Hawera breeder first to see line’s potential

Press, 28 July 1989, Page 23

Hawera breeder first to see line’s potential

Ron Nolan, the Hawera breeder - owner - trainer, would not consider himself a seer, but in one field at least he stole a march on all the commercial breeders in the country when he imported the sire Allgrit many years ago. Allgrit has gained more fame recently through the deeds of Valrodian, the hurdler with extraordinary potential, but earlier he had left some smart sorts without ever becoming a commercial proposition. Allgrit was the first and only son of the great American stallion Raise a Native to come to this country. When he came, Raise a Native horses were not hot property on the international scene. In more recent years breeders have not been able to afford them, they have

become so fashionable. Now it is Raise a Native’s sons, like Alydar, whose own sons are keenly sought after here. ■ Raise a Native now vies with Northern Dancer as the major world breeding influence. The son of Native Dancer has eclipsed Sir Ivor, from the Turn To line, as the up and coming siring line founder. Until recently, reservations have been held about the stock of Alydar and how they would perform on turf. They were, the critics said, best suited to the all-weather tracks of North America. But Cacoethes, the next best to Nashwan in Europe, and rated by his experienced trainer as the best horse he has had, has changed all that. Alydar nearly brought off a unique double this year as his son Easy Goer

was arguably the best three-year-old in the United States. He fought hard but had to settle for second to Sunday Silence in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, but turned the tables easily over the longer distance of the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, which rather surprised the breeding experts. It was also an uncanny rewrite of the history books. Alydar was a good mixture of speed and stamina but he could not beat Affirmed in the Triple Crown races of 1978. The two staged thrilling finishes each time, just as Sunday Silence and Easy Goer did, but Affirmed always won. Ironically Affirmed has been as big a disappointment at stud as Alydar has been successful. Alydar’s best known horse before this year was Alysheba, a Kentucky Derby winner, which went on to win a Breeders Cup Classic. Alydar has struck a potent . nick with mares by Buckpasser, the winner of 25 of 31 starts and the champion horse for each of the three seasons he raced. Buckpasser,, from the same La Troienne

family as Noble Bijou, has been a goldmine to the famous New York racing family, the Phipps who purchased his granddam in the 19405. Buckpasser is the sire of Easy Goer’s dam Relaxing. Described as a strikingly beautiful filly, when trained by John Dunlop in England as a youngster, she hit her best form as a late three-year-old, winning over 2000 m at Newbury. She ended up winning over 2600 m in America, so Easy Goer’s win against Sunday Silence in the longest (2400 m of the Triple Crown events may not be so surprising. His success has set American breeding pundits in pursuit of yet another golden cross. There are only five foals of racing age by Alydar from Buckpasser mares. Three of them have won stakes races up until the middle of this year. The success of Alydar and other sons of Raise a Native such as Mr Prospector has sent many Kiwi studs in search of the best blood from the line they can afford. But there is no argument Ron Nolan was the first to see the possibilities.