"AUSTRALASIAN RACEHORSE"

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25994, 23 December 1949, Page 4

"AUSTRALASIAN RACEHORSE"

VALUABLE BOOK OF REFERENCE

Receipt is acknowledged, from the New Zealand Racing Conference, of a very interesting book. It is the “Australasian Racehorse,” and it is described as “a record of the successful racehorses and sires in Australia and New Zealand from the earliest period.” The book was originally compiled by Mr W. H. E. Wanklyn, then secretary of the New Zealand Racing Conference and Canterbury Jockey Club, and it was published in 1908. It has now been brought up to date for the New Zealand Racing Conference by a well-known Auckland racing journalist, Mr A. F. Howarth (“Blair Athol,” racing editor of the “New Zealand Farmer”). .

The “Australasian Racehorse,” to use Mr Wanklyn’s own words, aimed at being a brief and succinct record of the successful racehorses descended from each of the brood mares imported from England and elsewhere to Australia and New Zealand. From it the studerit could readily acquire a general idea of the comparative merit of the strains of colonial blood; he could trace those curious vicissitudes in the fortunes of some racing families which are so difficult of explanation; and could better be able to form shrewd guesses at the value of certain combinations, which he would find have, by accident or design, contributed to the production of great winners.

The imported mares were arranged under their Bruce Lowe family numbers, more from convenience of reference than from any conviction in Mr Wanklyn’s mind that the blending of certain figures was the key to success. This arrangement is retained in the present work. Under each imported mare are given her principal winning descendants and also the brood mares descended from her to be found in the current volumes of the New Zealand and Australian Stud Books.

The section of the work dealing with imported sires groups them also under their Bruce Lowe family numbers, while giving the headlines of the pedigrees of all sires that have been at the stud in New Zealand and Australia, with the .exception of a few brought out in the very early days, whose influence is no longer of any importance, as a matter of interest or record.

A section devoted to colonial mares gives the pedigrees, as far as they can be traced, of the mares in the New Zealand and Australian Stud Books that have left winning descendants of sufficient merit to justify their inclusion, and whose descent cannot be traced to a mare in the General Stud Book. These families have no Bruce Lowe numbers, but most of them are undoubtedly thoroughbred, though their pedigrees have been lost. The horse breeding industry has grown out of all recognition, In Australia and New Zealand, in the last 40 years, which accounts for the great increase in the size of the present edition.

The scheme of the original work has been strictly followed -all through the present edition, and when dealing with the performances of winning descendants of the old families, Mr Wanklyn’s own words have been used in most instances. The benefit of Mr Wanklyn’s wide experience and his views on the merits of the horses that were racing during his own lifetime are thus faithfully presented.

Mr Howarth has done a very good job in building, from the sound foundation provided by Mr Wanklyn, a work that will be of immense value to all interested in the breeding industry. It provides great pleasure to the student, and is replete with information that is indispensable to the practical breeder.

For Wingatui There was an exodus from Riccarton yesterday when trainers and horses left for the south, to assist at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting next week. Some went by float and others by train. L. Cavalier is one who has delayed his departure till to-morrow, when five horses from his stable will travel south. Rider’s Tip Demonic, with an engagement in the Manawatu Cup, Ifas shown good form up to a mile. In his only race over a middle distance this season, he shaped badly, but the fact that W. J. Broughton has taken the ride on him, in preference to Robin's Reward, will be an inducement to many people to fancy him. Maryburn Mr D. McFarlane, who has for some years been a prominent Christchurch owner, suffered a severe loss yesterday, when Maryburn broke a leg, just above the fetlock, while galloping on the course proper at Awapuni, where he was due to contest the Manawatu Cup on Saturday. Maryburn, a six-year-old gelding by Martarma from Inchmahone, an imported mare by Plantago, was bred in South Canterbury by Mr D. Grant. He won his first race, a maiden event, at Hororata, nearly two years ago, in the colours of Messrs F. A. and G. J. Nelson. Soon

afterwards he was bought by Mr McFarlane, for whom he won two races in the same season, a nine furlong event at Motukarara, followed by a mile and a half at Trentham. In the spring of last season he won a mile race at Wingatui. but after two more races he had to be Riven a spell. He made a good start this season, with a win at Ashburton, and he showed some attractive staying form at R’ccarton, where he finished fourth in the New Zealand Cup, followed by fifth in the Metropolitan Handicap, then sixth in the Fendaltpn Handicap. He had done well since then, and he looked an excellent prospect to win an important event at Manawatu or Marton, where he was due to do his holiday racing. The mishap to this smart stayer was bad luck for his owner, also for his Riccarton trainer, F. D. Jones, who had the Martarma gelding in great order when he took him north this week. Ellerslie Scratchings Rev Vaals and Town Hero were scratched yesterday morning for all engagements. Mountain Venture was scratched for the Robinion Handicap. Livre d’Or has been scratched from the Railway Handicap.—(P.A.)