Jazz King would be a sentimental winner in this Friday's Anniversary Cup at Bendigo.
It would be fitting if Jazz King is crowned the winner of Friday night’s Tradelink Anniversary Cup at Bendigo’s Lord’s Raceway.
Jazz King was the last horse trained by Bendigo stalwart, the late Ron Pocock, who passed away aged 84 last year.
Pocock, the 2005 Gordon Rothacker Medallist, provided exemplary service to the harness racing industry for more than 60 years and flew the Bendigo flag prominently in many big races throughout his career.
Pocock’s daughters Kerry Winzar and Lynne Pocock bred Jazz King and they are delighted with the geldings recent run of near excellent form leading into the Cup and Kerry and her husband, form Club president Bruce Winzar will be at Lord’s Raceway to cheer on the sentimental favourite Jazz King.
"Dad trained Jazz King right up until illness prevented him from continuing and he sold the horse to Maurie Fleming at Swan Hill, Jazz King was dad’s last horse, so the horse is special," Kerry said.
Kerry still has Jazz King’s mother Jazz Opera, whose progeny also includes locally owned Real Bonus, and the family will continue to breed her.
Jazz King has won five of his six starts this season for Lara trainer Shaun Kittel including a $25,000 Vicbred Platinum M0 pace at Melton last month.
The six-year-old gelding’s winning streak came to an end on 1 November at Melton when he was trapped three wide in the M1 – M2 pace won by Wartime Sweetheart.
In the Anniversary Cup he comes up against some pretty stiff opposition in the eight horse field including Magical Telf (Dean Braun/Chris Alford) and Kerry Manning’s honest Jaccka Luke.
There will be plenty of local veterans at Lord’s Raceway for this meeting.
Former Bendigo trainer and driver Ted Zimmer who drove a winner, Golden Spring on opening night.
Zimmer won’t be driving at the 59th anniversary race meeting, those days are well behind him and now he is a regular in the Race View grandstand to drive home the horse’s his wife Jean has backed.
Zimmer who will be a guest of the Committee along with his long time friend and another first night driver Des Rothacker.
Zimmer can clearly recall the huge crowd of 14,000 at the very first meeting.
"They came from everywhere, there were traffic jams from Bendigo to Junortoun with cars streaming along McIvor Road bumper to bumper from Bendigo to Junortoun," Ted said.
Zimmer will also have a close interest in the Aldebaran Park National Monte Championship heat with his daughter Maree Campbell riding the very smart saddle trotter Andys Favourite in this race.
The Club has invited Zimmer and Rothacker to be part of the presentation for the Travelcentre Bendigo Veteran Drivers Trot which has brought together a fantastic field of champion drivers.(see driver biographies below)
Local reinsman, Keith Pratt will defend the inaugural title after winning the race last year for trainer Peter Manning on Earl Harbor. Pratt will partner the Brian Kiesey trained Candy Digger in this edition.
The first race will be raced at 5.33pm with racegoers having a chance to win a Singapore Holiday for two in the ‘Take A Trifecta Competition’ on track.
The Club will also support the Australian Red Cross Typhoon Haiyan Appeal collecting public donations and donating $1 from every racebook sold to the appeal.
Activities on track include a live band and family entertainment including a jumping castle and face painting for the children.
Travelcentre Bendigo Veteran Driver’s Challenge Trot Drivers:
Ron Gilligan
Based at Moama,after moving from Gisborne. Family involvement with son Shane training top filly Lady Belladonna, and grandson Tom having success as a concession driver.
Ron obtained his license in 1956. He was a shearer and worked part-time for Graeme Lang when he wasn’t shearing. Some of his horses were Roma’s Son, Fersfield and Impulsive Boy.
Russell Thompson
Former Kiwi, based at Tatura. Russell trained and drove Banana Spring in 1971 to wins in the Central Victorian Championship and HR Boyd Cranbourne Cup. Holy Smoke was a star of the stable in 1987-88 when it won the Victorian Sires Stake and Nyah Cup.
Trotting relatives Son Of Flair and A Touch of Flair won Victoria Trotting Derbies, while Mighty Maori won the rich Vicbred 4yo Trot.
Jim O’Sullivan
Leading Australian trainer 1978 and 79. Trained and drove standouts including Margaret Shannon, Quite Famous and It’s Motor Power. A dual Interdominion winning driver winning the 1987 Inter Dominion Pacers Final with My Lightning Blue and the 1989 trotting final with Yankee Loch. Trains locally at Maiden Gully. Last Australian to train a New Zealand Cup winner.
Brian Gath
A member of the famous Gath dynasty drove his first winner at the Royal Melbourne Show in 1960. Has trained and driven multiple champions from Corop McEwen, to Rocknrolla. Won the 1978 Inter Dominion Pacers Final with Markovina and finished second with Franco Tiger (1992-2nd) and Shakamaker (2002-2nd). Has driven at the Meadowlands in the U.S.A.
Cliff Powell
Trains at Elmore. First winning drive at Bendigo was Convive. Cliff trained and drove Derby Royale to victory in the 1978 Interdominion Trotter’s final in Melbourne. Has trained and driven top notchers Our Grattan, Modern Man, Belgian Accent (Shepparton Cup) Bendigo Cup winner Taronga, and Paula Morley (Echuca Cup).
Glen Williams
Trainer and drove initially with father Les, at Digger’s Rest and Woodvale. Then Sebastian and Bacchus Marsh. Drove Truscott Boy early in its career, and won two VL Dullard Cups on top trotter Bundanoon Prince. Recent winners include trotter Kadabra Dynasty.
Keith Pratt
Last year’s Legends Drivers race winning driver. Keith’s father Cyril was the original Lord’s Raceway track curator. Keith, an HRV distinguished service award recipient, was long time Clerk of Course at
Lords Raceway. He drove his first winner at Echuca in 1966. Still trains and drives a team from his property, less than 2 Km from the track.He rates Crystal Sunset, Pannoo Lass, Torvanger and Arrogant Al among his best horses.
Ian (Dick) Lee
Multiple Derby winning trainer/driver, who spent time in Wales at Prestatyn Raceway in the 1970’s. Top horses include 4 times pacing Derby winner Rufus Youngblood, Bendigo Cup winner Rhodonite, Dullard Cup winning trotters Glenfield Girl and Game Ebony, and Hamden’s Pride. Trains at Weering in the Western District.
Greg Caldwell
Greg is a 3rd generation horseman from Kyabram. His grand-father Vic had good horses in the early Showground days including Ronnie Range and Basil’s Della. Greg’s father Arthur had Wakeful Lass, Generene and Raider Hanover. Greg has trained and driven Don’t Tell Lobell, Honeymoon Is Over and currently Catchtheeye. Their Caldwell race colours have been the same for 3 generations.
Julian Jobe
Trains at Warrenheip (Ballarat) but originally from Heywood. Associated with father Claude with Oaks and Shepparton Gold Cup winner Tail Light and her progeny Smooth Light, Popular Light and Jazz Band. More recently had Queen of the Pacific and Qbred Triad winner Artificial ($200,000+ in stakes).
Graeme Lang
Started as a teenager in the 1950’s at Watchem in the Mallee. Dairy farmed near Warragul, while training and driving, before moving to Romsey and then Melton. Leading Australian driver in 1979. Father of leading trainer/drivers Gavin and Chris, grandfather of Chris Jnr.
Trained and drove Interdominion standouts Billboard (1980-4th), Scotch Notch (1983-1st, 1984-2nd, 1985-1st), Dark Edge (1992-8th), Wagon Apollo (1996-3rd, 1997-2nd), Desperate Comment NZ (1997-5th). Sent Champion Scotch Notch to the US in 1986 after she recorded 1.56.6.
Neville Welsh
The 2012 Gordon Rothacker Medalist has driven winners in every decade since the 1950s. Began his career driving track work at a very young age for father Lew Welsh, first at Beaufort, then Sydenham, and had first win on Sea Witch at Horsham aged sixteen. Career highlights include the 1971 AG Hunter Cup on Son of Nancy and the 1974 National Drivers Invitation at the Melbourne Showgrounds on Truant Armagh. Most notable however were his record breaking premierships in 1970/71 and 1971/72 where he drove 81 and 84 winners for the season respectively.
