Racing Fame For Brood-mare

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31383, 31 May 1967, Page 5

Racing Fame For Brood-mare

"The Press” Special Service INVERCARGILL. A brood-mare sold at the Inter-Dominion standardbred sale at Dunedin in 1965 has turned out to be a brilliant race mare.

Van Lass, which was offered by Mr W. B. Somerville, of Tapanui was bought by Mrs R. Vanstone, of Adelaide for 260gns. The mare was in foal to Flying Song at the time. Van Lass eventually produced a colt foal and after she had reared it she was put in work. Now racing in South Australia under the name of Misty Clover, she has won seven consecutive races and is something of a glamour race mare.

Her winning streak began on March 25 and the ease with which she has won each time, on occasions from 24yd back, has indicated that the best has yet to be seen of her.

Van Lass raced in Southland as a member of D. Todd’s Mataura team but her waywardness made her a doubtful proposition and she was sent to the stud. She was bought by her present owners at the Dunedin auction on the recommendation of the Canterbury trainer, C. C. Devine, who would have been interested in Van Lass himself but for the fact that she was in foal.

Now named Misty Clover she proved something of a problem but showed great speed after giving away “pro-

digious starts” when first raced in Australia. The mare is a member of one of Southland’s outstanding winning families. By the U Scott horse, Van Dieman, she is out of a fine race mare in Lassoloc, the dam of Drumore, a wanner last week-end, and a member of the noted First Water family- At 260gns. Van Lass npw looks a bargain, as a race mare, with her brood mare potential second to none. Her Flying Song colt, now a rising two-year-old has been broken in and gaited.