Chokebore Lodge leased to West Melton owner

Press, 13 June 1979, Page 25

Chokebore Lodge leased to West Melton owner

By

J. J. BOYLE

Riccarton’s Chokebore Lodge, one of New Zealand’s most famous racing establishments, has been leased by Mr John Douglas-Clif-ford, of Stonyhurst, to Mrs E. O. (Jan) Hales-Wells, of West Melton.

Kelvin Quayle, who has trained from Chokebore Lodge in recent years, is setting up a new stable in the Prebbleton district but Chokebore will continue to house thoroughbreds. Chokebore has a history extending far back into last century, a history identified with Henry Redwood, then with two well known families, the Cliffords and the Cutts. Mrs Hales-Wells does not contemplate using Chokebore to its full capacity with her family's horses. Some of the 20 boxes might be leased to another trainer.

Chokebore stands on more than 2 h.a. opposite the main racecourse gates in Racecourse Road. Its fame as the home of thoroughbreds grew apace with the emergence of Stonyhurst as one of New Zealand’s best known studs.

Sir George, then Mr George Hugh Charles Clifford, began breeding in a small way at Stonyhurst soon after 1880 and, in a racing career of nearly half a century of horses carrying his blue-and-gold chequers, won 116 classics. After the death of Sir George Clifford, his son, Sir Charles, carried on the stud and Chokebore Lodge, also with notable success A remarkable feature of the racing history of the Cliffords is that the training of their horses was done for so long by one family. The Australian-born Edward Cutts came to New

Zealand at the age of 15 and before long he was riding for Mr Henry Redwood.

When Mr Redwood bought Chokebore Lodge in 1868 Cutts started a long and successful tenure as trainer there. Edward Cutts trained his first winner for Sir George Clifford in 1884. After his death his sons, Albert and Harry, carried on with marked success. Albert lived on to see Mr John Douglas-Clifford take over Stonyhurst and Chokebore on the death of Sir Charles Clifford.

When he was getting on in years Albert Cutts took Dick Preece in as training partner.

When Preece left racing Gary Lee took over at Chokebore but then moved to Mornington, near Melbourne, to be succeeded by Kelvin Quayle. Chokebore’s incoming ten-

ant hopes to train her own colour-bearers. Mrs HalesWells is breeding from the Creosote mare, Jan’s Lady, a winner for her from the Thistoll stable. Jan’s Lady is a descendant of Chjota, which achieved the unusual in winning an Invercargill Cup as a three-year-old filly after only one earlier success. Calcutta Sweep, a very useful stayer prepared by the late Frank Roberts for Mr Murray Hibberd, also belongs to this family. Mrs Hales-Wells’s immediate interests in racing will probably be Rapid Fame, a three-year-old gelding by Rapanni from Kurdafame. Chokebore will also be the future home of Allamond, Rebel Star (a half-brother by Grey William to Jan’s Lady), and a weanling colt by Matins from Jan’s Lady.