Knowledge And Luck Behind Shantung's Win

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31863, 16 December 1968, Page 6

Knowledge And Luck Behind Shantung's Win

'‘The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND. Shantung, a three-year-old filly, beat 16 opponents decisively in the Dent Memorial Handicap at Paeroa on Saturday to secure favouritism for the Great Northern Oaks and take a firm grasp as well on the Great Northern Derby. The eood judgment of the Pirongia sludmaster, Mr J. L. Macky, and his brother-in-law. Mr L. G. p. Holland, brought Shantung’s dam, Red Might, north for two wonderfully successful matings, with Le Filou and Ironic. The Melbourne Cup winper, Red Handed, was the result of the first and Shantung was produced from the second. Mr Macky liked the breeding of two mares catalogued for the dispersal sale of Mrs C. NestorBayliss at Greenmeadows in .June, 1959. Mr Holland, who lives near Hastings, made the final choice and bought Red Might on Mr Macky’s behalf for 1125. Red Handed was Red Might’s third foal and Shantung was the fifth. Before Red Handed she produced The Pruner, a good winner in South Australia, and

Water Waggon. With Shantung al foot she slipped io Le Filou. Last season Red Might went to Oncidium but did not . get in foal. She has been mated with Oncidium again this year. Lucky Owners Two Wellington publicans. Messrs A. R. Dunn and M. D. Williams, for their part, must be among the luckiest of racehorse owners to have Shantung. Instead they might well be racing one of three other fillies Mr Macky could have offered them, none of which has yet shown comparable form. They might never have owned anything from Pirongia if it had not been for some remarks made on their behalf to Mr Macky by Mr D. Mackinnon. the proprietor of Newstead Stud.

; ( near Hamilton. A condition im- . posed by Mr Macky was that t .Shantung be trained bv W. C. L Winder. I Messrs Dunn and Williams se- . cured Shantung on lease from the end of last August until the autumn of 1971. She has already ’ returned them nearly $7500 in t stakes, the result of five firsts and three minor placing* in 10 starts. Success in the Great Northern . Oaks would get her owners a f further $2900 and first place tn the Derby would be worth $5200. i In just about the most trying I j conditions, Shantung ran the 11 1 furlongs of the Dent Memorial ! | as though she would have no I trouble at all with the mile and j a half of the Oaks and Derby. • I She travelled easily on the bit just behind the pace-maker. Spring Filou, as they came to the straight, was headed for a moment by Native Diver halfway down the run home, and drew ahead again by a length. Spring Filou held on sufficiently well to make the finish for second pretty close, Native j Diver beating him by half a length. The other 14, many of I them hopeless in the heavy ground, straggled home. Pacific Prince, the best of them, was eight lengths behind Native i Diver and three in front of Blue Baron (fifth).