LEASE OF BELLE CANE

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23177, 14 November 1940, Page 6

LEASE OF BELLE CANE

Brothers Accepted Ringside Offer WIN IN OAKS RECALLS YEARLING SALE When Mr W. J. Smilh, a wealthy Australian, bought no fewer than 10 yearlings at the bloodstock sales at Trentham in January, 1039, a suggestion by a Wanganui farmer that the visiting buyer would not be able to handle all the young stock was followed by Mr Smith inviting his friend to take a lease, of a filly he had just purchased for two years. That filly was Belle Cane, which yesterday proved herself the best of her sex at three years of age by a very comfortable win in the New Zealand Oaks. Now raced by Messrs T. J. and P. A. O'Neill, of Wanganui, Belle Cane has now won five races in her last six starts. A great personal friend of Mr Smilh, Mr P. A. O'Neill was seated beside the Australian, who was a free purchaser at the sales. Mr Smith, who has a big stud at Scone, 200 miles north of Sydney, where Beau Pere and Huia are now the best known of his three stallions, secured the Beau Pere—Duck’s Egg filly with a bid of 275 guineas. “What are you going to do, Bill? You cannot handle all these youngsters yourself,” Mr O’Neill asked. Mr Smith’s reply was: “You take her am} race her for two years.” And although she carries Mr Smith’s brand—a bottle in a wineglass, her owner being chairman of the Australian Glass Company —she now races in the interests of Mr O’Neill and his brother, who farm together at Fordell. They have been racing together for years, too, their last classic winner being Lowenberg. who scored a surprise win Over the pronounced favourite, Kinnoull, in the 1935 Derby.

Telling the story of how he and his brother happened to become the owners under lease of the brilliant Belle Cane after her Oaks success. Mr O'Neill said Mr Smith was keen to get the Ally at the sales for breeding purposes. The Australian was greatly Impressed with the Beau Fere stock on offer, and he later bought the sire at the Westmere stud dispersal sale for 7000 guineas. "It Was a tragedy for New Zealand bloodstock that Beau Fere ever left the country,’’ Mr O’Neill said. Often described as one of the most handsome and beat-bred Son-in-Law horses in the world. Beau Pere was sold to the late Mr John Donald, of Westmere. for 100 guineas, and then his stock began winning in England, ong winning two two-mtle races as a three-year-old. His career in New Zealand was an instantaneous success.

A Development Plan Care in building up Belle Cane after she had failed as a two-year-Old is claimed by Mr O'Neill to be largely responsible for her speed to-day. Trained fcy O. Cox at Hawera, Belle 'Cane made her first appearance in parades at New Plymouth and 8t Wanganui. In none of the outings did she show any pace. Another poor display at Marton caused her owners to decide to turn her out on their station in a really good "bull" paddock, without any dry feed. Their judgment that in the summer months a horse does not want hard feed so long as it is on rich country was proved sound by the steady development of the filly. •Sent to W. H. Dwyer, of Wanganui. to be trained, Belle Cane showed a phenomenal trial at her first serious gallop and she won her first race, a maiden, at the Wanganui meeting at Marton. Then came her wins in the Trial Stakes and the Pcarce Hanoi* cap, an open event at Wellington. On Saturday she romped home first in the Spring Plate, but she was beaten in the Derby. But Mr O'Neill is not satisfied that his filly is not superior to the best colts of her age, and she is to Be trained to challenge them again hi the Great Northern Derby at Chriitmas. Belle Cane's Derby P«ta"tP.* ance was disappointing to Mr O'Neill.' "I don't blame her rider for ntt stumble shortly after the start, ne said. "She lost several lengths then and you cannot do the job at both ends. She could not possibly go on the outside of several horses when tney turned for home and the opening aid not come for her." A Foot Deformity One of the best-tempered horses Dwyer has trained. Belle Cane is an easy mare to train. Her breeding ana performances now suggest that Mr Smith obtained a bargain when sne was knocked down at such a low pnee at the vearling sales. Perhaps a foot deformity made her unattractive to other buyers. Like her mother, Belie Cane has a turned-in front foot, out it does not interfere with her galloping ability. The O'Neill brothers are keen sportsmen and have had a fair measure oi success. With three horses they have won the Spring Plate twice. Pantutu, which ran second to Cylinder in tne 1930 Derby, being their other winner, while Lowenberg ran second. Great believers in paying a higher price to obtain the best blood, they sent Trim and Zarene, the dam of Lowenberg, to Beau Pere in Australia and tney have on their station a yearling nuy and colt foal bv that great sire.