Selwyn_Times: November 23, 2022

Wednesday November 23 2022 Selwyn Times
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
RACING 27
Mike De Filippi: Confidence and guile
• By Mick Guerin
COLIN DE Filippi doesn’t
hesitate for a second when asked
to rate the talent of his brother
Mike, who passed away at his
home recently.
“He was a better driver than
me, right from the start,” says
Colin.
It is one of the ultimate
compliments for Mike, who
would have turned 72 on
October 30, but died after a
difficult last year of failing
health.
While the dual De Filippis
have been part of harness racing
industry for as long as anybody
can remember, Mike’s name has
not been as prominent in recent
years as first his eyesight
then his health started to
deteriorate.
But there was a reason both
brothers are in the elite 1000-
win driving club. For all Colin’s
polish and patience Mike (1161
career wins) was confidence and
guile, both natural horsemen
who chose to sharpen different
tools of the ones they were
gifted.
There was a time in the 1980s
and 90s they were feared by
rivals and loved by punters in
an era of horsemen like Robert
Cameron, Peter Jones and Jack
Smolenski, to mention a few. A
time of rare skill and plenty of
MASTER: Top driver and trainer Mike De Filippi with daughter Joanne.
cunning. Even then, whether
it be dominating Victoria Park
in Greymouth or pulling off a
sting at Addington, Mike was a
small giant, armed with total self
belief.
“He was a better driver than
me right from when were
young,” says Colin matter-offact.
Even though you know the
comments of a loving brother
will be through the rose-tinted
glasses of grief, Colin says there
was proof of his talent long
before Mike found this throne in
a sulky.
“He was always a talented
sportsman, he was a bloody good
rugby player and I kind of wish
he hadn’t given it up so young,”
says Colin.
“And he could box. He has fast
hands but his only real boxing
fight came when he was six in
Reefton.
“Dad took him along there and
the only other kid they had him
PHOTO: HRNZ
to fight was eight years old and
the doctor didn’t want to allow it
cause Mike was so small.
“Dad said let him fight cause
he will be okay and Mike beat
the other kid up and after that
Did didn’t take him back to
boxing any more.”
He put those fast hands and
sharp eyes to spectacular use
in the sulky and had his share
of really good horses like Quiet
Win, who finished third to
Bonnies Chance and Armalight
in a real New Zealand Cup in
1982.
Another of his good pacers
Hoppy’s Jet was good enough to
win an Ashburton Flying Stakes
26 years ago beating big Cups
winners in Bee Bee Cee, Master
Musician and Burlington Bertie.
Sundowner Bay was a highly
talented trotter, Alias Armbro
who Mike drove to win the 1979
Dominion may have been a
better one.
Mike also triumphed in one
of our most infamous harness
races, the 1984 NZ Derby
which Naval Officer won after a
sickening smash that saw nine
horses fall at the Addington
winning post 200m after the
start.
Only five horses remained on
their feet and Mike, not one to
get fazed, secured the one-one
with Naval Officer and timed
his run to perfection to win
the classic like nothing has
happened until after the race.
That was Mike De Filippi.
Laser-sharp focus, determined,
talented, little time for fools but
all the time in the world during
a race.
He is survived by four
daughters and two sons.
He is also survived by
some great stories and iconic
moments. And tremendous
respect inside his industry.
– Harness Racing Desk
Do it
with your workmates
New Start • New CourSe • New FiNiSh
6km or 12km ChooSe your diStaNCe
Have your say
on safe speeds
To ensure our transport system protects and helps us
to get to the places and people important to us,
the way we manage speeds has changed.
As part of our transition to the new approach,
we’re developing an interim State Highway
Speed Management Plan.
Our plan includes proposed new speed limits on
sections of state highways, safe speeds around schools
and marae, and other speed related activities.
Get your team together, enter and be the
first to run the new C2S course.
Have you been working from home or
remotely? Then get your workplace involved
and re-connect, or are you maybe a group of
mates looking for a goal to achieve?
Two new distances to choose from 6km or
12km so all ages and fitness can join in.
(Teams can split entries over both distances)
Team sites are also available at the finish.
SuNday 19th marCh 2023
Find out what’s proposed for your region and give
your feedback online at www.nzta.govt.nz/ISMP
Consultation closes on 12 December 2022
Enter your team at www.city2surf.co.nz
Contact Lisa Lynch to book your site
Email lisa.lynch@starmedia.kiwi or call 021 800 809