Robalan
Robalan was a champion New Zealand pacer Standardbred horse, known as "Robby". He is notable in that he won the 1974 NZ Trotting Cup, the richest harness race in New Zealand, and for his epic contests with champion pacer Young Quinn who he more than often beat and is particularly well remembered for being a free legged pacer.[1]
| Breed | Standardbred |
|---|---|
| Sire | Lumber Dream (NZ) |
| Grandsire | Knight Dream (US) |
| Dam | Elsinor (NZ) |
| Maternal grandsire | U Scott (US) |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 1967 |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Bill Denton's Russley Lodge (NZ) |
| Owner | A T Devery, P N Hope, D D Nyhan (NZ) |
| Trainer | D D Nyhan (NZ) |
| Record | |
| 43 wins, 37 places | |
| Earnings | |
| NZ$176,773 | |
| Major wins | |
| 1971 Wellington Cup 1974 New Zealand Cup 1972 New Zealand Free For All 1973 New Zealand Free For All 1974 New Zealand Free For All | |
| Awards | |
| 1973-1974 Harness Horse of the Year | |
| Last updated on: 2009-04-17. | |
At the age of eight, he hit a purple patch of form, winning six in a row. This effort propelled him into being named Horse of the Year in 1974. He also won the prestigious sprint, the New Zealand Free For All three years in a row, breaking the world record in 1974 with a time of 2:26.6 for the 2000m mobile.
He won the New Zealand Cup in 1974 over 3200 meters beating the hot favorite Young Quinn. He had the distinction of racing without hopples (free legged pacer) and was known for his phenomenal turn of speed.[2]