After the event, trainer Tim Butt surprised by stating he would have been just as happy not to have started in this race. "Off the front row in the Moonee Valley Inter Dominion, I believe he would be a certainty. Now he will be given a handicap. But it is hard to turn your back on a $100,000 race on your own backdoor."

The Michael Boulgaris NZ National Trot in mid-December in Auckland was not a Grand Circuit race, but it would make the picture clearer about the quality of this latest trotting ‘find’ from the South Isle. Mountain Gold NZ was probably the only name missing from the country’s top 10 or so squaregaiters that would clash in the National Trot at Auckland. It included Buster Hanover NZ and Special Force NZ, each having won an Inter Dominion Championship in the previous two years.

When Lyell Creek NZ was installed the pre-post favourite for Auckland by the TAB’s fixed odds tote betting, Christchurch trainer Tim Butt was quick to play down the status of his smart but lightly raced trotter. Having earlier stated it could win the Inter Dominion if off the front, he now told the media his horse did not deserve to be favourite in Auckland, pointing out how this would be its first start the reverse way. It would also be the first time it had raced from a mobile gate.

"The way Special Force NZ leaves the gate, I can’t see anything holding it out if they want to lead," said Butt. "While Lyell Creek NZ trialled well from behind the mobile last week in his first look at Alexander Park, we will be looking to get out of the gate safely (barrier 4) and then take things from there. Our horse should not be favourite on the fixed tote odds. I think the TAB only have him favourite because he is owned by big betting Graeme Bruton," said Butt.

This highly promising horse from Christchurch was installed the $2.50 favourite by the TAB price assessors when they opened betting, with the defending Inter Dominion champion Special Force NZ paying $3.75. Lyell Creek NZ had been racing its way through the classes in the South Island, remaining unbeaten for the season. This would be its biggest challenge yet against a field of better horses than it had seen until then, albeit that some of the big names would be in need of hard racing.

Because of their lengthy stay away from New Zealand racing, Buster Hanover NZ and Special Force NZ had virtually become the ‘forgotten’ trotters. Until their comebacks two weeks earlier at Alexander Park, Buster Hanover NZ had not raced since its Melbourne campaign almost 10 months before. Special Force NZ had also been campaigned in Melbourne, and had then gone on to contest several events in Europe before returning home to be spelled. Last Sunset NZ was another on the way back. It had enjoyed good success in Melbourne until an injury on the eve of the Victorian Trotters Derby when the pre-race favourite for this classic had cut short that campaign. With this trio having been set for the Melbourne Carnival, the TAB price assessors when framing their market, obviously believed Lyell Creek NZ recent racing had it more forward in condition that the other big trio did in the National Trot.

Few southern trotters win a feature race when making their debut the reverse way at Alexander Park, especially if it is also the first time they have started from a mobile gate in public. If trainer Tim Butt had really expected his horse to have begun slowly for safety reasons in this $100,000 trot, he obviously had failed to communicate this to his brother and driver Anthony Butt. The horse not only began quickly, it pounced on the early lead and was never headed. Lyell Creek NZ was indeed a trotter with a big future.

Meanwhile, across the Tasman in Australia, the ranks of trotters likely to match it with the best from New Zealand were indeed thin. National Interest and Noopy Kiosk had been around for awhile, but on their latest form they would find it tough racing off 20m in the Inter Dominion. Homer Hawk was another getting on in years, though he seemed to be finding a new lease of life this time in. Ted Demmler had paid big money for Pats Sun NZ some 18 months earlier, but even this performer had failed to deliver when up against the ‘big boys’.

High Riser and Lacey Truscott were promising. In this kind of company, both needed to take another big step forward to be competitive. In past years Sydney on occasions had sent down what supporters there claimed were trotters they believed could bring honour to NSW. Almost without exception, the Sydneysiders were cut down to size at Moonee Valley. So, 10 wins from the past 12 starts might have been flattering form in NSW for the mare Tamra Nightingale NZ, a speedy but rather erratic mare if she had to be pulled around in her races.

When it came time for the Melbourne media to promote the Dullard Cup (Leg 2 of the Grand Circuit, on the opening night of the Melbourne carnival), they were quick to climb aboard two horses unknown by sight to the locals – Euro Ringeat EU, and the up-and-comer Lyell Creek NZ. In the case of the former, it was not difficult to whip up interest in a gelding all the way from France. Trots goers love to see a champion, and they were now told how Lyell Creek NZ had the potential to develop into just that.

The long trip to Australia for Euro Ringeat EU was sponsored by the Victoria Harness Racing Club. The gelding would race in Melbourne with Gavin Lang wearing the club’s colours. With Lang engaged to drive the horse, owner/trainer Theo Loncke accepted the offer to stable his horse at Melton with the Langs. This would enable the unflappable Aussie horseman to become familiar with the gelding for their important assignments on the racetrack. Euro Ringeat EU had won the German Grand Circuit race, the Grosser Preis Von Bilt in Hamburg on October 10, returning a mile rate of 1:57.8. At his next start on October 30 he had finished second over 4400m with a mile rate of 2:04.

The French trotter had undergone 14 days of quarantine in England at Wolverhampton racecourse from December 4. After arriving in Victoria, it spent its first two weeks in quarantine at Sandown’s facilities for international horses. The trotter could be given some work there while in quarantine, but still would have to be well prepped to be 90 percent fit for the Dullard Cup. For this reason, connections decided to start Euro Ringeat EU at Moonee Valley on January 8 to contest a TM2 or better trot over 2540m. This race was won by Mountain Gold NZ with a mile rate of 2:06.3, with Euro Ringeat EU losing no fans with its close-up fourth. It would obviously benefit greatly with that experience behind it.

One of the problems Lang had when initially speaking with the owner/trainer about the horse was Loncke’s little knowledge of English. It took a week or two before they both seemed to know what the other was on about. Not everyone it seems found it difficult to converse with the Frenchman.

As a young businessman in Christchurch, the name of Graham Bruton had not been all that familiar to many. Neither was it so when he had tried his hand driving in a few harness racing events in the 1970s. When Bruton first dabbled at the punt there was nothing to suggest he was anything more than one among the many who liked a small flutter on the horses. With no bookmakers in New Zealand, Bruton’s involvement with the TAB began to slowly but surely develop, revealing a keen and active mind on how best to play the percentages. There are a few professional punters in Australia who have developed the ability and discipline to a stage where they can enjoy a good living from betting on harness racing, using their skills in a much different way to how those legendary gamblers of pre-TAB days matched their wits with bookmakers and whom we are told invariably finished up broke.

The reputation of Bruton as a successful punter began to grow, embellished by what people said had become almost regular collects, made all the more colourful by reports of large wins off the TAB, sometimes in excess of $200,000. To add to his growing fame, he became known as ‘Steel Balls’ with trotting writers for his fearless resolve. Journalists had come to respect the man for his frankness and his obvious flair and skill at betting on the tote. The public became enthralled by dispatches from meetings in newspapers at how the mysterious ‘Steel Balls’ had struck again. It was only later that the harness racing in New Zealand came to know the name of the Runyan-like character who had the knack of winning big. His keen eye for a horse also made him an astute buyer of the occasional pacer and trotter.

When a promising five-year-old trotter by Roydon Glen NZ from Kahlum was offered for sale at $20,000, he showed interest. Its sire was pacing bred (by the Most Happy Fella (US) horse Smooth Fella USA, sire of some 850 winners) from a Lumber Dream mare. There was trotting blood lurking in the background of Kahlum. Still, it was not the pedigree one would expect to find an extra smart trotter in the making. From three starts, Lyell Creek NZ already had one win to its name. The price did seem a little excessive, and Bruton sought a second opinion, asking Tim Butt to look at the horse. Butt was to reaffirm Bruton’s opinion that $20,000 was a little over the top. When Bruton had to make the decision, he decided to go with his gut feeling – if he and the trainer believed the horse was a $15,000 buy, then what the hell, he might as well go the $20,000.

Lyell Creek NZ arrived in Melbourne with a record of 12 wins from 14 starts, including all seven of its starts this season. The Dullard Cup would be its first race on Australian soil. It fared none too well in the barrier draw being No 12, outside the second row. The field and barriers were: 1 Mountain Gold NZ, 2 Euro Ringeat EU, 3 Poets Corner, 4 Lacey Truscott, 5 Special Force NZ, 6 Buster Hanover NZ, 7 Armbros Pride NZ, 8 National Interest. 2^nd row – 9 Cool Fortune, 10 Bonspiel Tui NZ, 11 Sundons Way NZ and 12 Lyell Creek NZ.

A week out from the Dullard Cup, Kiwi horseman Dave McGowan was relishing the unexpected anonymity one would usually be associated with training the defending Inter Dominion champion. Based at Pukehohe, south of Auckland, there had been earlier times when McGowan was the first to admit he had struggled to provide a square meal for his young family. Special Force NZ would change all that. McGowan had brought this now six-year-old gelding to Melbourne on several visits where it had usually performed well. It arrived in Melbourne this time having won 18 races for stakemoney of $417,431.

In an interview with respected journalist Tony Clifford, the trainer said: "To begin with, I was a bit annoyed at how quickly people had forgotten about Special Force and what he had done last season – not just in New Zealand, but in Australia and Europe. I then wanted so badly to prove to everyone how he is the best trotter in New Zealand. But now, with a little hindsight, I think it is great for us there are horses like Lyell Creek NZ and Mountain Gold NZ around at the moment. Their presence and the high standards they are setting, have taken the focus away from Special Force NZ, easing away a lot of pressure."

McGowan said he had been shocked when his horse had met Lyell Creek NZ for the first time. This was in Auckland on December 17. "I was surprised that night when Special Force NZ could not come off the back of Lyell Creek NZ and then outsprint him. But after watching the replay and timing the sectionals, I found he had run his last 2400 metres in 2:58, the mile in 1:58. And that was after coming out of the gate in 26.8 to take the early lead. He had never gone that fast in his life. There was no reason to be disappointed, as the horse was fat inside and would improve greatly with more racing." McGowan was obviously looking to further clashes with Lyell Creek NZ.

There are some horses, which are not always advantaged when drawing the pole. One of these is Mountain Gold NZ. In the Dullard Cup, it failed to make use starting from gate 1, as no sooner had the field been dispatched, when the excitable trotter trained and driven by Barry Purdon went into a break, dropping back through the field. Special Force NZ, the reigning Inter Dominion champion and a noted fast beginner, trotted away solidly for Todd MacFarlane, crossing to the early lead. Before long Anthony Butt showed he was not prepared to sit back near the rear with Lyell Creek NZ, going forward stylishly to race outside of Special Force NZ.

While this early action was taking place, Gavin Lang was driving the French trotter the way he usually prefers to do, having it parked away off the speed. Characteristically, Lang is one of those rare horsemen who is rarely seen hammering away up front in races, time and again bringing a horse home late with a finishing burst that has him getting up only in the final stride or two. With the two Kiwi trotters eyeballing each other out in front, Lang and his gelding were waiting for the right time for the showdown with Lyell Creek NZ and Special Force NZ. The well performed Buster Hanover NZ and National Interest were back in the field, with a lot of work to do if they were to make it into the placings.

Special Force NZ had not won in four starts since resuming racing. Even though it now had the advantage of racing on the inside, Anthony Butt allowed his horse to ensure a genuine speed was maintained. The first half of the last mile was a quick 60.8 seconds. In normal circumstances this would have set the race up nicely for something coming from behind. When Butt allowed Lyell Creek NZ to surge forward and go to the front up the home straight, the only rival coming on strongly was Euro Ringeat EU. If there was any doubt about its fitness, it seemingly was about to be answered as it almost drew level with the favourite close to the line. Suddenly, the French trotter broke, losing some momentum. That the official margin was a mere half-head in favour of Lyell Creek NZ, the winning sequence for this outstanding prospect from New Zealand could have ended right there and then.

No sooner had the pair crossed the line together with the European gelding in a break, a worried Theo Loncke went in search for any official he might recognise. Back in Europe when a trotter broke like this, the horse would be instantly disqualified. He was greatly relieved when told his trotter would retain second place as the break had come so late in the race there had been no time for it to have gained ground from the incident. Euro Ringeat EU would earn 22 points towards a start in the Inter Dom Grand Final.

Both horses had been impressive. For Lyell Creek NZ having his first look at the Melbourne track, it had come from an awkward draw and had raced throughout in the ‘death’. It was also noticeable that the favourite had not been comfortable trotting around the turns at Moonee Valley. This impression did not seem a major flaw, and might well be corrected for next time with a slight adjustment to shoeing. Both trotters had met on equal terms in this mobile start. If and when they would meet in the Inter Dom heats, Euro Ringeat EU would have to give the Kiwi 25m at the handicaps.

Tim Butt told the waiting media that this opening event at the carnival for trotters had seen Lyell Creek NZ at its most vulnerable. "I have been taking it a fraction easy with him because it’s only the second time he’s been away from home, so there is a lot of improvement to be expected from him after this." Brother Anthony was also loud in his praise for the winner. "He is by far the best trotter I have ever driven. He has such a good attitude that makes him a great racehorse." The driver then acknowledged the tough competition out there. "Mountain Gold NZ might have been out of business early tonight, but he is very good. But my bloke has a big drop in handicaps on them and the French horse, which will be a big advantage during this series."

The first major trot at the Melbourne carnival had been a real thriller. But it was not a good result for Australian trotters. The New Zealanders, and the French visitor, had dominated the affair. A pacer representing New Zealand may not have won an Inter Dominion on Australian soil for 26 years, but this certainly was not the case for the squaregaiters. Even at this early stage it seemed yet another series was already threatening to see Aussie trotters ‘eating’ dust thrown up by Kiwis at Moonee Valley.

Leg 5: INTERDOM TROT HEAT 3 (3020m)
  
High Riser fr (John Justice) 1; Armbros Pride NZ fr (Kerryn Manning) 2; Lacey Truscott fr (Chris Alford) 3. Others: Chiolas Dragon NZ fr, Classical Whiz NZ fr, Just Like Jack fr, The Keystone Cop fr, Cool Fortune NZ fr, Poets Corner fr, Westland Dee Jay fr, Watchmewin fr, Ground Floor NZ fr, Bulla Boy fr. Gross time 3:59.5. Mile rate 2:07.6.

The final Grand Circuit points emphasis the greatness of Lyell Creek NZ, as it won the title with a total of 30, followed by Sundowners Way NZ and Sundons Way NZ on 7, and Special Force NZ 6, with Kawarau Invasion NZ, High Riser and Riegle Boy each with 5. The circuit had distributed a total of $1,200,000 in stakes, with Lyell Creek NZ winning all six of its starts for $574,190.

Perhaps the pedigree of Lyell Creek NZ may not have sent a buzz around a yearling sales ring had it taken this pathway, but with the horse having displayed all the characteristics of a real champion, one tends to go back over its pedigree. It would seem the trotting influence can be attributed to that fine US stallion Nibble Hanover which stood at Hanover Shoe Farm, as it appears as a 4 x 5 x 6 x 4 cross down to Lyell Creek NZ. The interesting point is that Nibble Hanover’s half-sister Tisma Hanover (US) appears in the sixth remove of the pedigree, being the second dam of Tuft, imported to New Zealand and who became the sire of Tee Kahu. Lyell Creek’s dam Kahlum was by Noodlum from Kahu Del, by Armbro Del from Tee Kahu.