TROTTING INFLUENCE OF JACK POTTS ON TROTTING

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28630, 5 July 1958, Page 7

TROTTING INFLUENCE OF JACK POTTS ON TROTTING

Jack Potts and Quite Sure complete the list of six stallions which have dominated trotting in New Zealand in the last 20 years. The progeny of Jack Potts compiled an outstanding record during a period when stakes were considerably lower than they have been in the last 10 years. Jack Potts died in 1948, and the present season is the first occasion for 25 years that he has not appeared on the sires’ list Mighty Eine was one of the last of the progeny of this great stallion to race in New Zealand, and his career is probably at an end. The progeny of Jack Potts began racing in the 1933-34 season and two seasons later he moved into third position on the list. He headed the list for the first time in the 1937-38 season, and remained there for the next eight seasons. He was third, second, seventh and eighth for the next four years, and then the numbers of his representatives fell right away and he went toward the bottom of the list.

His greatest performer was Emulous, winner of the InterDominion Championship series at Auckland in 1948. Other outstanding performers included Marlene, Pacing Power, Indian Clipper, Knave of Diamonds, Fine Art, Clockwork, Pot Luck, Countless, Ingle Belmer, Plunder Bar, Horsepower, Ferry Post, War Guard, Hilda Potts, Cabin Boy, Gamble, Lightning Lady, Molly Direct, Lucky Jack, County Antrim, Jack Peterson and Realm Again. Altogether, Jack Potts had 271 individual winners of 1312 races for £454,736 in stages. He was the first sire in New Zealand to top the £400,000 mark. Brood Mare Sire

Jack Potts has had a great influence on the breeding industry in recent years. He has headed the list of brood mare sires on seven occasions and is still close to the top. Among the many fine performers from Jack Potts mares have been Thunder, Trueco. Dresden Lady, Van Dieman. Thelma Globe, Rupee, Tactician, Lady Belmer, Super Royal, Earl Marie, Starbeam, Auditor, Suzendy, Bartender, Johnny Guitar Wayward Peter, Battalion, Vapour Trail, Lady Rowan, Big Shot. Merval, Rellek, Signal Light, Poranui, Roschana, Young Charles, Gay Knight, Springbok, Level Best, Globe Direct, Gough’s Pride, Ada Scott, Whipster, Local Gold and Bexley’s Pride. The progeny of Jack Potts nearly all favoured the pacing gait. He had died before he was credited with his first winner at the trotting gait. This was Implacable, which took a twomile record of 4min 22 4-ssec. Quite Sure’s Record

Quite Sure, which died in 1952. was. one of the greatest sires of straight-out trotters in the history of the sport in New Zealand. About half of his 240 individual winners favoured the trotting gait and they won more than £200,000 of the £343,058 credited to him. His progeny won 864 races.

Quite Sure headed the list of sires of trotters for eight consecutive seasons up to 1951-52, and headed the list again in the 1953-54 season.

Quite Sure moved up to ninth position on the sires’ list in the 1940-41 season and from then until the 1953-54 season he was in the first eight, finishing third twice and fourth four times. Among his outstanding trotters have been Blue Horizon, Certissimus, Daredevil, Gold Horizon, Jason’s Quest, Ripcord, Toushay, Will Cary, Jimmy Dillon, Excellenza, Bulls Eye, Kevin, Believe Me, Castigate, Fairy Wings. Bomber, Bonus. Centennial Star

This is the third and final article of a series showing the domination of trotting in New Zealand foi more than 20 years by six stallions.

and Quite Contrary. Walter M’oore, Whipster, Follow Me, Certainty, Bien Sur, Copper Trail, Trustee, Seacraft, Monagh Leagh, Minoru, Medical Student and Positive were among the best pacers sired by Quite Sure. Quite Sure has also met with fair success as a brood mare sire. Quite Sure mares are the dams of many winners, including Amigo, Toucher, Western Son, Farlena, Scimitar, Vivanti, Sure Charge, Scotch Girl, Similas, Lassoloc, Knighthood, Suredale and Ailsa Craig.

Rey de Oro, Logan Pointer and Wrack were highly successful sires of an earlier period and their effects on the breeding industry have continued up to the present day. It seems that the six sires discussed in the last three days will have just as lasting an effect on the sport. The following table shows the number of seasons the six stallions have been successfully represented on the race tracks, the number of individual winners credited to them, the number of wins their progeny have had, and the total stakqs earned by their progeny:—

Sial lion, seasons. wurs. £ U. Scott ..20 286 1306 706.010J Dillon „ Hall 16 391 1411 665.548 Lieh Brigade 13 166 826 492,1581 Grattan Loyal 23 294 1139 465,181 Jack Potts 24 271 1312 454,736 Quite Sure 19 240 864 343,058 Totals 115 1648 6858 3,128,6921