Palatable poised to set record

Press, 3 May 1988, Page 51

Palatable poised to set record

By

DAVID McCARTHY

The Riccarton Stud sire, Palatable, looks set to establish a record for the number of individual winners left in a season this term.

Palezza’s recent success at Otaki was Palatable’s forty-fifth individual winner for this season with virtually three months of it still to go. Palatable was the leading sire of individual winners in 1985-86 and 1986-87. Noble Bijou and Beaufort Sea tied for first with 38 winners each during the 1984-85 season. The previous season Beaufort Sea had topped the list with 44 winners. Palatable left 47 winners last season and was the second leading sire on money won. The previous season he had left 36 winners, topping Noble Bijou and Beaufort Sea for the first time. Palatable first appeared on the Sires’ List in the 1981-82 season with two winners, Dainty Dish and Queen’s Pal. His stock won 91 races last season and have won nearly 70 thus far this term. Noble Bijou (30 winners) leads the chase after Palatable, being just ahead of Beaufort Sea (29 winners). Imperial Seal, Sir Godfrey and Vice Regal are on 26 and the leading sire, Sound Reason, and Three Legs follow with 24.

Palatable’s tally of 47 last season equals the

modern record set by Mellay in the early 19705, and equalled later by Noble Bijou. The son of Tom Rolfe may have his last chance for a while to establish a new record this term. In the 1984 breeding season he left only 20 live foals and the next season only 12 as support for him dwindled for a time. This last season however he was bred with 117 mares and there will certainly be no shortage of support for him in the coming season even though his fee has risen to $5OOO.

“His book is nearly full now. We are restricting him to 60 outside mares and I had to turn about 50 away last season,” said the Riccarton Stud director, Mick Murfitt. Seventeen North Island mares were among the visitors to the stud last season and most have remained to be bred with Palatable again this year.

Palatable has not had big stake earners this season to match the feats of Blovinski, Blyme and Palliser last term, those three earning about $160,000 among them. His current eighth placing on the money won list reflects that situaiton though he has a number of up and coming and accom-

plished handicappers to boost future earnings. Though American bred, Palatable raced in England from John Dunlop’s stable which later housed Balmerino. Palatable broke down during his three-year-old career but by then had earned respect from the English racing bible, “Timeform.” “Timeform’’ described Palatable as a “good looking colt which won two good early season handicaps in tremendous style. He completely outclassed his rivals under a five pound (2.5 kg penalty at Newcastle Newcastle penalty at cruising home by five lengths.”

Palatable had earlier won at Newmarket. His breakdown came after he was beaten at odds on in the Predominate Stakes at Goodwood in May 1976 finding the one and a half miles (2400 m beyond him, according to “Timeform.”

Palatable is on lease from the Bunker Hunt empire but in spite of the decision of Nelson Bunker Hunt to disperse much of his bloodstock last year there seems little possibility that the Tom Rolfe horse will be leaving Canterbury in the immediate future.