The New Zealand Derby – 100 Years Ago

[Wandering Eyes]

Ahead of Friday’s huge race night at Addington that features five Group 1s, including the Garrards NZ Pacing Derby, we look back at the Derby exactly 100 years ago.

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk  

A century ago there wasn’t just one Derby – there were two.

The first one was at New Brighton in March, the second at Addington in November.

Kohara’s win was the last at New Brighton before the shift in date and venue with Native Chief (pictured above) being the first at the “new” venue.

Kohara’s Derby was robbed of some interest when arch rival Glenelg opted to race in the New Brighton Handicap.

Their rivalry then has shades of Marketplace vs Got The Chocolates now.

Glenelg had beaten Kohara twice already in the same season and according to newspaper reports another match up would have been “of great interest”

Kohara went on to win the Derby (1.5 miles,2400m approx.) in 3:24.8 while Native Chief’s winning time was 3:23.8. The race record was set by Taurekareka a year earlier in 3:22.

To provide context last year’s winning time by We Walk By Faith over the longer distance of 2600 metres was 3:10.9. 

Trained by Jack Kennerley, Native Chief was known as an “erratic” pacer.

He had a habit of getting very worked up in his races. Apparently that stemmed from an episode when he broke away from his Winton breeder James Duffy when he was being educated.

But there was no doubting his ability. He was regarded as Logan Pointer’s fastest son.

In the Derby he was on his best manners and from all accounts won “without being extended”.
 
Kohara won 11 races between 1924 and 1933 including the 1927 New Zealand Cup while Native Chief won nine between 1925 and 1937. Native Chief was just the second 4YO to start in the NZ Cup won by Ahuriri (for the second time) in 1926, finishing fifth.

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