Boundless A Bargain For Japanese

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31085, 14 June 1966, Page 4

Boundless A Bargain For Japanese

The announcement last week that Boundless had been sold to Japan is certain to have been received with regret in some quarters. Many had hoped to see the former outstanding galloper remain at the stud in New Zealand.

If Boundless fails to live up to expectations as a sire, he will be no great loss to the breeding industry in this country. On the other hand, if he is successful few New Zealanders will have the chance to see his stock race.

When a leg Injury forced Boundless into premature retirement and it was announced that he was to be auctioned it was generally considered that because of his potential as a sire he probably would be keenly sought after by stud masters in the Dominion.

But, surprisingly, when Boundless was put under the hammer at the sale of mixed bloodstock—-held in conjunction with the National Yearling Sales at Trentham in January—there was no spirited bidding and he was eventually passed in at 1200 guineas. Party Delayed The position might have been different had he been brought into the ring half an hour later. Representatives of the Japanese Bloodstock Agency, at that time in the country on a fact-finding and buying mission, had Boundless listed among their possible purchases. But a breakdown in Hamilton delayed their return to Trentham until after Boundless had left the ring. By that time negotiations had already begun for the horse to be leased from his Christchurch owner, Mrs W. H. Williamson, to Mr F. M. Walsh, the Inglewood-owner-trainer of the good race mare, Maria Mitchell. In the lease was included a right-of-pur-chase clause. Mr Walsh exercised that right last week. Lack of interest on the part of New Zealand breeders, as' much as anything else, brought about Boundless’s latest sale. Mr Walsh told “The Press’’ yesterday that he had received only a few inquiries and no definite bookings for the horse for next season. Sound Credentials Although New Zealanders are not prepared to take a risk with Boundless, the Japanese do not share the same view. The Targui’s entire credentials alone should be sufficient to satisfy any prospective breeder. An Australian-New Zealand and joint world record holder, he is out of Infinity, a mare awarded the title of “brood mare of the year” in the

1961-62 season by Mr G. L. Tucker, keeper erf the “New Zealand Stud Book,” and Mrs S. V. McEwan, editor of the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association bulletin. This is not an honour easily earned.

When Infinity was given the award Boundless was only a yearling. Her elevation to fame came through the efforts of Boundless’s brother, Cadiz. Under the direction of the Riccarton trainer, J. C. Tomkinson, Cadiz had won £12,810 in stakes for his Dunedin owner, Mr A. N. Smith. In addition he shared the top of the three-year-old Free Handicap in this country. Cadiz was already in the United States and had won more than 100,000 dollars in

the colours of Mr Victor Graber, of California, before Boundless started racing. It was no wonder that Mr Williamson had to go to 5000 guineas, outside the ring, to secure Cadiz’s brother for his wife at the 1962 National Yearling Sales. In his first two seasons Boundless justified his purchase price—his earnings then amounted to £74os—and in winning the Wairarapa Cup at Tauherenikau, as a three-year-old, on New Year’s Day in 1964 he created a new Australian and New Zealand record of 2min 14 l-ssec for a mile and three furlongs. This also equalled the world record for the distance, set by Man o’ War, at Belmont, New York, in 1920. Mr Walsh did not disclose yesterday the price he had received for Boundless. Throughout his racing career, which lasted less than three complete seasons, Boundless was prepared at Riccarton by J. R. Shaw.