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Maori’s Idol, foaled in 1972 by Ike Frost (USA) from the Grand Monarch mare Maori Miss (Tr2:10.6), was bred and owned by Ric Healy of Marnoo, north of Stawell, and driven throughout his career by his son Bryan.
During his career Maori's Idol had 46 race starts for 40 wins (eight against pacers) and four placings for a record trotting earnings of $98,821.
He won 16 of his 18 starts at Moonee Valley.
Maori's Idol held Australian records at six different distances from standing starts and two for mobile starts. He holds the Australian and New Zealand record for successive winning sequence for a trotter of 24 victories.
Maori’s Idol was the first trotter in the Southern Hemisphere to break the two-minute mile barrier in a race, clocking 1:59.3 at Mooney Valley in 1977.
He was the only trotter ever voted Australian Harness Horse of the Year.
In retirement from the track with a record of 40 wins and four places from 46 starts, he became a leading sire of trotters that won almost $4 million in stakes.
Maori's Idol died in 2006, aged 34, and is buried near the admission gates at the Bendigo Harness Racing Club’s Lord’s Raceway.
Maori’s Idol race record
1975/76 season
He won his first race start at Adelaide's Globe Derby Park in 1975 after being tailed off in running. He started once again for a win at Kilmore, Victoria.
1976/77 season
Maori's Idol won his first nine race starts before defeat from a 60-metre handicap at Bendigo against pacers. On 9 July 1977 he won his first race at Moonee Valley. During this season, he had 13 race starts for 11 wins.
1977/78 season
Maori's Idol won at Moonee Valley from a 60-metre handicap. On November 19 he became the first trotter in Australia to break two minutes when he won the Summer Wine FFA in 1:59.3.
In Adelaide, Maori's Idol won three more races during the Australian Pacing Championship carnival. He won the Hamilton Pacing Cup by 60 metres. Maori's Idol had won a record 24 successive races and all of his 12 starts at Moonee Valley before finishing third in the 1978 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship final.
In Brisbane Maori's Idol won two heats of the Sir Clive Uhr Championship against pacers including a win over Paleface Adios. In the final he finished second to Rip Van Winkle. He was selected at Australian Horse of the Year.
1978/79 season:
Maori's Idol won four of his first five starts, his only loss against pacers in the Kilmore Cup. He was then badly injured and didn't finish in a race at Moonee Valley on 9 December 1978.
1981/82 season:
After a long spell, Maori's Idol made his final start defeating New Zealand trotter Cal Brydon despite conceding a handicap of up to 40 metres to his rivals.
Watch: Remembering the Marnoo Marvel
