The big Kiwi invader blew his competition away in the rich 1962 Melbourne features

Even Stevens became a staying legend in 1962. The colt foaled in 1957 was breed by sire Fairs Fair (Fairs Trial) out of the mare Amaroo (Gold Nib). He was trained by Arch McGregor at Te Rapa and owned by Sir James Wattie, who founded the giant food processing company Wattie's.

Even Stevens won 11 races in total, but there were some pretty good one's, including the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Werribee Cup. In the annals of equine racing history, Even Stevens' triumph in the 1962 Melbourne Cup stands as a remarkable feat. The horse was the pioneer of air freighting from New Zealand to Australia on the inaugural Qantas flight for horses on October 2 that year from Wellington to Melbourne. At the time the bets wagered on Even Stevens were some of the biggest the spring carnival had ever seen. A 3/1 favourite for the race, after having won the Werribee Cup seven days earlier, Even Stevens didn’t disappoint, winning by the Cup by four lengths. The power that he produced from the 200m mark was astounding, kicking through to win in dominant style. It is estimated he took an estimated half a million pounds from the bookies on doubles after being very well supported.

His jockey, Les Coles, was born in New South Wales in 1933. He was apprenticed as a jockey before being talent-spotted in 1954 by New Zealand trainer Larry Wiggins, who brought horses to race successfully in Sydney. Les rode for Larry and others in New Zealand for eight years, becoming one of the top jockeys there. Then in 1962 he was offered the ride on Sir James Wattie’s horse Even Stevens in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, trained by rising Kiwi trainer Arch McGregor. Coles won the rare double, beating two champions Comicquita and Aquanita in the race that stops a nation. Cole and Even Stevens topped off the visit with victory in the C.B. Fisher Plate on the fourth and final day of the Carnival. It was a remarkable trans-tasman assault and one of the most successful and financially rewarding by any Kiwi invader.

Even Stevens etched his name among the elite group of only 13 horses to have achieved the prestigious Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double. The others horses to complete the Caulfield, Melbourne Cups double were, Posiden 1906/07, The Trump 1937/38, Rivette 1939/40, Rising Fast 1954/55, Galilee 1966/67, Gurner's Lane 1982/83, Let's Elope 1991/92, Doriemus 1995/96, Might & Power 1997/98, Ethereal 2001/02 and Without A Fight 2023/24.

In his 80s, former jockey Coles worked for many years as the “gateman” at Caulfield racetrack where he ensured the safe passage of gallopers onto and off the training track. He was universally liked, knowledgeable and a mentor to many jockeys and trainers. Coles, who also rode in Singapore for five years after his Cups success, rode his last winner on Kiwi Can in the 1976 Sandown Cup. Even Stevens was leased to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the intent of returning for stud duties, but prior to sailing for England he suffered an accident in training which necessitated his retirement from racing. He was retired to stud in New Zealand in 1963 where he sired two Group one winners, Master John and Evenstead. He died in 1975.

RACE RECORD - 22: 11-2-5

EARNINGS - £43,895

Avondale Cup (1961)

C.B.Fisher Plate (1962)

Caulfield Cup (1962)

Melbourne Cup (1962)