BALBOA HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART

Southland Times, Issue 24000, 15 December 1939, Page 20

BALBOA HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART

Colonial-Bred Horse Who

Sired Champions

JF one sire more than another has placed the Glentruim Stud on the thoroughbred map it is the colonial-bred horse, Balboa, who, unfortunately, was not appreciated to the full until his death about five years ago. The Varcoe horse compiled a remarkable record as a sire, and very few progenitors have been known to have left winners as stayers, sprinters, hurdlers and steeplechasers with such consistency. In the 17 seasons that his stock have

been racing they have won £76,404 in stakes—a wonderful record considering the restricted opportunities he had at different periods of his stud career. The fact that Balboa was not recognized by breeders until late in life can be seen from the stake winning record, of his stock. Last season his representatives won £lO,248 in stakes or almost £2OOO more than in his next best season.

Balboa was a fine racehorse himself and the New Zealand Derby and the Auckland Cup were included in his list

of successes. He transmitted his remarkable vitality to his stock, but unfortunately it was late in life before his true worth was realized. Two of his representatives to race prominently last season were Boswell and Passaform, and this pair promises to be as good as any of his former representatives. Other good winners by Balboa last term were Spanish Lad, Black Banner and Auctor. For some years Balboa’s stock have played an important part in jumping events—both as steeplechasers and hurdlers in Otago and Southland, and to find a sire to replace him may prove rather a difficult task. Not Wanted BALBOA’S stud career was a chequered one and it is related that at one stage he could have been purchased for the few pounds owing for his keep in a livery stable at Invercargill. P. T. Hogan brought the Varcoe horse to Southland and although Hogan had a reputation for patching up broken down horses, he failed with Balboa, who broke down badly after contesting the Riverton Cup in 1918 and shortly afterwards found his way to Central Otago, where he stood at a small fee. It is said that he worked his way back to the Lumsden-Waimea Plains district where he stood for a season or two. While in this district he sired Black Duke, one of the bestknown horses to race in New Zealand in recent years. He was later acquired by Mr A. Chisholm, of Otautau where he spent the remainder of his days. It was while located at Otautau that he sired the majority of his best winners. He was foaled in 1911, and was in great heart at the time of his death at the age of 23 years. Son To Carry On Some seasons ago Mr Chisholm decided that he would leave one of Balboa’s sons entire, for stud purposes later on. As p yearling he selected a colt from the imported mare Celerity 11, a great race mare in her day and winner of several important handicaps. The colt is known today as Boswell, a member of R. E. McLellan’s team at Invercargill, and one of the most promising young stayers seen for some time. In a brief racing career so far Boswell has compiled a fine record, and there is no horse in training in Southland at the present time who would approach the Balboa stallion on the score of conformation and quality. In selecting Boswell to carry on Balboa’s great name, Mr Chisholm’s choice was a sound one. Boswell is an aristocrat in every sense and when given an opportunity at the stud he should make a great name for himself. He shows more quality than most of his sire’s stock, and for this his dam is probably entitled to some claim as Celerity II was a beautiful mare in every sense. Celerity 11, who was bred in England in 1922, is one of the very few Gainsborough mares to be imported to New Zealand. Boswell is her first representative to race and if he is as successful at the stud as he has been as a racehorse there will be no regrets. There is no entire son of Balboa about better fitted to carry his banner as a progenitor than Boswell. Balboa’s influence in the thoroughbred world in Southland and New Zealand is impossible to estimate in figures. He was a champion racehorse and just as fine a sire; he has a champion son to carry on his name, while Balboa mares on all sides are being bred from and already many of them have produced winners. Balboa’s daughters as well as his sons were great gallopers, and they are strongly represented to play their part as producers. Balboa’s record as a sire is as follows:—

Stakes Won Season £ 1922- 1,392 1923- 3,489/10/1924- 580 1925- 2,697 1926- 2,505 1927- 5,017 1928- 5,713 1929- 6,350 1930- 8,870/10/1931- 4,436 1932- 2,998/10/1933- 2,553/10/1934- 2,445 1935- 3,330 1936- 8,129 1937- 5,650/10/1938- 10,248 TOTAL £76,404/10/-