INFLUENCE OF HER SIRE, PETER VOLO

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 128, 26 November 1938, Page 22

INFLUENCE OF HER SIRE, PETER VOLO

(By "Ariki Toa.")

Without question one of the greatest trotters ever to race in the Dominion, Nell Volo has proved a shy breeder since taking up the duties of a stud matron, and although mated with four different sires, she has yet to prove in foal. It ie a pity that this has been the case, for a great deal of interest would have been manifest in any of her progeny.

This season her owner, the wellknown trainer F. J. Smith, intends putting her to Cloverdale, an American importation by Abbedale, and it will be interesting to see the result of the mating. Abbedale has made quite a name for himself in a comparatively short time at the stud in America, and critics overseas are of the opinion that he will eventually rise *o be one of the most successful stallions in the country. , ' ,

Nel] Volo, who was more or less unsound throughout her racing career, was responsible for some outstanding performances, and one of the first to come to mind was on the occasion of her second success in the Rowe Memorial at Epsom. Owing to a couple of bad breaks, both at the start and in the middle' stages, she was standing Parrish Belle up fully 100 yards with about two furlongs to go, and the chances of the American mare appeared well-high hopeless. However, she settled down to her work in brilliant style and trotting her last half-mile in a shade better than lmin she was able to gain a narrow but decisive victory. - s

It is more or less well known that had Nell Volo been sound when competing at matinee meetings in America she would never have reached these shores, for she had proved a very promising square-gaiter in the early stages of her career. Smith himself is confident that had an opportunity arisen to measure strides with Peggotty, Sea Gift, Peterwah, and other great trotters of the past, Nell Volo would have proved beyond doubt that she was the best trotter that has ever graced the New Zealand Turf.

There is nothing really sensational in the fact that Nell Volo .possesses such a wonderful turn of speed, for she claims a wealth of \ the best blood in America. Her dam, Katie O'Neill, is by Walnut Hall from Qfcalma, by Moko, by Bingen. Katie O'Neill is the dam of ten standard performers in the States, nine of whom are trotters. They include Neil Frisco, 2.3, Neil Voloj 2.8J, and Frisco's Pride, 2.4|: Peter Volo, the sire of Nell Volo, has proved one of the best progenitors of speed ever at the stud in America. Although in his twenty-sixth year, he still retains the vitality of many seasons ago, and he is an object of interest to all trotting enthusiasts who visit the famous Walnut flail Stud

Stokes sold Peter

Two seasons ago he was commanding a fee of 250 dollars, and it is possible that he still stands at some 200 dollars.

It was as a yearling that Peter Volo first came into prominence as a champion, at that age registering 2min 19sec for a mile. Prior to this feat he was advertised for sale by his owner, Mr. W. E. D. Stokes, and the latter added practically all the superlatives possible to the horse's pedigree. Although many were inclined to look askance at the youngster, he elicited bids up to 2500 dollars, but it was soon evident that he was not for sale. He was immediately shipped home, and a few weeks later took his yearling record. He was later sent to Thomas W. Murphy, who raced him until his retirement and won in stakes 44.536 dollars. ■ Another episode in the career of Peter Volo that, bears repeating is that as a two-year-old he was so abnormally developed that many thought that ha was in reality a three-year-old, and it was not for some months that the suspicion died a natural death. He was a veritable wonder as a twoand three-year-old. He carried all before him at these ages, and closed h:s Turf career at Lexington with a victory over a field of aged horses n 2mm and 2min 2£sec. I. one of -ha heats he pulled a punctured su: :y wheel all the way down the strai^ii At three years he was unbeaten Peter Volo was retired to the at Patchen Wilkes Farm, and fwas a rush to breed to him Stokes sold Peter the Great .J Volo's sire, for 50.000 dollars, and immediately installed Peter Volo at the head of his stud. However he did not prove the success expected in his first few seasons, and he began to pass under a cloud. His owner became involved in several disputes, and eventually the stud and far*n had to be sold. . Finally, Mr. Stokes submitted Peter Volo for auction, and an offer oi 30,000 dollars was put in for him. However, it proved a bogus bid, and he was subsequently secured for the Walnut Hall Stud for 25,000 dollars. Ha was not in good physical condition at the time, and he took some time to build up. ' ' . During the past decade he has come fully into his own as a progenitor of speed, and he is now credited with siring six horses in the two-minute list. From the above it can be seen that Nell Volo claims all that is required for a successful brood mare, and it is to be hoped that she eventually settles down to a stud career.