MR W. D. McLEOD’S TEAM

Southland Times, Issue 23406, 13 January 1938, Page 10

MR W. D. McLEOD’S TEAM

Record Bracket At Wyndham

KING’S PLAY’S DEFEAT OF LAWN DERBY

Since the opening of the current season on August 1 R. B. Berry’s team has won stakes to the value of £6lOO. His most important successes were the New Zealand Cup with Lucky Jack and the Champion Stakes with Horsepower. A statement appeared in an Auckland paper that “when the partnership of Messrs Stevenson and McMath was dissolved about three years ago, Mr Stevenson, who retained six horses, sold all except Willow Wave, which he gave to Mr W. McDonald, much against the latter’s wish.” This is incorrect as Willow Wave was bought by Mr D. Windle, of Gore, from whom Mr McDonald purchased a half-share. “At least I have done something that very few others have done,” remarked a Southland trainer to the writer during the week, and he explained that .he had won a race with a horse which .boasted a flash of Clydesdale blood close up in its maternal lines. It would not do to mention names, but the winner in question comes from an unregistered dam, which, according to some people who claim to be in a position to know, was by a trotting sire from a three-quarter draught mare. There seems good reason to believe that this is correct, but it is not the first happening of its kind. A few years ago' an effort was made to register a mare in Southland to have her included in the Stud Book. It was found, however, that this mare, who was also the dam of a really good handicap winner, was out of a draught. Other cases are also on record.

Musketeer put up a sterling performance in the Summer Handicap on the second day at Epsom, and there was no disgrace in being beaten, seeing that he covered the two miles in 4min 29 3-ssec and was set to concede the winner, Starwyn, 60 yards. Musketeer is sure to develop into a first-class stayer and when the classes are a shade more suitable he should not be long in returning to the winning list.

Roy Dale, a brother to a recent Southland importation Sandydale, is one of the Village Farm consignment for the yearling sales in the States. An American writer describes the youngster this way: “Roy Dale, a black colt, is an own brother to Sandydale (2.1 J Prince Dale (2.4 J and Dalehurst (2.6 J Roy Dale is one of the halfdozen yearlings who can do enough without hopples. He is a blocky-made colt, goes wide in front, could not thump his knees if he tried, and showed all the speed that anyone would want to see and not one single time did he offer to break. He would be classed as a good colt.” In both his races at the Canterbury Park meeting, Moana Tama showed his old dash and spirit, so G. Mouritz evidently has not long to wait before his new charge scores again. He contested the Lyttelton Handicap on the first day at Canterbury Park off 3.33 and the Prebbleton Handicap on the second, day off 3.31, finishing second and third respectively. When he again races in his own class, he will take some beating, and his form at Forbury Park this month will be followed with some interest.

Repeatedly the name of Thelma comes to the forefront when the blood lines of leading winners are being discussed. The latest to achieve further fame for this great colonial-bred producer is Horsepower, winner of the Ashburton Champion Stakes, and with Two’s Loose out of the way now likely to become the season’s leading juvenile. As an early two-year-old Horsepower showed great promise and he won the North Island Challenge Stakes in a manner which suggested that he would be a grade above the majority of three-year-olds, but he failed to realize these expectations until he won the Champion Stakes decisively. His sire, Jack Potts, has been one of the most successful progenitors of recent years and his list of classic successes is a remarkable one. Fre< Advice, the dam of Horsepower, was one of the greatest race mares bred in this country. She took a two mile record of 4.21 and a sprint record of 2.41 1-5. By Blue Mountain King (one of the many fine Australian-bred horses to be- brought to the Dominion) Free Advice was out of Intaglio, the dam also of First King, Windshield and Al John. Intaglio was by Logan Pointer from Cameos, by Galindo (McKinney blood) from the peerless Thelma. As indicated by her breeding, Bexley Girl proved capable of going a good two miles and for a young mare her 4.35 at Cambridge was an impressive effort. Raven’s Girl, dam of Bexley Girl, is a daughter of Ravenschild, winner of the 1913 New Zealand Trotting Cup. Ravenschild was by Rothschild. Bexley Girl had only one race before joining F. J. Smith’s stable where, in five attempts, she has had three wins and a third.

On the maternal side Roman Chief has splendid lines, his dam, Zola, being a daughter of Hal Zolock, by Zolock, son of McKinney. Zola’s dam Solo, 2.10 4-5, was by Albert Victor, a great performer, from Eyrechild, who was by Rothschild from a Traducer mare. Eyrechild is the grand-dam of Great Admiral, Golden Eagle, Eyre and Axminster.

Mr W. D. McLeod has two of the most promising young pacers in the province in Waitemata and Aqua Bond, both double winners during the holidays, but very few owners have their teams as scattered as the Mandeville sportsman and this fact is inclined to lead to difficulties at times. Mr McLeod’s team includes: Waitemata in W. Cosgrove’s stable; Aqua Bond in J. Walsh’s team; Nell Grattan and Willowbank with E. Todd, these being in Southland besides Eddie Tolan in M. C. McTigue’s Methven stable and Belle Grattan in G. McKenry’s team at Spreydon. It was during the Southland holiday circuit that the difficulty was encountered when at Wyndham on New Year’s Day no fewer than six horses were coupled in the race card which must be almost a record as far as brackets are concerned. J. Walsh had four of his team in the Victory Class Trot and as Aqua Bond was one of the number all had to be coupled on the machine with Nell Grattan and Waitemata. Three members of the bracket started. With Aqua Bond and Waitemata now compelled to race among the Cup fields further difficulties fnay be encountered at later meetings. At the request of W. J. O’Shea, Lawn Derby was allowed to go away two or

three lengths behind King’s Play and Nervie’s Last in the exhibition race at Cambridge, when King’s Play, on the rails, led out. As the leader reached the two furlongs in 33 2-ssec Lawn Derby was in behind Nervie’s Last, who was trailing King’s Play. There was no change until they had covered six furlongs in lmin 43 2-ssec, when Nervie’s Last went up quickly alongside of King’s Play and the pace was turned on in earnest. King’s Play and Nervie’s Last were on terms at the turn, where Lawn Derby, on the outside, moved up with a sharp dash. Lawn Derby then broke and ruined his chance. Nervie’s Last made a game effort, but King’s Play held him off by half a length in 2min ’43 2-ssec. In running the last half in a minute King’s Play, who was splendidly handled by M. Stewart, was responsible for a sterling performance, and drew attention to his prospects in the New Zealand Gold Cup at Hutt Park next month. Nervie’s Last ran his final section in lmin 0 l-ssec, rare speed for an unhoppled pacer. Just what Lawn Derby might have run, only for the unfortunate lapse, is problematical but (states The New Zealand Herald) the great burst he showed in running to the leaders on the turn suggested that he would have won, which would have meant breaking the minute for the halfmile. O’Shea stated afterwards that Lawn Derby struck a shifting patch and slipped. He regretted the incident, as he had hoped the spectators would have seen his horse at his best. O’Shea paid a tribute to the capabilities of King’s Play and Nervie’s Last.