TURF NEWS & NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1938, Page 5

TURF NEWS & NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE & COURSE Views on Racing Facts and Fancies FRENCH HORSES FOR NORTH ISLAND

(By

“The Cynic.”)

French horses have had a great deal [ of success in England in recent years, and with the idea that strains of. French blood might do good service to breeding in the Dominion, Mr M. Grogan, of the Grande Stud at Westmere, Wanganui, has secured a horse from France. He arrived recently and he will take up stud duty in the spring.

The new horse is Broiefort, and he is a son of the highly-successful Blandford, in the limelight again this season through the win of Rasch in the Two Thousand Guineas. Broiefort is one of the finest stamps ,of thoroughbred stallions ever brought to the Dominion. He is a big, strong horse, with great bone and perfect symmetry. He is only six years old to English time, and he did very little racing, as he ricked a leg and had to be put out of training. Baron Edouard de Rothschild, who bred Broiefort, also bred and owned the great French horse Brantome, another Blandford horse, that was unbeaten in a dozen starts till he failed in the Ascot Gold Cup. The same blood is found in the pedigree of both these horses.

Innoxa, the dam of Broiefort, is by Sans le Sou (son of Sans Souci II) from a mare by Le Sancy, which returns to Blandford the same strains that succeeded so well in Brantome. The grey Le Sancy appears again in the maternal ancestory of Broiefort. Reine de Cremes, the dam of Innoxa, was a daughter of the English-bred mare Cream, by Lactantius (son of Petrarch). Cream was imported to France by Baron Rothschild in 1908. From the same family came Leolinus, imported in 1878 to New Zealand, where he did notable service as a sire.

San Souci II and Le Sansy (sire of Roi Herode) have had a foremost part in building up the modern French thoroughbred. Fifteen years ago Sans Souci II shared with Bruleur the credit of being the leading sire in France. The Sans Souci II line is commonly referred to as the “Rothschild blood.” In tail male it has failed to maintain its pestige, but Sans Souci II in the female lines is greatly valued, and it is there that he appears in the breeding of Broiefort.

A visit was paid to the Trelawney stud during the week, and an inspection of the two sires Foxbridge and Vermeer, together with their offspring, proved interesting. Foxbridge (says the Auckland “Herald”), who looks in good condition, has imparted his good manners to all his stock. Vermeer, who is two years younger, has developed since last seen, and by the time next season starts he should be a commanding-looking horse. This son of Solario and three-quarter brother to the Epsom Derby winner Mid-day Sun, will have every opportunity to make a name for himself. The Sandstar gelding Top Star broke a leg when schooling at Ellerslie a few days ago, and was destroyed. The Hurry On stallion Lord Warden, sire of Cerre Abbas, Protector, Normal, Custodian, Custos, Viking, Lady Kyra, and other good performers, has been sold to a Bay of Plenty syndicate comprising Mi' F. Bell, senr., of Waimana, and Messrs Abbott Brothers, of Opotiki. The Abbott Brothers have been breeding for some years, the produce of their stud including Llangollen and Kilberis. Lord Warden will stand at Opotiki. He was imported to New Zealand by Mr George Kain, of the Gladstone Park Stud, Orari, and after standing there for several years he was leased to Mr A. S. Elworthy for last season when Mr Kain imported Man’s Pal. It is reported that the Paper Money filly Card Player is in work at Timaru. Card Player ran second to Guinea | Fowl in the John Grigg Stakes and won the McLean Stakes, but raced without success during the balance of that season. She has not appeared this season. Trainer W. Mantle reports that Silver Gift has completely recovered from her unfortunate injury sustained through casting herself in her box. This good four-year-old impressed critics by her runaway win at the Taranaki autumn meeting, and the patient policy her mentor has pursued should bear fruit in her subsequent career. A West Australian buyer' considered her the most likely of a number of prospective purchases he inspected, and it was only the prohibitive transport costs that prevented her joining Agrion and Co. in the Land of the Swan. Manetho, a useful winner on the flat a few seasons back, and Ihe horse which caused the death of the Ricearton jockey, A. H. Eastwood, is undergoing sound schooling at Riccarton. On Saturday, ridden by his owner-trainer. W. Westenra, he gave a pleasing display over four obstacles. Manetho raced over hurdles last season and it is expected he will be useful later. Siegmund's spell was brief, as the big fellow was doing so well in the paddocks at Johnsonville that his owner has decided to return him to D. McCauley. Surcoat has created a good impres- j sion bv several fine hurdling displays j

fat Riccarton. The half-brother to Shatter and Control has yet to he rac- . ed, but it is likely that he will be produced at Ashburton. Mr A. Speight has disposed of the Songbird gelding Western Song to a Nelson sportsman and the grey, who has been spelling since the Southland Racing Club’s meeting is being sent north. The fact that Santoft was not paid up for in the Otago Steeplechase suggests that all is not well with him, though it is quite on the cards that he is being reserved for some later meeting. Gold Band, winner of the maiden race at Foxton, is a half-sister, by Lackham, to Silvanus and races in the same interests. She hung badly on Saturday, but still won comfortably. Gold Band is a solidly-built mare and has scope for further improvement. Aiguille, who had not raced since the Wanganui September meeting, contested the hurdle race at Foxton and finished fourth. He put in a good run from half a mile out and was handy behind the leaders at the home turn, but his condition failed him and he also pulled up very lame. He is a patched-up horse, and his trainer, W. Blanche, will have no easy task getting him sound enough to race. Camilla Horn ran a fair race to finish fifth in the hurdles at Foxton. This was her first start since the Wellington March meeting. Titter, a two-year-old filly by Laughing Prince from Sigma, made her racecourse debut at Foxton on Saturday when she contested the Trial Stakes. She began smartly from the middle of the field and was soon in front sharing the lead with Shining Hours. A furlong off the post she started to run about and she dropped out of the contest. It was a promising effort for an inexperienced youngster. Titter is owned by Mr T. A. Duncan. She is by Mr Duncan’s stallion Laughing Prince, and her dam, Sigma, was b’y Psychology from Warscare, the dam of Finmark, Estland and Highland.

Lynch Law, unbeaten two-year-old of New South Wales last year, drifted badly in the betting on the Flying Welter at Warwick Farm on May 21. Books cautiously opened betting with Lynch Law as first fancy, but a rush for Rival Hit provided a new favourite. Nevertheless, Lynch Law had backers. In the race Lynch Law revealed the speed of his early racing career. Although he lost a little ground at barrier-rise, he travelled so fast that he was able to get through on the rails from his No. 1 position to share the lead with Shackleton. Creditor, and Fanciful. He weakened so suddenly in the straight, however, that the stewards questioned his jockey, E. Bartie. They reported that they had found that Shackleton hung in and caused interference to Lynch Law. He finished a fairly close fifth, and pulled up soundly, so that there are reasonable hopes that this- former champion will once more reach firstclass form. This was Lynch Law’s first start for seven months.

Although she did not look likely to reach Debham in the last quarter of the Kebbell Memorial at Foxton, Lady Montana once more was showing her best speed at the finish, and a solid run enabled her to head Mea Mea out of second money. In all her races Lady Montana has been staying on at the finish and it is probable that she will run a good middle distance. She has proved herself a very useful three-year-old, having won five races this season.

After running' several fair races in the hack class, Rowana contested the maiden event at Foxton and she came through solidly at the finish to get second money. Rowana, who is not very big, does not race well in the middle of a field. She has to be in front to show her best.

Lindy, a four-year-old maiden mare by an unknown sire from the Panmure mare Pantry Maid, having her second start for the season, put up a creditable effort to fill fourth place in the maiden race at Foxton. She was badly drawn at the barrier and had to come wide around the top turn. With a more favourable run she should be a maiden prospect in near-at-hand events.

A horse who may turn out a bargain of the sale ring is Batsham, a two-year-old Tidal—Hunting Eells gelding who has yet to race but who is at present working as well as anything on the Trentham tracks. He is owned by T. R. George, who bought him at the sales 18 months ago for 75 guineas. George has Deen in no hurry with the gelding, whom he considered would do better if allowed time. The youngster has grown into a fine stamp of horse who gallops with an easy swinging action. A first foal, he is out of Hunting Bells, a Hunting Song— Merry Bells mare who never raced, and who belongs to the same family as Kilboy, Miss Delaval, Master Delaval, Ruapapa, Tenakoe, King Colossus, and Greek Gold. According to George the name is that of a place where there are very high tides. Some hacks who should improve were seen at Foxton. One is Gold Bound, a four-year-old mare by Lackham from Airway, who won the Trial Stakes very comfortably. She is a half-sister to Silvanus, and has prospects in hack company. Dainty Sue disappointed her backers, but she seemed unable to handle the sandy going satisfactorily. She is a nice filly in appearance and should justify her good looks shortly. Dainty Sue is a four-year Australianbred marc by Drake from Masked Battery. ’ Bright Red, another member of the team, is on the easy list at present, the result of ricking a muscle. This gelding is in fine order, and one of the best novice jumpers over country at Riccarton. It is to be hoped that he will not be out of work foi' long. C. G. McCarthy has worked a big improvement in Improvident as far as temperament is concerned, during the short time he has had him and this two-year-old Defoe —Misgovern colt looks like developing into a useful horse. He is highly-strung, but McCarthy intends to give him some education in the ring, and this may have the desired effect of settling him down. Happy Moments, a full-brother to Great Memory, is progressing steadily in his work. A big two-year-old, he closely resembles . his sister - in looks. Magnus, his sire, at least proved in his short, but ill-fated career at the Stonyhurst stud that he could get his progeny true to type, D. O’Connor has Raeburn in solid condition and this two-year-old Colos-sus-Shuffler colt should strip in great order next time he is called on to race. It took seven races before he showed any form earlier this season and then he ran two thirds before getting on the winning list at the midsummer meeting at Riccarton.