Otago-bred gelding wins Singapore Cup

Press, 30 September 1983, Page 8

Otago-bred gelding wins Singapore Cup

Special correspondent Dunedin Noble Bijou, the North Taieri stallion achieved another notable siring feat when his son, Freedom Fighter, won the $210,000 Singapore Gold Cup last week-end. The studmaster, Brian Anderton, and his mother, Alice, bred Freedom Fighter, which is out of Menuetto. A five-year-old gelding, he was sold through the National Yearling Sale for $lO,OOO to Anton Koolman, of Waikanae, a regular buyer for Singapore and Malaysian interests. Menuetto has proved a difficult breeder. Her only other foal is a Noble Bijou colt sold at the last National Yearling Sale for $28,0% He was one of three

colts bought as prizes in a national lottery organised by the Otago Racing Club and drawn in June. He was won by Derek Hooper, of Aramoho, and placed with the Hawera trainer, Don Coughman. Menuetto conceived twins from her first mating in 1973 and these were aborted. She was not served in 1974 and her 1976 colt by Noble Bijou died as a yearling. She is due to foal to Noble Bijou. Menuetto won 14 races up to 2000 m, including the 1973 Gore Cup and she was 12 times placed in 31 starts. She is closely related to Prince Majestic, which took his stake earnings to $423,000 with his success in Whakatane Cup on Sat-

urday. Menuetto is by Resurgent from Bernadine, a half-sis-ter by Harken to Princess Ermine, the grandam of Prince Majestic. Princess Mellay, the dam of Prince Majestic, was served last .week again by Noble Bijou, his first mating for the season. She has failed to conceive the last two years. Tiara, a sister of Prince Majestic, was served on Sunday by Noble Bijou’s new companion sire, Tawfiq. She is his initial service at the White Robe Lodge Stud. Wyella, the 1979 Dunedin Cup winner, has produced her first foal, a colt by Noble Bijou. She will return to that sire this spring.