : 28,785 NZ Pounds

The winner of an incredible 23 races from just 25 starts, all in the space of 2 years before injury forced an early retirement. 'Mainbrace was undoubtedly the finest galloper I have seen in New Zealand. Had he gone to Australia to contest the Caulfield or Melbourne Cups, he would have won them by the proverbial mile.' - Glyn Tucker, keeper of the NZ Stud Book 50s-60s.

DARYL'S JOY

By STUNNING (Stardust-Running Wild) from RUTHA (Ruthless-Kumari)
Trainer - Syd Brown (New Zealand), Charlie Whittingham (USA)
Prize Money : NZ$21,610 plus AUS$72,930 plus US$192,775

An international performer and winner of Group 1 quality in 3 countries (New Zealand, Australia and United States), including the Cox Plate and VRC Derby and a track record at Del Mar racecourse, USA.

SHOW GATE

By GATE KEEPER (Alcide-Hortentia) from MINGLOW (Globe Of Light-Minga)
Trainer - Gordon Thomson (New Zealand)
Prize Money : NZ$104,167

Showgate, the 'Queen of the South', suffered a slight fracture of the sesamoid bone during the running of the 1977 Trentham Stakes, but still won in a track record time, and also became the first dual winner of the New Zealand Horse of the Year award.

GREY WAY

By GREY WILLIAM (Grey Sovereign-Rosa La Rose) from WAYBROOKE (King's Command-All's Fair)
Trainer - Pat Corboy (New Zealand)
Prize Money : NZ$235,020 plus AUS$8,400

Few gallopers have won their way into the hearts of New Zealand racing fans like Grey Way, also known as the 'Washdyke Wonder'. Not a Bonecrusher or Rough Habit, but just as special, having amassed 51 wins from an incredible 164 starts. Here he is downing Sydney Cup winner Oopik in his debut over 2000 metres in the 1976 Awapuni Gold Cup. Then follows the 1977 Easter Handicap at Ellerslie, bursting through the field late to win.

VAN DER HUM's Melbourne Cup
By HERMES from TIP O'DAWN (Count Rendered-Miss Pictavia)
Trainer - L Robinson (New Zealand)

Unheralded Van Der Hum lined up for one of the wettest and boggiest Melbourne Cups in history and, as it turned out, he revelled in the conditions.

BALMERINO

By TRICTRAC (Le Haar-Carya) from DULCIE (Duccio-Caste)
Trainer - Brian Smith (New Zealand) & John Dunlop (England)
Prize Money : NZ$127,390 plus AUS$94,050 plus UKP117,102 plus US$31,500

'No other New Zealand horse can claim success in as many countries as this globetrotting stallion from Cambridge' - Mark Taylor in Century of Champions (Harper Collins)

Balmerino won 5 Group One races in New Zealand and Australia and then went on to American and European campaigns, including a 2nd placing in arguably the most prestigious weight for age race in the world, the 2400m Prix de l'Arc at Longchamp. He finished with 22 wins in 4 countries but with luck could have had 24 in 6.

LA MER

By COPENHAGEN II (Royal Charger-All Aboard) from LA BALSA (Worden II-Olgiata)
Trainer - Malcolm Smith (New Zealand)
Prize Money : NZ$225,925 plus AUS$19,500

Successful over 1200 to 2400 metres, and having won 17 Group races, 3 at Group One level, La Mer takes her place alongside Show Gate, Horlicks and Sunline as one of the best mares to come out of New Zealand since the 2nd World War. Here she is in 2 videos, the first where she demolished the 1977 NZ Oaks field and the second winning the 1979 Air New Zealand Stakes, coming from near last on the turn along the inside with an explosive run.

KIWI's Melbourne Cup
By BLARNEY KISS from MALRAYVIS (Messmate-Grand Vitesse)
Trainer - Snow Lupton (New Zealand)

Kiwi was not a champion horse in terms of the quantity of top-class victories. But some might say his victory was the best Melbourne Cup win in history, coming from virtually last on the home bend to weave his way to an astonishing win. Here is the last 400 metres of that 1983 Melbourne Cup victory.

BONECRUSHER

By PAG-ASA (Kaoru Star-Admire) from IMITATION (Oakville-Snow Bird)
Trainer - Frank Ritchie (New Zealand)
Prize Money : NZ$674,225 plus AUS$1,679,495

Often, perhaps unfairly, compared with Phar Lap and sometimes therefore known as 'The Modern Day Big Red'. Will be remembered not only for his great ability and his popularity but, most notably, for his part in the so-called 'Race of the Century', the head to head dual with Waverley Star in the 1986 WS Cox Plate.

This video includes 'The Bonecrusher Song'. They'll talk about him for years and years ...

KOTARE CHIEF's Auckland Cup
By EXCEPTIONNEL from KOTARE LASS
Trainer - H & P Ryan (New Zealand)

The 1987 Auckland Cup was host to possibly the most daring ride of an Australasian Group 1 two-mile race of the 20th century. Watch and see ....

HORLICKS

By THREE LEGS (Petingo-Teodora) from MALT (Moss Trooper-Frill)
Trainer - Dave and Paul O'Sullivan (New Zealand)
Prize Money : NZ$3,411,682 (includes Japan earnings)

Luckily for Hawke's Bay farmer, Graham de Gruchy, the deal to sell Horlicks for $15,000 early on fell through. Because Horlicks went on to become still the only New Zealand horse to have won the Japan Cup. This race video is included here, along with the Japanese commentary.

CASTLETOWN's Three Wellington Cups'

By ONE POUND STERLING (Sovereign Path-Doris White) from MONA CURRAGH (Levmoss-Nilie)
Trainer - Paddy Busuttin (New Zealand)
Prize Money : NZ$1,384,055 plus AUS$807,170

'An iron horse who recorded three victories in a race considered to be New Zealand's greatest test of stamina.' - Mark Taylor in Century of Champions (Harper Collins)

ROUGH HABIT

By ROUGHCAST (Noholme-Bold Empress) from CERTAIN HABIT (Ashabit-Charlotte Rhodes)
Trainer - John Wheeler (New Zealand)
Prize Money : NZ$347,575 AUS$3,445,250

Race Record (1990-1994)
Starts	Wins	2nds	3rds
74	29	16	7

The winner of 11 Group One's. Probably his best known performance was his 1992 Stradbroke victory, when, with regular jockey Jim Cassidy aboard, he came with a bursting run, weaving through the field from a long way back to win. As testament to his popularity, 'Roughie' even appeared on a New Zealand postage stamp. This vid is from the NZTM Hall of Fame

LET'S ELOPE

By NASSIPOUR (Blushing Groom-Alama) from SHARON JANE (Battle Wagon-Summer Sky)
Trainer - Dave and Paul O'Sullivan (New Zealand)
then Bart Cummings (Australia)
then Ron McAnally (USA)
Prize Money : NZ$42,925 AUS$2,940,250 US$169,000

Race Record (1991-1992)
Starts	Wins	2nds	3rds
26	11	0	5

One of the many New Zealand bred horses to ultimately be trained in Australia and go onto big things. In 1991, Let's Elope (The Grand Dam) became the first female in more than 50 years to take the Melbourne Cup-Caulfield Cup double. Her later career was marred by injury and she was forced to retire early, but with the memories of those golden two years. Her 1991 Melbourne Cup victory follows.

To Be Continued ..............