PLUTUS, PUBLIC IDOL, HAS RUN HIS LAST RACE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 205, 30 August 1941, Page 3 (Supplement)

PLUTUS, PUBLIC IDOL, HAS RUN HIS LAST RACE

pLUTUS, the most popular pacer since Harold Logan, dropped dead during National week. A model of consistency, Plutus never ran a bad race and, for a stallion, had a perfect temperament.

During his seven years on the track he won 18 races, was 19 times second, seven times third and twice fourth in races which carried a prize for fourth place. Included in his list of successes were three free-for-alls and five events over two miles. As a young horse Plutus had to be carefully handled, for while he developed plenty of speed, he lacked stamina. It was not until he was six years old that he was tried over a two-mile journey. Prior to that he had contested 22 races for two firsts, five seconds and two thirds.

Started in Modest Way In his first two years of racing Plutus won only £253 in stakes, but in his third year, 1936-37, scored three times in 11 starts, and won £437 10/. It was not until October, 1937, that he won his first race over two miles. That was the Avon Handicap, at New Brighton, in which he registered 4.25. The following month he won the Forbury Handicap at Dunedin, and then to New Brighton and won the Mace Memorial Handicap. His fourth victory over two miles was in the Ashburton Cup on December 27, 1937. Thus in ten weeks he won four important races.

In the same season he won five sprint events, his total for that period being nine firsts, two seconds, two thirds and £2160 in stakes.

Won £2100 in Year in Stakes I** the following year Plutus started 20 times for three firsts and five seconds and £2100 in stakes. At the November meeting at Addington fir "is fifth race over two miles, tne Ollivier Handicap, in which he dashed up on the inside of his field jo win m the last stride and pay the Diggest dividend of his career.

Neither his owner nor his trainer Tw- a , Penny invested, but Mrs, c L' rarely allowed the old *l°rse to start without modest support, had ten shillings invested. of few occasions on yhich the stable's followers failed to anihoJri ,_ T y o days Previously tJLi j hacked him in the New Tr ° ttin & Cu P> in which he ®»*ot get a place.

Notable Success Plutus went on to win a free-for-all at New Brighton in 1938 and the Autumn Free-for-All at Addington in the same year. He won the Free-for-All at Addington in November last, that being his last success at a totalisator meeting. His last victory was recorded at a matinee meeting held at Oamaru recently, where he defeated five high-class pacers in a free-for-all run over a mile and a quarter. In that race he was driven by one of his most ardent admirers in G. S. Smith, who is associated with Donald's stable.

He contested his one hundred and sixth race when be ran in the National All-Age Stakes at Addington.

Bred at Ashburton Plutus was bred at Ashburton by Mr. A. R. Gudsell, but did all his racing in the interests of Mr. W. J. Gudsell. He was the fourth foal of Nelson Derby and Fanny Logan. Avernus, 3.14 3-5 for a mile and a half, was her first, and in 1929 and in 1930 she produced two fillies. Then came Plutus, and since then she has added Honestus and Titus, both by Jack Potts, to her family. Fanny Logan never raced. She is a well-bred mare, being by Logan Pointer from a mare by Prince Imperial, a high-class horse in his day. Nelson Derby, the sire of Plutus, was bred by the late Mrs. M. Duncan at Coldstream Lodge, Fendalton. Nelson Derby was a son of American parents, both his sire, Nelson Bingen, and his dam, Norice, being imported from America. Nelson Bingen won several races as a trotter in the colours of the late Mr. C. M. Ollivier, and Norice was one of the most successful pacers brought to this country. She did most of her racing under D. J. Price who also trained Ribbonwood (2.9), when he defeated Fritz in a match race at Addington in 1903.

Auckland Cup Winner Nelson Derby was purchased when he was a yearling for a substantial figure by Mr. G. Craw, of Palmerston North, and for him he won several races, including the Great Northern Derby. Later he was purchased by Mr. G. J. Barton, and while trained by the late Mr. W. J. Tomkinson he won the Auckland Cup in 1925, and other important races. Because of his outstanding race qualities, and his superior breeding, JPlutus is a big loss as a future sire,