Imperial Guard moving north

Press, 2 April 1985, Page 38

Imperial Guard moving north

Special correspondent Invercargill Imperial Guard, the successful siring son of Brigadier Gerard, has been lost to southern thoroughbred breeding. The stallion’s sale to the newly-formed Clearwood Stud, Pukekohe, was clinched a few days ago. Imperial Guard, brought to New Zealand by a syndicate of southern breeders, stood initially at the Collett family’s Nottingham Park establishment at Gore. Don Collett, who founded Nottingham Park, has taken up a position as overseer of a vast breeding and racing venture established by Aucklanders of which the Clearwood Stud is a part. The Nandina Stud, founded by Albert Gubay and later developed by Ted Hooper, is the headquarters of tne new venture. Imperial Guard, a son of the great racemare, Altesse Royale, sired the champion filly, Our Hight. Others he sired included the stakesplaced Imperial Helen, Imperial Lass and Pidgeon’s Blood. Dragoon, Go Johnny, Young Miss, Acco, Great Night, Imperial Nip and

Silver Guard are other useful performers he is credited with. Nottingham Note and Pidgeon’s Blood, two valuable young broodmares owned by the Collett family, have also been sold to the Pukekohe venture.

Nottingham Note won 11 races and Pidgeon’s Blood scored four times. Pidgeon’s Blood, a daughter of an Invercargill Gold Cup place-getter, Red Ruby, is a granddaughter of Kurdrille, one of the south’s most successful matrons.