Former top trotter Noopy Kiosk dies aged 31

Noopy Kiosk (Paulsboro), one of the greatest trotters of the Moonee Valley era and the Victorian Horse of the Year in 1996, died at the Steeple Park stud, Ardmona, of John and Margaret O’Brien last Saturday aged 31.

Bred and raced by the Fry family from Stawell and trained by the late Barry Alford, Noopy Kiosk totted up 34 wins including 22 at Moonee Valley and $320,999 when stakes were far below their present day level.

Possessed of brilliance and stamina, the son of Paulsboro and Broodmare of the Year Maori Trump was widely regarded as Australia’s best trotter since his close relative, the mighty Maori’s Idol.

Noopy Kiosk won his first five starts as a two-year-old including the Tatlow Memorial and was named Australian 2YO Trotter of the Year.

As a three-year-old he won 13 of his 14 starts including the Victoria Trotters Derby, Victoria Sires Stakes, The Holmfield, Oceania El Dorado and the Tontine and was accorded the honour of Australian 3YO Trotter of the Year and Trotter of the Year.

In 1997 Noopy Kiosk joined Table Card as the only trotters to complete the Victoria Sires Stakes treble, winning the coveted classic at two, three and four years.

He later competed with great distinction in open company, capturing the E. B. Cochran Cup, Chris Howe Cup, Coulter Crown and a heat of the Inter Dominion.

At the stud, Noopy Kiosk was not extensively patronised and from 28 starters he left 12 winners including the Listed winner Chrisken Kiosk and the $100,000 earner Tella Tall Tale.

by Peter Wharton, for Harness Racing Victoria