TROTTING OUTSTANDING SUCCESS OF LIGHT BRIGADE PROGENY

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28629, 4 July 1958, Page 4

TROTTING OUTSTANDING SUCCESS OF LIGHT BRIGADE PROGENY

A feature of the sires’ list over the last eight years has been the great success of the progeny of Light Brigade. He finished a close second to U. Scott on this season’s list with 104 wins and 257 placings worth £59,453 ss, against £63,655 5s credited to U. Scott.

Light Brigade is now third on the list of winning sires, with £492,158 15s, and his progeny have had 826 wins to date. Light Brigade has so far had only 166 individual winners, but he has sired some outstanding performers. Not only have his progeny been highly successful as pacers, but several of them have shown brilliance at the trotting gait. He has headed the list of sires of trotters for the last four seasons.

Light Brigade had a very lean run when his progeny first began racing and at one stage many people doubted whether he would make the grade. Free Fight, now a successful sire himself, was the first of his progeny to earn any money. Free Fight finished sixth on the sires’ list for the current season.

Free Fight earned £lOO as a result of one placing in the 194546 season and he was responsible for Light Brigade’s total earnings of £l7BO the next season. Again in the 1947-48 season it appeared as though Free Fight would again be the only representative of his sire to win. Turning Point March 13, 1948, marked the turning point for Light Brigade. That day Free Fight won a double at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting, and the same day Signal Light won the New Zealand Trotting Stakes. Two other pacers by Light Brigade also won the same day. Attack graduated from maiden company at the Oamaru Jockey • Club’s meeting. and Courageous was successful at the Westport Jockey Club’s meeting A week later Vigilant won the New Zealand Welcome Stakes at Addington.

Free Fight, Signal Light, Attack, Courageous and Vigilant were Light Brigade’s only winners that season, but they gained 12 wins between .them and earned £5435, placing their sire twentyfirst on the sires’ list. Since then the progeny of Light Brigade have continued to have great success. He moved into tenth place on the list in the 194849 season and he was fifth the next season. Since then he has not been lower than third, and the earnings of his progeny have not been lower than £44,517 10s He topped the list for ’the first time last season with £72,337 10s, the greatest amount credited to any sire in New Zealand in a single season. Light Brigade’s best winners this season have been Lookaway, Trueco, Recruit and La Mignon. Other fine winners by Light Brigade include Vedette, Soange-

This is the second article showing the domination of trotting in New Zealand for more than 20 years by sLc stallions. The last of the senes will be published tomorrow.

tana. Flight Commander, First Victory, Red Emperor, Attack, Signal’ Light. Fourth Brigade, Two Step. Sure Charge. Battleground, Brave Company, Crimea, Fallacy. Forward, Greek Brigade, His Majesty, Local Light. Masterpiece, Scottish Brigade, Tactics, Valour, White Angel, Battle Cry, Fair Isle, Indomitable, Vagus, General Lee, Bon Ton, Dresden Lady, Frontiersman, Golden Hero, Light Nurse. Thunder, Super Brigade. Vapour Trail. Barravey. Superfortress and Jaquine.

So far very few Light Brigade mares have gone to the stud. However, it seems as though he will be a great success in this department. Among the winners from Light Brigade mares have been Adroit, Au Fait, Celestial. Night Wind and Scottish Star Grattan Loyal’s Record Grattan Loyal, which was imported to New Zealand by Mr Freeman Holmes, has had a farreaching effect on trotting. He has been one of the leading sires in recent years and he is developing an outstanding record as a brood mare sire. Grattan Loyal has never headed the sires’ list, but he was in the first seven from the 1937-38 season until the 1955-56 season. He was six times second and three times third. Altogether, Grattan Loyal has had 294 individual winners of 1139 races. In 23 seasons they have won £465.181. Grattan Loyal, which died in 1952, has very few representatives racing now and during the present season they won only four races and £1662 in stakes.

Gold Bar has been Grattan Loyal’s best son. and Loyal Nurse was his most successful daughter. Other fine winners include Loyal Rey. Bulldozer. Dundee Sandy. Loyal Peter, Loyal Friend, Lucky Loyal. Coquette. Goldina, Mankind, Maudeen, Zulu, ■ Renown’s Best, Watcher, Colonel Grattan. Nell Grattan, First Mate, Roy Grattan, Aladdin, Admiration, Sir Vivian, Secure, Scholarship and Bonny Bridge. Grattan Loyal did not leave many trotters, the best of them being Inherit. Nationalist, Mountain Range. Manana, Madam Grattan and Factotum. Grattan Loyal was the leading brood mare sire last season and he is certain to be one of the top three again this term. Among the many fine winners from Grattan Loyal mares have been Blue. Unite, Daniel’s Pride, Cabra, Guiseppe, Light Nurse. Lady Shona. Quite Contrary. Mountain Brigade, Responsive, Aldora, East Dome, Ruth Again, Prestbury. Shirley Dillon. Au Revoir, Adorian, Morano, Beau Marie, Esteem, Recent Choice, Integrity, Single Direct. Nebula, Gay Lyric, Belmont Hall, Great Venture, Castigate, Mighty Song, Victory Song and Cavandale. (To be concluded.)