N.Z. HORSES IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27500, 6 November 1954, Page 4

N.Z. HORSES IN AUSTRALIA

Succcess Ascribed To Better Grass

COMMENT BY MR C. E. ROBERTSON

—went over especially to see Rising Fast run in the Melbourne Cup. He was bred by my sons, Frank and Bruce, at .Platform Farm,” said Mr Charles E. Robertson, New Zealand's noted bloodstock auctioneer, when he returned on I the Tasman Empire Airways DC-6 to Christchtirch from Melbourne yesterday, i But since the sale of Rising Fast as a yearling for 325 guineas the Robertsons

have . kept an eye on his racing. "Some of the Australian experts consider Rising Fast is the best horse they have seen since Phar Lap; others rank him in the same class,” Mr Robertson said. . ...

Easter, dam of Rising East, is due to foal soon, to the ?ame sire, Alonzo, he said.

Other members of the Melbourne Cup winner's family have also been successful in Australia. Finlsta, a half-sister, won the West Australian Oaks and was narrowly beaten into second in the St. Leger. A full sister to Finlsta was sold as a yearling to Japan. ‘•New Zealand horses are wiping the floor in Australia,” said Mr Robertson. ‘•lt’s because of the grass we have here and the better climate. A good racehorse has ‘to begin well and plenty of feed makes

his mother give .-enty of milk. Most Australian horses go through drought periods; some never see green grass growing for 12 months on end—Lucerne is cut and carried to them for miles.” [ Mr Robertson is head of the bloodI stock department of Messrs Wright, Stephenson, Ltd., and primarily noted for founding the national yearling sales at Trentham.