Looking Back

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 166, 31 July 1937, Page 19

Looking Back

"Hermit.")

HORSES OF NOTE Performances Which Linger In The Memory CHAMPION DESERT GOL0

(By

■ New Zealand has been the breeding place.and nurseyy for many great racehorses, but as far as the mares aye concerned, I ' do not think many will dispute Desert Gold's claim to be ponsideted a Teal champion. Her record is a wonderful one. Up to a mile and a half she was opposed by many of the best horses in New Zealand and Australia, and though she was beaten by two or three of these in very close finishes, none of them, except Gloaming, ever beat her twice at weight-for-age. Cetique and Magpie each beat her once over a mile and a quarter in a veryclose finish, and Wedge did the samo at seven furlongs, but she reversed positions with them all later. Her thre'e-year-old career was an pninterrupted succession of brilliant triumphs. So far Desert Gold has not produced anything quite equal to her self, but this it not unusual with great racing mares, and I feel sure that through her deseendants on the female side will come sOme real chafiipi'ons. I hope Mr T. H. Lowry may breed'a few foals yet from Desert Gold by his re-cently-imported horse. Por stud purposes mares traoing back to twO of Mr Lowry's mares Gossip and Aurarius should be invaluable. Well mated the progency of either one pr both of these mares should found a sire strain equal to any the Dominion has had. On both sides o| her pedigree Desert Gold has wonderfully potent galloping strains. Her sire, All Blaek, was by Gallinule — Vortex, by St. Angela — Whirlpool, thus bringing in Ironomy, St. Simon, Barealdine and 'Newminster blopd, while her dam Aurarius was by Maltster from Aurais, by Wallace Aurd, by Richmond — Instep (imp.) by Lord Glifden — Sandal. Gallinule was for some years the leading sire of brood mares in the Old Country, while there has never been a rnore successful sire of brood chares than Lord Clifden ; indeed, tliis strain of blood may be said to dominate the position in the Old Country to-day as far as staying lines are concerned, for the very successful sire of stayers, Son-in-law, traees back to Lord Clifden 's greatest son, Hampton, as does Dark Legend, who has been so successful on tbe Continent, while in Australia Magpie and Windbag have given him a place higl/ up on the list of winning sires. In Australia Lord Clifden mares have been responsible for some of the leading lights of the turf, including Wakeful, Aurum, Auraria, Commotion, and other good ones, while the same line in New Zealand has given us Midnight Sun, Bon Reve, and others. New Zealand 's great sire, Martlan, has a strain of Hampton blood on the dam's side, Persknmon and Diamond Jubilee, are both from a Hampton mare. 5 • Another great line originating' partly from the same tap root, is that of Multiform, by Hotchkiss, from the Sterlingworth — Pulchra mare Forme. Sterlingwofth was by Sterling — Chillianwallah, by Lord Clifden. Sterlingworth, unfortunately, died soon after being imported, as did another good sire Feve, by Lord Clifden — Haricot, who gave the Turf one really good horse, Bangipuhi, and might have given more had he lived longer. The deeds of Multiform and his progeny, Crueiform, Formosan, Forma and Boniform, will all help to keep green the memory oi Formo as a winner-producer. Desert Gold's wins in classic races rival thoso of Gloaming, and except Gloaming no other horse has come anywhero near her record.

Desert Gold's recoid in classic raeeB includes the following: — King's Plate, at Ellerslie, three times, viz., 1915, 1916, 1917; Great Northern Foal Stakes, 1914; Royal Stakes, ^1915 and 1916; Great Northern Derby, 1916; G.N. Oaks, 1916; G.N. St. Leger, 1916; New Zealand Derby, 1915; New Zealand Oaks, 1915; Stead Meinorial Cup; 1915, 1917; C.J.C. Challenge Stakes, 1917; Hawke's Bay Stakes, 1915; HaWke'a Bay Guineas, 1915; Manawata Sires Produce Stakes, 1915; Manawata Stakes, 1916 and 1919; Awapuni Gold Cup, 1916, 1917, 1918; North Island Challenge Stakes, 1915 and 1916; Wellington Stakes, 1916; and Taranaki Stakes, 1919. This is a great list, and only a great racehorse could have achieved such a record, showing lasting ' qualities, as well as pace, stamin^ and eoverage. These are great qualities, and may the line of Desert Gold and her relative reinain to shed lustre on the New Zealand Turf for a very long time to come. Altogether Desert Gold started in 59 races for 36 wins, 25 seeonds, and fivo third plaeings, and was only five tiinea unplaced.