With an epic TAB Trot just days away in Cambridge, it seems perfect timing to start the debate over the best 10 trotters Australasia has seen since 2000.
Surprisingly, there wasn’t too much angst when I unveiled my top 10 pacers since 2000 a few weeks back.
But I’m sure opinions will vary, especially through the middle of the order and around those I’ve left out – there are certainly some big names.
And remember, this is a list since 2000. So, it’s based on what the trotters did from 2000 onwards.
The easiest part is number one … Lyell Creek wins by a panel.
Maori’s Idol aside, he’s the greatest trotter we’ve ever seen in this part of the world.
Here’s my top 10, but I’ll openly admit there’s an element of “my personal favourites” factored into this list.
1. LYELL CREEK (pictured above): “Creek the Freak” as he was known, was indeed a freak. 56 wins, almost $1 million more prize money than any other Down Under trotter and wins (often multiple times) in every big race that mattered. And that doesn’t include his fantastic deeds in North America. As great and dominant a horse as I’ve seen – pacer or trotter – in my 35 years covering the sport.
2. JUST BELIEVE (pictured): The champion of the moment. Putting him second on what he’s done Down Under is too high, but when you include those last two runs of his in Sweden last June, he deserves such a top billing. Those runs were monstrous and against seriously world-class rivals. Locally, it’s worth remembering he has raced 28 times since joining Jess Tubbs’ stable for 20 wins, seven seconds and a third. That includes two Inter Dominions and a Great Southern Star.
3. TAKE A MOMENT: Literally took the baton for the Tim Butt stable and as Australasia’s best trotter from Lyell Creek when he went to Sweden then the US. Raced in a great era of depth, won 39 races, including an Inter Dominion. Brilliant, strong and a champion in his prime.
4. SUNDONS GIFT (pictured): So many similarities to Just Believe. This guy was good, very good in fact, before he went to Sweden for the Elitlopp (where he wasn’t suited), but returned a much better horse for the trip and experience. He was nigh on unbeaten for a year when he came home, including adding a second Inter Dominion crown. All that while battling a (much) less than perfect gait.
5. LA COOCARACHA: There’s a bit of “sheer talent” factor about putting this mare so high. But she’s one of the biggest “what if” stories in Down Under harness racing for the past 30 years. Won 23 of her 36 starts and cruelly cut down on the verge of greatness by injury. Broke down while she blitzed a hot field to win 2002 Rowe Cup in Auckland. Until Tornado Valley came along, the only horse Andy Gath trained he dared to call a champion.
6. I CAN DOOSIT: Mighty Kiwi trotter who raced eight times in Australia for six wins, including a clean sweep of the 2012 Melbourne Inter Dominion. Raced just 55 times for 36 wins and banked almost $1.4 million, putting him second-only to Lyell Creek on the rich list. Probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves, especially in Australia.
7. TORNADO VALLEY (pictured): A real working class hero. Didn’t have the sheer talent of many on this list, but boy did he make up for it with those remarkable fighting qualities of his. The critics will say he won so many of his races with his sparkling gate speed, but that’s a weapon in itself. Deservedly topped $1 million, but his (extreme) dislike for travel meant he didn’t get the chance to shine away from Victoria.
8. STIG: Lyell Creek aside, he’s the most remarkable trotter on the list. Had no idea how to trot for so long and then along came genius trotter trainer Paul Nairn. Together they achieved so many great things. Watching this guy in full slight was simply glorious through his 23 wins and almost $850,000 in earnings. Only came to Australia once and we never saw anything like the best of him in that five-race campaign.
9. SUNDEES SON (pictured): Always reminded me of Stig in that once he clicked, he was an absolute beast. In his absolute prime he would have beaten most pacers. Go back and look at those mesmerizing wins in the 2021 and ’22 Dominion Trots at Addington. They were breathtaking. Masterfully nursed through so many injury issues by the Dunn clan. Sadly never raced in Australia.
10. ONE OVER KENNY: There’s no way I could leave her out. One of my absolute favourites. She won 32 of her 66 starts and over $1.06 million. I loved (and really rated) the fact she made so many trips (four of them across four years) across to Australia for our biggest races. She won an Australasian Trotters’ Championship at Moonee Valley and ran second in the Inter Dominion final at the same track in 2009 when past her very best.
OTHER NOTABLES: Sumthingaboutmaori, Delft, Speeding Spur, Stent, Keystone Del, Vulcan. Monbet, A Touch Of Flair and Dance Craze
