THE FILLIES' CLASSIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22412, 7 May 1936, Page 9

THE FILLIES' CLASSIC

BREEDING OF TIDEWAY THE GREAT BEESWING NEW ZEALAND DESCENDANTS BY SPEARMINT Tideway, winner of the One Thousand Guineas, belongs to a family that has been in the possession of the House of Stanley for over three generations and lias produced many winners for the Karl of Derby, but never previously the winner of a classic. Lord Derby's many other classic winners represent a combination of four female lines, one of them that of the great Canterbury Pilgrim; but an important success from Tideway's family was to be expected sooner or later, as she descends from the immortal Beeswing. Tideway is by Fninyay from Drift, by Swynford from Santa Cruz, by Neil Gow from Santa Brigida, by St. Simon from Bridget, a sister to the Derby hero Melton. The fifth dam of Bridget was Beeswing, a daughter of Dr. Syntax, and who was foaled in 18; S3. Beeswing was an extraordinary mare. She is -the classic example cited by those who argue that a strenuous racing career does not militate against a mare's success at tlio stud. She raced till she was nine years old, principally over long distances and with heavy weights, and is said to have fil races. She won the Newcastle Cold Cup, at that time one of the most important races in the North, six times, and was second to Lanercost on another occasion. She won the Doncastor Cup four times, if wo include a substitute race known as the Gold Shield, run in 18.'i7, and in her last season on tho turf she won both the above races and the Ascot Gold Cup. i:i the last-named race she led lor the whole two and a-lialf miles, and one of tho horses she beat was her old rival Lanercost. who had won tho race the year before. Descendants of Newminster Beeswing's sire, Dr. Syntax, was a grandson of Trumpator, of the Matcheui, later known as the West Australian, line. Dr. Syntax was also a tough customer. Beginning in 1815, he won the Preston Cold Cup, then as important as the Gold Cup at Ascot, seven years in succession, and ran second on the eighth occasion. His entry into Preston each year to contest the event used to be a triumphal procession. He also won the Cold Cup at Lancaster five years in succession and ran second three times.

Beeswing was mated with L ouchstone, a son of the somewhat efleminate Camel, and produced Newminster, who, although he won tho St. Legcr, was not an outstanding racehorse. As a sire, however, he must take rank with the greatest, as he sired Hermit, whose progeny won more stake-money than any horse in England, excepting those of Stockwell, St. Simon and Lord Clifden, who founded tho gi' G at staying Hampton line. Lord Clifden left an indelible impression 111 Australia and New Zealand as the sire of two of our best brood mares, Instep and Evening Star. A sister of Newminster was Honeysuckle, who to Stockwell produced Woodbine. This mare was dam of Feronia, dam of St. Serf, grand-dam of Ayrshire, fourth dam of Slievo Gallion and Henry the First (sire of Cynic) and sixth* dam of Royal Lancer and Tho Panther. Another daughter of Feronia was Hamptoma, dam of Lily of the Valley, dam of Valais. Lily of tho Valley was also grand-dam of Tatra, High Art, Highfield and Plantago, and Hamptonia was fourth dam of tho Grand Prix winner Transvaal. Another great Australian sire descended from Woodbine was Linacre. Archer's Greatest Feat To Thormanby Woodbine produced Violet, who became grand-dam of the Oaks winner Mrs. Butterwick; ancestress of Singapore and Portlaw. A daughter of Violet was Violet Mclroso, by Scottish Chief. She was mated with Master Kildare, a son of the Stockwell horse Lord Ronald, and produced in 1882 the colt' Melton, winner of tho Middle Park Plate, Derby and St. Leger. Melton's Derby win constituted tho greatest feat of horsemanship in the wonderful career of Fred Archer. Webb was on the better horse in Paradox, but Archer crept up to him inch by inch and literally lifted Melton past the post in the last stride, to win by a nose. Melton became the sire of Absurdity, dam of Absurd, and of Greeba, dam of Eager, the maternal grandsire of Gloaming. Six years later Violet Melrose produced Melton's sister Bridget, who to St. Simon threw Santa Brigida, the founder, in Lord Derby's ownership, of tho very useful family to which Tideway belongs. Santa Brigida won the Goodwood Prince of Wales' Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks, and was third in the Ono Thousand Guineas. She was °dam of Bridge of Canny, winner of £14,500 and sire of Cantilever, who won tho Jockey Club Stakes and Cambridgeshire, and sired the dam of tho Ascot Gold Cup winner Felicitation, tho great stayer Bridge of Earn, maternal grandsire of Windsor Lad; and Bridge of Sighs, dam of Light Brigade, a very successful sire in the United States of America. Another daughtor of Santa Brigida was Spean Bridge, dam of Knockando and of the brilliant two-year-old Legionnaire, who has been a qualified success at the stud in Australia. He is sire of the two-year-old Bonnio Legion and of Emissary, a winner in New Zealand. Santa lirigida was also ancestress of Manitoba, lately imported for the stud in Australia, tho Ono Thousand Guineas winner Brown Betty and last year's Great Metropolitan Stakes winner, Annihilation. Sire of Seaton Delaval Driftj the dam of Tideway, was a good race mare. She won one small race as a two-year-old and opened her three-year-old career by running filth in tho One Thousand Guineas, when inconvenienced by damaged—some say fractured —ribs. She subsequently won the Sandown Atalanta Stakes and the Breeders' St. Leger at Derby and £2BIO "in stakes. Not many of tho family have come to Now Zealand. A collateral member, however, who exercised a profound influcnco for nearly a go 110 ration was 3lelton's son Seaton Delaval, who was imported to Auckland by Mr. L. D. Nathan in 1894. Seaton Delaval was sire of two of the greatest horses over bred in Auckland, Nonette and Gladsome, also of the Auckland Cup winner Jack Delaval, the Great Northern Derby winner Miss Delaval, the Great Northern Hurdles and Steeples winner Sea De'il, tho A.R.C. Easter Handicap winner Rosolla, Val Rosa, Beddington, Idas, Master Delaval, Kamo and a score of other good winners. Only live sires tracing directly to Beeswing have come to New Zealand. [They are Charlemagne 11., Lupi.ll, Sheffield, Garter Bluo and the reeentlyimportod Myosotis. Charlemagne 11. was siro of Emperador ami Culprit, and later went to Australia and sired the great stayer Carlita. Lupin was imported by the New Zealand Government after the Boor war to sire cavalry remounts, and did wonderfully well with practically no chances. Myosotis is a brother to tho successful racehorse and sire Plantago. The only mares we have had tracing to Beeswing were Ormolu and Mint. The former was grand-dam of Count Cavour, King's Trumpeter and Gustavo, and Mint has left a few winning descendants, such as Hybiscus and The Khedive.