Winner’s family represented here

Press, 9 June 1978, Page 9

Winner’s family represented here

By

J. J. BOYLE.

Shirley Heights, winner of a thrilling English Derby yesterday, belongs to a family represented at New Zealand studs within the last 40

years by the stallions King’s Counsel’ and Battle Song. Lord Halifax, who bred Shirley Heights at the Garrowby Stud in Yorkshire, bought the Derby winner’s dam, Hardiemma, as a four-year-old for 12,000 guineas in 1973. She was sent to Mill Reef at the National Stud the next year and the result of that mating was Shirley Heights. Hardiemma was a modest handicap performer, but won ai. 11 furlong race as a three-year-old. By the unbeaten Champagne Stakes and Timeform Gold Cup winner, Hardicanute, she was one of 11 winners produced by her dam, Gold Cross. King’s Cross, the grandam of Gold Cross, bred 10 winners including the good winner King's Bench and King’s Counsel. After winning the Epsom Blue Riband Tria! Stakes in England, King’s Counsel was purchased for New Zealand, and one of his best winners here was Judge, whose successes included the Grand National Hurdles. Rhona. grandam of King’s Cross, was a sister of Cradle Song, which left 12 winners including the Irish St Leger winner Battle Song. Bought for New Zealand. Battle Song sired the Great Northern Oaks winner, Swingalong. in one of his early crops here before being resold to Australia. Programme, winner of the New Zealand and Great Northern Derbies, also belonged to the family that has come up with the hero of yesterday’s historic classic at Epsom. ,