THE HEROD LINE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22512, 1 September 1936, Page 9

THE HEROD LINE

POOE CLASSIC KECOBD ! LESSONS FROM THE PAST GOLD ROD'S DIFFICULT TASK 111" speakmint The victory of Mahmoud in the Epsom Derby has brought the Herod lime into a prominence that it has not enjoyed since the dazzling triumphs of The Tetrarch, which marked the reintroduction of tho family into England after half a century of virtual exile. Not that Mahmoud is a tail male descendant of Herod, but his grey coat colour, which has come, mistakenly it is true, to bo regarded as tho exclusive insignia of tho Herod horses, has d:.iwn attention to his descent from his great maternal ancestor. Now, in Australia, wo have,a New Zealand-bred scion of this great division of tho equine family dominating tho position with regard to the coming classics. This is Gold llod, inbred to the Herod line, as he is a grandson of Tho Tetrarch and his maternal grandsire is tho Roi Horodo horse King John. The question which is exercising tho minds of students of breeding is whether this combination is likely to militate against his chances of attaining classic honours. The classic history of tho Herod family, particularly in recent years, is therefore of njoro than usual interest at the present time. It has now come to be regarded as almost an accepted fact that no direct descendant of Herod can win tho English Derby. The last one to succeed was Sir Bevys in 1879. By that time tho best of tho Herod sires had been sold to France, and tho descendants of Macaroni, of whom much was expected, failed to carry on. Up to 1863 tho Derby winners descended from Herod numbered 30, including such great horses as Tho Flying Dutchman, Wild Dayrell, Thormanby and Macaroni. Winners since that date wore Favonius (1871), Cremorne (1872), Kisber (1876) and Sir Bevys (1879). The Tetrarch was unable to run and his best son, Tetratema, failed through lack of stamina. St. Leger and Oaks The St. Leger is run over a longer distance than the Derby, but it is doubtful if it is as great a test of staying ability. It is a fact thaij three sons of The Tetrarch have succeeded in winning it. These were Caligula (1920), Polemarch (1921) and Salmon Trout (1924). Tho fields which the first two defeated were sadly depleted through training and other mishaps. Prior to Caligula's year tho last Herod horses to win the St. Leger had been Dutch Oven (1882) and Ossian (1883). Tho Flying Dutchman is tho <only " triplo crown" winner to come froni this family* and he was successful as long ago as 1849. Formosa (1868), the dam of tho New Zealand mare Pulchra and a daughter of Buccaneer, won four of the classics, but missed' tho Derby. Formosa was probably tho best member of tho family to win the Oaks, and others were Queen Bertha and her daughter Spinaway. Tho Herod line accounted for five of tho events between 1868 and 1897, when .the winner was the French-bred Limasol. Another French mare, Brulettej won in 1931, and Lovely Rosa, this year's winner, is by Tolgus, a grandson of The Tetrarch. The record of tho family in the Two Thousand Guineas is better. The winner in 1884 was Scot Free, who was by Macgregor, who won in 1870 and was currently believed to have been " got at" before the Derby. There was a long interval until 1920, when Tetratema, by The Tetrarch, led the field home. Later winners are Mr. Jinks (1929) and Hodosto (1933). In tho One Thousand Guineas there has been only one winner tracing to Herod since Camelia won in 1876. This was Four Course, bv Tetratema, who was successful in 1931. New Zealand Record This is not a very imposing record, and it may bo worth mentioning that the last Ascot Gold Cup winner of the Herod lino was Elf 11., grandsire of Tidal, who won in 1898. Turning to New Zealand, tho Herod family met with very great success during tho latter part of the last century through Traducer, one of the most prolific sivcP of classic winners we have so far had in this country. It has accounted for tho Great Northern Derby on seven occasions, the winners being Toi (1875), Danebury (1877), Libeller (l>s80), Welcome Jack (1883), Disowned (1887), Sextant (1888) and Morion (1892). Thero has been no winner from tho family for 44 years. Its record in the. New Zealand Derby is very similar, with one exception. Tho winners are Ada (1860), Emmeline (1862), Scandal (1567), Envy (1870), Defamation (1S71), Calumny Trump Card (1877), Natator (1878), Sir Modred (1880), The Dauphion (1881), Cheviot (1832), Skirmisher (1893; and Runnymcde (1925). It will be noticed that, with tho exception of the last-mentioned, no Herod horse has been successful for 43 years. Ltunnymede was by King John, the maternal grandsire of Gold Rod, which is a point in favour of tho latter. .None of the- other recently-imported descendants of lloi Herode and The Tetrarch, although highly successful in other respects, has so far succeeded in Hiring a winner of one of our more important classics. Australian Classic Winners

The history of tho A.J.C. and V.R.C. Derbies shows that. Gold Rod i<s being asked to break a tradition of almost an hoary an antiquity as that associated with tho great English classic. In tho early days tho Herod family was allpowerful in largely owing to tho influence of the great Fisherman. This dual winner of tho Ascot Gold Cup sired three, winners of the V.R.C., Dorby, whilo his sons Ferryman, Angler and Maribyrnong and his grandsons Robinson Crusoe and Richmond also met with the greatest of success. Panic, Kingston and were also sires of winners of those classics. Among tho famous winners of tho V.R.C. Derby claiming descent from Ilorod wore Angler, Wellington, .Navigator, Trident and The Admiral, while tho A..J.C. Detby was won by 'such celebrities as Richmond, Robinson Crusoe, Navigator, j Trident and Gibraltar. Tho last winner of the V.R.C. Derby tracing to Herod was The Admiral, bv Richmond, who led tli,P field homo in 1890. In the same year Gibraltar won the A.J.C, Derby and five years lateitho family supplied its last winnor of tho race in Bob Ray, by tho Now Zea-land-bred Welcome Jack, a son of Traducer. It is therefore over 40 years since a representative of the Herod lino has won either of the major Australian classics. This ia not to say that Gold Rod will not succeed where others have failed. However, the fact is undisputed that horses of the Herod lino have for the most part signally failed as progenitors of classic winners during tinlast half-century.' If Geld Roil should succeed in winning both events, lie will bo the first horse of the family to do so since Trident was successful exactly 50 years ago. There will be a host of admirers who will jpin in wishing him success in his gallant adventure,