The AJC Derby winner was on the verge of becoming one of the greatest ever NZ stayers, until tragedy struck

When Fred Jones, and his 20-year-old jockey, Maurice McCarten travelled to Sydney with a group of horses in 1923, few could have imagined the impact the unassuming New Zealanders would have on racing that season. They had sailed with four horses entered in the AJC Spring meeting, and by the end of the campaign, one would prove to be a staying champion. The horses in question were Urgency, a rising 5-year-old bay gelding together with his three-year-old younger half-sister, Zaragoza; Murihaupo and Ballymena. His sire, Nassau was foaled in England in 1910 and was the winner of 6 races, reputedly the most expensive thoroughbred sire ever imported into New Zealand at the time. Medley, (Varco) the dam of Ballymena, foaled in 1911, was a member of the remarkable Mermaid family. During the shipment of the broodmare Mermaid to the Dominion in 1862, the voyage proved extremely challenging. The horses experienced significant debilitation, prompting serious consideration of their disposal by casting them overboard. Indeed, Walker lost hope in ever successfully landing them and subsequently sold them to a fellow passenger from Canterbury.

Ballymena, a brown bay horse, exhibited robust and sturdy hocks, along with a tranquil temperament, characteristics essential for an endurance horse. In six race starts in New Zealand as a 2yo (all over 1000m), Ballymena had only managed to win once, the Nursery Handicap at the Avondale Spring Meeting in the hands of Maurice McCarten. Despite three respectable finishes, the trainer and jockey firmly believed the horse would perform significantly better over more ground. In August 1923 the team would have their first hitout at a wet Canterbury Park. Zaragoza won the maiden, Urgency led all the way in the handicap, and Ballymena demonstrated overwhelming dominance in the second division of the high-weight category, resulting in a significant lead over his competitors during the final stages of the race. With much of the winning profits, Fred Jones laid some large wagers on Ballymena to win the AJC Derby.

In September Ballymena ran a close third over a mile in a three-year-old handicap won by Shrapnel. Ballymena was then beaten a length at Hawkesbury by the 12/1 outsider Polycletan. The failure didn't dent Jones' faith in the horse as he had gone easy on Ballymena since his Randwick failure a fortnight before and the gelding needed the hit-out. The approach was carefully considered, and Ballymena's recent performance at Hawkesbury had alienated many of his previous supporters. Consequently, he was the least favored among all the Derby contenders, with odds of 33/1.

Ballymena was travelling so well at the half-mile mark that McCarten had convinced himself that victory was assured, although rounding the turn the gelding lost ground due to other horses sprinting away. Although the New Zealand gelding began to shift out through fatigue, there was a spirited fight over that last furlong and on the line he had a half-length to spare over Shrapnel with the pacemaker, King Carnival, third. The time of 2 minutes 33½ seconds, equalled Gloaming’s time in 1918 and had only twice been bettered in the race. Ballymena’s victory was a triumph for his owner and breeder, Henry Knight who had bred his dam, Medley.

Back home in New Zealand, Ballymena led all the way in the Canterbury Cup (3600m) but failed in the Auckland Cup over (3200m) on Boxing Day. Back to his own age group in the ARC Great Northern Derby on New Year’s Day 1924, Ballymena won easily from the brilliant filly Razzle Dazzle and Tarleton. From fifteen starts as a three-year-old, Ballymena had won nine races. After a spell, Ballymena then reeled off five victories to complete his three-year-old season. After a brief winter spell, Fred Jones and Ballymena returned to Sydney in July 1924, again aboard the Ulimaroa. Although Ballymena was engaged in the rich weight-for-age events at the AJC Spring Meeting, his real mission was the Melbourne Cup. Nevertheless, this journey would present significantly greater obstacles, resulting in both controversy and misfortune.

The failure of one of these journeyed horses, Royal Despatch would see Fred Jones and Maurice McCarten found guilty of improper practices by AJC stewards and both disqualified for twelve months. The stewards decision triggered a huge controversy on both sides of the Tasman, particularly given that Jones was training for some of the most distinguished sportsmen in New Zealand. In the last week of August Jones’s entire team was transferred to the Cowper St stables of fellow Kiwi trainer, George Price. Ballymena made his reappearance in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on September 13 and was just beaten for the minor placings, having made much of the pace in the race, won by Heroic in Australasian record time. A week later Ballymena equalled the course record to beat Gloaming and The Hawk to win the Hill Stakes. In doing so, Ballymena was one of only two horses to beat Gloaming in his last, and arguably, greatest season on the Turf. Heroic was the other. Ballymena would then run second and third respectively behind Gloaming in the Spring Stakes and the Craven Plate at WFA.

Ballymena then took on the AJC Randwick Plate in a four-horse field where his only serious rival was David. Just before the three furlong mark, when a length-and-a-half clear of David and being hailed the winner, Ballymena suddenly staggered, then struggled along a few yards more before being pulled up. Jockey Con Reed quickly dismounted to be confronted by a horse with a fractured near fore fetlock, the bone coming right through and Ballymena’s hoof hanging by the skin.

The disheartening scene quickly silenced the crowd who were roaring into life at the time. Nothing could be done to save him. The Derby champion's life was abruptly terminated by a bullet. At the time, Ballymena was on the verge of becoming one of the greatest stayers ever foaled in New Zealand. Fred Jones was heartbroken and Maurice McCarten who would go on to prove a champion jockey in Australia claimed Ballymena was the best stayers he ever rode. Henry Knight could not believe his luck, thinking he would never again strike a horse with so much ability. However, Medley’s fifth foal, a little brown colt by Limond would be awaiting both Fred Jones and Maurice McCarten to resuscitate their reputations. His name - Limerick.

RACE RECORD - 26: 11-3-5

EARNINGS - £12,310 

AJC Derby

New Zealand St Leger

Great Northern St Leger

Great Northern Derby

Canterbury Cup

Awapuni Gold Cup

Ormond Gold Cup

Trentham Gold Cup

Hill Stakes