FROM STUD AND STABLE Greek God Arrives At Morwenstow Stud

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31764, 22 August 1968, Page 4

FROM STUD AND STABLE Greek God Arrives At Morwenstow Stud

Greek God, the Irish-bred stallion which was bought earlier this year by Mr D. B. G. Allin, of Kaiapoi, has arrived at Mr Allin’s Morwenstow Stud.

Mr Allin’s first comment as he surveyed the new sire, which was bought in Ireland on his behalf on the recommendation of Mr Frank More O Ferral, was: “I certainly could not have done better if I had been there to buy him myself.”

Greek God, which had his first feel of firm ground in more than five weeks when he was unloaded from the Northumberland in Wellington last Friday, did remarkably well on the long voyage from England. He lost a little condition but not nearly as much as his new owner expected.

The credit for the condition of the horse when he arrived can be attributed equally between those who attended to his needs on the voyage and Mr Ferrall. who looked after the horse at his private stables in Sussex from the time he was let-down from racing until he was shipped. Greek God, a grand upstanding horse with a great disposition, has settled well in his new quarters.

Long-held Ambition

The four-year-old son of the Derby winner, Parthia, and Esquire Girl, a halfsister, by My Babu, to the highly successful sire. Count Rendered, could well fulfil one of Mr Allin’s long-held ambitions—that of acquiring a horse which would breed two-year-old winners which would train on.

Since the injury, which occurred during the running of the Dromore Steeplechase at Ashburton in June, Lovely Clover has beeen in a sling at the Ashburton Veterinary Club’s clinic. During her ordeal Lovely Clover has been receiving the best of attention. Mr G. D. Leeming. the veterinarian who performed the operation to set the bones in the mare’s leg. visits Lovely Clover twice a day, sometimes as late as 1 o’clock In the morning. Mr D. Macdonald, a former employee of Lovely Clover’s Darfield owner-trainer, Mr G. A. Hutton, attends to the mare’s needs for eight hours during the day. Lovely Clover lost some weight as she was gradually taken off her racing diet but that was all for the best as it meant less weight to support while in the sling. Her present diet is chaff, carrots, apples and special bone-build-ing compounds. Colic Cured During the two months Lovely Clover has been in the sling she has had two or three bouts of colic but Mr Leeming has been able to cure these bouts with little difficulty. Mr Leeming, who is in private practice, describes the facilities of the veterinary club as excellent and unique in New Zealand outside the veterinary and agricultural schools. The only lasting affect Lovely Clover is likely to have from her injury is a limp. This is unlikely to hamper her for her connection with racing in the future will be as a brood-mare.

Greek God, which cost 14.000gns as a yearling at the Newmarket Sales, has a record which confirms early speed. Ireland's leading trainer, P. J. Prendergast, saddled him to win his lone race as a two-year-old—the Suir Stakes at The Curragh—by five lengths. At three the colt won the Sugar Loaf Stakes at Leopardstown and gained a number of placlngs. Summing up Greek God’s prospects at the end of his three-year-old racing. “Racehorses of 1967” describes him as a colt which would probably stay a mile and a half. It also says he acts well on any going. Mr Allin already has firm bookings to Greek God for 21 mares and there have been more inquiries since he arrived. As this will be his first season at stud he will be used sparingly. Greek God is one of four stallions now standing at the Morwenstow Stud. He has joined the highly successful colonial-bred sire, Fountainhead, and Sedgewood and Campo, which were both bred in Australia. Good Progress Lovely Clover, which fractured the pastern bone in her off fore-leg about two months ago, is expected to be mobile again in about a month.