Craig’s Gold descendant of pony race winner

Press, 23 February 1978, Page 18

Craig’s Gold descendant of pony race winner

By

J. J. BOYLE

Craig’s Gold, a strong Canterbury hope for the Otago Mannequin Stakes at Wingatui on Saturday, is a direct descendant of a mare whose only claim to recognition was as winner of three pony handicaps in the NorthIsland about 70 years ago. Craig’s Gold’s ancestress. Little Mabie, was certainly in the “scrubber” class, and her daughter, Flagship, was also small and moderate. But in the 1940 s the family came up with Tauloch, an eminent performer by any standard, and Super Snipe, a filly that took high ranking in a year that produced a vintage crop of three-year-olds.

Tauloch was a record earner at two years, and went on to greater triumphs at three, when he won 10 races, was second once and third twice from 16 starts. Tauloch was beaten on a soft track in the New Zealand Derby but won the Great Northern Derby, the Great Northern Guineas, Wellington Guineas, Avondale Guineas, A. R. C. King’s Plate, A. R. C. Royal Stakes, C. J. C. Churchill Stakes, W. R. C. Gloaming Stakes, and the New Zealand St. Leger. Flying Foam, the second dam of Tauloch and the fourth dam of Craig’s Gold, could only gain minor plac'ings in the weakest country

| class, but was a half-sister Ho the smart sprinters, Nancy Lee and The Quorn, both winners of the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie. Perhaps the strongest influence in the background of Tauloch was his maternal grandsire, Hunting Song, six times leading sire of New Zealand, and a successful sire of winner producers. Taupiri, the dam of Tauloch and Super Snipe, and Fabian, the third dam of Craig’s Gold were sisters. Craig’s Gold’s dam. the unraced Joy Gold, was got by Rejoicing II from Best of All, by Timanova from Fabian.

Craig’s Gold is the product of the first mating of

[Joy Gold with the Irish-bred [Kazakastaan, which like the deceased champion Mellay, also the successful BattjeWaggon, was sired by the English Derby and St. Legei [winner. Never Say Die.

Kazakastaan was an un- ! distinguished performer of [distinguished parentage. His | dam. Petite Etoile, was un[beaten at three years, and [retired as winner of 14 [races, including the 100 U Guineas, the Oaks, the Epsom Coronation Cup twice.

! Most of Kazakastaan’: better-performed runners cap ibe found in Australia. They include Taras Regent, Summer Hay, and the Adelaide Guineas winner, Minuetto.