It was one of the greatest 3200m front running displays ever seen, and it wrote Kotare Chief into the annals of racing folklore in New Zealand

Almost forty years ago, a little old horse with a big heart and an engine the size of a Kenworth truck wrote himself into the racing history books with one of the greatest front-running displays ever witnessed in a feature race in New Zealand. The enduring popularity of this moment in racing serves as a testament to the exceptional qualities of the horse and the remarkable skill of its handlers in preparing him for such a prestigious Group One, two-mile event in New Zealand.

During an extensive racing career, the venerable KOTARE CHIEF accumulated 100 lifetime starts exactly, resulting in 11 victories in total. Prior to the 1987 Auckland Cup, the gelding had participated in 76 races and been ridden by more than 25 different jockeys. An old warhorse out of the sire EXCEPTIONAL by the broodmare KOTARE LASS, the veteran had covered a few miles on and off the track. He was bred by I.R Paterson & H. Ryan in 1978 and trained by Harold & Peter Ryan at Matamata but hadn't won in over a year or any of his past 15 starts.

A quick glimpse at Kotare Chief's record will show he ran 2nd to SECURED DEPOSIT in the 1985 Auckland Cup (who ran a Track Record time of 3:17.18), so the horse was an out-and-out two miler that could run well further then 2000m. He seemed to go around every few weeks in the Waikato region, venturing north to Ellerslie from time-to-time to contest staying events. When Jock Caddigan rode Kotare Chief in the Nathans Memorial - the lead up race to the Auckland Cup late in 1986 - commentator Keith Haub was heard to say, "Caddigan is almost out of the saddle trying to restrain Kotare Chief."  The gelding achieved a third-place finish in the 2200m event held on December 29th, just three days prior to the 1987 Cup. This performance served as a commendable warm-up act, demonstrating the horse's fitness edge and potential.

KOTARE CHIEF had also achieved 3rd place at Te Rapa in October and a 2nd at Pukekohe in November. Both of these races showcased his strong endurance capabilities. Nevertheless, he was paying $30 on New Year's Day, with few believing the eight-year-old had any chance at succeeding in the renowned race. A number of high class New Zealand gallopers had previously won the prestigious 3200m race, including, BEAU VITE (1940), CUDDLE, twice in (1935, 1936), KINDERGARTEN (1942), IL TEMPO (1969, 1970) and the mighty CASTLETOWN (1982), just to name a few. In the 1987 Cup there where a few decent stayers starting, including the favourite, THE FILBERT (G1), SOLVEIG (G1), BOUNTY HAWK (G1 Aus), ROYAL HEIGHTS (Oaks), DARIA'S FUN (G1) and EASTERN JOY (Easter Hcp). The crowd were ready as the the horse's loaded up for the main feature.

What they observed in the 1987 Auckland Cup was an audacious performance, potentially ranking as the most daring ride in a two-mile Australasian Group one race of the 20th century. As the field jumped on a hot sunny day in front of a big crowd at Ellerslie, Caddigan pushed KOTARE CHIEF forward and into 3rd on the corner, then took over the lead coming into the straight for the first time. As the field passed the winning post, the Chief was in a hurry, scooting through and running at a solid clip.

With a round to go Haub mentioned that Kotare Chief had quite significantly increased his efforts. The horse appeared to be moving at a rapid pace, with Jock seemingly unable to effectively restrain him with only 50.5kg on his back. By the time they reached the back straight, Kotare Chief already had at least 8-10 lengths on the rest of the field; who didn't seem in too much of a hurry to chase the old horse. By the 1200m mark the veteran had extended that margin to 12-15 lengths and Caddigan never seemed to have had any opportunity to steady the gelding. Kotare Chief had decided that today he was going to run like the wind and no individual was going to rein him in.

By this stage the crowd at Ellerslie were humming; that typical, surprised buzz that pulsates through a crowd with laughter and tension as the little horse continued to push on. By the 800m mark Kotare Chief had stretched the lead to an incredible 25 lengths. A stunned Keith Haub was heard to remark,

"this is the biggest lead I think I've ever seen in a Cup!!!"

On the turn and approaching the 600m mark Kotare Chief appeared well spent, however the lead was still significant. Jock flicked up the reins, dug in his heels and started to get busy on the back of the horse - he responded well for a horse that had galloped full on for almost a mile and a half. At the 400m point Jock gave the stayer a clip with the whip and remembers the horse being quite startled and beginning to wobble. Haub made the great statement, "he could almost lie down and have a sleep," in reference to the big lead of 15 lengths Kotare Chief still maintained - but by this stage the rest of the field were gathering up speed and biting into the horses' lead.

The crowd begun to roar, and even those that hadn't backed Kotare Chief were baracking for the underdog. Many thought this was it - Kotare would stop dead in his tracks and run last. But Caddigan leapt up and down enthusing the horse to continue running hard, and somehow he just kept those legs pumping over the final 200m. Kotare Chief almost fell in over the line to win by a few lengths and duly stopped just 20m or so after the post, completely gassed. He was knackered beyond belief, but got there, and in a new track record time of 3:16.63. Incredulously, the horse ran the first half just as quick as the second half of the race, in 1:58. Kotare Chief's average 200m time was 12.289 sec. TWELVE GAUGE chased gallantly for 2nd and THREESOME came in 3rd.

For those few that had backed the horse at big odds the feeling was pure ectasy, with whooping and hollering around the grandstands. For the majority who hadn't, it was a case of not believing what they had just witnessed. The crowd erupted as he crossed the line, but in the course bar afterwards the chatter was insatiable. Victorious individuals offered rounds of beer to their fellow mates while sharing hearty laughter over the astonishing events that transpired during the preceding three minutes at Ellerslie.

There was talk of special berries down on the farm, but was this just one of those unique moments in sport where the underdog prevails at long odds, defying what anyone thinks or believes. Or was it just a matter of circumstance. The horse was in peak physical condition and at the height of his powers despite his age. The Nathan’s run effectively enhanced the horse's overall strength and provided the competitive advantage at his optimal distance. The oppositions failure to adequately respond to the tearaway tactics were contributing factors to the result. The exceptional performance of the Kotare Chief resulted in an extraordinary and memorable event in the annals of New Zealand racing history.

But there is one more twist to this story. Kotare Chief returned a positive test to hordinine and everyone said "no surprise.” But when eight other horses returned the same positive the same week, it was soon discovered a feed merchant had included willow branches and leaves in commercial feed supplied to stables. Willow is the source of hordinine, which is not considered illegal when ingested, but is illegal when administered by other means. He would run dead last in the Wellington Cup and 13th in the 1988 Auckland Cup. His final run would come at Ellerslie in April 1989, finishing second last in his 100th competitive race.

Notably, 10 months after his cup win, as a nine-year-old, KOTARE CHIEF won at Te Rapa fresh up over 1600m, running 1:34.25. Two months later in the Nathans Memorial Handicap on December 29th at Ellerslie he won again carrying the topweight and breaking the Track Record for 2100m - 2:07.04. Maybe it wasn't such a fluke after all. Maybe he was just a unique horse that just loved to get out there and run hard. Interestingly, a leader has not won the Auckland Cup since Kotare Chief scored his dramatic clear-in-front-throughout victory in 1987.

RACE RECORD - 100: 11-8-8

EARNINGS - $315,260

1987 Auckland Cup

1987 Nathans Memorial