A terrible tragedy in the 1939 New Zealand Trotting Cup might not have much to do with the 2016 New Zealand Amateur Driving Championships, but for double heat winner, John McDermott, the race has always meant everything to him.
“It means even more now,” Canterbury’s McDermott said after winning both of the opening heats at Cambridge Raceway on Friday.
The 66-year-old Canterbury horseman said his grandfather Eugene (McDermott) was the man that inspired him to be a driver. He said everything he now did in the sulky was a personal dedication to him.
McDermott (Eugene) was driving Colonel Grattan in the 39 Cup and they were several lengths ahead of the field and looked to have the race parcelled up when McDermott had a heart attack and died.
“It might have been 77 years ago but it’s a race that is stuck in time and one our family will never forget. He was just 54 and his passing and his horsemanship was the catalyst that led to my love of harness racing,” McDermott said.
McDermott Senior was a better than average reinsman who won numerous big races including the 1934 New Zealand Cup from 12 yards behind the three-time New Zealand Cup winner, Indianapolis.
His grandson hasn’t reached those dizzy heights but achieved his own personal career highlight in the sulky when winning the first two of the four New Zealand Amateur heats.
“It was a wonderful feeling. I don’t think I’ve had a bigger smile since my wedding day, and that was a very long time ago.
“Things just went my way tonight. Sometimes nothing can go your way and other nights everything just pans out like you want it to. I couldn’t have asked for a better result tonight. A truly wonderful feeling,” McDermott said.
McDermott, who is a long-time New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club board member, drove the Paul Springall trained Sheza Springfield to win $6,000 The Dexion heat for the C1 to C3 pacers (and claimers) by a neck from Shards Phoenix and Sue Blake. Sheryl Wigg and Our Southern Man were a neck back in third.
McDermott settled the Attorney General mare in the one-one and then powered down the outside in the straight to notch up the 4-year-old’s second win in 25 starts. She was the $7.40 fourth favourite.
That was McDermott’s fifth career win since obtaining his advanced amateur licence in 2009.
Career win number six came less than an hour later when he drove the Andrew Stuart trained Shantahlia Knight to win the second heat by a length from Vibe and Richard Sissons. Chequeme Rosie and Wigg were three quarters of a length back in third.
This time McDermott took the $15.30 sixth favourite to the lead after 500m. They then hung on to hold out the fast finishing favourite Vibe.
“I didn’t know much about either horse but Robbie Close did tell me at the Rangiora Workouts on Wednesday that Shantahlia Knight was the sort of horse that liked to bowl along once in front.
“I thought at the time, gee that’s not going to be easy from four on the second line, but I managed to get a run through early and then found myself in front turning for home the first time. Young Robbie was spot on with what he said,” McDermott said.
McDermott’s last driving success prior to tonight’s double came via the Greg and Nina Hope trained Earthbound at Rangiora on April 17. He’s also trained 35 winners as a trainer.
“It’s been a very special week really. I trained She’sa Tricky Bridge to win at a premier meeting at Addington last Saturday. That was a huge thrill, and now this has just capped it off.
“I think I will retire from driving at Cambridge now. Two starts for two wins will do me just fine,” McDermott joked.
Going into the final two heats at Rangiora on Sunday week, McDermott leads the Championship from Sheryl Wigg.
It is the second time McDermott has competed in the New Zealand Amateur Driving Championship after finishing third in a heat, when unplaced overall last year.
Points:
John McDermott | 26 |
Sheryl Wigg | 20 |
Richard Sissons | 18 |
Sue Blake | 16 |
Jeff Darby | 16 |
Gavin Cook | 15 |
John Kriechbaumer | 15 |
Tremain Thorby | 11 |
Tim Vince | 10 |
Gerry Cronin | 9 |
Miranda Hallett | 7 |
Alan Edge | 7 |
Duane Ranger