Robalan was a champion

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

pacer

Standardbred The Standardbred is an American horse breed best known for its ability in harness racing, where members of the breed compete at either a trot or pace. Developed in North America, the Standardbred is recognized worldwide, and the breed can trace i ...

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 Young Quinn, a New Zealand standardbred racehorse, was successful in period where his competition in the sport of trotting was particularly strong. Foaled in 1969, he was by Young Charles out of Loyal Trick by Hal Tryax (USA). Named after Brian ...

who he more than often beat and is particularly well remembered for being a free legged pacer. He won the

New Zealand Cup The New Zealand Cup is a thoroughbred horse race run at the Riccarton Park Racecourse in Christchurch. New Zealand Cup week The New Zealand Cup is raced on the final Saturday of Christchurch "Cup week" held each year in the second week of Novem ...

in 1974 over 3200 meters beating the hot favorite

. He had the distinction of racing without hopples (free legged pacer) and was known for his phenomenal turn of speed.Robalan - the free legged pacer
/ref> He also won the prestigious sprint, the

New Zealand Free For All The New Zealand Pacing Free For All is a major New Zealand harness race. It is notable as it is a Group One championship sprint race and has been won by nearly every champion pacer in New Zealand. History of the race Horses which have won the ...

three years in a row, breaking the world record in 1974 with a time of 2:26.6 for the 2000m mobile. At the age of eight, in 1974, he was in a purple patch of form, winning six in a row. These efforts propelled him into being named Horse of the Year.

Notable performances

* 2nd in the 1972 Kaikoura Cup behind Royal Belmer with Lightsey 3rd * 3rd in the 1972

New Zealand Trotting Cup The New Zealand Cup for standardbred horses, also known as either the New Zealand Trotting Cup or the New Zealand Pacing Cup is a Group One (G1) harness race held annually by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club at Addington Raceway in Chri ...

behind Globe Bay and Scottish Charm * 1st in the 1972

beating Globe Bay and Scottish Charm * 2nd in the 1973 Kaikoura Cup behind Royal Ascot with Hi Foyle 3rd * 4th in the 1973

behind Arapaho, Globe Bay and

* 1st in the 1973

beating Arapaho and Bomber Bill * 1st in the 1974 Wellington Cup beating

and Hi Foyle * 1st in the 1974

beating Kotare Legend and Young Quinn * 1st in the 1974

beating Hi Foyle and Young Quinn * 2nd in the 1974

Auckland Trotting Cup The Auckland Pacing Cup which is sometimes referred to as the Auckland Trotting Cup or merely the Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of the two major harness races, along with ...

behind

with Hi Foyle 3rd * 1st in the 1975 Easter Cup (off 35m) beating Lunar Chance and David Garrison * 3rd in the 1975

behind Lunar Chance and Final Decision

References

{{reflist
Salute to trotting - Robalan
1967 racehorse births New Zealand standardbred racehorses New Zealand Trotting Cup winners

Notable performances

See also

References