NEW ZEALAND SAPLING STAKES

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 145, 20 June 1931, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND SAPLING STAKES

A Popular Classic Event.

Unfortunately, there are not a great many classic events in the trotting sport in New Zealand. It is easy to understand that in the early history of the sport, which provided only for the trotting horse, clubs only put on races which were likely to attract large fields. Gradually the pacer forced his way into prominence, and for a considerable period he dominated the position. With a view of protecting the trotter from extinction, a rule, still in force, made it compulsory for clubs to devote a certain proportion of their stakes to the trotter. A further movement, of a casual kind, provided for restrictions in racing, under which the limits became less, and this carried the sport towards a higher level. A few attempts were made in the early days of the sport to follow tlfe racing conditions and provide races other than handicap events, but they met with only partial success. The New Zealand Derby Stakes, inaugurated by the New Brighton Trotting Club, was first run in 1914, and, fortunately for the sport, it has been continued, being taken over, after a few years, by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. This race has not always been as well supported by owners as it should have been, and there have been a number of lean years, when the best three-year-olds have not been found contesting this classic event. The Champion Stakes came in 1917, but was discontinued after 1927, and a year earlier the Auckland Trotting Club made a start with the Great Northern Derby Stakes, which, luckily for the sport, is still on that club’s programme. Mr H. F. Nicoll, who has for a number of years been president of the Ashburton Trotting Club, while later he became president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, is a far-seeing administrator of the sport. In 1919 he prevailed upon his club to inaugurate a two-year-old race, known as the New Zealand Sapling Stakes. Mr Nicoll has always been mindful of the sport generally in the Dominion, and it is to his foresight and work that the New Zealand Sapling Stakes now occupies such a high position. When the race was first under discussion, there were many opponents to the racing of two-year-olds, the contention being that the training of young pacers would be detrimental to their future racing. For a few years the Sapling Stakes did not obtain the support of so many owners as it deserved. The Ashburton Trotting Club, however, supported its president in his laudable effort, and the race still remains on the club’s programme, with a growing interest in each year’s contest to demonstrate its success.

It can now be asserted quite safely that the New Zealand Sapling Stakes is firmly established. It has provided some splendid contests in the past and interest has been maintained since 1919, increasing as each season comes round. A review of past contests proves that Mr 11. F. Nicoll was on sound ground when he instituted the race. Its opponents have now become very few in number, having realised that the early racing of young pacers has not been in any way detrimental to their future prospects. This has been shown by the records of the race. Ahuriri, who won for Mr R. M. Morten in 1922, won the New Zealand Cup three years later and repeated his success the following year. Kohara, who also won for Mr R. M. Morten in 1924, accounted for »*he big November race in 1927. These facts alone should demonstrate that the early racing of two-year-olds had no serious effect on their future racing. Lady Swithin, owned by Mr Nicoll, was beaten in the first Sapling Stakes by Doraldina, but won the Great Northern Derby as a three-year-old. Taurekareka, who won in 1923, won the Great Northern Derby, while Doraldina, who won the first Sapling Stakes, won the New Zealand Derby and dead-heated with Lady Swithin in the Champion Stakes. Nantwich won the Great Northern Derby after her success as a two-year-old in the Sapling Stakes, while Arethusa, who was successful in 1930, is still racing with no apparent loss of form.

A review of the race from 1919 proves that a large number of those who contested the two-year-old event have raced on most successfully, and with the improvement in the breed of New Zealand horses there is no ground for the charge that the early training of horses for the Sapling Stakes impairs their future prospects. There was not a strong field in the first race in 1919, when Doraldina beat Lady Swithin by three lengths. Wild Briar, who was third, raced on with lair success afterwards, but the others in the field were hardly ready for the contest. Mr 11. F. Nicoll won the following year with Childe Pointer, who raced on with much success afterwards. She just beat Taraire, who later was a very prominent performer in the best races, subsequently going to Western Australia, where he was recognised as one of the best of the Dominion’s pacers. Nelson Derby, who was third that season, won the Auckland Cup in 1925, also other good races, and is now proving himself a successful sire. Phil Smith, the fourth horse, raced on for years afterwards, being successful over all distances. Ben O’Hau, who went wrong through wind troubles, was one of the Dominion’s best sprinters and Copa de Oro Junior was a regular per-

former for years afterwards in all classes of races. Loganwood, another starter that season, raced for a number of years, being a high-class pacer ov . er . distances, though particularly brilliant over a mile and a-quarter. Possibly one of the worst fields contested :• the race when' Latona won in 1921. There were only seven acceptors, while Ma Cushla met with an accident prior to the start and was withdrawn. Latona, who won by a head from Betrayer, did not train on to any great successes, but Betrayer, who was none too sound, subsequently won races. Gracie Thorpe started a solid favourite but her subsequent performances were not high-grade, while Lottie Audubon, Swithin’s Child, Ratana and Totreta did not do much afterwards. There were only four starters in 1922, but three of the quartette subsequently made history. Ahuriri, the winner, was successful in two New Zealand Cups and proved one of the best pacers who ever raced in the Dominion. He won the Sapling Stakes by three lengths from Logan Chief, who is racing yet, and quite recently went 4min 19secs for two miles. Event was third, but he became a hard horse at the barrier, which fault caused him to fail in many races. Bonny Logan was fourth and like Logan Chief she has raced continuously since then, retiring only recently. A fine pacer in Taurekareka was successful in 1923. He beat Double Event, Haackthorne and Priscilla Dean. The field was not a particularly good one and Taurekareka had an easy victory by six lengths. None of the others in the field performed with much credit afterwards.

The following saw the favourite, Kohara, successful, but the field, like that of the previous season, was not good. Mr H. F. Nicoll was second with Gibraltar, a pacer who afterwards was only useful over sprint courses. Kohara continued to improve and won the New Zealand Cup and other good races. Nelson Tasker went to the North Island and raced for a number of years, winning over all distances. General Bingen, who was fourth, developed into a. sprinter of ability, but the rest of the field did not make any mark on the race track. There was a better field the next year, when Mr H. F. Nicoll was first with Nantwich and third with Lingfield, that good pacer, Wakataua, separating the Ashburton-trained pair. A useful pacer in Rosethorn was fourth, but the rest of the field, which included Bertha Bingen, Marcheta and Eileen Audubon, never went far in the sport. Teremoa, the other starter, raced on and was a fair performer. Of the placed horses Lingfield improved most and won over all distances, while Wakataua is still racing.

I In 1926 Richore, who was the first of Rey de Oro’s progeny to race, accounted for the stake, beating Haydock, Acre and Rey Logan, who filled the minor places, while Audience, Maud Logan and Petronius were the other starters. Richore is still racing in the North Island, having gone there soon after his classic success. Haydock became unruly at the post and went to the stud. It is worth mentioning that her daughter, Speed Queen, started in the latest contest for the Sapling Stakes. Acre performed creditably later and is still in work, as is Rey Logan.

The North Island-owned Enawah, by Peterwah, beat a good field in 1927, Harvest Child, by Sonoma Harvester, being second and Daphne de Oro third. In the field were Milo Minto, Vestas, Direct Red, Monopole and Sonoma. Daphne de Oro raced on well later, until she met with a bad accident, while Harvest Child, Sonoma and Milo Minto have been recent performers on local tracks.'

Sonoma Child went one better than his brother, Harvest Child, and won the stake the next season, in a useful field, which included Grand Light, the last New Zealand Cup winner (Wrackler), Guy Denver, Frances de Oro, Royal Triumph, Hinkler and Wrackeen. Wrackler is one of the best pacers now in commission, while IJinkler, who went to Melbourne, after successes in the Dominion, is still racing well. Wrackeen started in the chief event over two miles at the recent Ashburton meeting and has been racing since she was a two-year-old.

The South Canterbury pacer, John Jinks, beat a strong field in 1929, Real Huon and Ngingongingo being in the places, while King’s Cup, Rokena. Flying Prince, Grand Canyon (who was favourite) and Purser were unplaced. Grand Canyon is racing in improved form this season, while Purser is a high-grade performer, and Ngingongingo has proved that the early racing did him no harm.

That fine filly Arethusa accounted for the stake last season, beating Gold Chips, Royal Chenault and a good field, which also included Red Shadow, who was favourite.

One of the largest fields in the history of the race turned out last week and it produced a keen contest, Silver de Oro beating Tempest, May Chenault and Gold Paper, who were in the places. The field may not have included as many high-grade pacers as in former years, but they were a good average lot, and the number of competitors was proof of the popularity of the race.

A GREAT RECORD.

ST SIMON SIRES. Horses tracing to St. Simon kept up the credit of the famous line at the recent winter meeting at Ellerslie. During the three days twenty-two races came up for decision, and, with twelve successes and a dead-heat in another event, the record was a feature of the meeting. Following are details:— Valkyrian, by William the Third, son / of St. Simon—Valroe, Lord Val (dead heat), and Prince Val. Quin Abbey, by Morganatic, son of St. Simon—Cristobel (double winner), Te Ilomai. Lucullus, by Ard Patrick, son of St. Florian and grandson of St. Simon—Prince Lu (double winner). Archiestown, by Sir Archibald, son of Desmond and grandson of St. Simon—Seatown, Billy Boy. Prince Merriwee, by Merriwee, son of Bill of Portland and grandson of St. Simon—Dark Prince. Antagonist, by Soult, son of St. Simon—Taneriri. Solferino, by Soliman, son of St. Simon—Paris. Counting in second and third moneys, the total amount won at the winter meeting by the progeny of the sires named above was £5792.