T. J. SMITH HAS 500th WIN WITH ALPENSTOCK

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29262, 21 July 1960, Page 4

T. J. SMITH HAS 500th WIN WITH ALPENSTOCK

tt'rom the Australian corresponaent at "The Press'!

SYDNEY, July 18. The Sydney trainer, T. J. Smith, on Saturday at Warwick Farm, scored his sDoth - winner since he began his uninterrupted run as Australia’s leading trainer. It was, perhaps, proper that the horse which won this important race should be New Zealand-bred. The youngster was Alpenstock, a two-year-old by Alpenhom from Nizam’s Belle, bred by Mr J. A. Mitchel) of Santa Rosa Stud, at Longbum, and bought at the national sales by Smith for the prominent owner, E. R. Williams, who raced Hydrogen and many outstanding horses, but who now satisfies himself with one or two horses to keep his colours "running.’* Smith’s meteoric rise began in the 1952-53 season when he headed the list for the first time with 54 winners. Each year since he has easily been on top, certainly in Sydney, and each time with a total greater than any other Australian trainer. The figures are for the Sydney Metropolitan area only, and Smith adds to this total with many wins in Melbourne and in Brisbane. 68 Wins This year’s tally in Sydney already is a record 68 wins, and there are two more meetings at which this total is bound to be increased. Most of Smith’s successes have b q witl sw alan, irses—gallopers like Redcraze, Toparoa, Tulloch and others of less distinction. It is not surprising that this should be so be e Smith is a regular visitor to the sales, buying each year 20 to 25 top yearlings. r J, His ability was recognised by New Zealand owners who were

seeking to send horses to Australia to be trained without adding to the expense of sending their own trainer with them. Thus Smith has always had a good clientele from among owners Of horses who had already shown ability. On very few occasions, indeed, has he failed to make improvement in horses sent to his care.

Alpenstock is bred on lines very widely known in Australia, his dam having been bred at Kooba Stud, owned by the late Mr F. W. Hughes. N.Z. Family

It is a New Zealand family, Nizam’s Belle being by Nizami (imp.), which stood in New Zealand and later was bought by Mr Hughes for Australia.

The dam of Nizam’s Belle was Ringless, which bad only the one foal.

Ringless links with such wellknown horses as Par Avion, Alright, Gabrielle, Flying Meteor, Sonnetary and the Australian winners, Ritmar and Mystic Star. .Alpenhorn (imp.) is by Alycidon, which was represented in the Derby result in England this year. Alpenhorn was a good winner over long distances in England, and is bred to stay, since his dam is from a mare by Asterus. Another New Zealand-bred winner with a French connexion was Harrier, which on Saturday won his way into open company by succeeding in the Encourage Handicap at Warwick Farm. Harrier now enters calculations for the Epsom Handicap so well did he run to Saturday’s mile race from No. 24 barrier position —regarded as a big handicap at Warwick Farm.

Harrier is by Le Filou (imp.), which is by Vatellor from Fileuse, by the Italian sire Casteriri from Di sense, which was from a mare by the celebrated sire, Teddy. Frank Dalton trains Harrier for Mr and Mrs J. L. Innes, and the trainer is of the opinion that with ordinary luck Harrier will go on to race in first-class company because of the great courage he shows in a finish.