DE SOTO'S TIME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23341, 5 November 1937, Page 13

DE SOTO'S TIME

CLOSE TO TRACK RECORD De Soto's performance in the Cup Trial was notable because his time, 2min 40sec, compares favourably with anything Harold Logan ever did at Hutt Park (says the Post). De Soto has had a chequered career for a prospective Cup winner. Such horses do not as a rule survive the premier event, but De Soto may be ine of the exceptions His win in die National Handicap in 1936 in 4mir. 20sec was phenomenal, because he broke in the first quarter and fell back with the rearguard. His run round thtentire field over the last six furlongs left some good horses standing and he won easily. The source from where De boto derives his great driving force has been a subject of great interest to student? of bleeding, and since De Soto made his fame, his dam. who was until recently described in the racecards as a Bribery mare, has been registered for Stud Book purposes as Entice. Entice was bred by Mr R. Whitelaw of Halswell, and is by Bribery from a mare by General Lincoln. De »oto s second dam is by General Lincoln from a -nare by the famous thoroughbred horse Stepniak, whose vwner allowed him to be mated with a numbe, ol hack mares at a reduced fee after the regular stud season vas completed This policy was adopted with tht object of breeding suitable horses foi military purposes, and it is assumed that the great-grand-dam of De Soto was one of the mares mated with stepniak. , , . ~ Bribery the sire >1 the dam ol De Soto was a high-class pacer in his day He won many races foi Mr L bher rifTs of Rakaia Briben had a --econ of 2min 16sec. He was by Prince 'm perial from The 3ift, mare by Conje from Secrecy bv St Louis from Secret by Ajax Eventually Bribery was sold and he went to Australia, where he was rune in as Brazil Boy in 1924 The dam of De Soto is also owneu by Mr C. Johnston She is at present being used for breeding purposes but at one time used to drive sheep A circumstance of much interest to breeders is the fact that De Soto his dam and his grand-dam are all first foals

De Soto began nis racing careei at the Christchurch Hun) Club's meeting on August 4 1934 and won his firs* race at the Geraldine Racing ~lub ■ meeting on September 20 in the same year After three failures (including a disqualification after winning —>n< the wrong mark at Methven) he won a mile-and a-quarter event at the Wei lington Trotting Club's autumn neei ing in '°3s and concluded thai ear with one third and one second Th<! following season he won 10 races and recorded three firsts and a second out of four starts last season. His wins to date total 18.