Conchords star's dad sings son's praises

JONATHAN CAMERON/Manawatu Standard

PROUD DAD: Peter McKenzie, Levin horse trainer and proud father of Flight of the Conchord's Bret McKenzie, horses around with Melbourne Cup stallion Sculptor.

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The father of Bret McKenzie - one half of award-winning Kiwi comedy duo Flight of the Conchords - can trace his son's love affair with trophies back to a day at the races.

The Levin horse trainer is buzzing his son has just scored four New Zealand Music Awards as one half of comedy duo Flight of the Conchords.

But it doesn't come as a surprise - in fact, Peter McKenzie reckons Bret's appetite for awards was whetted at an early age.

Back in 1984, an eight-year-old Bret and older brother Justin went with Dad to the Hawera races, to help with renowned sprinter Mr Illusion.

The horse cleaned up at the track, and the excited kids lugged the winnings back to the car.

"I still remember Bret with his arms full of trophies, saying 'Gee, does this happen every time we come to the races, dad?'," McKenzie chuckled.

On Wednesday night, the Flight of the Conchords took the trifecta of Album of the Year, Best Group and Breakthrough Artist of the Year, for their self-titled debut album.

The band - Bret and fellow Wellington comedian Jemaine Clement - also shared the award for International Achievement with rapper Savage.

At his Strathcarron horse stud yesterday, the senior McKenzie was visibly proud of his son's success.

A thespian himself, he's travelled the country performing musical theatre and seen shows all over the world - but still rates his son among the best.

"I'm really rapt, it's exciting to see it happening. But they have always been very good, their musicianship and comic ability was brilliant from day one."

Though Mr McKenzie has always been confident of his son's talents, he didn't realise the full extent of Bret's fame until last Christmas.

As he prepared to join Bret and friends for a game of tennis at Waitarere beach, one of Bret's mates jokingly asked if he had seen the "Bret phenomenon".

Mystified, Mr McKenzie replied he hadn't.

Moments later a teenage girl rushed up to Bret and ascertained his identity before disappearing.

In 10 minutes she was back - with a bevy of about 50 young admirers, all clamouring for photos with his son, Mr McKenzie said.

"It was quite cool. He doesn't change though, nothing would change him. Bret is just Bret."

This time next year, Mr McKenzie hopes to celebrate his own award.

In 2007 his stallion Sculptor won the last lead-up race to the Melbourne Cup, the Saab handicap, before an injury saw him finish ninth in the big one itself.

The horse is now back in training for the Auckland Cup in March - and Mr McKenzie has his sights set on the 2009 Melbourne Cup.

But in racing, as in showbiz, the road to success isn't easy.

"You don't win by coincidentally turning up on the day, like you don't perform a stage show without the preparatory work. It takes years."

- © Fairfax NZ News