TROTTING Jacobite And Rannack Song Unbeaten

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30156, 13 June 1963, Page 4

TROTTING Jacobite And Rannack Song Unbeaten

Rannack Song and Jacobite, both of which were unbeaten in tw’o starts, were among the most impressive performers at the Nelson Trotting Club’s winter meeting at the week-end. Both horses gave the impression that they would be just as much at ease on firm tracks as they were under the winter conditions they encountered at Richmond Park.

Rannack Song is raced in partnership by two probationary drivers, N. F. White and A. K. Holmes, who have him leased for four years from Mr H. J. Forward, of Christchurch. White raced him on his own until the autumn when he had 14 starts for six placings. Holmes then joined him in partnership and Rannack Song was placed in C. S. Donald’s Belfast team, which is at present being supervised by F. Loffhagen.

Rannack Song had his first start for the partnership on May 31 at Ashburton when he forced most of the pace and fought -back strongly to win his division of the two-mile Improvers’ Handicap.

Rannack Song’s only start on the first day at Nelson was in a division of the Beatty Handicap. He proved much too speedy for his rivals and won with a lot in hand by six lengths from Syracuse. The rise in class in the Winter Handicap on Monday did not worry him greatly, although Holmes had to work hard on him over the last 50 •yards to hold off Automatic by a neck. Rannack Song's three wins have been worth £530 in stakes, a total which should be greatly increased early in the new season. He impresses as a stout stayer, but his ability to take up and hold a prominent position in his races should assist him to win over distances shorter than two miles.

Rannack Song. which started racing early this season, is a good type of four-year-old gelding by Flying Song, which has left a num-

ber of useful winter performers.

He is out of Seclusion, by Grattan Loyal from Mona’s Isle, by Jack Potts from Roulpard, by Logan Pointer, tracing back to Rose Shield, a mare foaled in 1901. About 40 winners now trace back to this foundation mare.

This family has been a fairly consistent producer of winners, including a number in Australia. Seclusion’s second foal, American Brigade, a mare by Light Brigade, has gained fame in Australia as the dam of Gramel, one of the most highly-regarded trotters in that country. Whipdale. a moderate performer by Whipster, came between American Brigade and Rannack Song. Then there was another colt by Flying Song for which Mr Forward refused 300gns at the national yearling sales.

Other Winners

Seclusion is a half-sister to Scottish Isle, the winner of two races and the dam of Aero Scott, the winner of three races this season. Other members of this family include Implore, Medoro Star, Smoke Screen, Air Marshall (New Zealand Derby Stakes), and Castle Light. Jacobite, which had qualified at Addington on May 14, created a good impression when at his first race start he won his division of the Nile Handicap on the first day at Nelson. He was the leader for most of the way and when challenged by Terri Lee early in the run home, he quickly drew out and won handily. Jacobite’s only other start at the meeting was in the first division of the Pitt Handicap on Monday. Once again he led all the way, but looked more likely to be tested when Stormy Mile, which had trailed him throughout, was pulled out near the furlong post. Jacobite soon shook that runner off and won easily by a length and a half. Jacobite impressed by his splendid racing manners and the determined way in which he ran on up the testing Nelson straight He looks as though he should go on to good class for Mr R. A. Bur-

nett, of Ashburton, and Mr D. E. Barclay, of Nelson, for whom he is trained at Tinwald by D J. Townley. Jacobite is a strong three-year-old gelding by the U. Scott horse. Young Charles, one of the most brilliant pacers racing about 12 years ago. Perfection, the dam of Jacobite, lacks nothing on the score of breeding. She is by Gold Bar from Allure, by Nelson Derby from Regal Voyage, the first mare in Australia or New Zealand to pace two minutes in better than 4min 20sec.

Perfection, which has been bred from throughout her stud career by the Yaldhurst trainer, A. Holmes, is also the dam of Perfect Scott. She is closely related to a number of top winners, including Haughty and Brahman, and useful winners in Highland Custom, Tradition, Wayfarer and Legendary.