Bellam—stylish member of Norice family

Press, 11 June 1987, Page 40

Bellam—stylish member of Norice family

Special correspondent Auckland Members of the renowned Norice family have made a huge impact in harness racing this season and none more so than the stylish three-year-old trotter, Bellam. Bellam, a compact colt by the American-bred pacing stallion Plat du Jour, is a ninth generation descendant of Norice, a mare foaled about the turn of the century. Significantly, two top two-year-old pacers in New Zealand — Tuapeka Knight and Starship — also hail from the Norice tribe.

Tuapeka Knight, by Smooth Fella from Tuapeka Dream, is, like Bellam, a ninth generation descendant, while Starship carries Norice eight removes back in his pedigree. Bellam, Tuapeka Knight and Starship all have in common the ancestress Single Star, by Nelson Derby from Queen’s Treasure, a great granddaughter of Norice.

While all three are colts by pacing stallions — Starship is by the outstanding New Zealandbred Lordship — Bellam is one of the few from the breed which have shown any .. inclination .. to trot.

• At first glance Bellam

appears something of an anomaly. Plat du Jour is a brother of the champion American two-year-old pacer, French Chef (1:54). They are by Meadow Skipper. .. Armbro Play, Bellam’s dam, was one of the best pacing fillies of her time in New Zealand.

Raced by Mr Dave Condick, the owner of Bellam, Armbro Play won five races from Steve Little’s Motukarara stable before injury cut short her career.

One of the highlights of her three-year-old season was a close second to the champion Armalight in the 1980 New Zealand Oaks. The margin was a mere half-head. Armbro Del, the sire of Armbro Play, could give some insight into Bellam’s propensity for the trotting gait By Tar Heel, Armbro Del sired a good number of fine trotters, the best of which was undoubtedly Alias Armbro, winner of the 1975 Trotting Stakes and the 1979 Dominion Handicap. There is also abundant trotting blood on Plat du Jour’s maternal side of the family. La Pomme Souffle, his dam, was by the champion trotter and stallion Nevele Pride, a son of Star’s Pride, which was the sire of New Zealand’s

leading stallion in 1982-83 and 1983-84, Game Pride.

Pompanette, the dam of La Pomme Souffle, was by another influential American trotting sire, Floricari, from Spinster Hanover, by Bill Gallon from The Old Maid.

The- Old Maid, apart from leaving Bachelor Hanover, the sire of New Zealand’s champion Noodlum, was a half-sister to Light Brigade, one of the greatest sires of trotters to stand in New Zealand. Now we have a clear picture of what could have made Bellam switch to trotting this season after showing useful form as a pacer last term. Miss America, the dam of Armbro Play, is by Play Bill from the fine broodmare Ruling Caste, which left nine winners.

Ruling LobeH, by Mark Lobell, is Ruling Caste’s best offspring so far. She won the New Zealand Oaks in 1977.

Ruling Skipper, a three-year-old by World Skipper from Ruling Caste, has shown a good deal of potential in Canterbury this season.

Ruling Caste was all “Grice-bred.” She was by Brahman, a son of Gold Bar and the brilliant racemare Haughty, which won New Zealand Cups for the late Ben Grice in 1942 and 1943.

Haughty also became the first mare outside North America to pace a miie in under 2:0. She went 1:59.6 against the clock at Addington in 1944.

Riviera, the dam of Ruling Caste, left seven winners including Hindu Princess, the ancestress of Canis Minor (1:57.4), Brad Adios, Tuapeka Star and Tuapeka Knight. Brahmaputra, another daughter of Riviera, has been a fine producer for Mr Colin Baynes, of Otama, in Southland. She has left 12 winners including Debra Charles — the dam of Dab Chick (1:59.6) and Speedy Knight (1:56.6) — Gurkha (1:58.2), Satchmo (1:59.6), the brilliant Rocking Berry (2:0.4), Kamahl, Calcutta Lass and the promising Sepoy. Single Star, Riviera’s dam, left six winners including Petro Star, the 1949 New Zealand Oaks winner which founded a good winning family. Petro Star’s descendants include Haughty Romeo (1:58.2) and Apolotok (1:57.4). Other notable performers from the Norice family were the grand pacer Mount Eden, the 1987 Australian Pacing Championship winner, Swapzee Bromac, and the fine racemare Philippa Frost (1:57.7).