AROUND THE STUDS Melody Maid s tenth winner from 15 foals

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32701, 2 September 1971, Page 8

AROUND THE STUDS Melody Maid s tenth winner from 15 foals

The broodmare, Melody Maid, which died in February, 1970, at the age of 27, was credited with her tenth winner when Royal Hit, an evenmoney favourite, won the Kingswood Beginners’ Handicap at Penrith, near Sydney, last month.

Royal Hit, a four-year-old gelding by Local Light, cost Messrs J. and R. Ingham $3500 at the 1968 national yearling | sales. The colt was the: last live foal of her dam,; which missed in 1967 and 1968, the other years when attempts were made to breed from her.

Melody Maid was bred by Mr J. B. Westerman and was got by Grattan Loyal from the Drusus mare, Dusolina. She was not raced and was secured by Mr S. R. Messervy, of New Brighton, who bred most of her foals in partnership with his brother, Mr C. C. Messervy. The family from which Melody Maid descends has produced well over 100 winners, including the classic winners. Gold Chief, Doraldina and Daphne de Oro, all of which won the New Zealand Derby Stakes, and Lady Nugent, winner of the New! Zealand Oaks. The Messervys bred for the national yearling sales and their offerings met with a keen inquiry, particularly from Australia where the majority of Melody’s Maid’s progeny found their way.

Her 1952 foal, Maestro’s Melody (by U. Scott) developed into one of the greatest pacers of his time in Australia where he won 28 races. He was third to Caduceus and Apmat in the 1960 Inter-Dominion Championship Grand Final, one of the most memorable races at Harold Park. He proved a great buy at the 850 guineas

,paid for him by Mr G. Stewcart, of Melbourne. That was | the highest price paid that year for a colt, the sale bei ing topped by the 900 guineas paid for a Light Brig-iade-Polka Dot filly. Sandblast (by Sandydale) won 10 races and became a successful sire. He cost 400 guineas and was the first foal of Melody Maid.

Won 10 races 1 Tranquility (by U. Scott) I also won 10 races and be- < came a successful sire. He 1 cost Mr T. Busst, of Mel- I bourne, 1200 guineas and

topped the 1951 sales. The next year Mr R. Norman, of Adelaide, paid 1100 guineas for Swing Set (by Sandydale). He won 12 races. Melody Maid foaled her first filly in 1953. This was Cadenza (by Light Brigade), which was passed in at 575 guineas at the 1955 sales. She was retained for breeding and her first foal, Tacloban, by Johnny Globe, has been a big winner in both Australia and the United States. Pambill, Zing, Cadenza Globe and Pambill have been other winners from Cadenza. Hit Song (by Light Brig-

iade) was sold for 425 guineas at the 1956 national sales. She won races and has been a successful broodmare, Little Devil being her best progeny.

Golden Circle (by Light Brigade) qualified, but did not race after being kept for the stud. She left the Oaks winner, Lady Nugent and Stratton, as well as the promising Ladies’ Pride. Her 1969 foal, offered on behalf of Mr P. T. Binnie, of Ohoka, realised top price of $9OOO at the 1971 sales. Top price Tranquil Scott (by U. Scott) was the top-priced lot at the 1959 sales, bringing 1100 guineas. He won seven races, one less than Aloocrat (by Johnny Globe), which was sold for 420 guineas in 1960. In 1959 Princess Melody (by U. Scott) was foaled. She is now being bred from by Mrs C. T. Heffernan, of Middlemarch, who secured her after she had been knocked down in 1966 for 1500 guineas to Mr F. A. Mci Mahon, of Sydney.

Mr E. K. Frost, of Perth, secured Melody Maid’s next two foals, Susan Hanover (by Smokey Hanover), for 750 guineas, and Carol Hanover (by Smokey Hanover) for 1100 guineas, the equal top price of the 1964 sales. They have not won to date. The Melbourne trainer, R. A. Parker, paid 1650 guineas for Trumpeter at the 1966 sales. This top-priced colt has won several races.

Melody Maid’s influence in Australia and New Zealand is certain to continue for some time as a result of the stud efforts of her sons and daughters. Her own record of 10 winners from 15 live foals is one not often approached in this country.