TROTTING Deaths Of Prominent Horses Reported

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30498, 21 July 1964, Page 4

TROTTING Deaths Of Prominent Horses Reported

The deaths of a number of prominent brood mares and several well-performed horses have been reported recently to the New Zealand Trotting Conference. Although she failed to make a name for herself at the stud, Single Task was an outstanding trotting mare some 14 years ago when trained at Addington by the late J. Young.

Single Task, a 19-year-old mare by Bill B. from Magic Task,, won 12 races and £9502 10s in stakes. She took records of 2min 39 3-ssec for 10 furlongs, 3min 12sec for 12 furlongs, 3min 27 l-ssec for 13 furlongs, and 4min 17 4-ssec for two miles, all of which were records for mares in Australia and New Zealand. Her wins included the New Zealand Trotting Free-for-all at Addington and the Rowe Cup at Auckland.

Single Task was raced by Mr A. Brownson, of Auckland, who in recent years has bred from her in partnership with Mr J. M. Connolly, of Geraldine, on whose property she died.

Te Huarau, Imperial Volo and Light Step are other mares to have died recently at Mr Connolly’s property. Te Huarau, which was foaled in 1942, was by Jewel Thorpe from Beryl Bingen. She left a number of winners, including Sheryll Scott, Te Koi, Maidro, Ritihia, Te Kawerau and Our Eileen.

Imperial Volo, a rising 24-year-old mare by Lusty Volo from Grattan Girl, left General Scott, which took a record of 2min 2 4-ssec in Australia, Tartan Tie, Gay Cobra and others.

Light Step, by Light Brigade from Mary de Oro, left an Australian winner in Nimble Sandy. Absurd, by Ben Adam from the thoroughbred mare, Salvate, left a capable winner in Aerobee to Highland Chief. Absurd’s death was reported by Mr W. A. Frew, of Ashburton.

' Dilly Dally and Popotunoa were two other prominent brood mares. Dilly Dally, by Dillon Hall from Sundale, was owned by Mr N. Simpson, of Wales. Dilly Dally left a Dominion Handicap winner in Annual Report and other winners in Lucks Way and Thundering. All three are now racing in Wales. Popotunoa, which was owned by Mr T. Davidson, of Invercargill, was a useful winner herself and at the stud she left Student Nurse, Super Nurse, Mountain Brigade, Mountain Song and others. Ballista also died recently. Raced by Mr P. B. Carmichael of Christchurch, he was a seven-year-old gelding by Garrison Hanover from Task Force. He showed great ability and graduated to a' 2min llsec mark for a distance. He had been off the scene for more than 18 months because of unsoundness arid it had been intended to try him again. In Foal Tactics, the dam of Tactile, Deft, Adroit and others, is in foal to Caduceus. Tactics will be mated again with the U. Scott horse in the spring. Caduceus is already in Southland, where he is to do stud duty. Profit The Wellington Trotting Club made a profit of £4741 for the year ended June 30 last. The club showed a loss of £8533 for the previous year. The major difference in expenditure between the two years was that in 196263 £9500 more in stakes was

distributed than for the last financial year, but on the former occasion an extra meeting, the Royal meeting, was held. Record Winnings

Cardigan Bay’s total of £18,757 10s in stakes this season, sets a record for one season in New Zealand. The previous best was £15.835 won by Highland Fling in 194748. Other big totals were Vedette’s £14,260 in 1950-51; Lordship’s £11,265 in 196263; Captain Sandy’s £10,729 in 1948-49; Lookaway’s

£10.285 in 1957-58; False Step’s £10.185 in 1960-61: and Johnny Globe’s £10,105 in 1954-55. Retired Ordeal, one of the most brilliant trotting mares seen in New Zealand, has been retired from racing. She has been campaigned with success in the United States for the last two years during which time she took a race record of Imin 59 3-ssec for one mile. The Light Brigade mare is the first New Zealand trotter to take a twominute record. Ordeal will be mated with Speedster (Imin 59 4-ssec), the sire of Speedy Scot, which took a record of Imin 56 4-ssec as a three-year-old. Speedster is by Rodney (Imin 57 2-ssee), the leading sire of trotters in America. After foaling. Ordeal will be served again before being returned to New Zealand where she is owned by Mr and Mrs W. A. Bradley, of Courtenay.