FROM STUD AND STABLE Helped A Neighbour; Got A Champion

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29778, 22 March 1962, Page 4

FROM STUD AND STABLE Helped A Neighbour; Got A Champion

Mr John Fouhy, a retired farmer, of Hamilton, became the owner of the leading three-year-old, Cracksman, because of a neighbourly action towards a Waikato studmaster a few years ago.

Mr Fouhy had room on his property to graze two or three mares for the Pirongia studmaster, Mr J. L. Macky. Then, when one of Mr Fouhy’s own mares slipped a foal after being sent to the Pirongia sire, Le Filou, Mr Macky offered Mr Fouhy a foal from Triennial.

Mr Macky insisted the foal should be a colt. First came a ally, now racing as Filch, and so far a moderate performer, but a place-getter in a division of a hack race at Paeroa last Saturday. Two years later Mr Macky was able to tell Mr Fouhy that a colt had arrived —and it was Cracksman, now winner of £6495 from six wins, a third, and two fourths. Cracksman is prepared by the experienced and successful Te Rapa trainer, R. T. Cotter, who unhesitatingly plumps for the Le Filou colt as the best racehorse he has had through his stable. Cotter has high respect for the class and gameness of Cracksman because he has seldom been able to give him an extensive preparation for his races.

Cracksman is a heavy colt, straight in front, and while the tracks are hard Cotter has to proceed cautiously. “It even gets down to putting your heel into the plough at Te Rapa of a morning to be sure it is not that little bit too firm for him." Cotter told "The Press” last Saturday. "He can jar very easily, and get soreness in the shoulder, but I think a blood condition has something to do with it" Cracksman's feat of winning the New Zealand St. Leger on a light racing and training programme has convinced his trainer that he has a potential Melbourne Cup winner in his charge.

Light Programme Cracksman was out in the paddock for three weeks after he won the Great Northern Derby. And between then and his winning run in the New Zealand St. Leger he had only one sprint race—the North Island Challenge Stakes, of seven furlongs. a week before the classic.

It was certainly Le Filou's day at Trentham last Saturday Less than an hour after Cracksman's St. Leger victory, the Riccarton-trained Gay Filou won the rich President’s Handicap. The Auckland Cup winner, Koutulla, is another of the Le Filou’s so the imported stallion could have his best season ever.

A bay horse. Le Filou was bred in France in 1946 by Vatellor from Fileuse, by Casterarl from Diseuse, by Diomedes.

Mr Macky imported Le Filou to New Zealand in 1951 after the horse had won races in both England and France and showed sound fo-tn at a middle distance. Cracksman’s dam is Triennial. She was got by Triumvir, a brown horse bred in England in 1940 by Trimdon from Miel des ALpes by Knockando.

Triumvir was brouaht to New Zealand for Mr Macky's stud in 1948 and died five years later. Cracksman's grand - dam

was Princess Hilda, a daughter of that splendid sire Hunting Song. The family was established in New Zealand by the imported Titania.

Gay Filou, a year older than Cracksman, was also bred at Mr Macky's stud, and he is royally bred to go to the top as a stayer, as he gives every indication of doing.

Gay Filou's dam, Contrive, is by Contact, a Sydney Cup winner, from Hauteur, which left Calibrate, the New Zealand Cup winner in 1950. Gay Filou’s dam descends from Lady Wayward 11. Pages could be written about the Influence this imported mare has had on New Zealand bloodstock.

Gay Filou is the third foal of Contrive. The earlier ones were Valsrando and Kathwyn, both by Duccio. Conatus, a sister of Contrive, has left Lampada (by Duccio) and Harrier (by Le Filou) both good winners, the latter in Australia. Owned A Champion The death of Tulloch’s owner, Mr E. A. Haley, a few days ago has recalled some notable aspects of his career as an owner; and also his decision, which created a sensation, not to run Tulloch in the Melbourne Cup as a three-year-old. Mr Haley was widely criticised for not starting the colt. Main argument of those who disagreed with the Haley decision was that Tulloch would have won the race, and won it easily. But Mr Haley never thought for a minute that Tulloch would not have won it.

Mr Haley wrote to Tulloch’s breeder, Mr D. H. Blackie, a few days after toe 1957 Melbourne Cup: “I feel sure he will stay and there is not toe slightest doubt he would have easily won toe Melbourne Cup. “However, I do not believe in starting such a good three-year-old in such a gruelling race.” Mr Haley was in indifferent health for much of Tulloch’s racing career and did not see his champion win a good number of races. But he felt his decision not to run Tulloch in toe Melbourne Cup when he was three helped the New Zea-land-bred champion to come back last season and develop something like his best form after recovering from a serious illness.

Marendellas Withdraws “The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, March 21. Marendellas, one of the early favourites for toe Kerries Handicap, the first leg of toe T.A.B. double at Tauranga on Saturday, will not run. The Takanini trainer, C. M. Jillings, said today that Marendellas’s next start would very likely be at Avondale on Saturday week. Marendellas was galloped; on in the Paeroa Cup last Saturday, but still beat all l but Starboard. The previous week he won toe Ohin.emuri Cup.

Riders For Oamaru Riding engagements for the second day of the Oamaru Jockey Club’s centennial meeting on Monday include:— R. N. March: Desert Chief, Kings Tax, Arnurna, Mighty Smart. Royal Estate, Spinning Gold. E. J. Didham: Birthright, Summer Star, Royal Chant. Mary Tee. W. C. Gye: Arc Flight. B. J. Anderton: Ocean Melody. D. N. Hadfield: The Toff, Lyn Leigh, Helen’s Bay. G. W Mein: Alloa, Riboflavin, Persuasive, Supreme Effort. P. J. Kempton: Polly Alonzo, Persian Scene. K. C. Thompson: Tocsin, Mon Roi. E. E. O'Brien; Valaris. J. Carvalho: Linton. W. D. Skelton: Windvale Lad, Mimette, Calestan, Cardinal King, Code Flag. Nimbus Cloud. R. J. Skelton: Donnie, Master Dalmain, Feleka, Double. M. J. Skelton: Payout. F. H. Skelton: Compensate. L. M. Casey: Extra Piece, Tannine, Purr Along. N. E. Eastwood: Forsythe. G. W. Wright: Solus, Half Quid, Reshine, Athenree One. N. T. Cowles: Last Link. M. J. Wlldermoth: Missing Span, Rural Life. Hush Lady. E. G. Low: Gay Tommy. C. T. Wilson: Gay Defoe.

B. W. McDonald: Sailorman, Hopeful. Taitumu, Persian Light. C. McDonald: Legal Game. A. H. Eastwood: Siam. Aquinas. W. H. Beck: Fare Ye Well. Dial, Knight, Brydone. C. W. Campbell: Bonny April. B. E. Kennedy: Believe Me. Mighty Coral. B. P Kennedy: Tarlon. O. Arming: Napra. J. D. Pankhurst: Panther. Corrieonzo. A. J. Stokes: Our Heritage, Studio.