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RUSTIC MAID - Classic Winner Producing Mare

Rustic Maid (1931 Rey De Oro-Country Belle) NZ family of Bonnie Belle; unraced; 17 foals, 15 winners. Breeder: WJ (Bill) Morland, Riccarton. Foals bred by WJ Morland (Highland Scott, Gallant Maid, Arawa Lady, Scottish Lady, Scottish Lord, Slavonic, Rustic Gold); all other foals bred by G (George) Youngson, Gore (purchased Rustic Maid for 250 guineas at auction).

The sire of Rustic Maid was the imported Copa De Oro stallion Rey De Oro, sire of 230 winners including Daphne De Oro (NZ/GN Derby), Gold Chief (NZ Derby, sire of Rupee), Morello (NZ Cup), Parisienne (NZ/GN Derby, ID Champion, points), Roi L'Or (AK Cup, NZFFA), Subsidy/ Symphony (GN Derby), Turco (NZFFA), Graham Direct/ Uenuku (AK Cup) and damsire of Chamfer (see below), Fallacy (NZ Derby, sire), Free Fight/ Scottish Lady (NZ Derby), Gold Bar (NZ Cup/ FFA, sire), New Oro (Hunter Cup) Reprimand (Trotting FFA). He was leading sire in NZ on three occasions and leading broodmare sire three times (winners/twice(stakes).

Her dam Country Belle (1915 NZ Cup, second 1914) was by Wildmoor (Wildwood) from Bonnie Belle, by Lincoln Yet (half brother to Thelma) out of an Arab mare. She left top trotter Escapade, good pacer Gold Country and was granddam of Fallacy, sire of triple NZ Cup winner False Step. Country Belle's three-quarter sister Curfew Belle was dam of Belle Logan, dam of Logan Derby, the sire of Johnny Globe. Bonnie Belle was the founding mare of a classic winner producing family.

Rustic Maid was dam of a NZ record 15 winners from 17 foals produced over 21 years (Australia record lovely Lawn/ Barrington Lass 15 winners) and a NZ Trotting Hall of Fame inductee.

The male progeny of Rustic Maid included:

1. Chamfer, winner of 14 races, was leased from George Youngson by Duncan MacFarlane, Christchurch with Maurice Holmes trainer/
driver of Chamfer and NZ Derby winners Scottish Lady/ Free Fight (dam Rustic Maid) and Imperial Jade (brother of Indianapolis). Chamfer won his first start at two in the Timaru Nursery; at three , GN Derby (4th NZ Derby), Metropolitan Challenge Stakes; five wins at four (three Alexandra Park, two Addington and second in Easter Hcp); four wins at five (National Cup Hcp, NZ Cup, NZ Pacing C/s and Auckland's Campbell Hcp) together with a third in ID heat at Auckland/ unplaced in final. Chamfer's final win came at six in the Challenge FFA at Hutt Park. He was unplaced on all four days of NZ Cup carnival, and in his final season at seven a fourth in NZFFA was his best result. Leading sire in Australia for seven seasons (1963-1969), he left 301 winners/191 Australia (Broodmare sire of 351), majority in Tasmania; sire of Chamfers Star (unbeaten three ID heats/ Final, TAS Pacing C/S, Easter Cup), Granny Smith/ Prancing Ruby (TAS Pacing C/S), Norfolk Jay (TAS Derby); damsire of Stanley Rio (NZ Cup, Messenger, ID Final), Family Boy (TAS Derby), Jane Byrd/ Rangler Jane (TAS Oaks), Macs Gift (Ladyship Mile), Prancing Percy (TAS Pacing C/s).

2. Free Fight won NZ Derby, Canterbury 3yo (3rd Champion Stakes-3), Oamaru Presidents Hcp, NZMTC Autumn Stakes 4/5yo among his seven victories. He sired 174 winners (133 AUS, 41 NZ; Broodmare sire 150: 134 AUS,16 NZ), including East Dome (New Brighton Cup), Panthers Flight (Dullard Cup), Polo Breeze (ID Consolation) and damsire of Girl Friend (Kindergarten Stakes), Governor Frost (NZ Derby, Messenger, Thames Cup, ID ht), Tanya Hanover (NSW Oaks).

3. Highland Scott won eight NZ races including two from three starts at two (GN Stakes, Timaru Nursery) and on all three days of Auckland Christmas carnival as a 9yo (Victory/ Electric/ Cambell Hcps). He later won WA Easter cup as a 14yo.

4. Congruent won four (Oamaru Presidents Hcp), sired 44 winners in Australia, damsire of Wilbur Post (NSW Derby).

5. Rustic Lane won a Southland non tote event, sired 70 Australian winners (one NZ) mainly SA, damsire of Fearless Quick (SA Derby), Sleepy Van (SA Breeders Plate), Gamby Pride (WA Botra Cup).

6. Slavonic won three including Sapling Stakes in one of his two 2yo starts and Canterbury/ Wellington Stakes at three.

7. Yare, winner of four(Wairio Cup), sired 36 winners at stud in Australia.

Rustic Maid's fillies included:

1. Gallant Maid, winner of five including a New Brighton Hcp, bred on being dam of Don Carlos (Westport Cup), Whaka (Cambridge Gold Cup) granddam of Garrison Pride; 3rd dam of Blistering Belle, dam of Daniela Hantuchova (1:53.6), Five Card Draw (Cardigan Bay Stakes-2, NZSS-2c, Jewels Emerald-2), Ideal Belle (NZ Oaks) and descendants including Tuapeka Knight, Maureens Dream.

2. La Boheme was an unraced mare who bred on with many Australian progeny and 3rd dam of Autumn Gold (Thames Debutante-2f, VIC Youthful-2f). Rustic Gold won one race at Banks Peninsula RC meeting, granddam of Sonny Jim (Westland Cup).

3. Rusticate, unraced, bred on mainly in Australia with descendants Romantic Chris (Geelong Cup), Bills Belle (SA Oaks)

4. Little Toff, winner at Birchwood Hunt meeting, bred on as dam of:
. Little Jeldi, sired 79 Australian winners (Broodmare sire of 128), damsire of Cooper Class (VICSS-4m), Deep Rena (NSWSS-3f), Quantum Lobell (SA Cup, TAS Pacing C/S, Newcastle Mile, 4 ID hts).
. Storm King (Wyndham Cup)
. Student Prince (NZ Derby), at stud in Australia sired 136 winners (Broodmare sire of 148, one in NZ), sire of Homage (ID Trotting Consolation); damsire of Bills Student (Numerous NSW FFA's, Cordina Sprint), Kyalla Fling (Bohemia Crystal FFA).
. Flair, dam of Captain Armbro (WA Golden Slipper-2).

5. Scottish Lady won four including Riccarton Stakes/NZ Derby at three and later November/ Heathcote Hcps at Addington. Bresding on after being purchased by George Youngson, Scottish Lady wa the dam of:
. Gentry, cup class pacer FJ Smith/ CF Mark/ Adams Memorials, sired 153 (87 NZ, 66 Aus; Broodmare sire of 234: 134 NZ, 100 Aus)winners; sire of Dawn Mist (leading juvenile, winner first running Nevele R Fillies), Margaret Shannon (VIC Mares/ Marathon, granddam of Gretamaro, NZSS-2f), Miles Gentry (Matson FFA, Louisson Hcp), Paul Gentry (Thames Cup), leading juvenile Shannons Squire; damsire of Dillon Dale (NZ C/S-2, NZFFA, Thames Cup twice, Franklin Cup), Dillon Dean (NZSS-3, NZ Derby, NZ C/s-3, Messenger, NZFFA), Flushing Meadow (Tatlow Memorial-2), Our Man (Easter Cup, twice second in NZ Cup/ second AK Cup, NZ Flying Mile, Down Under/ Waikato Flying Miles twice, winner inaugural West Coast bonus), Try A Fluke (Hunter Cup, ID ht).
. Scottish Brigade (Welcome stakes, GN Derby), sire in Australia of 228 winners (1NZ, 227 AUS; Broodmare sire of 314), sire of Clare Brigade (VIC Oaks), Nicks Lad (QLD Derby), Scottish Fusillier (Kilmore Cup); damsire of Lehigh Lad (2 ID hts, TAS Pacing C/S), Master Clan (WA Derby).
. Scottish Bank, dam of Scottish Talent, granddam of Karloo Frost (NSWSS-3c); dam of Kudos who was sire of Fur Elsie (NSW Oaks) and damsire of Friendly Footman (NSW Breeders Plate-2, NSWSS-3c, Miracle Mile), Honey John (Dullard Cup).

Minor winners from Rustic Maid: Arawa Lad (one win), Scottish Lord (two), Helali (four) and Eden Bridge (two).




Credit: Peter Craig writing in Harnessed Mar 2015

Rustic Maid with her Dillon Hall colt Eden Bridge & James Bryce

RUSTIC MAID

Was bred by Bill Morland at Riccarton, who bred her first seven foals including the open class pacer Highland Scott, Slavonic (Sapling) and the fillies Gallant Maid and Scottish Lady (NZ Derby), Rustic Maid was then sold to Gore's George Youngson. He bred GN Derby and NZ Cup winner Chamfer, who was the leading sire in Australia for seven consecutive seasons in the 60s, taking over from Noble Scott, and NZ Derby winner Free Fight from her.

Rustic Maid was unraced but she certainly had a padigree, even if some of it hadn't quite come to light when she was foaled in 1931. She was by Rey de Oro from the 1915 NZ Cup winner Country Belle, who was by Wildmoor (Wildwood) from Bonnie Belle, by Lincoln Yet (half-brother to Thelma) from an 'Arab' mare.
Country belle was also the dam of a top trotter in Escapade, the grandam of Fallacy, while a three-quarter sister to Country Belle in Curfew Bell was the grandam of the great Logan Derby.

Rustic Maid produced no less than 17 named foals over a 21 year period, with 15 being winners and half a dozen were Group or feature race winners. Even with the introduction of A.I. and generally improved technology since, that is a record which has never been bettered. Even the likes of Coo Doo, Desilu and Sakuntala (13) pulled up short of Rustic Maid's tally.

Rustic Maid's daughters could not catty on in that sort of vein of course, but Scottish Lady produced open class pacer and underrated sire Gentry, and Gallant Maid led to the family of Tuapeka Knight, Maureens Dream and this season's smart juvenile filly Pacific Rapture.

Credit: Frank Marrion writing in HRWeekly 18Apr2012

GEORGE YOUNGSON

Mr George Lindsay Youngson, who died in Gore last month at the age of 91, made an invaluable contribution to standardbred breeding in Southland and NZ with imported sires like Dillon Hall, Hal Tryax, Sandydale and others. Mr Youngson's death severs one of the last links for present day trotting men with the pioneer breeders of yesteryear, who did so much to lay the concrete foundations on which Southland's world-wide reputation as a standardbred nursery has been developed and capitalised on.

Mr Youngson was 22 when he came to NZ with his brother John, from Aberdeen, Scotland, where he was bought up. For several years he worked as a farm hand and ploughman in the Riversdale district of Northern Southland. In 1914, his brother John imported four Clydesdale stallions and the brothers, then based at Wendon, near Riversdale, travelled them around neighbouring faming communities as breeding stallions. Some years ago Mr Youngson stated that the work was particularly onerous and, more so, dangerous, taking into account the strength and sometimes vicious traits the powerful Clydesdale stallions could reveal. He mated many of the mares at district stockyards and hotels where broodmare owners and farmers often gathered.

In 1920, when he was 32, Mr Youngson bought the standardbred stallion Harold Direct from the Cody brothers of Riversdale, and travelled him about for stud purposes at a fee of only five quineas. Mr Youngson's next stud venture in 1928 was the fine Australian pacer Happy Voyage, when he was still domiciled in the Wendon district. Soon after, Mr Youngson met the late Sir John McKenzie's private trainer, Robert Plaxio, an American horseman, who did much to influence him to considering importing American sires. Plaxio, in fact, suggested Adioo Guy, whom he imported in 1929. At 19, Adioo Guy was four years older than Mr Youngson believed he was. Adioo Guy's departure for NZ was delayed a season. In that last season in America, Adioo Guy sired Adioo Volo, dam later of the immortal Adios. Adioo Guy, who died after four years with Mr Youngson, had a respectable percentage of success from the opportunities he received.

In the late 1920s Mr Youngson visited England to buy another Clydesdale stallion and, seeing the progeny of the American standardbred sire Wellington Direct soon after imported that horse. Frank Dewey, another American horse, followed in 1930. Mr Youngson's next importation was the Abbedale horse Sandydale, sire of General Sandy and Captain Sandy, and maternal sire of Johnny Globe. That successful stallion was soon passed on to noted Oamaru breeder Mr Johnny Johnson.

Dillon Hall was imported to NZ by Mr Youngson during World War 2. The son of The Laurel Hall and the great racemare Margaret Dillon was the first 2:00 pacer imported to NZ and topped the NZ sires' list in the 1948-49 season with the winners of 124 races and 275 placegetters. Dillon Hall carried on to top the NZ broodmare sires' list five times, which has recently been acclaimed as a remarkable feat for a sire who was only around for 15 years. Robin Dundee, Parlez Vous, Lunar Chance and Bay Foyle were only four top pacers out of mares by Dillon Hall, who also figures prominently in the pedigrees of Black Watch, Tobias, Lord Module and countless others.

Logan Derby, the sire of Johnny Globe, was Mr Youngson's next stud venture but better was to follow in the Tryax horse Hal Tryax, a horse he didn't really want but finally agreed to import relatively cheaply. Hal Tryax's career as a sire has been acclaimed as one of the most colourful and tragic in NZ breeding history. The first 2:00 3-year-old pacer imported to this country, Hal Tryax topped the NZ sires' list in the 1963-64 season with only three crops of racing age. His progeny included the first standardbred millionaire in the world, Cardigan Bay, champion racemare Robin Dundee and other top performers of the calibre of Tactile, Holy Hal, Blue Prince, Jurist, King Hal and so on. Although his daughters were relatively few in number, they made an outstanding contribution as matrons. One of the best performers from a daughter of Hal Tryax has been the champion Young Quinn. Tragically, Hal Tryax soon after became infertile and after topping the sires' list in the 1963-64 season he was pensioned off to The Chaslands, where he is still in retirement at the age of 33.

The noted broodmare Rustic Maid, whom Mr Youngson bought from the Canterbury horseman, the late Mr Bill Morland, was one of the most successful matrons in Southland breeding history, leaving Chamfer (1950 NZ Cup and later champion Australian sire), Free Fight (NZ Derby), Highland Scott (nine wins), Congruent (good sire in Aust), Slavonic (NZ Sapling Stakes) and others. One of her daughters, Scottish Lady, won the NZ Derby, and, in turn, left two Great Northern Derby winners, Scottish Brigade and Gentry, both later successful sires.

In earlier years Mr Youngson was involved in the importation and development of small grass seeds.

As long as there is trotting in Southland, George Youngson's influence, together with that of the stallions he imported and stood, will always be of marked significance. The light harness industry owes much to pioneer breeders of his foresight, enthusiasm and successful involvement.

Credit: Don Wright writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 9Apr80

W J MORLAND

Gold Country, an outstanding pacer of the 1930s, died at Mr R A Boag's property, Kirwee, recently, his Christchurch owner, Mr A W Morland, told the Calendar this week. The passing of this 28-year-old gelding brings to mind one of the most colourful sagas in the history of the standardbred in NZ...that of the outstanding breeder-owner-trainer, the late Mr W J Morland, and his success with the family founded by the tap-root mare, Bonnie Bell.

In 1894, Mr H Richardson, of Taranaki, imported to the Dominion the stallions, Wildwood and Ha Ha, and the mare Alice Azmoor, and the trio was subsequently purchased by Messrs W and C Kerr. Ha Ha was not a success at stud, but Wildwood, after his racing career ended, founded a great line in the Dominion, producing some fine pacers and trotters. Alice Azmoor was mated with Wildwood and produced Alice Wood and Wildmoor.

About 90 years ago Sir Cracroft Wilson brought to NZ from India a purebred Arab stallion and several mares. From one of these horses descended a mare, which in 1895 was mated with the Young Irvington stallion, Lincoln Yet, by a Mr T Yarr. The result of this mating was Bonnie Bell, who was purchased by Mr Morland on the advice of Mr J Brake, snr, a well-known and successful sportsman in the very early days of trotting in Canterbury. Lincoln Yet, who at one time pulled a cab around Christchurch, was a grandson of Hambletonian 10, and it was through the agency of Mr Brake, that the stallion got a chance at stud.

At the stud for Mr Morland Bonnie Bell produced Curfew Bell to Wildwood, and later Country Belle to Wildmoor, a son of that stallion. Country Belle was foaled in 1908, and her owner explained many years later why he had bred Bonnie Bell to Wildmoor, who was unknown as a sire. He had previously mated Bonnie Bell with Wildwood, Curfew Bell being the result. The next two seasons the mare was mated with Prince Imperial, but her owner was not impressed with the progeny. As Curfew Bell had shown speed, he came to the conclusion that the Wildwood strain was best, but that stallion had died in the meantime, and, Wildmoor being the only Wildwood stallion about, he decided to mate Bonnie Bell with him. The judgement of Mr Morland proved correct, as he got an exceptional mare as the result.

Country Belle was a powerfully-built mare, well mannered and a great stayer, in addition to her speed. She was trained for all her races by Mr Morland (who had no superior in the Dominion as an educator) on his private track a few miles fron Rakaia township. She won nine races and was four times second and once third from 27 starts. She won the 1915 NZ Cup, after finishing second to Win Soon the previous year. Her other successes included the Auckland Trotting Club Handicap, the Forbury Cup and the New Brighton Cup Free-for-all.

She earned further distinctions by taking two NZ records within a few weeks. At Addington on December 15, 1915, she established a mile record of 2.07 1/5, beating the previous figures, 2.08 2/5 held by King Cole. A request from the Auckland Trotting Club, that the Cup winner and mile record holder should attend its meeting and attempt a two-mile record, was favourably considered by Mr Morland, and Country Belle, in charge of J Bryce, paced 4.22 4/5, smashing the previous record of 4 28 1/5.

Country Belle was then retired to stud, and in 1917 produced Good Gift to Logan Pointer, but he was not raced. The following year, to the same horse, came the brilliant but erratic Countryman, a pacer of moods and speed, who had a record of 2.10 2/5. Next season came Homestead, by Nelson Bingen. He was not a success, but the following year to the same sire, she produced the brilliant mare, Escapade, who after being worked as a pacer, was converted to the trotting gait and went 4.27 1/5, winning several races. Escapade has left a family of nine all good winners. Two years later, Country Belle produced Episode to Nelson Bingen, and, missing another year, she produced a filly by Rey de Oro in 1924, but after showing great promise she died. Another blank year followed, and to Rey de Oro she produced Gold Country.

Gold Country began racing as a 3-year-old in the 1929-30 season, and won his only start that term, over one mile and a half at Ashburton. He was then operated on for a wind affliction and 11 months later, he won at his only start as a 4-year-old, over the same distance at the same course. He brought his record to three successive wins at his first start as a 5-year-old, scoring in the Wellington Railway Handicap. Later the same day he suffered his first defeat, but at his next start he won the two-mile Gore Trotting Club Handicap. In the same season he won the Winton Trotting Club Handicap and the Express and Halswell Handicaps at Addington, all over two miles.

As a 6-year-old he won the Lincoln, Yaldhurst and Hornby Handicaps (Addington), the Mace Memorial Handicap (New Brighton), the Ashburton Cup and the Craven Handicap (Addington) in that order. The Craven Handicap was his last success, and it was a very notable one. Over one mile and a quarter, he beat Harold Logan by 10 lengths, with a similar distance back to Wrackler, and Free Advice fourth. He ended that season fourth on the list of stake-earners with £1450, this sum being £420 less than that won by Harold Logan, who topped the list. He raced again as a seven, eight and ten-year-old, but did not regain his best form. Gold Country last raced in the interest of Mr Morland's son, Mr A W Morland, and the gelding was at Kirwee since his race career ended.

Country Belle later produced another grand mare in Rustic Maid to Rey de Oro. Rustic Maid has left a long line of winners, including Scottish Lady, Free Fight, Slavonic and Chamfer.

Mr Morland's property in Ilam Road, Upper Riccarton, was one of the most select breeding establishments in NZ, and his keen study of successful bloodlines has proved of great value to trotting.

Credit: Ron Bisman writing in NZ Trooting Calendar 29Jun55

1946 NEW ZEALAND DERBY STAKES

M Holmes, Mr D McFarlane and Rustic Maid all had previous successful associations with the New Zealand Derby, the latest contest for which was won in the manner of a champion by Free Fight at Addington on Friday. This marked M Holmes's seventh winning drive in the race, his fourth success as a trainer; it was Mr McFarlane's third success as an owner, and Rustic Maid, dam of Free Fight, also produced the 1942 Derby winner, Scottish Lady.

Holmes's winning drives in the Derby have been behind Wrackler(1928), Arethusa(1930), Ciro(1931), Aldershot (1938), Imperial Jade(1939), Scottish Lady(1942) and Free Fight this year and he has trained Aldershot, Imperial Jade, Scottish Lady and Free Fight. Mr McFarlane raced Imperial Jade in partnership with Mr W Scott, and he holds both Scottish Lady and Free Fight on lease from Mr G Youngson, of Gore.

Mr Youngson secured two bargains as things are turning out when he bought Scottish Lady for 400gns and Rustic Maid, carrying Free Fight, for 200gns, about four years ago. Rustic Maid is the dam of Highland Scott, Gallant Maid, Scottish Lady, Scottish Lord, Slavonic and Free Fight, and another of her progeny, a two-year-old colt by Dillon Hall, has also been leased by Mr McFarlane and is being prepared by M Holmes for classic races.

This famous family of horses was established by a mare named Bonnie Belle, owned by the late W J Morland, some 40 to 50 years ago. Bonnie Belle was by Lincoln Yet from an Arab mare, and this Arab mare was by a pure-bred Arab stallion imported to the Dominion by the late Sir Cracroft Wilson more than 80 years ago. The Arab characteristics are still strongly ingrained in the descendants of Bonnie Belle, most of them being flecked with white hairs through their coats. Do they derive a measure of their gameness from this source as well? The late Mr Morland was sure of it, and as he bred such champions as Country Belle, Escapade and Gold Country from this line, and jealously preserved the breed over half a century, his high opinion of the family has never been in dispute. The female side of the tribe has been one of the most conspicuous in the Stud Book over a long period, but Free Fight is the only colt of the line left intact for many years. He is no doubt intended for a stud career in Southland when his racing days are over.

Free Fight is the first winner to the credit of a grand imported pacer in Light Brigade, and it is a splendid advertisement for Mr McKenzie's stallion that he should sire a Derby winner among his first crop. It is doubtful if there is a better bred horse in the Dominion today than Light Brigade, who is by Volomite, 2:03¼, today the leading sire of the United States with 13 two-minute performers, and the first stallion to be credited with 100 or more 2:10 trotters and 100 or more 2:10 pacers. Another great distinction came to Volomite recently when Poplar Bird, a two-year-old, took a record of 2:04¾ and became Volomite's 100th representative to enter the 2:05 list. Volomite thus becomes the first sire to attain this honour.

Besides being by the world's outstanding sire of modern times, Light Brigade is flawlessly bred on the dam's side. He is out of Spinster, who took a record of 2:03, and is by Spencer, 1:59¾, a champion in his day and also leading sire for one season a few years ago. Spinster is out of Minnetonka, 2:12¼, by Belwin, 2:06¾ from The Miss Stokes, 2:08¾, by Peter The Great-Tillie Thompson, by Guy Wilkes, etc. Minnetonka, second dam of Light Brigade, also produced Emily Stokes, 2:01½, Tilly Tonka 2:02¾, Kedgewick 2:03¼, and Balbo, 2:04½. The Miss Stokes, third dam of Light Brigade, was a Futurity winner and produced a famous race mare in Tilly Brooke, 1:59.

Although the mile and a half start again proved unsatisfactory, the race over the last mile developed into one of the finest in the history of the blue riband event. County Antrim, as in the Riccarton Stakes, took up the role of pacemaker, and Free Fight, drawn on the second row, made the best beginning of his career to be in fifth place going round the first bend. With half the journey covered, County Antrim led Sahara Queen, Snowflake, Free Fight, Culture, Fillmore, Darkie Grattan, Lady Diane, Pirouette, Gay Piper and Palette. It was not until three furlongs from home that Free Fight made a definite move, and he had raced up to County Antrim at the distance. He finished in the gamest possible style and won all out by a length from Snowflake, who finished too well for County Antrim after getting out of a pocket late. Culture went a surprisingly good race for a close fourth, Gay Piper was fifth, then Lady Diane, with the rest well back.

The time, 3:17 4-5, was the second fastest for the race, the record being held by War Buoy, who registered 3:16 1-5 when he outclassed a good field in 1933. The sectional times on Friday tell their own story of a sound pace for youngsters: Half-mile 1:08 4-5, six furlongs 1:41 4-5, mile 2:14 4-5, mile and a quarter 2:46 2-5 and the full journey 3:17 4-5.

Sahara Queen failed to stay, but On Approval, who would probably have been hard to beat, was among several eliminated as a result of a mix up caused through Darkie Grattan tangling going into the back the first time. Darkie Grattan was lame on returning to the birdcage. Coral Princess, who was strongly fancied by her connections, failed to begin correctly, and, with Henry of Navarre and His Excellency, was in an impossible position at the end of a furlong.

The big field completely ruined the chances of many, but it is some consolation to reflect that probably the best horse won.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in the NZ Trotting Calendar 20Nov46

1942 NEW ZEALAND DERBY STAKES

M Holmes drove his sixth NZ Derby winner when he brought Scottish Lady home ahead of Captain Morant and Radical. A most improved filly since she was unplaced in the Sapling Stakes, Scottish Lady had won the Riccarton stakes on the first day, but that performance was hardly up to the best effort of Captain Morant, who was made a strong favourite for the Derby, with Scottish Lady only fourth selection to win. But there was no doubt about her superiority on Saturday. She was always going a bit better than Captain Morant and beat him by a length.

Scottish Lady is by U Scott from Rustic Maid, an unraced sister to Gold Country, by Rey de Oro from Country Belle. She was bred by Mr W J Morland, and sold as a two-year-old to Mr G Youngson, of Wendon, Southland, for 350gns. Mr Youngson leased her to Mr D Macfarlane, of Christchurch. Rustic Maid produced previous winners in Highland Scott and Gallant Maid, and she has younger progeny by U Scott, Lusty Volo, and Gold Bar.

Karnak was on her toes at the start and she reared up at barrier rise and lost fully 36 yards. She was then sent round the field to take the lead at the end of half a mile, but she was in difficulties when Lucky Gem challenged her going into the back the last time, and was beaten before the home turn. Radical showed considerable improvement on his Riccarton Stakes run and looks sure to win races, Lucky Gem, Tam o'Shanter and Pocket Book were the best of the others.

Full Result

1st: D Macfarlane's SCOTTISH LADY. Trained & driven by M Holmes, Russley.

2nd: H E Cook's CAPTAIN MORANT. Driven by F G Holmes.

3rd: O E Hooper's RADICAL. Driven by the owner.

4th: LUCKY GEM.

The winner won by a length, with a length and a half to third.

Times: 3:25, 3:25 1-5, 3:25 2-5.

Also started: Bonny Volo & Tam O'Shanter bracketed; Delusion; Gold Sheik; Karnak; Pocket Book; Sergent Bob, Terry O'Shea & Trusty Scott bracketed; Tungsten Steel; Volusta; Wee Logan.






Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 18Nov42