When the lure stopped rolling following the running of the last race on Auckland Cup day at the Manukau Stadium, it marked an end of an era for the northern region. ‘Hanging up the lure’ for the final time was the region’s long-serving driver Erena Kokeheke.
Pictured: Erena Kokeheke immediately after her final drive of the Manukau lure
Lure driving is a facet of race day activities that industry participants literally take for granted. Obviously, it is a vitally important industry component. That fact that Erena drove the northern region lures for over a decade without a complaint ever been heard is an absolute testimony to her complete skills within the role.
Erena has long been regarded as an outstanding lure driver at both the Cambridge and Manukau venues. Her race driving talents were highly skilled and were thoroughly appreciated by everybody in the industry. Her lure run-ups were always consistent with the seven-second roll to the traps, while the five to eight-meter lure distance in front of the lead greyhound was always constantly maintained.
It was her trial day driving that was Erena’s real forte – especially during the vital initial introduction of puppies to the lure when being hand slipped. Leading horse people are regarded as those who own what is called ‘soft hands’ when holding reigns. In Erena’s case, it was her ‘soft hands’ on the lure that greatly assisted with the breaking in to the lure process.
It was back in 2005 in Cambridge when Erena first placed her hands on a lure as she explains. “Peter Henley asked my partner Mark if he wanted to drive – he said no way, he didn’t want to. I thought, yes I can do it, so I rang him (Henley) saying I’ll give it a try. I drove two trial days, then it was straight into TAB driving. Two years later I was driving the Manukau races.”
Erena said it was her greyhound training instincts that made her comfortable in her lure driving role. She was a pretty handy greyhound trainer in her own right as seen when she mentored Tiki Cruise to win the 1989 Auckland Cup, which was the inaugural running of the Auckland Cup at the Manukau Stadium. Incidentally, the total stake for the then 555m race back then was $4,750, as opposed to the current $80,000 stake that is now on offer.
“I know trainers got an initial surprise when I started driving. I guess it was my previous training experience that made me do it (drive). To me, the role was always all about the greyhound. I absolutely love them – they have been my love since 1978.
“I really enjoyed driving the pups - more than the racing dogs. It is great to follow their progress from breaking in, to when they are race dogs up in the grades. To me, the secret to driving pups is to put the lure under their noses. Really, it didn’t matter to me what grade or ability greyhounds I drove had – I simply loved driving them.”
We all know, that it is the norm when operating machinery that breakdowns will occasionally occur. Yes, they did invariably happen, predominantly when the lure didn’t start rolling when urged to. You just knew the frustrations the lure driver was going through on those occasions – the adjacent commentator Peter Earley would confirm those frustrations to listeners/viewers.
However, it wasn’t a lure breakdown that provided with what she recalls as her worse driving moment. “It was just after I started driving at Cambridge when a heavy fog settled from nowhere. I couldn’t see the boxes, let alone the back straight of the track. Instinct took over and I drove the lure as normal as possible. When the lure finally came into sight during the run home it was perfectly placed in front of the field. I was as relieved as!”
Erena reluctantly mentioned some of the top class greyhounds she has driven. “Winsome Ashley was super – she broke the Auckland 527m track record twice. Thrilling Brat and Little Mother were favourites of mine and Swift Fantasy was amazing. There are so many of them,” she suggested. Therefore it was entirely appropriate the last Group 1 winner Erena she drove was the national record-breaking dual Group 1 winner Swimming Goat.
Included amongst Erena Koreheke’s favourite greyhounds she has race driven were (from left); Winsome Ashley, Little Mother, Swift Fantasy
“It is time for a rest - lure driving has been a job I have absolutely loved doing. I’m definitely going to miss it, but now is the time to finish. I know that Mike (Lozell, new northern lure driver) is a very good driver,” she concluded.
The last race on both the Cambridge and Manukau early March race cards deservedly acknowledged Erena Koreheke’s valued contribution to both clubs, with special functions being held at both venues. She is seen here with Auckland Chairman John Roberts who made a special presentation to her during the Auckland Cup luncheon; Erena placed the dedicated dress rug made in her honour onto No More Debt, the winner of her race; Erena was then interviewed by Tommy Thompson, the oncourse compere during the Auckland Cup meeting; Erena received a surprise visit from her family members during the meeting and they joined her for the Erena Kokeheke Sprint post-race podium picture.
By Peter Fenemor
