Kalgoorlie Bomber is trained at Tauherenikau by Frank Stammers, who races the 11yr-old with Colin Stevenson, of Hokitika.
Kalgoorlie Bomber wears the gold colours with red hooped sleeves and gold cap worn by horses owned by the late Peter Louis, who was noted for his betting exploits. Louis is survived by his his wide, Winnie, who lives on the Kapiti Coast.
Stammers was working for Louis when the latter bred and raced Miss Mod, winner of the Welcome Stakes and Irwell Handicap at the 1965 NZ Cup meeting. The Knight's Romance filly was trained by Bill Wylie at Carterton and ridden by John Dowling.
The Louis horses were trained at Trentham by Hugh Telford when Master Dash won the 1943 Great Easter Handicap at Riccarton as a 3yr-old.
Telford bid 160 guineas to buy a Night Raid-Entreaty colt at the 1928 National yearling sale in Wellington on behalf of his brother, Harry, a small-time trainer at Randwick. Harry was acting for Sydney owner, David Davis. The colt was later named Phar Lap and gelded. He won 37 of his 51 starts in Australia and his only North American start, in Mexico, before he died in mysterious circumstances.
Phar Lap is still regarded by many as the greatest horse to race in Australia.
Master Dash was back at Riccarton in 1945 to win the Great Easter Handicap and the Tasman Stakes, a weight-for-age mile at the Easter meeting.
Telford trained Master Robin to win the Woolston Hack Handicap for Louis at the 1945 National meeting.
Master Robin dead-heated for first with Gigli in the Wellington Guineas two starts later.
Louis was training on his own account when he landed a big betting plunge with the 3yr-old filly Donna Bella winning the Jockey Club Handicap (one mile) against older horses at the 1959 NZ Cup meeting. She was 3/5 in the betting, with Kaye Tinsley the rider and at odds of nine-to-one. Donna Bella did not win again until 21 months later, when she was backed down to 4/11 in the betting at odds of 10-to-one at Tauherenikau.
Louis won the Winter Cup at Riccarton in 1972 with John's Pal (4/4), ridden by Noel Eastwood.
He won the 1981 Brabazon Handicap at the Christchurch Hunt meeting with Master Grey.
