FROM STUD Am STABLE Gay Cobbler Has Mystery Pedigree

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29908, 23 August 1962, Page 4

FROM STUD Am STABLE Gay Cobbler Has Mystery Pedigree

Gay Cobbler became The Cobbler’s first three-year-old winner in the Southern Hemisphere when he overcame difficulties and won brilliantly at Matamata last Saturday.

Later in the afternoon, King Cobbler, another son of The Cobbler, won a race for three-year-old colts and geldings at Moonee Valley.

Gay Cobbler could yet go to Australia. Inquiries were made for him after his win last Saturday, but so far no business has been done. He was bred by Mr I. Tangitu, of Tauranga, and is raced on lease by Mr P. Reweti, who trains him as part-owner.

Gay Cobbler is out of Theatre Lane, dam also of the smart gallopers, Sir Goodwin and Master Goodwin. She has a mystery pedigree. Theatre Lane, which showed some ability on the racecourse without being good, was by Trench Fight from Pleasure Craze. Pleasure Craze was by Valkyrian from an un-named mare by Freedom. It is said that a Maori shepherd once obtained this un-named mare from the Ring family of Matamata after working on the property. When Sir Goodwin first showed form it was said that this was a branch of the family of non-Stud Book horses which produced Region and Fountainhead, but this is not known for certain, and is being investigated. Cracksman’s First The race Gay Cobbler won at Matamata was only a maiden event, but it took on some significance last year, for it was won by Cracksman, which was to go to the top against those of his age during the season. Fox Myth, another highclass racehorse, also won this Matamata race a few years ago.

King Cobbler, The Cobbler’s winning representative in Melbourne last Saturday, is owned by Mr J. P. Stratton. The Riccarton trainer, J. S. Shaw, went to 2000gns to get this colt for Mr Stratton at the 1961 national yearling sales.

Mr Stratton. “Mr Trotting” of Western Australia, usually has a few gallopers in training in Melbourne. He had fair success with Woambra, and his interest in King Cobbler was understandable for these horses are half-brothers. Woambra and King Cobbler are from the Contact mare

Signify, one of the best handicap mares of her time, winner of the Wellington and Pearce Handicaps at Trentham and five other races. Calibrate, am outstanding stayer, belongs to this family. So does the Ric-carton-trained Gay Filou, of which much is expected in major New Zealand races in the next few months.

King Cobbler's two strongest rivals in the Morang Handicap at Moonee Valley, were also New Zealand-bred. The runner-up, Golden Lot, is a brown colt by Gold Nib from Miss Elope, so is a brother to Embargo, winner of seven races including the Great Northern Challenge Stakes and two two-year-old handicaps at Trentham. Kiwi Boy, which was third, failed to attract much interest when offered at Trentham. and was passed in at 250gns. Yet this Tsako colt has some brilliant relations. He is a half-brother to Slogan, which started his racing at Riccarton and won two Doncaster Handicaps after being sent to Sydney to be trained. Password, a brother to Kiwi Boy, was a good winner as a two-year-old in Australia a few seasons ago. Reformed Delinquent First Wateh, a reformed barrier delinquent, started the day well for Canterbury with a win in the Trial Stakes at the Otago Hunt meeting last Saturday.

First Watch’s win was heartening. There must have been some doubts at one time last season if he ever would be a racing proposition because of his behaviour in the starting stalls. He had shown such good speed that he was made second favourite for his first race, the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Juvenile Handicap last spring. But he took no part in the race. He next appeared at the Geraldine meeting in October, but again with the same result. First Watch misbehaved and did not jump away with the others. First Watch did not appear again until July 7. By that time he had spent several months at Washdyke. where some experience between the shafts of a gig formed part of his reformative programme. He did not make the grade in his first two starts from E. P. Corboy’s stable towards the end of the season, but he left the stalls with the others and ran near the lead to the home turn. He had one start at the Grand National meeting—he was unplaced—before his easy win at Wingatui last Saturday. All the trouble and patience shown with First Wateh will be well worth while if this three-year-old develops the form shown by his dam. Watch and Wait. This Count Rendered mare was a good winner in the Macfariane colours. Her major win was in the Anniversary Handicap at Trentham. Others included the Waikouaiti Cup and the Templeton Handicap at Riccarton.

First Watch was the first foal of a first foal. Watch and Wait's dam was the Balloch mare Highland Watch.

The next dam, Vai Watch, was by Valkyrian from Keep Watch, by Flagfall.

There have been some very good winners from this family. One of the best was Day Guard, winner of 16 races.

Another was Copenhagen, which developed very good form at a mile and thereabouts in the South Island a few seasons ago.