The New Zealand Cup – 40 years ago

[Wandering Eyes]

It’s 40 days until the running of the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway so why not look back at the winner of the great race 40 years ago.

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  

In 1984 Camelot was harness racing’s king of the castle.

Trained and driven by Robin Butt, Camelot won his first New Zealand Trotting Cup at his second attempt, just 12 months after finishing second to Australian visitor Steel Jaw who’d won the 1983 Cup by over nine lengths in a new race record 4:05.3

In all he had four attempts at winning the country’s most prestigious race – he was also sixth in 1985 and 14th in 1986.

In 1984 Camelot went out favourite in a race that also featured the likes of Our Mana, Hilarious Guest, Australian star Gammalite and the rank outsider in Borana, who would go on and win the Cup the following year at huge odds.  

Camelot’s breakthrough New Zealand Cup success came after an action packed race.

With less than 1000 metres to go Borana spectacularly hit the deck. What followed was a concertina effect of six other horses (Double Cove, Enterprise, Supreme Ruler, Stampede, Stortford Lodge and Diamond Moose) all being impacted, to a greater or lesser extent.

Peter Shand (Enterprise) and Jack Smolenski (Double Cove) both needed hospital treatment, with Shand dislocating a shoulder and Smolenski breaking an ankle.

All the time Camelot was making his move three wide and missed the melee.

Turning for home Camelot was perfectly placed, wearing down the pace-making Dillion Dale in the last 100 metres to triumph by three quarters of a length in  4:06.4.

“I was never really worried,” said Butt post race, “He was a bit slow early but I gave him time to find his feet.”

“He peaked on the right day.”

Robin Butt was 41 when he won his first and only New Zealand Cup. The family continues to be a big presence in the sport through son David and grandson Bob Butt. Since Robin Butt’s success his nephew Anthony Butt has won the Cup three times with Blossom Lady (1992) and Flashing Red (2006 and 2007). 

It was just the third time Camelot’s breeder-owner Dr Harry Crofts had seen Camelot race in the flesh.

At the presentation he said “I would have cried if he’d lost .. I can cry now that he’s won.”

For the then 57-year-old doctor it was a lifetime ambition fulfilled.

He’d been involved in the industry since the 1950s and bred Camelot from Blue Brook, a mare he purchased in 1971. He was by far her most successful progeny, winning 13 times in 72 starts from 1982 to 1987.

Camelot was the first cup winner from the Norice family. A top mare, she ran second in the 1904 NZ Cup.

Camelot’s NZ Cup record : 

1st – 1984
2nd – 1983
6th – 1985
14th – 1986

Camelot’s career record 1982-87

Starts : 72
Wins 13
Stakes : $189,450

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