SUCCESS OF FOXBRIDGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27333, 8 March 1950, Page 5

SUCCESS OF FOXBRIDGE

SPORTING

Progeny Have Won Over Half A Million

IMPORTANT INFLUENCE ON SPORT By Springfield The progeny of the imported sire, Foxbridge, have now won more than £500,000 in Australia and New Zealand. Up to the end of last season they had won £424,350 in New Zealand, and with their earnings across the Tasman the total stood at £466,2881. To February 18 of this year his stock had won £45,001J in New Zealand, as well as a considerable amount in Australia.

Foxbridge has been the leading sire in New Zealand for the past nine seasons and he appears to be in an unassailable position again this term. As well as this, he has twice been the leading sire in the British Empire on a stake basis.

He was foaled in England in 1930 and, after a successful track career, he was imported to New Zealand by Mr L. S. Otway, of the Trelawney Stud, Cambridge. He was an immediate success as a sire in this country and he has always maintained a big margin over his nearest opponents. In addition to this he has been proving himself as a grand brood mare sire, and his effect on the sport in New Zealand should continue to be felt for many years to come.

Foxbridge’s first crop of foals raced In New Zealand in the 1938-39 season and they won three races and recorded 19 placings for £930 in stakes. The following season he moved into sixth place on the winning sires' list with £9619 10s in stakes. In 1940-41 he headed the list with £23,459 15s, compared with £11,301 10s earned by the progeny of Beau Pere, who was second.

From then on his position at the head of the list has never been endangered; often his progeny have earned almost twice as much as that of his nearest opponent. Last seasan he tipped the list with £55,350. compared with the defunct Salmagundi’s total of £43,661, which is the nearest any sire has approached him since he first headed the list. In 11 seasons of racing to July 31 last his stock won 771 races and were in the minor money on 1324 occasions. He has sired winners from four furlongs to two miles, and among the most successful of his progeny have been Sleepy Fox (winner of four successive Easter Handicaps at Ellerslie and more than £21,000), Foxwyn (Auckland Cup), Catterick Bridge (New Zealand Cup), Majesty (£10,775), Lou Rosa (£13,055), Swanee (Auckland Cup), Al-Sirat (New Zealand Derby), and dozens of other classic and important handicap winners. Foxbridge came tot© prominence as a brood mare sire when Hirajl (Nizami-Duvach) won the 1947 Melbourne Cup. The last Melbourne Cup went to another horse bred on the same cross when Foxzami (Nizaml-iHoneywood) beat _ a big

field. He is also the' sire of the dams of good winners In New Zealand, including Ninnid, Flying Control, Foxbay, King’s Law, Revolte, Knight Templar and Terminate.

Before going to the stud, Foxbridge proved himself a high-class galloper, numbering among his success the Liverpool Atlantic Cup from a good field. He is by Foxlaw (winner of the Ascot Gold Cup, Northumberland Plate and the Jockey Club Stakes) from Br i^g® (winner of four races), by Bridge of Earn from Mountain Mint (winner of the National Breeders’ Produce Stakes), by Spearmint. Bridgemount is also the granddam of Gold Nib the leading sire of two-vear-olds in New Zealand last season, and the dam of four winners, including Cresta Run (One Thousand Guineas). Foxbridge is now 20 and he is limited to a few selected mares each season, but he should continue to be high up on the leading sires* list for several years yet.