TRIUMPH FOR KARAMU STUD

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 65, 16 March 1940, Page 23

TRIUMPH FOR KARAMU STUD

TWO BIG WINNERS AT TRENTHAM

LINES OF KATHBELLA AND SIR CRUSOE

The big handicap double at Trentham on Thursday was a triumph for the Karamu Stud, which has-produced so many notable winners on the Dominion's Turf. Kathbella s who won the Thompson Handicap, carries .the colours of Mr. F. Ormond, who is now in control of the stud, and Sir Crusoe, who won the Railway Handicap, is out of a mare who was bred at the stud by Mr. G. C. Ormond and was later taken over by Mr; F. Ormond, who raced most of her progeny, though iiot Sir Crusoe's dam.

The Ormond family were among the very early settlers 'of Hawke's Bay, and the Hon. J. D. Ormond was one of the leading political figures of that province from the fifties to the nineties, being Superintendent of Hawke's Bay for some years after the separation from Wellington and later Minister of Public Works in .the Fox an^ Waterhouse Ministries and then PostmasterGeneral.; He was a very keen supporter of racing,.both as an owner and as a breeder, and he established the Karamu Stud about sixty years ago. SUCCESSFUL ENGLISH I&ARE. Mr. Ormond secured the mares for j the Karamu Stud from the best studs in New Zealand, and also from Victoria, New South Wales, and England. One of his English purchases was the Martigon—Kosher Girl filly Marty, who was acquired as a two-year-old for 90 guineas and brought out to 'the Dominion in 1910. It is from Marty that Kathbella descends.

at the New Year (one mile}-, and the Thompson Handicap at Trentham.

Marty was a sister to Market Girl, who ran third in the Oaks, From the family to which she belonged have come such notable English performers as Blue Peter (last year's Derby winner), Tagalie, Symington, Cockpen, and others. , .

Marty was an immediate success at the stud. She had no fewer than fourteen foals from 19H to 1929, and she lived for five years after her retirement. Her first foal was Martina, to Birkenhead, who became dam of King Mart and Martingal. Among those who followed were Hyllus (G.N. Guineas, etc), Hymarty, Early Dawn (a good winner in New Zealand and Australia),1 Karamu (Queensland Cup), Kilmiss (a good winner and dam of Colonel, Bogey and Merry March), and : Rascal./-

It is through Hymarty, who won seven races before going to, the stud, that Kathbella hails;. From. Hymarty Mr. Ormond bred Royal Line and Curie Xwho won :the Whyte -Handicap, W.R.C. Shorts Haudicap, Marton Handicap, and numerous other races on the'flat and over hurdles). Royal Line was by Lackham, and her first,foal to race was Araulirie, a winner. Then came Misurina, who paid a sensational dividend at the last Wellington Winter Meeting. Kathbella, who is by Beau Pere, is her third offspring to carry the colours; , ■ '■. ' Kathbella .has '■. been a performer of the' sblid. and consistent type, though her •really first rbig , success is the Thompson Handicap. Her only win as a two-year-old was the Fitzherbert Handicap at Trentham, in which she romped: home several lengths ahead of On Call and Raeburn. Last season she had four victories, the best being ah open sprint at Avondale. This season she has won -at Hawke's Bay, securing the decision.. gver Russian Ballet '(who had dead^e^ajiSfith her) after a judicial inquiry,- at Ellerslie

On a recent tour of the Auckland provincial meetings Kathbella was con- • sistently in the minor places. She i was.tried out as a stayer in the valu-j able Herries Memorial Cup at Te Aroha, .in which she was a somewhat , surprise favourite arid finished third ; just over a length from the winner, Qamos.* She was nominated for the open mile at Trentham today but was withdrawn before declaration of weights. Her Easter racing will be done either at Riccarton or at Ellerslie, probably in the A.R.C, Easter Handicap. J OLD COLONIAL. FAMILY. j Sir Crusoe hails from a branch of an old colonial line that has been bred from by the Ormond family since j the nineties. The -foundation is the | Theorem mare Woodstock, who was brought over to hNew Zealand from Sydney, without further known pedigree, in the early fifties by Mr. W. R.I Nicholson. "Woodstock was a prolific breeder, and among her earlier descendants were the1 New Zealand Cup winner Wolverine arid the Hawke's Bay Guineas winner Rewi. In the nineties a mare in this line named ' Hinewliata, a daughter of Vasco di Gama, was secured by Mr. W. Ormond, and many good horses have descended from her, most of them raced by members of the Ormond family. A granddaughter: of Hinewhata was Te Aupaki, by Merry Moment, and Te Aupaki's progeny have included Tbxeuma (Winter Cup under record weight), Pakitere, Hine Wehi (dam of Meamea and Sir Crusoe), and Huiarau (dam of Werohia, who ran second in a New Zealand Cup, Taro. Captain Furst, and Geira). Te Aupaki was owned by Mr. G.; C. Ormond, but her progeny were mainly raced by Mr, F. Ormond, who sold Hine Wehi as a yearling to Mr. N. Clout, of Wellington. I

Hine-Wehi ,mad^ only .four appearances, all as a two-year-old. She was a fine stamp of chestnut filly, but she was injured in an escapade on the way to the Trentham track and later while resting- in the paddock, and she was retired early to the stud. Her three progeny. to>- date are. Meamea, Sir Musket (who has had only three races yet), and Sir Crusoe. Meamea has been an excellent;winner for Mr. Clout..but in Sir Crusoe he appears to- have -' an, e^en more;.: promising horse.'" ■-■■ '■• •■"■'■■-■--■ ■-"■ ' -':"' : i Kathbella. and Sir Crusoe are each 'building up a "good;.record.'. In three seasons 1 racing Kathbella- has started 36 times for eight .wins and fifteen minor placings for £2525 in stakes. In two seasons' racing Sir Crusoe, who was taken along quietly last season, has had 20 starts for four wins and ten minor placings, worth £1230 in stakes, all except £80 earned this season. -Both • horses have the-best part, of -their career yet ahead of them. '