From Stud And Stable HOME-BRED STALLIONS HAVING GREAT YEAR

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30827, 12 August 1965, Page 4

From Stud And Stable HOME-BRED STALLIONS HAVING GREAT YEAR

There has been no more well-defined and no more encouraging trend in the pattern of winter racing this year than the increased success of horses sired by New Zealand-bred stallions.

Bagush’s win in the Grand National Hurdles made a notable contribution to the formidable list of victories credited to home-bred sires in the last few months.

The New Zealand tendency to sell itself short is as obvious in racing as in other spheres and it show's itself in the false glamour that is often attached to anything labelled “imported,” usually at the expense of the stout, reliable home-grown products.

In many cases it is a reversal of the theory that the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know.

It is a trend that is less obvious in Australia, where the services of the homebreds, the Todman's and the like, are patronised to an extent never approached in New Zealand. But, in spite of all too few opportunities New Zealandbred sires are siring evergrowing numbers of races, especially winter races. The New Zealand-bred Ascot Lad has sired Smoke Ring, winner of the two Great Northerns this year, the Great Northern Hurdles and Grand National Hurdles last year, and a great performer by any standards. Shikai, a son of Bulandshar patronised almost exclusively by owners of hack mares, has sired a remarkably versatile winner in Cretan. Few Chances Lucky Cast, the latest New] Zealand-bred to be represented by a big winner in Bagush, j is a son of Finis. He had only a handful of runners last season but his percentage j of winners to starters was ; high. After two days’ racing at the Grand National meeting stock of New Zealand-bred sires have secured seven victories. Bagush won the Jumpers’ Flat as a lead-up to the Grand National Hurdles. Three other races have been won by three sons of Red Jester—Jester Jins, Malabar Lad, and Wester. Tauloch and The Unicorn, two spectacular performers in the Goosman colours, have been represented by individual winners in Cinnaman and Sydtrev.

Thoroughbred experts from overseas have been quick to recognise on visits to New Zealand that our pastures and climate make for horses with great bone and strength. It is also recognised that a good many horses being purchased for studs in New Zealand have not had anything like the same conditions to help them in their allimportant formative years. Unsound Horses A general criticism often levelled against British thoroughbreds at present is that they tend to be lacking in soundness. This is not a New Zealand view, and it is not the view of any “overseas” experts. It is a strongly-held j British view. Here is what the bloodstock expert, Peter Willett, thinks of the present situation. “The readiness of British breeders to breed from unsound stock, or stock that has not been properly tested, is usually put forward as the