TROTTING Wins In U.S. A Triumph For Breeders In N.Z.

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31678, 14 May 1968, Page 4

TROTTING Wins In U.S. A Triumph For Breeders In N.Z.

The result of the three*race international pacing series, which ended at Yonkers Raceway, New York, on Friday, was a triumph for New Zealand breeding.

Cardinal King, the winner of all three races, is by First Lord, while First Lee, which

recorded two seconds and a third, is by First Variety, which raced briefly in New Zealand when named First Attack. Cardinal King was bred at Oamaru by Mr R. Ludemann. He was purchased by Messrs F. and L. Wederell for $3OO from First Lord’s owner, Mr J. Johnston, of Oamaru. Mr Johnston secured First Lord after he had stood at the stud at Mr M. Andrews’s property at Prebbleton. “First Lord was getting only a few mares each season and I leased him to Mr Johnston when I secured the American horse, Smokey Hanover,” said Mr Andrews yesterday. Mr Johnston bought First Lord outright’ two or three years ago, said Mr Andrews. First Lord cost Mr Andrews 2600 guineas as a five-year-old. He won more than $20,000 in stakes from 10 wins and 27 placings at a time when his opposition Included Captain Sandy, Vedette. Highland Fling, and other top horses. He took a record of 4min 14 2-ssec for two miles and proved adept in winter conditions.

He has never been extensively patronised at the stud and has left fewer than 200 live foals. According to Mr Andrews he served only three mares in the season that he produced Summit Road, a good winner in New Zealand and Australia before being sold to America.

Other good winners sired by First Lord include Landlord, Flying Step, Noisette, Set Sail, Bonnie Lustre, Lilt, Lord Mina, Mighty Mina, and Sooty. Few daughters of First Lord have yet gone to the stud, but they have left Lustre Scott, Morris Hart and Semloh. Good Family First Lord, now a rising 24-year-old, was got by Dillon Hall from First Water, the founder of an outstanding winning family. Cardinal King, only a four-year-old in New Zealand, has shown remarkable hardiness. Few horses of his age have gone to America and shown form of note so quickly. His form obviously impressed officials at Yonkers Raceway as be was drawn on the outside of his race on Friday last Even this did not stop him carrying on his winning way, and he is entitled to be ranked as one of the best horses racing in America today.

Cardinal King also inherits stamina on the side of his dam, Information, an unraced daughter of Sandydale and Waikaura, which gained fame as the dam of Captain Sandy, the only horse to win two Inter-Dominion Championship Grand Finals.

Apart from Cardinal King Information has left little of note at the stud. The best of her other progeny has been Sandy Drift, by the Italian-bred horse, Loreto. Black Beetle, a seven-year-old brother of Cardinal King, raced In maiden company at Oamaru on Saturday, but he did not flatter.

First Lee, winner of the 1968 Inter-Dominion Championship Grand Final at Alexandra Park, was got by First Variety, which was a winner when trained at New Brighton by A. M. Richards, who subsequently sold him at a big price to Australia where his wins included the New South Wales Pacing Derby. First Variety raced well in restricted age events in Canterbury, winning the Three-year-old Stakes at Methven from Royal Minstrel. He has been relatively neglected at the stud, but since First Lee’s wins he has been much more in demand. By Attack First Variety was got by Attack from Variety Girl, by

Jack Potts. Attack, which was bought in an auction by his Yaldhurst owner, Mr O. G. Oakley, for 1760 guineas, was one of the best winners at a time when pacers were very strong. Attack won 14 races and almost $25,000, and at one stage be had a winning sequence of eight Like First Lord, Attack was lightly patronised at the stud. Mr Oakley leased him to Australia, but after two yean he was returned to this country. Then, about 10 yean ago he was sold at a four-flgure price to New South Wales. He has sired quite a number of winnen there, but Is not recognised as being in the top flight. Daughters of Attack have been quite successful at the stud, James, a winner at Alexandn Park on Saturday nijht, being out of one of his daughters. The successes of Cardinal King and First Lee added to those of the host of horses to have gone to the United States from New Zealand can do nothing but good as far as breeders in this country are concerned. Already this year there has been increased activity in American buying, and this could be accelerated still further as the list of wins of New Zealand horses increases.