Kurdistan Put Down

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32362, 30 July 1970, Page 4

Kurdistan Put Down

“The Press’' Special Service

INVERCARGILL. Kurdistan, which had made a niche all of his own in thoroughbred breeding in New Zealand, was put down at the Chelandry Stud yesterday. Foaled in England in 1947, he spent the whole of his stud career at Chelandry where he sired the winners of 838 races, 1920 placings and $760,880 in stakes. He is sixth in the New Zea land sires list for this season, his stock having won 69 races, secured 171 placings and $74,630 in stakes. He was a grey—with

advancing years his coat was white—and many of his stock are greys. Imported by Messrs T. and ! M. G. Deegan, of Winton, Kurdistan was held on lease by the Chelandry Stud foi some years before being bought by Mr W. E. Hazlett. First Winner Kudistan’s first winner was the top ranking sprinter, The Wanderer, which died last week. The Wanderer, which won as a two-year-old at Winton in the 1955-56 season, went on to win 18 races. He i proved a hard-wearing sprinter in the colours of his breeder, Mr H. R. Dennis, of Woodlands. Kurdistan, the first son of Tehran, an English St Leger winner and champion English

sire in 1952, to do stud duty in New Zealand, ranked as a halfbrother to a top English sprinter and later successful sire, Abernant. Their dam, Dustom Mahal, was by Rustom Pasha from the “flying filly,” Mumtaz Mahal, by the Tetrarch. No sooner had Kurdistan arrived in New Zealand than his sire, Tehran, sired the English Derby winner, Tulyar. Kurdistan served about 40 mares Past stud season and more than 30 foals by him will be born this coming spring. Second Twice Kurdistan sired the winners of more races than any other New Zealand sire in a single season on five occasions, but as most of his stock raced in the South Island their earnings did not place him at the top of the sires list. For all that, for some years he has been among the top bracket on the New Zealand sires* list and in both the 1955-56 and the 1966-67 season he filled second place behind Le Filou. Kurdistan’s stock distinguished themselves in all departments, as sprinters ami stayers, as hurdlers and steeplechasers, and although his colts fared best he also left some fine race mares which today are greatly in demand as brood mares. 1 He sired such hardy gallopers as Eiffel Tower, Kumai. Macdonald, Gladaub, Koral and others. Kumai won 34 races, including the Winter Oats Handicap at Trentham three times, the Wellington Steeplechase, and almost $60,000 in stakes. One of the finest gallopers in recent years was Eiffel Tower, which won 18 races, including a Great Northern Steeplechase, the Grand National Hurdles (twice) and a Wellington Cup. Koral, a Grand National 1 Steeplechase winner, has a record of $36,830 in stakes in New Zealand for a jumper. The Great Northern Hurdles ' winner, Macdonald, one of i Southland’s most versatile gallopers. Gladaub, which won 27 races, and the smart sprinter. Flying Trix, which won 20, were all sired by Kurdistan. His other notable performers include Tilly Light (18 wins), a Great Western winner, Mosque, which won and then lost the Grand National Steeplechase, Sailorman (14 wins), Ravelston (17 successes), Dalriada (Woomben Cup), Teaka (Great Autumn Handicap), Melotone (13 wins), Shangri La. Chango, Happy Birthday, Glamis Lad, Baghdad Note, Lorastan, Grey Satin, Ettrick, Silver Spire, and many others.