CONSISTENT PRODICE

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1930, Page 4

CONSISTENT PRODICE

MIDDLE DISTANCE HER FORTE CATMINT MARE NOT OVER-RACED UP TO WEIGHT-FOR-AGE COMPANY The astute Te Awamutu mentor Mr. F. E. Loomb has enjoyed a remarkable run of successes with the Catmint mare Prodice since purchasing her from the Auckland breeder Dr. E. H. B. Milsom, and now, in her fourth season of racing, a brilliant win in the Avondale Cup raises her winning tally to close on £BOOO., Prodice has not been hhrdly raced, having faced the barrier on only 37 occasions, but she has proved herself up to weight-for-age company and is entitled to be recognised as one of the most bril-'* liant middle distance performers in the Dominion.

Though Prodice boasts of excellent strains of Musket blood through both sides of her pedigree, last season proved definitely that she was not a true stayer, and she was soundly beaten in both the New Zealand and Auckland Cups. From eight to twelve furlongs she i’s capable of holding her own with the beet, but unless her stamina shows a remarkable improvement with age, it would appear scarcely, probable that she can be seriously regarded as a contender for New Zealand Cup honours in November. Nevertheless,, the Mitchelson Cup next month should suit her, and there is no doubt that she is very well just now. Prior to winning the Avondale Cup on Saturday Prodice had not raced since winning the Takapuna Cup last January, aqd it spoke well for the ability of her owner-trainer to have her so ready for the trial. Like others of Catmint breeding. Prodice was no doubt materially assisted by the heavy track at Avondale, but she has proved herself in the past capable of winning on both soft and hard tracks, and everything points to her enjoying another successful season.

There are few fetouter-bred mares in New Zealand than Prodice, whose pedigree, contains a 'strain of Musket blood through her sire Catmint, blended -with a double strain of the same blood through' the maternal line. Catmint, whose stock have shown stoutness in stamina and a penchant for , heavy tracks, was foaled in 1909, being by Spearmint from Red Lily, by Persimmon from Melody, by Tynedale from Glee, by Adventurer from Sweet Sound, by Rataplan. Persimmon, recognised as the greatest son of the unbeaten St. Simon (Galopin—St. Angela) was from Perdita IL, by Hampton, winner of the Doncaster Cup, and the sire of three Derby winners, from Hermione, by Young Melbourne from La Belle Helene, by St. Albans. Spearmint, a great stud success, was by Carbine from Maid of the Mint, by Minting from Warble, by Skylark from CoturnTx, by Thunderbolt from Fravolina, by Orlando. Minting was by Lord Lyon (Stockwell— Paradigm) from Mint Sauce, by Young Melbourne from Sycee, by Marsyas. Carbine, winner of the Melbourne Cup and many ,of the greatest races in Australia and New Zealand, was by Musket (Toxopholite—daughter of West Australian and Brown Bess, by Camel) from Mersey, by Knowsley from Clemence, by Newminster from Eulogy, by Euclid. The dam of Prodice, Hyades, was bred by the Hon. J. D. Ormond in 1916 by the imported Hymettus from Straga, whose fine son Hymestra won the A.R.C. Railway Handicap, G.N. Champagne Stakes and A.R.C. Royal Stakes, Hawke’s Bay Stakes, Manawatu Stakes, Jackson Stakes, Wellington Stakes, and many good handicap sprint x races. Straga was by Birkenhead from Witchet, by Sir Lancelot from Elflock, by Nordenfeldt (by Musket —Onyx, by Angler) from Elfin, by Musket from Sylvia, by Fisherman from Juliet, by Tombstone. Through Birkenhead comes the Bend Or line, Birkenhead being by Orme from Tragedy, by Ben Battle from The White Witch, by Masfiinissa. Orme was by Ormonde (Bend Or —Lily Agnes) from Angelica, by Galopin from St. Angela , and therefore a sister to the great St. Simon. Hymettus was by Cyllene (sire of Polymelus) from Sweet Balsam, by Friar’s Balsam from Ennerdale, by Gaillard from Thirlemere, by Doncaster. Prodice’s performances to date are: At Two Years. £ Ist Avondale Stakes 025 3rd Welcome Stakes 100 3rd Musket Stakes .... 50 Unplaced Cambria Handicap .... — Ist Rakino Handicap . 300 Unplaced G.N. Foal Stakes 3rd Criterion Handicap 50 Unplaced Midsummer Handicap .. — Unplaced Calliope Handicap 2nd Hobson Handicap 75 2nd Juvenile, Te Arolia 40 Unplaced G.N. Champagne Stakes — Ist Victoria Handicap 350 Unplaced All-Aged Stakes £1590 At Three Years. Unplaced Flying, Avondale — Ist Avondale Guineas 050 Ist G.N; Guineas •-1100 Unplaced St. Andrew’s Handicap, Takapuna Unplaced Te Awamutu Cup — Unplaced Christmas Hep., Ellerslie — 3rd King’s Plate 2nd Great Northern Derby 000 2nd Takapuna Cup 200 Ist Takapuna J.C. Handicap .... 500 Ist G.N. Oaks f>; ’o 3rd G.N. St. Leger 700 £3750 At Four Years. 2nd Avondale Cup 200 Ist Members’ Memorial, Waikato 200 Unplaced New Zealand Cup Unplaced Metropolitan Handicap . — Ist Alison Cup, Takapuna 450 Ist. Te Awamutu Cup 300 Unplaced Auckland Cup — 3rd A.R.C. Handicap ™ 3rd Grandstand Handicap H'" Ist Takapuna Cup 0,0 £2035 At Five Years. Ist Avondale Cup 000 Grand total £7973 ft # # The Raukapuka Handicap at Geraldine should suit Audience, Mount Boa and Assemble. Caught in the galloping mood, Rascal should take a lot' of heading off in the open sprint at Geraldine to-day.