‘Local’ idol claims inaugural NSW Inter Dominion

AS THE countdown to Saturday night’s TAB Inter Dominion continues, we travel back in time to relive past editions of the Championships hosted by Club Menangle.

AVIAN DERBY was an appropriate winner of the first Inter Dominion staged in Sydney in 1952.

Although trained in Victoria, the star pacer was bred and registered in New South Wales and spent much of his life there.

In fact, Avian Derby’s roots trace back to the immortal NSW sire Globe Derby and was even a descendant of the international star, Childe Harold, after whom Harold Park was named.

For its first Inter Dominion carnival, the NSW Harness Trotting Club, as it was then known, distributed 30,300 pounds over four nights, with a 10,000 pound Final accompanied by a 3000 pound gold cup.

Three rounds of heats were conducted with the first round held over 11-and-three-quarter furlongs, second round was over 15-and-a-half furlongs, while night three was over 13 furlongs.

The Final was over 13 furlongs with a maximum backmark of 36 yards for nights one and two, however, it was extended to 48yards for night three and the Final.

NIGHT ONE

Avian Derby gave a big indication of what was to come on night one, when he set a record mile of 2:07.6 in winning off his 24-yard handicap.

His time for the mile-and-a-quarter (2:39.6) was much faster than the other heat winners, Dawn Volo (2:42.6) and Recovered (2:43.2).

NIGHT TWO

The son of Lawn Derby broke his first night record with stand-in reinsman Dave ‘Darkie’ Wilson wanting to make a point to stewards after his horse was the only one swabbed on opening night.

Beginning swiftly off his 24-yard mark, Wilson worked his way around the field within the first lap and was content to sit outside the leader, New Zealand raider Ada Scott.

Sitting quietly until the Ledger, Avian Derby then raced away from his rivals to score by two lengths and stopped the clock in 2:07.2!

Floodlight ran his second consecutive placing to him, while Recovered, also a back-to-back heat winner, gave locals some hope of claiming their first win in an Inter Dominion Final since Springfield Globe won in Tasmania in 1939.

Indian Game, a half-brother to the previous year’s Inter Dominion Trotting champion, Gay Belwin, secured the other heat.

NIGHT THREE

A bombshell hit the series when connections of Avian Derby, by now the raging hot series favourite, scratched him from the final round of heats because of colic.

He had already amassed the necessary 14 points to make the Final but the conditions of the series stated that unless permitted by stewards, all runners had to start in three heats to be eligible for the decider.

Trainer and regular driver Sylvester Bray, who was suspended just prior to the series, produced a vet certificate proving the seven-year-old was not fit to take his place on night three.

Chief steward Bert Creagh had the stallion, which was stabled at Canterbury in Sydney’s southwest and only a short distance to Harold Park, inspected by two independent vets who supported the connections’ claims.

Perc Hall’s local Pick On, the brilliant South Australian Minor Derby and Jack Hope won on the third night.

Jack Hope was a son of the famous Great Hope, which won the 1925 Australasian Championship, which was to become the Inter Dominion just 11 years later in its reincarnation.

FINAL

Avian Derby, which still topped the point-score despite contesting just two heats, started a 6/4-on favourite off his 24-yard mark.

A crowd of 38,090 made their way through Harold Park’s turnstiles and saw the ‘hot shot’ experience trouble from the outset, on top of seeing him positioned in seventh spot on the fence with a lap remaining.

Along the back straight, Avian Derby’s sulky jumped the shaft of Floodlight’s gig and for approximately 50 yards, the former’s was travelling on one wheel!

Disengaging with minimal damage, Wilson was still severely in trouble on the rails as Tasmanian mare Dawn Volo led the field before being passed by Recovered.

Minor Derby, which was wide, broke at this point with the field scattering in order to avoid a collision, presenting Wilson the opportunity he needed to find an opening.

Taking advantage, Avian Derby was speared through gaps in the field to be third on the turn, and despite racing strongly into the final stretch, Recovered had no match for Avian Derby, which beat him by a length.

So quickly did he finish that Wilson had time to look over his shoulder to examine the beaten brigade!

Floodlight was third just ahead of Jack Hope.

The winning time of 3:26.2 represented a record-equalling mile rate of 2:07.2.