Jamell emulated his Cup-winning dam

Press, 11 November 1983, Page 18

Jamell emulated his Cup-winning dam

While it has not been uncommon over the years for New Zealand Cup winning mares to be successful broodmares (Princess Mellay and her fine son, Prince Majestic, are testimony of this) one of the most notable producers would have to be Palantua, the winner of the prestigious event 50 years ago. Palantua left several use-

ful performers, including Jamell, which was to emulate his dam’s Cup-winning performance 18 years later in 1951. Palantua, owned by Mrs W. MacKenzie and prepared by the veteran Wingatui trainer, Fred Shaw, was the only mare in the 1933 Cup but was sent out favourite for the event. Settled at the tail of the

field by her rider, W. Jones, Palantua occupied a rearward position for a good part of the journey before embarking on a sweeping run before the home turn. She was quickly in a challenging position and finished resolutely to shade Rocket by a length, with The Smuggler third. In winning the 1000 sovereign event, Palantua registered a smart 3:22.25, easily a record for two

miles in Australia or New Zealand. The win also gave Mrs MacKenzie the honour of becoming the first woman to own a New Zealand Cup winner. Palantua was to make her mark as a broodmare for apart from Jamell she left the grand stayer, Fine Night, and Peel Tower, which left the brilliant but unsound galloper, Royal Tower which is probably

best remembered for clearing maiden ranks by winning the Hazlett Gold Cup at Wingatui. But it is Jamell by the New Zealand Derby winner, Nightly, and thus a brother to Fine Night, which was widely regarded as Palantua’s best performer. Sold as a two-year-old to Mr A. Winders, Jamell, also prepared by Mr Shaw, had finished fourth in the Cup the year before his 1951

success and had been rather unlucky, according to his regular rider, the Invercargill horseman, Wilson Ellis. “I don’t think Jamell is any better now than he was last year when he ran fourth in the Cup, but today the pacemaking was done by Intrepid. Last year Jamell was the pacemaker,” said Ellis after his success.

Astutely prepared for the race by his 72-year-old trainer, the six-year-old

Jartiell was installed as favourite for the 1951 New Zealand Cup and gave his supporters little cause for anixety striding to the front three furlongs from home and comfortably stalling a

determined late challenge from My Hero to win by half a length. The win completed a remarkable double for Otago, one that has not been achieved since.