Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

Two Saturdays ago, a sporting event that saw thousands in attendance a half century ago, didn't rate a mention in the local media.

The Japan Trophy raced at the Gate Pa course is one of the longest standing reciprocal thoroughbred races in the world.

On a visit to Japan, Bay of Plenty Racing Club President Bob Silson, came up with the concept of a reciprocal race at Gate Pa and the Nakayama racecourse in Japan, each year.

In the autumn of 1971, the Bay of Plenty Racing Club hosted the Japan Bay of Plenty International Stakes. The 2023 edition was the 50th time the race had been run - with the race abandoned in 1985, not held ten years later, and a victim of Covid 19 in 2020.

The race name was changed to the Japan New Zealand International Trophy in 1971, before becoming simply the Japan Trophy today. The Western Bay of Plenty Group 2 race, is reciprocated each year in Japan, with the staging of the New Zealand Trophy run at Grade Two level.

While the race has been won by the cream of the countries milers, including Battle Eve, Kiwi Can and the peoples champion Sir Slick, several legends in the New Zealand jockey ranks have also stamped their mark on the race.

One of New Zealand greatest riders in Grenville Hughes, won aboard Battle Eve in 1974, in the twilight of his career. Hughes, was from a era where going to the races was a regular activity for many New Zealanders.

Hughes is best remembered as the regular rider of the 1950's champion, Mainbrace. The winner of 23 of his 25 starts, Mainbrace attracted crowds in their thousands to catch the chestnut gelding in full flight, putting together a winning streak of seventeen of the major races in the country.

Five-time New Zealand champion jockey David Peake, rode Pride of Rosewood to victory in 1983, before waiting nine seasons for his second winner on Power Chief. Trained by Gate Pa horseman, Jim Pender, Power Chief was the first of four Japan Trophy winners prepared by the local thoroughbred maestro.

Peake is sure to have very fond memories of the Tauranga racecourse, especially after riding a winner with his last mount, before heading into retirement in 2002.

Lance O'Sullivan transcended sporting codes by being inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. A record 2358 winners in New Zealand is just one of the records set by the New Zealand champion jockey.

O'Sullivan has written his name on to the Japan Trophy roll of honour as both a jockey and a trainer. Dual success as a hoop came with The Filbert (1987) and Soap Opera (2001), before training Calveen to victory in 2005.

The latest edition of the Japan Trophy, two weeks ago, had a strong Western Bay of Plenty presence, with Brando from Te Akau Stables in Matamata taking race honours.

One of the significant changes in thoroughbred racing, since Spectre won the first Japan Bay of Plenty feature, are big multiple ownership groups where people come together to enjoy the thrills of horseracing, at a cost of no more than a cup of coffee or two each week.

A group from the Mount Maunganui RSA, who hold a small ownership interest in Brando, were in full voice to cheer their horse to victory before a celebratory drink (or two) in the committee room, on the occasion of the 50th running of the Tauranga Autumn feature race.