TOPICS of the TURF

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 66, Issue 5604, 12 April 1943, Page 3

TOPICS of the TURF

(By

“PILOT”)

SIMPER FAMILY

AGAIN IN THE LIMELIGHT It is quite a far cry to the early days of the Great War when Mr J. B. Reid, who was a frequent visitor to England, purchased the Symington mare Simper. Little was it then thought that the imported filly was destined to play such an important role in the country of her adoption, for she founded a family that contained several of our outstanding performers on the Turf. Now. through the success of Taramoa in the Australian Cup the second generation of Simper’s family has burst into prominence. Prior to the outbreak of the Great War of 1914-18 Mr Reid was actively engaged in breeding thoroughbreds at Elderslie, North Otago. And, his racing silks were carried by many good ones, Skirmisher, Gladsome, Punka, Kilboy, and Ogier being but a few of them to gain high honours. There was much to attract in the breeding lines of Simper, despite the fact that her sire, Symington, got sprinters for the main part. He did get a few stayers, including the Manchester Cup winner Junior. However, further back in the pedigree figured the names of Orby, Ayrshire, and Sir Visto, all English Derby winners, and Polymelus, second in the Sf. Leger, was a remarkably good handicap horse up to a mile and a quarter. But none of the quartet was a stayer of the class of Cyllene, Hampton, Barcaldine, and St. Simon, who figure in the next remove. After her arrival in New Zealand Simper was mated with Kilbroney, who was then standing at Mr Reid’s stud, and Affectation was the result. Two years later Simper dropped a filly foal to the same sin , this member of the family being known as Illume. However, just prior to Illume being born Mr Reid’s stud was broken up and Simper was purchased by Mr R. Morrison, of “BlairlOg is,” Masterton, but it was the irony of fate that the new owner was to die shortly afterwards. It was at this stage that Mr W. T. Hazlett, of Southland, became the owner of both Simper and Illume. The oldest member of the Simper family, Affectation,, was secured by Mr A. McDonald, Masterton, and as a two-year-old this son of Kilbroney and iSimper quickly won fame for himself. Tn the 1918-19 season he enjoyed five successes, four of them coming in a row, and included therenn were the Hawke’s Bay Stakes and the Great Northern Champagne Stakes. As a three-year-old Affectation proved himself equally at home over sprint and middle distances, winning the Wanganui Gueineas, one mile, the Masterton Cup, 1} miles, and the Stewards’ Handicap, seven furlongs, at Masterton. Later in his career he proved capable of taking the Shorts Handicap and the Members’ Handicap at Riccarton, which clearly demonstrated that he could sprint as well as stay. Unfortunately, Mr Hazlett did not enjoy an equal measure of success with Illume; indeed, the filly was most disappointing. However, the southern owner gained an overdue reward some years later when Astral Flame, one of her progeny, came to the fore in the role of ’chaser by winning the Lawford Steeples, the Grand National Steeples, and the Roosevelt Steeples at Trentham in the 1941-42 season. Although far from big. Astral Flame, who was by imported Colonel Cwgnus, invariably displayed brilliant spe r d between his fences, and it is understandable where he got that brilliance and- staying ability from. Prior to being sold to Mr Hazlett Simper had been mated with Hymettus, and another fillly resulted. This member raced as Gold Light, and she did much to maintain the record of her family. As a three-year-old, she having won twice and been placed four times in her first season on the Turf, Gold Light dead-heat.ed with Enthusiasm in the New Zealand Oaks. She then went on to add the Grandstand Handicap, miles, at Ellerslie, the Summer Handicap, one mile, at Trentham, and returned to that course later in the season to win the Autumn Handicap, 11 furlongs. Gold Light was not so successful as a four-year-old. although she «won both the W.R.C. Handicap and the C.J.C. Sockburn Handicap, but she fent t great heights in the following season, winning six times and running second thrice in 11 starts. She started off that term by winning the Avondale Cup. but she was beaten a head by Musketoon in the Wellington Handicap, the heavy going favouring the winner. However, she won the Champion Plate, boating Enthusiasm by a length, on the firmer going offering on the second day. At the Riccarton carnival in November she ran second to Sunart in the New Zealand Cup, but turned the tables in the Canterbury Cup. Actually,. Sunart had to be content with third place, Loughrea, who carried the colours of Mr L. C. Hazlett, of Dunedin, also beating the Sunny Lake gelding. The same trio also fought out the finish of the G- G. Stead Gold Cun on the fourth day of the fixture, Gold Light being agai nthe winner, with ! Sunart in front of Loughrea in this instance. With the approach of Christmas Gold Light was taken north for the Auckland Meeting, but she encountered heavy ground in the Cup contest, and was beaten out of a place. However, she made amends by taking both the King’s Plate and the Auckland Plate. A month later she contested the Wellingtn Cup, but Surveyor beat her when having 131 b the better of the ' weights. Gold Light being at the head •of the handicap with 9.7. Lifted to

9.12 in the W.R.C. Handicap on the si cond day she failed, and it was at this point* that she was retired from racing. Probably the big majority of enthusiasts will well remember the deeds of Razzle Dazzle.' the fourth of Simper’s projeny. Like Aectation and Illume, she was by Kilbroney. As a two-year-old Razzle Dazzle won s : x juvenile events and was second in the other four outings accorded her. In th following term she was only once unplaced in 13 starts, that failure being in the C.J.C. Stewards’ Handicap. Hers was a great record that season, for she won many of the best classics z in both the North and South Islands, her sure, sses coming over \arying distances and included the New Zealand Oaks, the G. G. Stead ■ miles, -She also was responsible for the defeat of Gloaming, narrow though it was, in the C.J.C. Challenge Stakes. The fifth member of the family was Dazzling Light, also by Kilbroney, but the uncertainty of things was demonstrated here when she proved to he an indifferent racing proposition. However, she made amends, as a matron, by producing Taramoa, the 1943 wipner of the rich Australian Cup. As the big v ace at Flemington was decided over 2 m ; >s 330 yards, it was no mean test of staying ability, and with Mr Hazlett taking the major portion of the rich prize of £3OOO the Southland ■ wnor has had his faith in the second goi.oration of Simper’s produce fully justified. For some years past Mr Hazlett has been centring act'-' 'ties in racing on the ride of the Tasman, although, he continues to breed them in Southland. Sir Simper, who v../ by Grand Knight and the lost of the progeny of Simper, had only one race in the Dominion before being taken to Australia. Not a great deal was asked of him early, although hr did win the Three-year old Handicap on the second day at Williamstown in the 1933-34 season. He was accorded nine starts at four years for four wins, all of which came in middle-distance events. Included in his recmd were successes' in the Centenary Gold Cup at Sydney Tatt’s, and the Torak Handicap at the. V.A..T.C. Meeting. He was third in-:the Caulfield Cup of 1934, .startingodds on favourite. Incidental!v. Sir Simper had a tilt at both the Melbourne Cup and Consolation Stale s, but he was not equal to the occasion. The winner in each instance was that “star” Peter Pan, one of the . limited munbei- of horses who won the big Flemington event twice. Tn all respects the family that was found ' rank as one * Zealand racing, and the sport owes a debt of gratitude to the late Mr J. B. Reid in the iud f rment he originally - letting Simper for jiis stud, wen though he did not himself hve long '■mov<?;h to witness the triumphs that came the way of her progeny.

Early Easter Favourite According to South Island reports a favourite has already been found for the Great Easter Handicap in Daljarrock? It may be as well to point out that Daljarrock is also engaged .at Feilding. Theolateral, another Riccarton candidate, is in also both at Feilding and Auckland. Patriotic Owner For the second successive year, Mr Frank Ormond, Hastings, will sell racing stock for the benefit .of the patriotic funds, and is offering Piko Piko and Taihuia. Piko Piko is a a three-year-old bay gelding by Gynerium from High Art, by Leighton— Shrill. He is a half-brother to Ivar and is a winner. Taihunia is also a three-year-old gelding by Tiderace— Huiorau, by King Mark—Te Aupaki, the clam of Toxeuma. Taihuia has done very little racing. Signs of Improvement A pleasing feature in the track work at Hawera is the marked improvement shown by Battledress, last season’s champion three-year-old. The Posterity galloper is again infusing plenty of life into his track work, and last Tuesday came home solidly at the end of four furlongs in 50Asec, running his last two furlongs in 25 sec. and thus repeating his gallop of a few days earlier. Signs are not wanting that he may yet race prominently before the present season ends. Thoroughbreds in Enemy Hands Running true to form von Ribbentrop, after plundering French studs, is now. racing in France under a wellknown name? This fact was revealed by Lord Rosebery, president of the English Thoroughbred Breeders’ AsIsociation. Lord Rosebery said: “When the war ends there will be numerous difficulties with regard to the elegibiL

ity of names of ’horses or mares to be entered in this book which have left their present ownership on the Continent. For instance, I have been credidly informed that a number of mares—some of them of the highest class, and one of them a classic winner—have been commandeered to make a stud for Ribbentrop, is, I am told, racing in France, having assumed a very well-known name on the Continent. I cannot believe that these animals will be admitted to the British Stud Book, at any rate, till they are restored to their rightful owners. Future planning of all kinds for after the war is in the air, and I am sure Messrs Weatherby will be looking into methods to keep their Stud Book unsullied.” RACING FIXTURES GALLOPING April 17: Ngaruawahia Racing Club (non-totalisator) April 24, 26: Westport Jockey Club AliM 24. 26: Wairarapa Racing Club April 24, 26: Feilding Jockey Club April 24, 26: Auckland Racing 'Club April 24, 26: Riverton Racing Club April 26: Beaumont Racing Club April 26: Waipukurau Racing Club April 26: Canterbury Jockey Club TROTTING April 17: x Auckland Trotting Club April 1.7, 24: PJew Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club April 24, 26: Hawera Trotting Club-