Axeman was a giant demon on the track, facing Kingston Town at his best

Axeman was one of New Zealand's most successful middle distance runners in the early 1980's who raced against some of the finest thoroughbred racehorses on both sides of the Tasman with remarkable results. A chesnut bred by the Griffin's family, he was by the sire Crimson God via Gay Actress (Resurgent). Axeman was trained by Colin McColl when he won his first start. He was raced by M.T.Daly and T.K.Griffin, who trained him later on in his career.

He won his first start over 1600m at Te Aroha in October 1980 by a staggering 10 lengths. Axeman won the Second Division of the Maiden 1600, defeating Grey Wings. Remarkably there were 18 in each division. The first division was won by Top Billing ridden by Ralph Manning. Axeman was 9/16 in the betting and paid $9.90 to win and $8.90 to place. Colin McColl trained at Te Rapa and Warwick Robinson rode him. From this point onwards this wins rolled in for the team, with quality victories at Matamata, Te Rapa and Avondale before a 2nd placing in a Class 1 at Ellerslie prior to a break. Axeman then resumed in April 1981 with a solid 2nd over 1200m at Ellerslie, then won well again over 1400m on the Auckland course. He stepped up to win over 2200m on a soft track at Rotorua in May and didn't run again until August. Coming back fresh, the burly Axeman won a sprint at Avondale and in September defeated the brilliant miler Prince Majestic at WFA over 1600m at Wanganui.

A campaign in Australia was then laid out and Axeman travelled to Melbourne in late September for an assault on black type features. Racing in Australia under the name, 'My Axeman' a first-up 5th to the legendary Manikato in the Queen Elizabeth Cup was followed by a 3rd in October in the IXL at Caulfield, beaten by Penny Edition by less then a length. A 9th in the Caulfield Cup proved too big a challenge at the distance, but on Melbourne Cup day 1981, Axeman won the Linlithgow Stakes (1400m), ridden by Midge Didham in fine style.

Back home a long hiatus ensured before returning with some average results in May of 1982, however a Class 1 win at Ruakaka had him right back on track. Axeman next won a Class 1 over the mile on a heavy track at Pukekohe and a WFA 1400m event in the Waikato. In September, Axeman defeated Prince Majestic at WFA once again over 1400m at Wanganui and ran a 3rd at Matamata prior to another Australian sojourn. Back in Melbourne for the Spring Carnivals, Axeman ran a commendable 2nd behind Galleon in the Chirnside (1200m) before taking on the $377,000 1982 Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m). With an incredible effort, Axeman ran 3rd, less then a length off the legend Kingston Town at Moonee Valley and appeared in sublime form. Grosvenor just pipped him for 2nd as Axeman tired and weakened, but it was a fine result he was capable of improving on. The team then shifted to Flemington for the Gr.1 McKinnon Stakes where Axeman was to achieve the highlight of his career with Warwick Robinson steering. Over the 2000m the gelding nudged our the great Gurner's Lane to finish victorious and pick up the $68,000 winners cheque. In November, the gelding ran 2nd to Galleon in the Linlithgow and the big boy returned home a respected champion.

A similar path was mapped out in 1983 as the horse won a Class 1 at Avondale and a 2nd in a WFA event at Te Rapa behind Deb's Mate before flying to Queensland to take on a number of features. A 2nd in the Winfield

Cup (1200m) behind Nosey Parker at Eagle Farm in June was followed by an average effort in the Elder's Cup (Stradbroke 1400m), but this only appeared the precursor to the main event. At Doomben in early July, Axeman won the Rothmans 100,000 (Doomben 10,000, 1350m) in Brisbane and finished his Australian expedition with a 2nd in the Fourex Cup (2200m) on a soft track at Doomben. Returning in November in New Zealand, Axeman went on a rampage after running 2nd in a Class 1 1300m event at Waikato. He then won the Gr.2 1600m Ellerslie, the Gr.3 WFA at Te Aroha and a Gr.3 1900m at Rotorua. Two Group one failures surrounded those wins and by February 1985 his high quailty form slipped away. Axeman finish down the field behind Kiwi over 2000m at Taranaki and only managed one more win over 1400m in the Wilson Sprint at Ellerslie in October 1986 - his 21st win at the age of Ten. He was soon retired after an outstanding career as an icon, with incredible Stakes earnings and a brilliant race record for the era.

RACE RECORD - 54: 21-7-4

EARNINGS - $443,887

Rothmans Hundred Thousand (Doomben 10,000)

Great Britain - New Zealand Stakes

Linlithgow Stakes

VRC McKinnon Stakes