RACING Dalray dies, aged 23, at Queensland stud

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32959, 4 July 1972, Page 8

RACING Dalray dies, aged 23, at Queensland stud

Dalray, one of New Zealand’s greatest stayers since the Second World War, died at the Canning Downs Stud in Queensland at the weekend, according to a New Zealand Press Association message from Brisbane.

Dalray, who was rising 24, is believed to have died from a twisted bowel.

At the time of his death Dalray was standing at the stud of his owner, Mr C. E. Barnes, where he was to have been joined shortly by his most famous son, Tails. Dalray was bought as a yearling at Trentham for 460 guineas for C. A. Neville, formerly of Greymouth, by the Riccarton trainer, C. C. McCarthy. He was offered by Mr H. F. Wooffindin of New Plymouth. McCarthy was attracted to Dalray by the way he walked. 'He had a good stride, and looked as if he would stay on,” he recalled last evening. When the Sydney trainer, T. J. Smith, bought Tulloch McCarthy asked him why. Smith’s reply was: “For the same reason you bought Dalray—the way he walks.” “As a youngster he was a tough horse and took some breaking in. He was a lonesome sort of horse and had little to do with any other horses in the stable,” McCarthy said.

By Balloch from the Broieifort mare, Broiveine, Dalray became one of the bargains of Trentham. He started 27 times for fourteen wins and five placings. His total stake earnings were £39,678.

Unsuccessful as a two-year-old Dalray made his mark the next season when he won nine races and was placed five times for more than £19,000 in stakes. His first win was in a hack stayers’ event at Westport. McCarthy set him for that race so he could nominate Dalray for hack events at Trentham. He was rewarded

as Dalray won the October Handicap and quickly followed this with wins in the 1951 N.Z. Derby, the Gloaming and Trentham Stakes and the N.Z. St Leger. He also! finished fourth in the Wellington Cup. In Australia he won the Autumn Stakes at Randwick and finished second in the Sydney Cup and third in the Chipping Norton Stakes. The next season from nine starts he won five races and was placed twice. He won the Melbourne Cup, A.J.C. Metropolitan and three top weight-for-age events.

Shortly after his Melbourne Cup win Dalray broke down and was later sold to Mr Barnes. McCarthy believes Dalray’s ! performance to finish second in Opulent’s 1952 Sydney Cup was his best run. “When the gates opened he struck his leg. hitting a nerve, and was very slow away. “At one stage he was so far behind I thought he had no show but he finished with a tremendous burst to get within a head of the winner, which carried 7-1,” McCarthy said. Dalray was one of the most successful Colonial-bred sires to stand in Australia for many years. Tails was his major winner, being the second-highest stake-winner in Australian racing. Other major winners sired by Dalray included Grand Garry (Sydney Cup and Queensland St Leger), Ton (Queensland Oaks), High Society (Doomben Cup), Booberana (Queensland Cup), Refulgent (Queensland Sires’ Produce Stakes) and Tea Biscuit (Moonee Valley Gold Cup).