TROTTING...

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 116, 6 August 1927, Page 7

TROTTING...

, By

“Abaydos”

RICH BLOOD GREAT IMPORTATIONS PROGRESS OF BREEDING INFLUENCE ON THE SPORT The remarkable progress made with the development and improvement of the light-harness industry in New Zealand is due in a large degree to the attention given to the breeding side of the question. The importation of some of the finest trotting blood in the world has resulted in raising the standard of the sport to a high plane, while the blending of the greatest strains has had the effect of producing real champions.

ALTHOUGH the commencement of A the light harness sport in the Dominion dates back over a lengthy period, it is only within the last two decades that the industry began to make an appreciable progress. Clubs throughout the Dominion catered for the trotting fans with programmes that were enticing enough ior the class of quadruped which engaged in such contests, but there was an absence of the thrills; and sensations that generally mark the operations of the sport in later years. Time was when the three-minute trotter was looked upon as a fine asset, but

through the advance made in breeding problems, the cream of New Zealand horses at the present time are getting down toward a two-minute gait. In the earlier stages of the sport tradesmen’s utility equines were usually found taking part in trotting contests, while in the good old coaching days many a trotter was taken from the pole of a coach or the shafts of a drag and raced successfully. IMPROVING THE BREED About the beginning of the present century a much better class of trotter made its appearance, due to the improvement in the standard of sires. The importation of high-class horses from other countries, particularly America, was making its presence felt in a gratifying manner, and those enthusiasts who, somewhere about a quarter of a century ago, laid the foundation of a solid breeding proposition for New Zealand are deserving of all credit and honour. Their enterprise resulted in a keenness for securing the best proc»rable, and fight through the last two decades ambitious breeders have procured some of the greatest strains in the world, both sires and mares, to bring the up to high-water mark. SOME HIGH-CLASS ONES Space will not permit of a lengthy review of the grade sires that have made trotting history in this Dominion, but mention must be made of such giants at the stud as Rothschild, Harold Dillon, "Wildwood Junr., Logan Pointer, Nelson Bingen, Great Audubon, Brent Locanda, Gold Bell, Petereca, Four Chimes, all of whom have produced Jrigh-class stock. Of more recent years such classical horses as Peterwah, Peter Clienault, The Triumph, Worthy Bond, Guy Parf ls h, A 1 Mac and others have been lm b°rted from the land of the Stars and Stripes, while younger sires like Author Dillon, Cathedral Chimes, Matchlight, Man o’ War, Our Thorpe, Aolson Derby and others are beginning to gain notoriety through the prowess of their offspring. Coming into the Northern territory, Breeders have such high-class and Proved sires as The Triumph, Wortiiy "ond and Florizel operating, each of "nom was recently the subject of a special article in THE SUN. A 1 Mac, Aerial Bingen, Metal (a promising , oung: sir©) and probably others, are cated in the province, and will, if tention StU< * rece * v ® similar atAUSTRALIA’S GREAT SIRE hi"M e the improvement of trotting •ood has been receiving the attention h * nt kusiasts in New Zealand our J?ther sportsmen in the Commonh bave not been standing still, u advancement in a sirpilar direcn has been noted across the Tasifcan. Such sires as Peri Huon (Man o’ b v > ’ am brino Derby (Minton D?rvi ’ . Ribbonwood (Blue Mountain Prr L Bonnie Chief (Sliiek), Don winn (Don Wild, Pedro Pronto), rirh*. e r s °* some of the Dominion’s p ™ 2es » are not unknown to folthe light-harness sport, grea th rT° n t° is probably one of the is an - horses the world has seen. He Tha Ported, unhoppled pacer by and v,i?Jj ect General, from Silurian, reonra 0 , „ a world's unhoppled pacing hack This Aussie sire truces li ne '-he wonderful Hombletorian ou*h . a P ai ’t from being a thort*ansm?*fft ° c r at ’ has the power of hi* llis excellent Qualities to a ßd h |n been Proved: conclusively, aotieSxi case of Don Wild is very Pion fr* i tbe latter being the chaine_legged pacer of Australasia.

Hn n CHIP 0F ™ E OLD BLOCK •AuclcL^f 0 !^ 0 has a representative in r * f -ords Il of bids fair to eclipse all tiful «K? r , e fa rnily, in Metal, a beauthat* ha 5 Pe ‘ y horse, from Amie Bells, Quality written all over his horse of « n ’ He is a seal-brown is brea bne bone and substance, and For so °" ' 5^ t of lines for speed, owner T m <? una ccountable reason his t° get ’ jJ: Johnson, lies been unable With thftx- unb oppled pacer registered Heq Uen *i Zealand authorities, conthe rw • . has not sported silk in ai Hias minion - That there is nothing with Aletal’s credentials is

clearly demonstrated by the fact that the associations in the Commonwealth are willing to register the son of Don Pronto. ANOTHER SEASON AT STUD In conversation with the owner, “Abaydos” learned that Metal’s mission this season will be stud duty. Last year he was at the service of breeders in the Waikato district, and met with success. Many owners in that province have expressed a desire for another opportunity of infusing some of this wonderful blood with their stock, and Mr. Johnson has definitely decided to take Metal to Nga-

ruawahia this month, where he will be located for the season. That the opportunity for breeders is a golden one will be admitted when the pedigree of this young horse, whose fine mannerisms proclaim his aristocracy, is reviewed. The deeds of his paternal relative, both as a racehorse and sire, have already been alluded to, and the remarkable strain on the side of his dam adds lustre to his qualifications. BRED IN THE PURPLE Amie Bells (2.19) is a daughter of Bells, sire of Four Chimes, who gave to New Zealand, such good ones as Cathedral Chimes (4.25) and* Matclilight (4.26). Derby Chimes (a Victorian champion racer and sire) aijd Delavan Chimes (sire of Quest) are also descendants of Abbey Bells. Vancleve, sire of Mes Amie, dam of Amie Bells, was one of the great producers of his day, and left Franz Fritz, Dan Cleve and a host of other really good ones. Charmer, the great-grand-dam of Metal, was got by Childe Harold, who left to the trotting game that greatest of sires, Rothschild, who, while not having the best of mating opportunities, begot Emmeline (2.83), Revenue (2. 11 4-5, a wonderful trotter), Sol Tasker (2.20 as a two-year-old), Jessie Palm (2.18 trotter), Almont, Belmont, Moneymaker and numerous others. Childe Harold was the sire of Wild Rose, dam of those great producing mares, Ivy Dean and Rose Elect, of which special mention was made recently in THE SUN. NEARLY WENT SOUTH It may not be generally known that Metal some time back was practically

sold by Mr. Johnson to the Dunedin patron of W. J. Tomkinson’s stable, Mr. S. J. Barton, after a fine trial, but owing to the registratiqn restrictions the sale was cancelled. “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody good,” remarked Metal’s owner, “and since his success at the stud last year I am pleased the deal was not confirmed.” Numerous foals have already made their appearance in the Waikato as a result of the black pacer s visit, which proves conclusively he is a sure foal-getter, another tribute to his many high qualifications.” Enough has been written to convince breeders that in the Auckland mate mares with for the purpose of Province there is excellent material to further improving the class of trotters and pacers, and incidentally raising the standard of the popular pastime. Auckland may not boast many crack-a- jacks at the present period, but judging from the calibre of sires now operating in the province, together with the importations from other districts, the future should find this district holding its own in the light-harness arena.