FROM STUD AND STABLE Susan Jane result of “rash” decision

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32522, 4 February 1971, Page 8

FROM STUD AND STABLE Susan Jane result of “rash” decision

“The Press” Special Service INVERCARGILL. A “rash decision” by three Southlanders to buy a yearling at the 1969 national sales at a “limit of $1000” has developed into a highly successful venture —far beyond all expectations of the trio.

In a moment of enthusiasm Messrs H. G. Belsham and H. E. Hayward, of Invercargill, and I. R. Kincaid, of Winton, gave the Wingatui trainer, J. A. Wilson, a commission to buy a yearling at Trentham at “no more than $1000.”

No particular yearling, breed, sex, or type was mentioned. Wilson carried out his part of the contract, and without much ado a filly by Battle Waggon, and one of his first crop, from the Pherozshah mate, Flying Melda, was bought for $lOOO. She later joined the Wingatui stable of Wilson, who trains in partnership with H. J. Powell.

The filly was named Susan Jane, a combination of Christian names in the Belsham and Haywood families. She is now New Zealand’s top three-year-old filly and the winner of the Wellington Oaks at Trentham last Saturday. In her 21 starts at two and three years she has won 11 races and been nine times placed for $23,551 in stakes. In 13 three-year-old starts she has won six and been six times placed—four of them seconds. Besides the Wellington Oaks, she has won the John Grigg Stakes at Ashburton, the Southland Guineas, the Wellington Stakes, ,and the Stewards’ Handicap and Jockey Club Handicap at Riccarton. Next races After winning at Trentham last Saturday, Susan Jane was taken to Hastings, and she will start in the $9OOO New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes for fillies and mares at Te Aroha on February 27. Before her Te Aroha race she will contest the Lady Norrie Stakes at Te Rapa on February 20, and will later race at the Wellington autumn meeting on March 6 and 13. . Susan Jane’s owners have good reason to appreciate their “rash decision,” as they call it, to buy a yearling. All

have had a long interest in racing—Messrs Hayward and Belsham have had interests in trotting horses, but with little success.

Mr Kincaid has, on the other hand, bred and raced both gallopers and trotters with some success, although Susan Jane is by far the best thoroughbred he has raced.

In the light harness field, however, he bred a top

juvenile pacer in Fort Nelson, which he raced in partnership with a neighbouring fanner, Mr C. C. Kean, and they sold him to America a couple of years ago for $lOO,OOO. Early offers Some early offers for Susan' Jane were turned down by her owners—and

her value today is given in excess of $lOO,OOO.

Susan Jane was the seventh live foal of the Pherozshah mare, Flying Reida, who had earlier left the winners, Alder, Bide A Wee, Blue Gem, and Flying

Flying Reida was out of Flying Quex, by Lord Quex from Arab Song, by Hunting Son, a family which has produced a top galloper in Australia, Fountain Of Youth (11 races and $14,215 in stakes). But the family to which the top filly Susan Jane, belongs had distinguished itself by he fine jumpers it has been responsible for, notably Arabian Night, a Grand National Hurdles and a Wellington July Steeplechase winner. His 13 successes were worth $18,370. Even if he never selects another winner in the sale ring, Susan Jane’s trainer, J. A. Wilson, can justly feel satisfied with having picked her out of the Trentham ring for $lOOO. Good legs “She ran back to a good family, and appealed to me at Trentham—-she had four good legs,” Wilson said yesterday. The fact that a number of steeplechasers appeared in her pedigree did not deter Wilson.

“When it’s all said and done, Arabian Night wasn’t too bad on the flat before being switched to country,” he remarked.

Wilson describes Susan Jane as a beautifullynatured filly. “She wasn’t a good doer last year when we travelled with her, but she is a lot more settled now, and eats well when away from home,” he said.