TROTTING Light Brigade’s Fine Record As Stakes Sire

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29178, 12 April 1960, Page 4

TROTTING Light Brigade’s Fine Record As Stakes Sire

Winterlight, winner of the New Zealand Trotting Stakes at Addington on Saturday, is the fifth winner of the race sired by Light Brigade, which has also appeared in the pedigrees of three other winners of the race.

Light Brigade has been one of the leading sires of straight-out trotters in recent years and as well as Winterlight, he was the sire of the third horse, Bonny Rachael.

Winterlight is the first horse of his age to win a race as a trotter this season. He raced first as a pacer, but this season after two unplaced starts, he was converted to the trotting gait. He had four unplaced starts before his win on Saturday, although at the Cheviot meeting last month he was runner-up to Fourina, only to lose the placing on the grounds of interference. Winterlight was close to the lead throughout Saturday's race, and, like nearly all of his rivals, he made mistakes in the running. The race resulted in a disappointing contest, but it was by no means the poorest contest in the history of the event. There are some critics who claim that there is little merit in the club retaining the event, but it has proved its value in the past. Many of the best horses of their gait have started their careers with a win in the classic, and many of the best horses of their time have been beaten in it. The race is some small encouragement to breeders of straight-out trotters and it is unfortunate there are not more opportunities for them. The race was no more disappointing than the New Zealand Welcome Stakes for two-year old pacers a week earlier. A close finish compensated to some degree for a disappointing contest in that classic. Winterlight’s Breeding Winterlight is a chestnut colt by Light Brigade from Addie Gamble, by Gamble from Addie Guy, a mare imported by the late Sir John. McKenzie. Addie Guy was a comparative failure at the stud and left nothing of note. Winterlight still has plenty to learn before he becomes a reli-

able proposition, but once under way he has plenty of speed. His 3min 23 2-ssec for the mile and a half was the second fastest in the history of the event, the record of 3mir. 20sec being held by Au Fait, the winner in 1958. The second horse, John Black, in the first foal of the U. Scott mare, Girl Black, which took a record of 3min 11 3-ssec for one mile and a half. Girl Black won her way to a tight mark before recurring soreness forced her retirement John Black is by Johnny Globe and he is trained at Templeton by D. G. Nyhan for Mr H. Nichol, of Invercargill, who raced his dam. John Black showed great promise when first he was broken in, but he did not trot so well when produced this season. John Black attempted tb lead from end to end on Saturday and he did not make a mistake until the straight entrance when he was joined by Winterlight, which also broke at that point John Black settled down quickly and he still looked likely to win until he broke again about half a furlong out D. D. Nyhan got him back to his gait just short of the post, but by that time he had been passed by Winterlight. Like most young trotters, John Black should Improve with age and it will be surprising if he fails to develop top-class form later on. Bonny Rachael, which broke

[badly shortly after the start, put •in a long run for her third i placing, finishing on over some > tiring horses. She is a grand type I of filly and is owned and trained • at Tai Tapu by W. L. Harris, i Bonny Rachael has not been an « easy horse to train. She developed ■ a tendency to run off in her ■ work, but on Saturday she ; showed no signs of this. She is by Light Brigade from Nobje Ginne, a winner at the , pacing gait, by Grattan Loyal, , tracing back to Miss Tracey, . ancestress of a host of winners for the late Mr J. B. Westerman. First Start Bonny Rachael was having only her first start at a totalisator meeting so there was more than ' average merit in her effort. With 1 more experience, she should develop worthwhile form. Kuyaway showed great stamina ; after a bad break in the early stages to finish fourth without ever appearing likely to return a dividend. Kuyaway is raced ; by Messrs A. M. and R. J. Bruce, of Ashburton, who won the Trotting Stakes in 1946 with Acclamation, which went on to become one of the best staying mares raced in New Zealand. Kuyaway is a tall filly by Stormyway, the sire of the New Zealand Derby Stakes winner, Stormont, from Double Measure, a mare tracing back to Pearlchild, founder of a highly suc- ; cessful winning family for the late Mr H. F. Nicoll. Kuyaway is : a half-sister to Venetian, ■ Schwanda and Bugle Call. Several of the other gunners showed sufficient promise to suggest that with more time they will develop worthwhile form. Flying Paddy, a brother to the

Timaru Nursery Stakes winner, Flying Note, was with the leaders to the straight and then he broke badly. This Flying Song youngster looks to have a bright future at the trotting gait. The Hal Tryax filly, Waterspray, came in for confident support and she started second fayourite. Supporters of this Southland youngster received a poor run for their money as a ring on her undercheck became tangled on the end of a shaft of her sulky and did not work clear during the race. Waterspray was credited with an outstanding trial at Invercargill before the nee and she obviously „ has considerable ability. She was a winner at the pacing gait earlier this season and on Saturday she , was having her first start r •' The disappointment of the race was the poor showing of Super Note, which tailed to reproduce the bold showing he made at the recent Ashburton trials.