Racing: Big race has a proud history

Opie Bosson brings home Sir Slick to win back-to-back Japan/New Zealand International Trophy titles in 2007. Photo / File

The 43rd edition of the Windsor Park Stud Japan NZ International Trophy, the longest running and highest profile race at the Tauranga racecourse, will run tomorrow over 1600 metres with a stake of $100,000 up for grabs.

Originally called the Japan/Bay of Plenty International, the autumn feature at the Gate Pa course has been won by some of the very best horses in the country since Spectre, ridden by Melbourne Cup winning jockey Ron Taylor, won the inaugural race in 1971.

The seed for the Japan/Bay of Plenty International was sown when Bay of Plenty Racing Club president Bob Silson first travelled to Japan in 1966. The major focus of the trip was to explore the possibilities of meat exports to Japan but a secondary mission was to investigate the computerised totalisator system. While the Japanese tote system never got off the ground in New Zealand, contact had been made between the two countries' racing fraternities.

Later discussions with the JRA (Japan Racing Association) resulted in the inaugural reciprocal race being run at Nakayama racecourse in Japan. The 2014 New Zealand Trophy race is to be run at the Nakayama racecourse on April 12, for the not inconsiderable stake of 52 million ($596,000).

The Bay of Plenty representation at the first Bay of Plenty/Japan race in Japan included Bob Silson and Bay of Plenty Racing Club committee member Bob Owens, who was mayor of both Tauranga and Mount Maunganui at the time.

A crowd of 50,000 flocked to the Nakayama course, with the betting on the inaugural reciprocal race equivalent to $1 million.

Tauranga owned and trained horses have enjoyed plenty of success in the Tauranga Group 2 feature race.

Local trainer Jim Pender has won the Japan Trophy four times, starting with Power Chief in 1992, who set a new race record beating high class miler Corndale and the Dave O'Sullivan trained Kiss.

Prime Minister Helen Clark looks through the race guide before the 2004 running of the Japan/New Zealand Trophy race at the Tauranga Racecourse.

The Pender stable also won the Japan International race with Ginga Dude, Cassabella Lane and Our Star Pupil.

"We were denied a chance to win a fifth when Ella Sierra, who we had primed to win the race, had the starting blanket buckled up at the front instead of the back. She left the barrier carrying the blanket and took no part in the race," Pender said.

"The horses seem to get a softer trip in the Japan Trophy than the likes of the Easter Handicap or the Thorndon mile, with a top line 1400-metres horse able to step up and win our Group 2 feature."

Another very good horse with local connections to win the trophy was top class miler Corndale, owned by the grand lady of Waikato and Bay of Plenty racing Ada Parnwell and husband Burt, who won the 1996 race.

The winners of the Japan/NZ Trophy over the years include Battle Eve, Shivaree, The Filbert, Mickeys Town and Power Chief, along with a myriad of other extremely talented horses. However, just two horses have won the prestigious silverware twice.

Kiwi Can, who triumphed in 1975 and 1977, was a bargain buy purchased by trainer Fred Beguely for a mere $500, as an unraced two year old. The six-year-old, ridden by Roger Lang, beat Gold Ducat and Grey Way, carrying the top weight of 59kg in 1975. Two years later, he did it all again in beating Vice Regal and Patronize, carrying what must have seem like a featherweight of 54kg.

In 2006 and 2007, people's champion Sir Slick won back-to-back Japan/NZ titles. He earned the people's champion tag because of his multiple success and his ability to withstand long racing campaigns. In addition to his two Japan Trophy victories, Sir Slick won six Group 1 races, over $2 million, and he also ran in Australia and Singapore. He was retired in 2012 after an unplaced run in the Awapunai Gold Cup, a race he won three times.