2000 INTERDOM Pacing Championship Series  $1,000,000 Heats:  22 & 29 January, 5 February 2000 Final:    12 February 2000
Apart from some fine-tuning in the 1940s with the manner points were allotted, the annual Inter Dominion Pacing Championship has seen few changes made to the original formula of three rounds of heats in the opening week (usually in March), leading to a Grand Final one week later. Melbourne in 2000 would make sweeping changes to the format when hosting its 7th Inter Dominion. The injection of considerable funds would see the first $1 million race in harness racing. It would be promoted as the world’s richest and most spectacular event in our sport. A further $1 million had been set aside by Harness Racing Victoria for promotion of their carnival through radio, television and newspapers. While few could argue against this generous injection of record prizemoney, two other changes would, not surprisingly, trigger off widespread controversy. The first would be the programming of dates, advancing these forward weeks earlier than was usual. Melbourne’s big spectacular would now start within seven days of three Grand Circuit races – the WA Cup, the SA Cup, and the Fremantle Cup, the latter on the eve of the A.G. Hunter Cup. The programming of dates by Melbourne had curtailed prominent pacers from the east racing in Perth or Adelaide so close to the start of allocating Inter Dominion points and a crack at the record prizemoney. Harness Racing Victoria was also taking the bold step of including its two Group 1 races as part of the Inter Dom points. And to throw further fuel on the fire of those who saw this as illogical (mainly States to the west), they would reward horses in these two events with DOUBLE points towards a start in the Inter Grand Final! Duncan McPherson, a spokesman for Harness Racing Victoria, when replying to critics of this one-off points system, said he agreed horses contesting the A.G. Hunter Cup and the Victoria Cup would have an advantage over horses that sought entry to the Grand Final by racing in the usual heats. This new idea allowed those with double points to have more time to freshen up for the Grand Final. "If you are going to run a million dollar Grand Final, and if it is to go down in history as the be-all and end-all race, then a trainer should be given the opportunity to have his horse at its best," he said.		Shakamaker - 2000 Inter Dominion Pacing Champion

The winner of the A.G. Hunter Cup would collect 32 points, and the victorious pacer in the Victoria Cup would be given 28 points. A generous reward indeed some thought, considering the likely cut-off point to making the Grand Final was expected at around 33 points. Melbourne officials made no secret how they had designed this method as a bid to assist the top horses who did well in either (or both) Group 1 races, and having a less stressful passage through to the rich Grand Final. The Hunter Cup has never been a race for ordinary performers, being won only by classy stayers. With the depth available for this latest battle of speed and stamina around Moonee Valley, connections of some other well performed pacers in their home State would surely not make it beyond the ballot for the race.

McPherson, one of those at the HRV who helped devise this radical points system, warned trainers thinking of competing in the heats (as has been the case since the event’s inception in 1936), to "revise their thinking." He pointed out: "Trainers in this series should put the points in the bank first, then freshen their horses so they go into the Grand Final cherry ripe. On the other hand, a slow starter will be chasing hard to get points, and will need every one they can get. And the chances are if they do make the Grand Final, these horses will probably be feeling the pinch," he added.

What Harness Racing Victoria had done was to place the onus firmly on the shoulders of trainers mapping a pathway through the longer than usual Inter carnival to the Grand Final. For those pacers that did best in the A.G. Hunter Cup and the Victoria Cup, they virtually could leap-frog the heats into a Grand Final berth. If trainers wanted to go the other way, bypassing the Hunter Cup (and those failing to get a start in Australia’s major staying test), then contesting the heats gave them opportunities to earn points the hard way.

Melbourne had released the first list of rankings for the Inter Dominion during December, at a time when there were four legs of the Grand Circuit to be decided between then and the A.G. Hunter Cup. Pressure is something all stewards and handicappers come to live with, and with these rankings, they did have a pressure valve for the monitoring of subsequent form. Amendments to ratings could be made as the countdown continued to their carnival. No fewer than 144 horses were nominated for the Inter Dominion Pacing Championship. Among the last nominated was the Justice trained Shakamaker. The trainer had thought long and hard on whether he would nominate the four-year-old, or bypass this gruelling series as he had done the previous season with Safe And Sound when it was then four.

Defending Grand Circuit champion Christian Cullen NZ was given the honour of No 1, followed by Holmes D G, Iraklis NZ, Bogan Fella NZ, Homin Hosed, with Paris Affair the first of the Australian-breds ranked 6^th . Then followed the unbeaten Courage Under Fire NZ, Safe And Sound, Agua Caliente and Slug Of Jin USA at No 10. Other interesting ratings included Breenys Fella NZ at 11, Yulestar NZ 16, Shakamaker 30, Cigar NZ 77 with Titan Happy having the dubious honour of being No 144. (Cigar NZ would be the big shortener in the next set of rankings after its impressive win in the Summer Cup at Auckland. It moved from 77 to 44, and the following week would be at 24.)

Within days of the first list of rankings, the first market from bookmakers was up and running. These varied somewhat to the official rankings. The usually well-informed bookies were prepared to take risks with the injury-prone Christian Cullen NZ and Iraklis NZ, offering clients tantalising odds about their chances. The latest reports had Courage Under Fire NZ now recovered from its injury. This Queensland owned Kiwi was installed a 3/1 favourite by big-betting Sydney bookmaker Steve Single. On the second line was 5/1 Holmes DG NZ, then 6/1 Homin Hosed, 8/1 Slug Of Jin USA, 10 Christian Cullen NZ, 12/1 Shakamaker, 16/1 Bogan Fella NZ and Yulestar NZ, then out to 25/1 for Paris Affair, Safe And Sound, Saab, Grumpy Ole Man and Iraklis NZ.

Bill Hutchison, well known former Melbourne bookmaker who as a form analyst has built up a huge following in Australia’s biggest selling newspaper Melbourne’s Herald Sun, had Courage Under Fire NZ his opening favourite at 4/1. Like the Sydney based market, Hutchison had six New Zealand-trained horses in the top eight.

"I learned the hard way some years ago when a bookmaker that taking bets on a series like the Inter Dominion, one of the first things you do is to get the favourite early. The biggest mistake I ever made was not laying Pure Steel one year when he was 6/4." (Pure Steel failed to make the Grand Final that year after going into the series appearing as the best of good things.)

Hutchison pointed out how favourites in these early pre-race markets had a poor record of winning Inter Dominion Grand Finals. Had he been betting on this series, he added how he would be happy taking on the unbeaten Courage Under Fire NZ. "He is one of the greatest horses I have seen, and certainly the best three-year-old I have seen. Yet, I would be trying to get as many people on him early as I could," he added.

Horses trained in New Zealand dominated the first markets. This was not surprising in the wake of the recent retirement of Australia’s three times Inter Dominion Champion Our Sir Vancelot NZ, and the failure of any ready-made successor to have its hand up high to fill that gap. If the interesting Slug Of Jin USA with his growing band of supporters was to capture the series, it would provide a slap in the face to the Australian-bred product. Reports filtering back from America continued to express surprise in a pacer it seems Americans believed had never been anything more than a little above average was now one of the fancies for the biggest race Down Under.

The highest ranked Aussie-bred pacer in both Sydney and Melbourne markets was Shakamaker at 12/1. Being rated on the sixth line of betting was more on potential that anything else. The previous season this Victorian had chased home Courage Under Fire NZ in their couple of three-year-old clashes. The local had been slightly disadvantaged in the barrier draws against the Queensland-owned Kiwi, but the little pacer from across the Tasman had already gained a following who believed him to have been as good a juvenile as ever seen in this part of the world.

Trainer John Justice had nursed a belief that his horse was capable of upsetting Courage Under Fire NZ with the right run. It was interesting how he had remained uncertain whether to start the horse in the Inter Dominion until just before the closing of nominations. In late December he expressed the view that Shakamaker had come back to racing bigger and better as a four-year-old. One punter was prepared to gamble about the horse starting in the Inter. Before the end of December, this punter claimed Steve Single for one bet to win $200,000.

The 2000 Inter Dominion would be just as volatile away from the track as it was in the heat of battle. This followed a broadside launched by Harness Racing Victoria Chairman Ian McEwen who stated that future Inter Dominions should not be held in Hobart, Adelaide and Perth. "Administrators must bite the bullet and dump these venues, rotating the series between Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Christchurch. I think after Auckland last year where they lost money, they are having second thoughts, so maybe they will think twice about hosting another." This would be a keen topic of debate when the Inter Dominion Harness Racing Council met later in the series.

The improvement in times achieved in the 1990s has not been without cost. Lameness is a by-product of stress, a problem horses that can go faster and further than lesser performers have to live with. The leading pacers to be plagued by leg injuries during the previous ten years, continued into the year 2000.

Reported in a recent issue of this Annual were details of how 10 of the very best 11 pacers to have won Grand Circuit races in Australia during the 1990s had each broken down with leg injuries. The one exception was three times Inter Dominion champion Our Sir Vancelot NZ. This Brian Hancock-trained pacer was the only one of the 11 not to have raced as a two-year-old. Hancock’s blueprint for Inter Dominion hopes also meant steering clear of the Group 1 two-milers. He may have driven other horses in Hunter Cups, but when aiming for the Inter Dominion with his own, he believed this race was too gruelling an event so close to an Inter Dominion.

Whether pounding out the miles in training or competing at top speed in races, the vital tendons and ligaments of the leg can become tired, no longer acting as the shock absorbers intended when the weight of the horse impacts the bone structure with every stride. Travelling and tough campaigns can contribute to fatigue. The natural speed and aggressive competitiveness we have bred in today’s standardbred requires sensible management and conditioning.

Yulestar NZ (Tony Shaw) wins
the 2000 A.G. Hunter Cup

No scientific research has been done on the correlation of injuries and juvenile racing with our most outstanding pacers that do come back to race on at four, five and six. However, in any comparison with North American racing where fast times over one-mile racing is the norm, the one great variable has been the tracks on which horses race. Neither Australia or New Zealand are noted for producing surfaces with anything like the level of ‘cushioning’ that goes into preparing American tracks. Fast times automatically follow tracks designed to try and do away with stressful conditions.

Paris Affair, the Adelaide owned and Victorian trained pacer who had landed a betting plunge winning the previous A.G. Hunter Cup, was not one of those 11 Grand Circuit winners used in these statistics. This smart pacer had earlier spent lengthy periods on the sidelines because of leg injuries. This horse had covered itself in glory with its comeback to racing the previous season after responding to a training schedule based upon working in the sea and on the sand near Portland on Victoria’s western coast.

Having been set to defend its Hunter Cup crown, Paris Affair was making excellent progress again. Two weeks before the big two-miler, trainer Peter Tonkin reported it had worked ‘sensationally’. The following week soreness appeared in its near-side front leg. The pacer was immediately floated to Melbourne where a series of x-rays were taken. These revealed Paris Affair was suffering from deep-seated bruising in its heel. Tonkin was left little choice. His horse was scratched from the A.G. Hunter Cup. He was not the first, nor would he be the last big-name pacer to have their summer carnival dashed by injury.

In early December, the comeback of former champion New Zealand pacer Iraklis NZ was moving forward well enough for trainer Robert Cameron to be highly delighted with the stallion’s progress. A headline in a Melbourne newspaper said: ‘The Big Bloke’s back.’ Tony Clifford’s story went on to say how this equine giant had taken its first step on the comeback trail at Cranbourne and had pulled up well. This had been its first start since its Auckland Inter Dominion second to Our Sir Vancelot NZ. In an injury-plagued career, Iraklis NZ had won 19 races for stakemoney of $1,015,042.

Iraklis NZ was the horse that two years earlier had visiting Australian journalists claiming him to be the best pacer they had seen. This was after it had won the NZ Cup-NZ FFA double in great style. Cameron was a former World Championship driver, with Iraklis NZ now the star of his team. The horseman who years before on his first visits to Australia had driven the great Robin Dundee NZ and Tactile NZ to big race victories, was now being introduced to a whole new generation of harness racing fans here.

After taking New Zealand racing by storm two years before, Iraklis NZ had gone to Sydney where it won the Miracle Mile in 1:54.2, a record that still stands. Although later edged out of the winner’s stall in the Hunter and Victoria Cups and the Inter Dominion Grand Final, his trainer believed this horse would mature into a super horse. Following an unlucky Inter Dominion second, Iraklis NZ injured a tendon and was sent to the spelling paddock for his third lengthy period of rehabilitation.

When Cameron moved his stables from Christchurch to west of Melbourne next to the property of the Langs at Melton in 1999, he set about bringing the star of his smart team back with the Inter Dominion its main target. At just its second start back, the now seven-year-old stallion displayed much of that old flair when he easily defeated a handy field at Bendigo. Cameron enthusiastically declared his horse to be well on its way to peak fitness. His elation would be short-lived. Within two days of that impressive victory, there appeared inflammation in one of the stallion’s legs. It was the same leg that had caused the earlier problem.

"It’s been a long process to get him back so close to his best," said a frustrated trainer/part owner. "I’ve had my share of disappointments in the sport, but this is one of the biggest. It’s a bugger to get so close. I am sure he would have been in there with a big chance," he said, thinking about the $1 million Grand Final and the prestige that went with it. "But now, he’s finished, and will not race again." (Iraklis NZ is now standing at Australia’s biggest standardbred stud, Alabar Farm.)

Another Grand Circuit winner on the injured list was NZ Cup success Homin Hosed. Following its disappointing effort in the Auckland City Of Sails FFA, a further veterinarian examination found the horse was suffering from muscle damage over the kidney area. Homin Hosed NZ was immediately sent for a lengthy spell.

The loss of established Grand Circuit winners Iraklis NZ, Paris Affair and now Homin Hosed, would rob the race of three proven stars. However, a great many well regarded pacers had come to Melbourne to race for the big money. Even allowing for several other stars side-stepping the Hunter Cup in seeking a different path towards the Inter Dominion Grand Final, officials had ample talent available seeking a berth in the two-miler. There was much for the media to talk and write about, especially since recent history was being repeated by the same Australian trotting writers who had earlier ‘discovered’ Iraklis NZ.

The previous season they could hardly believe New Zealand could come up with a another champion just a year after Iraklis NZ had blazed his own trail on the Grand Circuit. That summer the writers had dared claim Christian Cullen NZ was the finest pacing machine they had seen. There were few doubters ready to dispute this. In every appearance on the Grand Circuit, this stallion had not let these claims down, demolishing all rivals. Built like a tank, he possessed awesome speed and had amassed sufficient points to become Grand Circuit champion at the time he arrived in Melbourne to contest its two 1999 Group 1 races. It’s history now how the horse failed to make it to the start, suffering the first of several set-backs that for some months seemed likely to see his permanent retirement from the track. While the harness racing world held its breath waiting for his return, along came a younger pacer unbeaten in its first 22 starts – Courage Under Fire NZ.

When the latest Grand Circuit series had begun during October, conflicting reports were filtering across the Tasman as to the soundness of both Christian Cullen NZ and Courage Under Fire NZ. The former was a truly magnificent representative of the standardbred breed. Interspersed with claims the horse was on track to make a triumphant return were several comeback races having to be aborted. As the New Year came the picture brightened considerably when word came through how Christian Cullen NZ had turned in an ‘unbelievable’ workout at Kumeu shortly before boarding the plane for Melbourne. On its arrival, the stallion was welcomed by relieved officials quick to roll out the red carpet.

There was no question about this horse being special. Prior to his problems he had reeled off incredible times -- 1:54.1 at Ashburton, 1:54.4 winning the Miracle Mile. Among 14 successive wins were five Grand Circuit races, taking his bankroll then to $NZ1.2 million. It was only those injuries that reminded us all how Christian Cullen NZ was mortal after all. Then, along came Courage Under Fire NZ.

To say this unbeaten pacer was smallish would be like stating how Tom Thumb was less than average in height. By In The Pocket USA (the same sire as Christian Cullen NZ), he too had captured the imagination of the public, pulling in the crowds when he continued his unbeaten roll as a three-year-old. Those writers again trotted out all the glowing superlatives they had previously linked with Christian Cullen NZ. At one stage in the spring of 1999, trainer Bruce Negus warned the public that because of injury, his little champ was a doubtful starter for Melbourne. It would be several more weeks before a relieved Negus said Courage Under Fire NZ had recovered, and would race in Victoria that summer.

These horses had never met in a race. The media and the public now waited with growing anticipation for their first head-on confrontation that would take place at Moonee Valley. It was a promoter’s dream, and Melbourne officials, so rightly, milked it for all it was worth.

There was never any suggestion that Courage Under Fire NZ would front up in the Hunter Cup. Connections wisely wanted to ease the horse back into racing, rather than give him a gut-buster so soon. Eight days before the curtain went up on the Melbourne carnival, Courage Under Fire NZ opened his four-year-old campaign in a Shepparton race for his age group. His reputation had certainly preceded him, frightening away some one would have expected to be there that night. Cigar NZ, the stablemate of Christian Cullen NZ, turned up to be the testing material. Courage Under Fire NZ that night took his winning sequence to 23.

An interesting lead-up to the Melbourne carnival had followed the Auckland Cup at Alexander Park when several leading Inter Dominion hopes contested the $75,000 City Of Sails FFA, including the Victorian pacer Breenys Fella NZ. Coming off its good third in the Auckland Cup, Breenys Fella NZ toughed it out to beat Cigar NZ, returning a mile rate of 1:57.3 for the 2200m. It had been a bold step by trainer Ted Demmler to have raced the Melbourne-owned pacer in New Zealand so close to the start of the Inter Dominion carnival back on his home track. The horse was driven in that win by Demmler’s son Craig. He had often partnered this son of Holmes Hanover in its races.

That Auckland FFA had seen Holmes D G NZ resume from its brief spell following its wins in the Miracle Mile and the Treuer Memorial. Not surprisingly its condition gave out up the home straight. When bringing a horse back to peak fitness after a brief lay-off, trainer Barry Purdon was known to use a galloping pacemaker to give it the solid hit-out required. Having not been fully let-down with its brief spell, it would not be any lack of fitness that would prevent Holmes D G winning when it raced in Melbourne. There was one small hiccup for Purdon when he arrived with Holmes D G NZ and the trotter Mountain Gold NZ. He had been booked to stay at the Woodstock stables of trainer Jean Feiss. On arrival he changed his mind, heading in the other direction from the airport to Ted Demmler’s impressive complex at Carrum Downs, close to the beach and having every facility possible, including motel-style living quarters.

With several million dollars in stakemoney to be distributed over the following month at Moonee Valley, the temptation by some stable to play outside the rules seeking an unfair advantage might have been a possibility. Days before the A.G. Hunter Cup, chairman of stewards Gerrard Lalor announced his stewards would conduct a series of random visits on stables during the next few weeks. "We will be doing pre-race blood and saliva tests, along with glucose tests. All I can suggest to trainers who might be thinking of doing something untoward, is don’t bother."

He added there would not be security guards put in place. "We believe the onus is on the trainer to present their horse drug-free." Lalor was of the opinion that providing security guards for the final 24 hours was just a cosmetic measure to assure the public everything was above board. (This belief was more in keeping with scientific testing. After months of testing for EPO in athletes, scientists found how this extremely difficult to detect booster provided its maximum influence on athletes when administered six weeks before. No athlete in their right mind would take this within 24 hours of competition, and after all, horse are equine athletes.) "By providing security guards at stables, you are also suggesting trainers are cheating, or they are not looking after their horses," he said.

With the best available horses from both sides of the Tasman assembling in Melbourne, there were no shortage of opportunities for trainers with horses on the borderline having one final try at improving the rankings of their horses. The Geelong Cup was held on January 6. Among its starters were Safe And Sound, Cee New York NZ (timed to have paced its last 800m in a Maryborough free-for-all the previous week in 55.3, Bancoora Next, Speedo George and Ablazin Star. The latter was then ranked 84. But trainer Gary Sargent was hopeful it could win and make a smart move up the rankings. "We think he is good enough to mix it with the best."

John Justice was not too unhappy with Safe And Sound having drawn an awkward barrier. "There will be a lot of speed off the front, and a horse like Speedo George will be going around them early. So I will just wait and see," he said of the nominal favorite’s chances from a poor draw. Graeme Lang was well pleased with the way Bancoora Next was reaching its best form. At its latest outing at Moonee Valley it had raced three wide throughout before coming in third behind Denver Gift. Safe And Sound had finished an unlucky fourth in that race having been blocked for a run for much of the home straight. The hopes of several trainers seeking a big-race win were dashed when the mare Sorrento Star edged out a luckless Safe And Sound.

When Victorian trainer John Justice had earlier stated he was unsure whether to hold back Shakamaker from the Melbourne Inter Dominion, at the time he had explained this had nothing to do with the ability of his pacer. It was a lack of maturity having been restricted to racing against its own age. From the moment he made up his mind to go for it, the trainer had made it clear the horse would not contest the A.G. Hunter Cup. "Having decided to give him his chance, I plan on bypassing both the Hunter and Victoria Cups, as his lack of maturity is a concern to me. I know how he compares with Safe And Sound, and the only thing that will stand against him earning enough points for the Grand Final is his lack of experience," he said. Justice also bypassed the Hunter Cup with Safe And Sound.

On the Tuesday before Australia’s biggest handicap race, a field of 15 were declared with 11 of these off the front, and Christian Cullen NZ the backmarker off 25m. Happy Asset NZ and Saab would both start from 10m, and Holmes D G on 20m. Luke Of Earl, one of only two four-year-olds in the field and drawn in barrier 3, was the emergency and would later be withdrawn. For some years the exact distance of this race had been 3200. Because of the reconstruction of the track in recent months, the distance was now trimmed marginally to 3020m.

Christian Cullen NZ would go into the race having had just one start back from a spell. The week before at Moonee Valley the stallion had cleared away from a handy field to win a flying mile. It was a most impressive display of sprinting prowess. Now, just one week later, the stallion would step up to DOUBLE that distance. For the backmarker to win, it would surely have to circle the entire field. It was an enormous task even for one of our greatest ever horses, attempting such a handicap after just one start on the comeback trail from injury.

The previous Saturday night when Christian Culling NZ had been the star attraction winning the Flying Mile, Happy Asset NZ was also standing up to be counted when competing in another of the races. It had come barnstorming down the home straight to narrowly but impressively win the Ticketek Handicap from Luke Of Earl and Sheffield Mark. This was the third trip to Melbourne for Happy Asset NZ. He had twice finished fourth in his two Hunter Cups. There was every reason to now believe the horse was even stronger than previously. After winning his final tune-up race, a happy Anthony Butt explained his tactics had simply been to follow Gavin Lang (Grumpy Ole Man) in the race. "And it worked to perfection." It might not have been a strong field he had downed, but the manner in which the Kiwi had finished on suggested it would be right at its peak for the big handicap.

Being a handicap race, the barrier draw was not expected to have much affect on betting as a mobile start might have had. Horses allotted handicaps had earned them, and being over 3020m, those starting out the back had time to improve positions during the race. The field in barrier order was:

Aftoodo, a 7YO gelding with a record of 26 wins from 121 starts and stakes of $151,130, would start from the pole. It was doubtful if this son of Torado Hanover was capable of winning, but he did have several points in his favour. He was a reliable standing start pacer and would be driven by the experienced and successful Brian Gath. Recent form was not too bad having had his best win yet in the Tasmanian Championship.

Bancoora Next, a 6YO gelding by What's Next, had promised much as a juvenile. Trained and driven by veteran horseman Graeme Lang, its record now stood at 20 wins from 58 starts for earnings of $152,285. Its best win had been the 1997 Coca Cola Cup.

Colbruce, a 6YO gelding by Muckalee Strike, had right from its juvenile days been a tough and fast pacer capable of churning out good sectionals for trainer-driver Noel Shinn. Its record from standing starts was good, including a win in the recent Kilmore Cup. His 25 wins from 61 starts had earned connections $325,560. There had been some interesting money for this stayer in pre-post betting on the Inter Dominion Grand Final.

Cigar NZ, the 4YO stallion by Sokys Atom USA, was a stablemate of Christian Cullen NZ. Its win in the Auckland Summer Cup had been sound. Like most Kiwi pacers, running out a strong two miles seemed highly likely. Lightly raced having had just 28 outings, his 10 wins had returned $187,186. He had gone away only fairly from the standing start in the Auckland Cup, and would be in trouble here with another slow getaway.

Yulestar NZ, a 5YO gelding by Cameleon USA, was another lightly raced Kiwi having won 13 of its 30 starts for stakes of $182,660. He had won the recent Franklin Cup and was very much an improver in such company. Its form during the Christchurch carnival had many an astute punter putting its name in their black book to follow.

Under Cover Lover NZ, a 5YO daughter of In The Pocket USA, had probably set a new record for travelling during her short career on the racetrack, having been around the world and often performing against the best. The winner of the 1998 NZ Oaks, she had now raced 49 times for 20 wins and prizemoney of $786,956. She was regarded as being far more comfortable racing from behind the mobile. Another query for punters was her visit to the breeding barn where she had underwent an embryo transfer. Had this procedure been the cause of her latest form being below her best, or had all that travelling taken its toll?

Breenys Fella NZ. Ted Demmler has often proven himself to be a top judge of a youngster when asked to fly across to New Zealand and trial horses. Three years earlier he had trialled several three-year-olds for the Mustica family, settling on this now 6YO gelded son of Holmes Hanover. Usually reliable away from a stand, he gave the impression that staying was his forte. From 56 starts he had won 22 of his 56 starts for $310,339. This was the unlucky horse from the recent Miracle Mile. Winning a major race seemed well within his reach.

Slug Of Jin USA, a 7YO stallion, had never raced over this distance, nor had he ever been in an event from a standing start. This import had by far the poorest ratio of wins to starts of any horse in the field, and by a wide margin at that having won just 21 races from more than 140 starts for a bankroll of $454,234. His entire American career had been over just half of this distance. How much importance punters working on the form for this race should now place on his 1:51 mile at The Meadowlands? Still, the Queensland owned stallion gave the impression that he could get over a bit of distance since being trained for Australian conditions.

Admirals Avenue NZ. This 8YO gelding was the oldest horse in the race, winning 25 of its 79 starts for stakes of $302,486. His win in the recent WA Cup had been from a standing start, and suggested he was ready to run the race of its life, even though the depth of this field was significantly better than what the son of Admiral Halsey had met back at Gloucester Park.

Atitagain NZ. Always some risk from a stand, this 6YO gelding by Bo Scots Blue Chip USA had won 18 of its 47 starts for $191,569. In the past he had fallen a little short of this class, but since joining the Darren Hancock stables the horse had stepped up another level.

Happy Asset NZ. (10m.) A 7YO gelding by Transport Chip, this pacer was for some time one of those to have fallen through the cracks of the NZ handicapping system, and even now had won just 12 of its 74 wins. However, in those stakes of $514,281 were numerous placings against some of the best performers around. A proven two-miler, he could be expected to be getting home strongly from his handicap.

Saab (10m.) A 5YO stallion by Classic Garry, his career had been taken along quietly with 19 wins from 35 starts and earnings of $534,941. He still had to prove himself to many eastern State enthusiasts. Back home in Perth he had looked good in many of his wins. He had won his biggest race (the WA Cup beating Our Sir Vancelot NZ) from a standing start, and would be driven by Chris Lewis, winner of two Inter Dominion Grand Finals.

Holmes DG NZ. A 5YO gelding with the distinction of having only raced against the best since first making a name for himself as a juvenile. Connections had purposely kept him away from the Inter Dominion when a 4YO, and had been rewarded by him now notching up enough Grand Circuit points to be crowned the next champion. A winner of 21 of his 37 starts (including 10 Group 1 victories), he had won $1,183,958 in stakes. Two miles was not considered his best distance, and a handicap of 20m was also like to be a tough test.

Christian Cullen NZ. A 5YO stallion, his status as a champion was confirmed by the facts – a winner of 23 of just 29 starts, he had never lost a race on the Grand Circuit, taking his earnings to $1,220,150. For a horse with just one race under its belt in recent months, stepping up to two miles from a handicap of 25m would make this an enormous challenge, even for a champion.

Despite the huge task facing Christian Cullen NZ, the public loves a champion. While some tipsters believed that not even this horse could win on such a preparation from the backmark of 25m. This did not deter many punters. The stallion was backed in from 5/2 to start a 7/4 favourite. Cigar NZ was next at 5/1, with Holmes D G NZ and Colbruce both at 6/1. Yulestar NZ had been kept safe at 8/1, though tote punters were looking at bigger odds for it.

The start of that 2000 Hunter Cup could hardly have begun on a more sensational note when the strands on the 20 and 25 metres failed to release at the first try, causing a quick recall and a second attempt. This time Yulestar NZ was slowly but safely out. Not so the backmarker Christian Cullen NZ. Ricky May had the defending Grand Circuit champion away fast. He had position his horse out wide. Commonsense had told him that catching the field and staying at the rear would probably see him even further behind than his 25m at the end of the first lap. Butt had decided his best chance would be to begin quickly and pass several of the early stragglers to a position from which he could later launch his challenge.

This reckoning had not counted on one rather important point. Beginning fast out wide they ran into the back of the galloping Saab. It too had started out wide on the 10m line, but had gone away skipping and moving erratically. Chris Lewis obviously was not expecting someone from behind to be out so wide and moving fast. He was shocked to find they had all but stood the crowd favourite on its head, an accident that did not endear them to the public in the following three minutes.

Melbourne fans have long come to know the aggression of Kilmore horseman Noel Shinn. It has been his trademark to attack, fearing no rival. With his pacer Colbruce having begun well and crossing to the rail at the head of affairs, there was no slackening of speed early by Shinn, allowing Colbruce to reel off several fast sectionals before taking a breather. Being up at the front, Shinn had no way of knowing the favourite was virtually out of business. Not only had it lost a great deal of ground with that early interference when severely checked by Saab, Christian Cullen NZ had himself put a hole in his manners further around the first turn, breaking a second time, again losing valuable ground.

It was obvious a long way from home how the pattern of the race was now playing into the hands of some handy stayer that might be just sitting off the pace. No horse was enjoying a better run than Yulestar NZ. It had overcome its slow start with Tony Shaw dropping it briefly onto the pegs before he had the opportunity to move his horse into the favoured one-one position.

When Yulestar NZ made its move in the last lap, it reeled off its last 800m in 56.2 to hold off the strong finish of Happy Asset NZ with Slug Of Jin USA running on nicely to be third. The mile rate of 2:01.3 was among the quicker times recorded for this event. Christian Cullen NZ, which had virtually gone a round or two with the equine Mike Tyson early in the race, and then recovered to make up so much ground to be beaten only 15m, had turned in an amazing effort. Finishing behind him were Colbruce, Holmes D G NZ, Bancoora Next, Cigar NZ, Saab and Aftoodo. The stallion had been privately timed to have paced his last mile in 1:56.7, his last 800m in 55.7, and his final 400m in 27.7.  This was achieved while racing out in the middle of the track. The stallion might not have won, but its performance had veterans ranking it as good or even better than what Ribands did back in 1954 from 48 yards after missing the start by another 40 or more yards.

For winning reinsman Tony Shaw, this was the big one. Five years before the then 26-year-old had given up his fulltime job as a meatworker at Waikato to pursue his interest in harness racing, chasing the elusive dream that one day he would win a big one. His fortunes had remain fairly unrewarded until teaming up with Yulestar NZ after prominent reinsman Maurice McKendry had given up driving it for something better. Yulestar NZ had won that race, and trainer Lorraine Nolan had stayed with the former meatworker ever since.

The significance of Yulestar NZ’s emphatic victory was not lost on Shaw later that night while quietly sipping on a drink and reliving that great moment with friends. "After making my move and going for home, I constantly expected horses to come charging past me, but nothing like that happened. I will probably never win another Hunter Cup – probably never drive in another, unless Yulestar NZ comes back again next year. But I tell you, this night has changed my life. I can already feel that, and nobody will ever take this moment away from me," he said.

For Mrs Nolan and her husband Ron, who own the horse, the $236,000 winner’s cheque was a special thrill knowing how several months before they had rejected an offer to sell the five-year-old gelding. It seems someone else had also recognised the potential of the pacer, as that offer is believed to have been up around $300,000 – big money for a horse that had to then enjoyed only moderate success. Now it had emerged as a serious Inter Dominion player, and with 32 points in the bank for this win, it was assured of being there when that million dollars would go up for grabs.

The points table for a place in the Inter Grand Final after the opening night stood at: Yulestar NZ 32, Happy Asset NZ 28, Slug Of Jin USA 25, Atitagain NZ 22, Admirals Avenue NZ 20, Breenys Fella NZ 18, Under Cover Lover NZ 16, Christian Cullen NZ 14, Colbruce 12, Holmes D G NZ 10, Bancoora Next 8, Cigar NZ 6, Saab 4 and Aftoodo 2.

During the Hunter Cup meeting, permission was granted to trainer Bruce Negus to work Courage Under Fire NZ between races. The ruling favourite for the Inter Grand Final thrilled connections with a solo workout at a little off top speed over three laps. "The main thing I was looking for was for him to go straight and not show any signs that he was feeling his foot. He did that and more," said a delighted Negus. The meeting of Christian Cullen NZ and Courage Under Fire NZ had become the most eagerly awaited clash in modern day harness racing.

A.G. HUNTER CUP (3020m)
Yulestar NZ fr (Tony Shaw) 1; Happy Asset NZ 10m (Anthony Butt) 10m 2; Slug Of Jin USA fr (Alan Donohoe) 3. Others: Atitagain NZ, Admirals Avenue NZ, Breenys Fella NZ, Under Cover Lover NZ, Christian Cullen NZ, Colbruce, Holmes D G NZ, Bancoora Next, Cigar NZ, Saab, Aftoodo. Gross time 3:47.7. Mile rate 2:01.3.

FIRST ROUND HEATS

January 22, the second night of the Melbourne carnival, took on a more familiar Inter Dominion appearance when horses out to earn points for a start in the Grand Final contested three heats over 2060m. Overshadowing two of these being taken out by the one Aussie stable was the abrupt ending of the unbeaten run of Courage Under Fire NZ.

Heat 1 included Shakamaker taking block for its debut against older rivals. The four-year-old had come back from a spell in truly magnificent condition, having muscled up well with a gleaming coat stretching over wide shoulders and powerful looking hind quarters. This was the conformation of a pacer likely to turn heads and draw admiring glances wherever he raced. He already had proved himself to have been the best horse Graeme Cochran had bred. From a family involved in breeding standardbreds since 1908, this Cochran was better known as an administrator of the industry having been chairman of the Australian Harness Racing Council following his years as president of the Victorian Trotting Control Board. He had been an active breeder for some 50 years and had known his share of success. If ‘Shaka’ could go on improving like he was, he could well become the horse all breeders dream about.

Returning to racing he had won all four starts against his own age at Moonee Valley. This took his record to 22 victories from 28 starts. Veteran horsemen were known to have nodded their approval at the way Justice had brought his young stallion to this point. Even when about to contest the Inter Dominion heats, the four-year-old had been given the briefest of let-ups and not raced for six weeks. In a carnival where New Zealand-breds had for months looked likely to dominate, here was Australia’s big hope. Luck was on his side for the opening heat, drawing well in barrier 3. It was far from being described as a weak heat, for it included Denver Gift, Grumpy Ole Man, Ablazin Star, All Our Fella NZ (barrier 2), Anvils Star NZ and Kingstar. This group alone had won more than 124 races between them.

In making his debut against the more mature performers, Shakamaker withstood a brief battle for the early lead from Mark Jones driving All Our Fella NZ. With a strong breeze at his back, the four-year-old slipped down the back straight in 28.7. It would be its last 400m into the wind that would separate this horse from the struggling rivals trying to give chase. "Being first up I was keen to dictate our own terms there tonight, but I can tell you we were really humming into that first turn," said an elated Justice after the win. "I didn’t have to knock him around, and he did it all by himself." Having had their colours lowered by Courage Under Fire NZ in their two 3YO clashes, Justice said how much he was now looking forward to racing the little champ with his much improved horse.

Courage Under Fire NZ, pre-post favourite for the Inter Dominion, was all the rage in betting on Heat 2. Both trainer Bruce Negus and reinsman Colin De Filippi had been in the game too long to know that no matter how good one might be, there will always come that day when things don’t fall into place as expected, and one must accept defeat. They had both spoken to the media about their date with destiny when that day came. Despite having drawn awkwardly on the inside of the second row, bookmakers obviously did not think the first loss would come tonight. When betting opened, Courage Under Fire NZ was well into red figures.

Only two other horses were in single figures – Troublesome Fella (John Justice) from the outside off the front, and Luke Of Earl (Kerryn Manning) from barrier 4. Ole Black Magic NZ was at 10/1, Whitecliff Whistler NZ (second line) at 25-1, and Kyema Kid (Darren Hancock) a 25/1 chance. It was a field the favourite should have had little to fear from.

If Kyema Kid never wins another race, it will be remembered for being the horse to win the race that ended the winning sequence of Courage Under Fire NZ. Darren Hancock admitted after the race that he would have been among the last on earth to have expected his horse capable of beating the Queensland owned four-year-old. But the further the field travelled in the race, the more his confidence began to grow. "With a lap to travel I looked across and watched Courage Under Fire NZ move up and slot into the death. He really had to be gassed up to get there. I thought, that’s good, I just might have a chance now of being in the finish. Turning for home and I could see the favourite having trouble getting past the leader."

Courage Under Fire NZ did take an age to head off OK Oskar NZ. The usual smart finishing burst though was simply not there, racing towards the line like a car displaying all the signs its petrol tank was drained. As Kyema Kid edged ahead of the favourite on the line, Darren Hancock did a surprisingly sporting act. Looking across at De Filippi, he said: "Sorry, mate." The Kiwi horseman was quick to congratulate the winning driver, adding: "Don’t worry, son. That’s racing." OK Oscar NZ had held on for third.

It was obvious to most that the colt unbeaten as a juvenile, was lacking hard racing taking on older opposition for the first time. In finishing second, it had narrowly failed to run-down the Sydney pacer. Driver Colin De Filippi after the loss said how the stable knew it had to happen one day. "But I thought it was more likely to have been in the Victoria Cup or the Inter Dominion Grand Final. This was a race he should not have been beaten in.

"Halfway round the final bend I knew something was up. He just did not feel his usual self, not responding when I pulled the blinds. That was the first time he had never responded. This may have been due to a combination of things, but mainly a lack of match-fitness. You just can’t beat races to have a horse at its peak. Perhaps the antibiotics also knocked him too, as these can really take the edge off a horse."

Few stables ever get to know the pressure associated with a classy horse remaining unbeaten with a rising tally of wins that grabs the attention of the media and the public. Now that it had happened to Courage Under Fire NZ with a record of 24 from 25, much of this pressure was now off Negus and De Filippi. It would surely be relief to now have a racehorse and not a protected species.

To rub salt into the wound, stewards suspended De Filippi for two weeks. "The incident looked a lot worse than it was," the Kiwi horseman said. "At the same time, Kerryn Manning grabbed hold of Luke Of Earl, John Justice pulled out from behind her, locking wheels with the horse outside him. That made it look like I had checked four horses instead of one."

With the Courage Under Fire NZ bubble having been burst, the media were quick to seek out the trainer of Christian Cullen NZ. What did he think of the surprise defeat, especially since three weeks earlier O’Meara was quoted as having said his horse would ‘kill’ Courage Under Fire NZ when they finally met. A subdued Brian O’Meara explained how he had watched the finish with a twinge of sadness at the loss. Then added how he had not at all been surprised. "I have been in the same sort of position, so I know how Bruce Negus will be feeling right now.

"I am not putting Courage Under Fire NZ down or doubting his ability, but the biggest problem is his manners. When you get into the top grade you can’t run along, having blinds pulled-up and running all over the place. If you look back at the great pacers of years gone by, none of them had that problem," said O’Meara. When asked how his own horse was going, the trainer was all smiles. "He is doing tremendously well. I can honestly say he feels the best he has ever been, and is working brilliantly."

Heat 3 on the night brought together the speedy Sorrento Star (barrier 3), Deeks Guy 3, Cee New York NZ 4 and Tailamade Lombo 5. On the second row the favourite Safe And Sound 9 and Country Duke 12. As had Shakamaker in the opening heat, stablemate Safe And Sound in his first start for five weeks, did the job in style, racing without cover for the entire trip to score a comfortable win.

Because of the double points given to starters in the A.G. Hunter Cup the previous week, horses from that race dominated the progress points after the second night of racing. The leading progressive points scorers to then were: 32 Yulestar NZ, 28 Happy Asset NZ, 25 Slug Of Jin USA, 22 Atitagain NZ, 20 Admirals Avenue NZ, 18 Breenys Fella NZ and Kyema Kid, 16 Under Cover Lover NZ, Shakamaker and Safe And Sound, 14 Christian Cullen NZ, 13 All Our Fella NZ, Courage Under Fire NZ and Captain Rufus NZ, 12 Colbruce, 11 Kingstar, Ok Oskar NZ and Sorrento Star, 10 Holmes D G NZ, 9 Another Party NZ, Our London Pride NZ and Send Me A Dream.

Not only would this be the race where the mighty Christian Cullen NZ would tangle for the first time with Courage Under Fire NZ, thrown in also for good measure were 10 exceptional pacers, including Shakamaker, Slug Of Jin USA, Yulestar NZ, Holmes D G NZ and Breenys Fella NZ.