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ROTHSCHILD

Though some may find it hard to concede with the present ever growing list of super sires, there is a strong case for suggesting that the greatest sire that ever stood in NZ is not Light Brigade, U Scott, Jack Potts, Dillon Hall or even Logan Pointer.

Rothschild, now a name that is only come across well back in modern pedigrees has as good a claim as any when it comes to rating sires in order of merit. For one thing he sired over 300 winners. That's a cracking total today but at the turn of the century it was a sensational achievement, difficult to appreciate now. There were fewer meetings then and so fewer races.There were fewer finely bred mares and it took some time for Rothschild to attract the ones that were available. What is more, Rothschild had to do everything on his own achievements. His name appears only once in the list of winning sires, in 1915-16 the first year records were officially kept. But no one doubts that he was the leading sire for many years before that, and had the records been kept he would have more premierships than anyone.

Bred in Australia in 1889, Rothschild was by Childe Harold, an expensive, but somewhat disappointing sire who has Harold Park named after him. Rothschild's dam Belle Briggs was considered to be the best bred mare to come into Australia to that time and but for being unsound it is doubtful that she would ever have left America. Rothschild had a brother called Osterley who was a top rachorse across the Tasman, only Fritz being able to beat him. Dan O'Brien, that most colourful figure of the turf, recommended to NZ friends that they buy Osterley, but they were unable to do so so bought his younger brother instead. It was just as well, for Osterley was a major disappointment at the stud.

Rothschild started in a number of races but never won, and as late as 1902, when 13 years old he was still making the odd appearance, though most owners would have given up by then. He stood at Mr W Jarden's Stud in Gloucester St, Christchurch and his breeding enabled him to command a five guinea fee. The bright bay stallion did not take long to make an impression. From his first crop came a sensational juvenile trotter Jessie Palm who streeted her opponents at two starts at two and went on to become a champion trotter. From his first crop too came The Baron who was a top performer in the last days of the Lancaster Park track in Christchurch.

The following year he produced Almont who was the sensation of his day. When he retired Almont took with him a three mile record of 6:50 which was actually never beaten. When he started his career the record was fully two minutes slower. Sal Tasker was another fine Rothschild mare going 2:20 for a mile at two years of age away back in 1906. She eventually went 2:12 and was the champion of her time. So was Emmeline a NZ mile record holder at 2:08.6 and placed in the NZ Cup. About the same time was the trotter Revenue, holder of the mile trotting record for 22 years with a time of 2:11.8 recorded at Forbury in the saddle. He often took on and beat fields of pacers.

Dan Patch, bred in Ashburton, but perhaps better known in Australia than his homeland, was another fine son of Rothschild. A free-legged pacer, Dan Patch held the Australian mile record of 2:10 for many years and in NZ he went a mile in 2:09.4 on Auckland's grass track. A genuine champion Dan Patch unfortunately died before starting a stud career of any significance.

Rothschild sired three NZ Cup winners. Belmont M upset winner of the 1906 Cup was the first, Albert H in 1912 the second and Ravenschild, second to Albert H the previous year, won easily in 1913. In the 1912 Cup in fact Rothschild horses filled the first three places while other sons and daughters to fill places were Evelyn, Lord Elmo, Moneymaker and Bright.

Harold Rothschild, later a very successful sire was another of Rothschild's offspring to do well and other sons who were fine racherses and sires were Gold Bell (one of the finest pacers the North Island ever saw), St Swithin and Jingle. Master Raymond was an outstanding trotter by Rothschild winning eight times over two miles. Pearlchild, Aileen, Capitalist, Lord Chancellor, Lady Sybil, Emilius and Coin were other very successful racehorses.

If he was a great sire himself Rothschild gained even greater fame through his daughters. Many of his most successful matrons were themselves good on the track and easily the best known was Pearlchild. Winner of many races for Mr H F Nicoll, including the National Handicap, Pearlchild, a daughter of Verity, produced ten individual winners at stud. Among them were three Derby winners (Ciro, Childe Pointer and Nantwich) a successful sire (Casanova), First Wrack, winner of 11 races and outstanding mares Vanity Fair, Pearl Pointer and Double Measure. The great record of the Verity family owes much to Pearlchild. Vanity Fair in particularly was an outstanding broodmare herself.

Another Rothschild mare now well known was Moonbeam, the grandam of Horotane and therefore ancestress of current Broodmare of the Year in Nancy Lee. Henrietta produced Haymetta, the winner of five and in turn dam of Duncraig who won nine. Jessie Fraser produced the successful racehorse and sire Logan Fraser. Cocaleen was the dam of four winners including the earlier mentioned top pacer Moneymaker and Logaleen who won five.

An unnamed Rothschild mare produced Golden Square the dam in turn of Graticulate who won eight. Sweet Daphne was a most successful mare being the founder of the family best known in recent years though the deeds of horses like Bright Highland and Bright Enterprise. Bright Alice, another daughter of Rothschild produced Cup winner Kohara who later did well at stud, and the Rothschild mare Kola Nut produced King Cole the mile recordholder of his day and a very successful sire. It was from King Cole's matings with Norice which has produced one of the greatest breeding lines in the Stud Book, a line commonly associated with veteran breeder Ben Grice.

A mare by Rothschild was the dam of Yenot who gained fame through the deeds of Parisienne and later La Mignon, Garcon Roux etc. Another Rothschild mare was the ancestress of Van Dieman and yet another unnamed mare the founder of the family to which Vanadium and Van Glory belong. Sal Tasker produced Coldstream Bells, a successful sire in the first quarter of the century. Another great Rothschild mare was Ocean Wave, dam of Muricata who produced two champion pacers in Ahuriri (two NZ Cups) and Taraire and who is the fourth dam of the trotting sire Great Evander.

Auckland Girl, who won eight races herself, was another successful mare at stud as was Dollar Princess who produced seven individual winners. Among them was Doraldina, winner of the Sapling Stakes and Derby and who herself produced five winners. Recess, grandam of Aldora was a member of the same family as was Gold Chief a Derby winner and sire of the champion Rupee. Another Rothschild mare Lady Derby founded one of the best branches of the Norice family which includes Maudeen, Queen Maude and Indecision among it's members. A mare by Rothschild founded the Gentle Annie family which claims among others the champion trotter Moon Boy and top pacer of yesteryear in Betty Boop. Then there was Olive Child, dam of Audubon Child, who in a colourful career won eight races.

The full relations Emmeline, Emilius, Aileen and Evelyn did great work for Rothschild's reputation and they may have set a record when three of them appeared in the same NZ Cup field and two were placed. Aileen produced at stud the Cup class pacer Ronald Logan and Emmilene founded a successful family, one prominent recent member being Cuddle Doon. Evelyn won five races herself and was the dam of four winners. Emilius had some success as a sire.

Altogether Rothschild daughters produced over 300 individual winners. Rothschild had much more success than many imported sires as far as his sons were concerned and a number of them are well known stud names. Harold Rothschild did very well down south and as a son of one of Southland's most successful foundation mares in Harold's Rest he played a prominent part in two other big Southland families, particularly in that of First Water whom he sired.

Capitalist sired the fine racehorse and good sire in Gold Bell. Lord Elmo sired some good mares in particular and so did Almont. George M Patchen appears in the pedigree of Cardigan Bay and Globe Bay and another son St Swithin sired the dam of Springfield Globe. Woodchild, Lord Chancellor, Imperial Crown, Proudchild, Prosphorous, St Kevin (a brother to Dan Patch) and Pygmalion, were other Rothschild horses to make an impression at stud while his Cup winner Ravenschild did well also.

Rothschild spent his declining years in the unlikely location of the Wellington Zoo and he died there in the early 20s at the age of 32. Shortly before his death his stock held the Australian and NZ mile pacing records, the Australasian trotting mile record and the world record over three miles. Though he officially topped the sires list once he remained in the top five for many years, even into the 1920s which shows the hardiness of his stock. Indeed his last representative on the tracks was still going in 1929. At one stage in his hey day just before World War I the sons and daughters of Rothschild held every official record in Australasia, a feat few can equal.

He was a horse of quite remarkable disposition and an existing photo of him shows him being confidently led by a lad not five years old. I wonder how many of our much boomed later sires could have fashioned a record equal to Rothschild if serving the class of mare which dominated his court. It might be worth noting that during his stud career Rothschild, in NZ alone sired more winners than the great Globe Derby managed across the Tasman. He was a remarkable influence in the development of the standardbred as we know it, and it would be a brave man who could state with certainty that any of his successors was a greater sire.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in NZ Trotguide 23Mar77

Robert Wilkin

MR R WILKIN

Robert Wilkin was born in Scotland and after a time in Australia arrived at Lyttelton in 1858. Two years later he was elected to the Provincial Council of Canterbury as the representative for Timaru. Wilkin had by this time amassed extensive land holdings throughout Canterbury and Otago and was a man of many interests. He organised the first sheep sale in Ch-Ch, was judge at the first Merino sheep sale at Shepherds Bush, was a grain and seed merchant in Ch-Ch, was on the council of Canterbury University and with George Matson founded the Agricultural & Pastoral Society of Canterbury.
Wilkin raced thoroughbreds, was on the handicapping committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club and one of the founders of the Middle Park Stud.

One of his business partners, John Carter of Tinwald was responsible for the importation of the British mare Miss Kate who holds a hallowed place in the NZ racing scene as the ancestress of both Phar Lap and Kindergarten. In addition her son, Perkin Warbeck II became the sire of several foundation mares in the NZ Trotting Stud Book.

Wilkin's interest in trotting bred horses was kindled more by a wish to improve carriage horses than winning races. In the mid 1870's on a visit to Australia one of the mares he brought back was Sally, which had a strong trotting action that would suit his purpose. After being sold, Sally was mated with the thoroughbred Touchstone and produced a filly, which as Pride of Lincoln founded an outstanding family.

In 1881 Wilkin bought the American bred Berlin which was an immediate success at stud in Canterbury.
The following year Wilkin was offered Childe Harold, which he bought and on-leased to Andrew Town of Richmond, NSW. During his seven years at stud Childe Harold was so outstanding he was hailed as the Hambletonian 10 of Australia and was one of the main reasons for the Australian standardbred proving superior to their NZ counterparts in this era. Sydney's Harold Park is named after him. Luckily, his greatest siring son, Rothschild came to NZ and established a dynasty here.

Albert H & A Hendriksen

1912 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

The influence of Rothschild in the early part of the century was never more evident than in the outcome of the 1912 New Zealand Cup, an in the composition of the field that went to the post.

The first three placed horses - Albert H, Ravenschild and Glendolough - were all by Rothschild. this outstanding achievement was later equalled by Light Brigade in 1957, when his progeny - Lookaway, Thunder and La Mignon - were the first three past the post. With the exception of Quincey, who was by Vancleve, all the other 15 acceptors in 1912 were descendants of either Rothschild or Prince Imperial. The latter had four representatives, while Rothschild had seven of his own, three by his sons and one by a grandson.

Albert H, a seven-year-old bay horse, was Rothschild's second New Zealand Cup winner, the first being Belmont M, in 1906. Driven a patient race by his trainer Albert Hendriksen, having his first Cup experience, Albert H came with a determined run in the final stages to win going away by two lengths. Ravenschild (Free Holmes)took second, with four lengths to Glendalough. Albert H paced the two miles in 4:48.8. Emmeline stood alone at the back on handicap, with her nearest rivals, St Swithin and Aberfeldy, five seconds away. The front-runners Medallion, Manderene, Ravenschild and Piecework started from nine seconds. Albert H was one of seven who started from eight seconds.

Albert H was the season's leading money-winner with £881. He was started only twice in the 1911-12 season - at the Canterbury Park meeting the previous June - and had won on both occasions in heavy ground. In August of the current season he was second in the King George Handicap, and the same afternoon won the International Handicap, over a mile-and-a-quarter. Despite this form he started seventh favourite in the Cup.

His dam, Jessie M, was by a thoroughbred horse, Son Of A Gun, who had placed second in the 1888 New Zealand Galloping Cup. Originally 18 horses had been accepted for the 1912 Cup, but Silver Princess and Lady Clare were withdrawn. Altogether 128 runners were accepted for the first day's racing, providing eight capacity fields.

St Swithin was made Cup favourite, Auckland pacer Manderene was second Choice, and Redchild, a trotter, was the next-best supported. However, all three failed to pay a dividend. The start was a shambles. Harry McNae's Gold Bell broke and collided with St Swithin, who dislodged his driver, Andy Pringle. Manderene also broke badly at the start. Bright stumbled after half-a-mile and was pulled up, and Medallion became another casualtywhen he broke and was pulled up near the mile post. So, again, the race was not a good one, with many horses not performing up to their handicaps, and the field was well spread over most of journey.

Showers on the second day made the track heavy. in the main race Adonis (Free Holmes), by Harold Dillon from Thelma, thereby a half-brother to Wildwood Junior, beat Sparkling Kola and Quincey. One of the two trotters who had contested the Cup, Quincey improved on his run when he beat the pacers on the third day, in the Courtenay Handicap. The Vancleve stallion ran an excellent 4:38, 10 seconds faster than the Cup time of Albert H. Master Raymond won the Dominion from Muricata and Kelso, taking 4:52.2 to trot the two miles.

The early indications were that the 1912 meeting would be a successful one, and so it proved. Totalisator returns on Cup Day smashed all records. Betting reached £32,969, with £7053 invested on the Cup. The turnover for the three days was £99,177, well within reach of the club's next milestone, £100,000.

Two alterations greeted patrons when they arrived at Addington for this meeting. The club had put up a large board, visible from all parts of the ground, on which were the names of the riders or drivers. Because of the growing importance of vehicular traffic, the club had bought more land and built a special roadway and entrance for all vehicles.

Harry Nicoll was the top owner for the third consecutive season with £987, well down on the £1547 and £1222 he had won in the previous two seasons.

Credit: Bernie Wood writing in The Cup

1906 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP HANDICAP

In 1906 great interest was shown in the race. The winner, Belmont M, by Rothschild-Puella, came from Australia when noted Sydney horseman Gus Milsom brought the NZ bred Belmont M back in this year. Euchre (A Pringle) was second, and Marian (J Tasker)third.

The stake was £400 and the class was let out to 4:50. Belmont M's time was 4:46.

Unlike Monte Carlo and Birchmark, who began from the front, Belmont M had only one behind him at the start and turned a top staying performance to get around nine runners.

He was royally-bred, being by champion sire Rothschild from a sister to the dam of champion trotter Fritz, and was a brother to another top pacer in Almont, and when sold at the dispersal sale of breeder Henry Mace fetched a record price for a 2-year-old of 400 guineas.

This was exhibition year in Christchurch and "It was a truly representative gathering."

**'Ribbonwood'writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 25Oct44**

-o0o-

Belmont M, a son of the great sire Rothschild, won the 1906 New Zealand Cup with a wonderful stayer's run. Unlike the two winners before him, Monte Carlo and Birchmark, both started from the front, Belmont M had only Euchre behind him on handicap. His performance was considered exceptional, because he was forced over plenty of extra ground to get around the other 10 runners. Belmont M was not well supported and started as ninth favourite.

The race favourite was Woodend, but he lost his chance at the start. The second favourite and backmarker Euchre, driven by Andy Pringle, almost carried his supporters through. Euchre took the lead a furlong from the winning post, only to be run down by Belmont M, who was driven a patient race by his Australian trainer-driver Gus Millsom. Marian, one length behind Euchre, was third, followed by Boldrewood, Cocoanut and Terra Nova.

Belmont M was New Zealand-bred but had raced in Sydney in the previous four seasons, graduating to the top class. He was a brother to Almont, another very good pacer, who had won numerous races in Australia. Henry Mace, at Brooklyn Lodge, New Brighton, bred both. Mace died in 1902 and his stud was disposed of by auction in November the same year, when the 47 lots were sold for £2440 10s. Australian buyers paid record prices of 640 guineas for Almont and 400 guineas for Belmont M, then a two-year-old. Both were by Rothschild from Puella, by Berlin from Woodburn. Puella was also auctioned and fetched 90 guineas. Mace, a cordial manufacturer in Christchurch, was an early and avid supporter of harness racing. In 1881 he bought land in New Brighton from Canterbury Sports Company Ltd when it went into liquidation. The Sports Company had bought the land from its original owner, Tom Free, for the purpose of encouraging athletics. Mace soon established his home, stables, training track and stud at Brooklyn Lodge. Later the land passed to the New Brighton Trotting Club and when it shifted operations to Addington to take advantage of night facilities, the cycle was completed when the Queen Elizabeth II Park sports complex was established. Mace, whose private trainer was Tom Frost, was the leading owner for two seasons, with totals of £800 and £760. He was awarded life membership of the Metropolitan Club in 1900 and was a steward of the club at the same time.

Belmont M gave his sire Rothschild the first of his three Cup winners - the others were Albert H.(1912) and Ravenschild (1913). Rothschild was the top sire in New Zealand for many seasons, up to 1915-16. He was a bay horse foaled in 1889, by Childe Harold from Belle Briggs, both sire and dam imported from the United States. Rothschild was bred in New South Wales and imported to New Zealand by William Jarden in 1893. He was trained and started in a few races, but never possessed much speed. He sired 306 winners in this country and died in Wellington Zoo, aged 32. His first winner was Jessie Palm, who, as a two-year-old trotter, won the Juvenile Handicap at New Brighton in April 1897. His other good winners, apart from Almont and Belmont M, were Sal Tasker, Emmeline, Lord Elmo, Bright and Glendalough.

In 1906 - Exhibition Year - the Metropolitan Club raced over four days. It was generally agreed that the best collection of standardbreds ever assembled in New Zealand were at that meeting. Stakes of 5000 sovereigns were distributed and the Cup stake was lifted to 400 sovereigns. The totalisator turnover for the four days reached £48,428, with Show Day creating a one-day betting record of £15,604. The New Zealand Cup was raced on the first day of the meeting, with another feature of the day's racing being the performance of the three-year-old filly Wild Wind, who reeled off a mile in the Riccarton Stakes in 2:21.6. The second day was notable for the success of the overseas contingent. Dan Patch, owned by the Melbourne-based Allendale Stock Farm Company, had a convincing win in the Christchurch Handicap. His driver, Lou Robertson, also won the Halswell Handicap with the Syney pacer Little Ned, but was disqualified for starting before his time. Verity, by Vancleve, in the hands of Andy Pringle, and Birchmark were successful on the third day. A violent storm after the main race churned up the track and Birchmark, revelling in the conditions, won the Best Handicap easily.

The three-mile event was still a regular feature of each day's programme, but on Thursday the race was run with a difference. The drivers of Impatient and Sydney, the leading pair, became confused over the number of rounds and raced on for a full curcuit after the distance had been completed. With the introduction of the sprint distance of a mile-and-a-quarter, the three-mile races were destined for elimination.

The visiting Australian horses - Fusee, Dan Patch, Jewel Heiress and Lady Inez - won half the last day's programme, but the day belonged to Sal Tasker, a four-year-old mare, who won the 500 sovereign Exhibition Cup, the first harness race in New Zealand with a stake of that sum. Starting as the favourite, she made no race of it, winning by 30 yards. She was the first out and was first home, in 4:44.6, much faster than the time Belmont M had recorded to win the Cup. Sal Tasker, by Rothschild from Jessie, had the makings of a top-class performer, setting a mile record of 2:20 for a two-year-old, but never fulfilled her promise. She was the season's top earner, with £575. Sal Tasker started in the 1907 Cup, finishing fifth.

**Bernie Wood writing in The Cup**

Credit: Calendar 25Oct44

Ravenschild & trainer-driver Newton Price

1913 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

The three-day meeting, scheduled for November 11,13 and 14, 1913, was initially in jeopardy. The club held a special committee meeting on November 5 to consider a postponement because of the national waterside strike that had gripped the country. However, the club decided to keep faith with all the horsemen who had already made the long trip to Addington, and proceeded with the meeting. As it transpired, the strike did not prevent any horse from competing, or, apparently, any person from attending.

Ravenschild won the race in hollow fashion from the Australian pacer Denver Huon, with Calm, the race favourite and unbeaten in three starts, a fair third.

The winner, who had been runner-up the year before, gave his sire Rothschild his third Cup success. Such was the large stake offered that Ravenschild was the season's leading earner with £1130, all but £30 coming from his Cup win. The stake for the 1913 New Zealand Cup reached 2000 sovereigns for the first time, the qualifying time was tightened to 4:38, and for the first time a prize for fourth place was offered. Ravenschild's share of the stake was 1100 sovereigns, Denver Huon 400, Calm 300 and Manderene 200. Total stakes offered by the club over the three days were 8000 sovereigns. The Canterbury Jockey Club, which had been in existence more than 50 years, also had a 2000 sovereign stake for it's traditional November New Zealand Galloping Cup. The Metropolitan Club, in just nine years, had raised the stake of it's prestigious race from 310 socereigns to the equal of its more illustrious provincial companion.

Totalisator turnover on Cup Day was a record £42,558, and the Cup betting of £7257 10s was also a record. For the first time the turnover eclipsed the Canterbury Jockey Club's betting on its Cup Day, held as usual three days before the Trotting Cup. The three-day Addington turnover reached a record £124,362, up £25,185 on the previous year.

The club received 23 nominations for the Cup, and only Bell Metal and Princess Louise were withdrawn, which left an over-capacity field. Twelve horses started from the front line of six seconds and from that mark Ravenschild was quickly into the lead for Newton Price. Passing the stands for the first time, Lord Dillon headed Ravenschild, who was followed by Manderene, Little Tib, Aberfeldy, Stop It and Calm. Well rated by his trainer-driver, Ravenschild regained the lead shortly after and by the time the straight was reached was going too well for the others. He finally won by eight lengths in 4:35.6.

Denver Huon, the Australian champion from Sydney, came to the meeting with a reputation for exceptional speed, and from his handicap of two seconds ran a fine race. He had to make his way through the big field, and was timed at 4:33.4. Denver Huon was under the care of Manny Edwards, who had migrated to New South Wales and set up a stud farm and training establishment. Edwards' horses arrived by sea via Melbourne, Hobart and Bluff. The trip was a rough one and Denver Huon, in particular, lost condition. As a result he had worked poorly before a good final trial on the Sunday before the Cup, which convinced his connections to continue with the race.

As expected with such a big, unwieldy field, the start was unsatisfactory. The horss paraded past the stands and then walked to the starting point. They began racing some lengths before reaching the post, getting off in straggling order. Again, Andy Pringle bore the brunt of the disorder and was tipped from the sulky of Glendalough. King Cole, Medallion and Gold Bell broke hopelessly and took no part in the contest.

The Wildwood Junior-Gertie six-year-old Calm, who started from the front, lost his unbeaten record after a slow start. Passing the stands the first time, Bill Kerr's pacer was six seconds behind the leading division. He gradually moved up and, starting the last lap, had moved into third place. Calm chased Ravenschild into the straight and broke, allowing Denver Huon to pass him.

King Cole (out of retirement) had broken Ribbonwood's mile record in 1911, registering 2:08.6. He shared the scratch mark with his co-Australasian mile record-holder Emmeline, who recorded her mile time in the 1912-13 season.

Andy Pringle gained some compensation for his bad luck in the Cup when he rode and drove three winners - Win Soon, Country Belle and Gianella - on the second day. Albert H returned to form, winning the Canterbury Handicap from Red Mac and the trotter Muricata. His winning time of 4:33 equalled the New Zealand record set by Wildwood Junior in 1910.

The third day blonged to the four-year-old trotter Michael Galindo, from the Cliff Tasker stable. After an early break, he made up ground in grand styleand won the Dominion Handicap from Muricata and Quincey.

The most significant newcomer amongst the trainer-drivers at the meeting was James "Scotty" Bryce. The litle man had landed in Wellington from Scotland with his wife and five children earlier in the year. His rise to fame and fortune was repid. Both his sons - James Junior and Andrew - followed him into harness racing and thr Bryce family won every honout there was to achieve in the sport. Scotty Bryce won the national premiership for trainers eight times and he headed the driver's premiership five times. Despite his poor debut with King Cole in 1913, the big races in later years - the New Zealand and Auckland Cups - were easy prey.

Bryce family members were associated with six New Zealand Cup and 11 Auckland Cup victories. Only the Holmes family, Free and his three sons - F.G., Allan and Maurice - who between them won the New Zealand Cup seven times, can boast a better family achievement at Addington. (F.G. was always known by his initials because his first name was the sae as that of his father).

Cecil Devine equalled Scotty Bryce's six New Zealand Cup training successes when Lord Module annihilated the 1979 field. Later still, Roy Purdon, with his two sons, Barry and Mark, produced their sixth victory between them in 1996 when the brilliant Il Vicolo won his second New Zealand Cup.

Credit: Bernie Wood writing in The Cup

Win Soon & Andy Pringle

1914 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

The second favourite for the 1914 New Zealand Cup, Win Soon, despite an interrupted preparation after qualifying the previous August, began best from the front line and led all the way for an easy win. She was the third mare, after Marian and Lady Clare, to win the Cup and, significantly, all three led from start to finish.

Andy Pringle, Win Soon's trainer, had almost despaired of getting her to the post because she had been troubled with corns, but fortunately the problem cleared in time. The win signalled a change of luck for Pringle, who in his two previous New Zealand Cup drives had been tipped from his sulky.

The Cup stake was increased to 2500 sovereigns, and for the first time the race carried a valuable cup, in addition to the prizemoney. It was made in London for the club's president, Charles Louisson, who donated it. The trophy stood 26 inches without the pedestal and surmounting it was the representation of a trotting horse, complete with sulky and driver.

From the original acceptances, Dan Nyhan's Havoc, Red Mac and Lady Clare were withdrawn, leaving a field of 12, with the front four on six seconds. Denver Huon, on another New Zealand campaign, started from the back, with King Cole, who had not raced since the previous November because of sore feet, refused to leave the mark - in all four of his New Zealand Cup starts, he eliminated himself at the start.

Most pre-race interest centred on the favourite, Don Caesar, a Cup newcomer. Like Win Soon, Don Caesar was troubled some weeks before the race with soreness. But brilliant performances the previous season, plus good trackwork preceding the Cup, confirmed his readiness for a sound two-mile run.

However, he spoilt his chance at the start, as did third favourite Denver Huon. The latter headed a strong Australian contingent and had performed exceptionally well in New Zealand the previous season. After finishing second in the 1913 Cup, Denver Huon had won the New Brighton Cup Free-For-All and, in an exhibition against time, had clocked an Australasian record of 4:28.2 in Auckland.

Win Soon's time, 4:31, was a winning two-mile record. She covered the last half-mile in 1:08 and the first mile in 2:15. Over the last mile Win Soon was challenged by the other mare, Country Belle, who paced a fine race for second. They drew away from the rest, with Win Soon holding off Country Belle to win by four lengths. Eccentric was third, 12 lengths back, folowed by Emmeline, Ravenschild, Manderene, Don Caesar, Denver Huon and Adonis.

Win Soon, the first Southland-bred horse to win a New Zealand Cup, was by the Rothschild horse King Child, from Topsy, who was from a thoroughbred mare. Win Soon, King Child's only winner, had done little racing since winning the Lyttelton Handicap in November 1913. She did not appear after that win until August 3, when she ran third in the main event and qualified for her Cup start, registering 4:37.2.

With £1530, Win Soon was the season's leading money-winner, followed by Our Thorpe, Frandocia and Emmeline. Win Soon's owners, Stevenson and McMath, were the season's top owners, winning £1690, followed by Emmeline's owner, Randle McDonnell.

Credit: Bernie Wood writing in The Cup

Lady Clare and driver Jack Brankin

1911 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Lady Clare, the second mare to win the New Zealand Cup, was a six-year-old by Prince Imperial from Clare, who was by Lincoln Yet, the sire of Monte Carlo.

Her trainer, James Tasker, who had been successful with Marian in 1907, took the drive behind her more favoured bracketmate Aberfeldy, and entrusted the drive behind Lady Clare to Jack Brankin. The Cup field was not a strong one, with Wildwood Junior out of the way. Also missing from nominations was King Cole, the star of the August meeting. King Cole, winner of the King George Handicap from Bribery and Dick Fly, and the National Cup from Havoc and Bright, had been temporarily retired to stud. The club received 14 nominations, but the early favourite, St Swithin, was injured and withdrawn. Sal Tasker, who had not raced for four years, and Manderene were two other defections. The front starter, Imperial Polly, received five seconds from the back marker, Bright. Al Franz, because of some outstanding trials, was race favourite, with the bracketed pair of Dick Fly and Redchild, from the stable of Manny Edwards, also well supported. Redchild was the only trotter entered.

The field did not get away at the first attempt because Free Holmes, the driver of Bribery, jumped the start. Medallion stood on the mark and took no place in the race, while Bribery went only one lap and then pulled up lame. Lady Clare led from the start and at the halfway stage was still in front, followed by Al Franz, Dick Fly, Imperial Polly, Aberfeldy, Havoc and Redchild. The mare held on to the lead to win by a length, in 4:38, from Dick Fly, with necks to Al Franz and Redchild. Then came Aberfeldy, Bright and Havoc.

The Cup victory was the last of Lady Clare's seven career wins, but she showed her durability by racing over eight seasons. Indirectly, she featured again in the Cup in 1988, when Luxury Liner turned the clock back 77 years. Lady Clare was the firth dam of Luxury Liner. Lady Clare's £700 from the Cup stake of 1000 sovereigns was the only money she won during the season. Emmeline, an outstanding mare by Rothschild from Imperialism, a Prince Imperial mare, won £949 and was the season's top earner. Rothschild and Prince Imperial were both still standing at stud in the Canterbury area. Rothschild was at Durbar Lodge, in Ashburton, available at a fee of 10 guineas. Prince Imperial and his son, Advance, stood at James McDonnell's Seafield Road farm, also in Ashburton. Prince Imperial's fee was also set at 10 guineas, but Advance was available at half that rate. Franz, the sire of Al Franz (third in the Cup), stood at Claude Piper's stud at Upper Riccarton, at 10 guineas. Franz was a full-brother to Fritz, by Vancleve from Fraulein.

A new surname at that time, but a very familiar on now, Dan Nyhan, introduced another great harness racing family to Addington. Nyhan trained at Hutt Park and ha won the 1909 Auckland Cup with Havoc. He was the father of Don Nyhan, later to train the winners of three New Zealand Cups with his legendary pair of Johnny Globe and Lordship, and grandfather of Denis Nyhan, who drove Lordship (twice) and trained and drove Robalan to win the Cup.

Of all the stallions in Canterbury, Wildwood Junior commanded the biggest fee, 12 guineas, but he held that honour only until 1914, when Robert McMillan, an expatriate American horseman, stood his American imports Nelson Bingen and Brent Locanda at fees of 15 guineas at his Santa Rosa stud at Halswell. He also had Harold Dillon and Petereta on his property. Harold Dillon, sire of the champion Author Dillon, was the top sire for six seasons, from 1916-17 until 1921-22, while Petereta gained some fame by siring the double New Zealand Cup winner Reta Reter.

The outstanding feature of the 1911 Cup meeting was the introduction of races restricted to trotters, particularly the Dominion Handicap. The move, prompted by the Metropolitan Club, came at an appropriate time to save horses of this gait from extinction in New Zealand racing. In the 1880s and 1890s there were two trotters for every pacer in New Zealand, but by 1911 the reverse ratio applied. With the advent of the sulky and harness from the United States, trainer in the 1890s found pacers easier to gait and easier to train, and learned that they came to speed in less time, so many trotters were converted to the pacing gait. Generally, the trotter could not match the pacer on the track.

Coiner won the Middleton Handicap on the first day, in saddle, and raced over two miles in 4:52. Quincey, who had been successful against the pacers on several occasions, got up in the last stride to dead-heat with Clive in the Dominion Handicap, with Muricata, a promising five-year-old, third. Muricata became the dam of double New Zealand Cup winner Ahuriri. The Dominion Handicap carried a stake of 235 sovereigns and was raced in harness for 5:05 class performers. Quincey's time was 4:37.4 slightly faster than Lady Clare recorded in the Cup on the Tuesday. Another of the 13 trotters in this race was the Australian-bred Verax, who started in the New Zealand Cup six times.

The meeting ended with some high-class racing on Show Day. In the Enfield Handicap, in saddle, Aberfeldy, from scratch, beat 14 rivals in 2:12.6, a New Zealand race-winning record for one mile. St Swithin, who had to miss the Cup, won the Christchurch Handicap from Emmeline and Little Tib. The Andy Pringle-trained pacer confirmed how unfortunate it was for his connections that injury denied him a Cup start.

Further improvements had been made at Addington, with a large new 10-shilling totalisator housebeing used for the first time. With bookmakers outlawed, the totalisator turned over a record £27,418 on Cup Day, and betting on the Cup of £6096 10s was a single-race record. The total for the three days of the carnival of £68,329 was an increase of £17,440 over the previous year.


Credit: Bernie Wood writing in The Cup

Mobile Globe parades after winning the 1952 Cup

1952 NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

In a true staying test for the 1952 New Zealand Trotting Cup, Mobile Globe well earned the generous applause of the dense crowd that packed Addington to see him collar Tactician a furlong from home and go on for decisive victory.

A stayers' race it certainly was. With the track thoroughly saturated by heavy rain throughout the previous night and early morning, racing near the fence was out of the question, and although the track from the middle to the outside fence was drying out rapidly by the time the Cup was run, it was still not fast, and every candidate had to cover a good deal more than two miles.

Furthermore, there was no loitering at any stage and the sectional times show that the pace was faster early than later: the first half-mile in 1:06 1-5, mile in 2:12 4-5, mile and a half 3:19 4-5, and the full journey (gross by Mobile Globe, from 12yds)4:27 2-5. The final quarter took 33 3-5secs and the last half 1:07 3-5 or more than a second slower than the opening half-mile.

The sensational collapse of Johnny Globe, the hot on-course favourite, with half a mile still to run, took away a lot of the anticipated glamour from the race: he had tangled at the start and lost 24yds, something foreign to his make-up. He dropped right back to the rear when the pressure was on.

Morano broke up completely and took no real part in the race, and Young Charles made his usual poor beginning. Soangetaha soon strode away in front of Pleasant Smile, White Angel and Blue Mist. Before two and a half furlongs had been covered, Pleasant Smile was a clear leader from Soangetaha, White Angel, Tactician, Burns Night, Blue Mist, Mobile Globe, Johnny Globe, Te Maru, Maori Home and Van Dieman, with a gap of five lengths back to Young Charles and further daylight to Vedette, who was not at all happy in the patchy going.

With a mile covered Te Maru had run up to Pleasant Smile in the lead and half a dozen lengths would have covered all the field (with the sole exception of Morano) at the stage. Te Maru took charge with six furlongs to go, and positions changed rapidly from that point. Tactician was taken to the front with less than three furlongs to go and he opened up a lead of two to three lengths coming round the top, where Mobile Globe and Maori Home were next of a field now stringing out.

Mobile Globe, coming through on the inside, soon had Tactician in trouble and he beat him by four lengths. Van Dieman made a late run for third a good length away, Maori Home was fourth, then Burns Night, Young Charles, Te Maru, Pleasant Smile, Vedette, Soangetaha, White Angel, Blue Mist and the thoroughly exhausted Johnny Globe.

The Dominion-wide popularity of the Trotting Cup is revealed by the off-course total on Tuesday of £33,943 10s. The total on-course was £38,336. The record total on a New Zealand Trotting Cup (on-course only) is the £40,907 10s invested last year. It is interesting to recall that the total off-course receipts last year for the whole day's racing were only £4061 15s. This year's off-course investments for the day reached £86,475 15s.

Mobile Globe, an eight-year-old bay gelding, brought his total stake-winnings to £14,705. The Cup was his 13th win. He was bred by Mr N G Mason, Rangiora, who bought his dam, Helen Ann, for a few pounds. Mr Mason sold Mobile Globe as a yearling to Messrs Findlay and Orange, of Mosgiel, and Mr Orange sold his share to Mr C Smith, who races the horse in partnership Mr J Finglay, perhaps better known as an erstwhile star forward for the Otago Rugby Union game.

Mobile Globe won 10 of his races when trained by C M Laing, and in his only four starts for N L Berkett he has won three races - he had previously won the two principal handicap races at the Metropolitan August meeting this season.

The New Zealand Cup is becoming something of a family affair for the Berketts. L F Berkett trained Highland Fling to win in 1947 and 48, he drove that great champion in his second success in the race, his son, C R, being the driver in 1947. C R Berkett was the trainer and driver of the surprise 1949 winner, Loyal Nurse.

Mobile Globe is by Springfield Globe, who also sired Tactician, the second horse in the Cup. Springfield Globe's success in the Dominion this season is nothing short of phenomenal. With his youngest New Zealand progeny now five-year-olds, he has established a substantial lead over Light Brigade, U Scott, Dillon Hall and Grattan Loyal. It is doubtful if there has been a greater Colonial-bred sire than Springfield Globe since the mighty Rothschild, who headed the list for many seasons up till 1915-16. Springfield Globe returned to Australia about six years ago. He is by Globe Derby (Australia's greatest sire of all time with 309 individual winners), from the New Zealand bred Ayr, by Logan Pointer-Precision, by St Swithin from the thoroughbred mare Kildasa. Ayr was bred at Durbar Lodge, Ashburton, by H F Nicoll, and Springfield Globe was bred in Tasmania by Mr E Tatlow. Springfield Globe, a great racehorse, won an Inter-Dominion Championship in Tasmania and was a free-for-all winner at Addington.

Mobile Globe's dam, Helen Ann, is by Silk Thread, an American importation who was a good winner for Sir John McKenzie. Helen Ann is out of Helen, by Brent Locanda (imp) from Tui Russell, by imported Russell Patch (son of the champion Dan Patch, 1:55.25), from Elie de Beaumont, by Prince Imperial, a great name in New Zealand stayers' pedigrees.

Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 12Nov52

CUP KINGS - ROTHSCHILD 1889

INTRODUCTION
Bettor's Delight in just about ready to make the list as a "Cups King"- the most influential stallion in the two major all-aged races on out calendar, the Auckland and New Zealand Cups. He already has three winners and given his domination that might grow rapidly.

But topping some of the "old timers" won't be that easy, even if he has gone past many already. Who are the best? My top 10, based on the following statistical model.
- 10 points for each winner of the New Zealand or Auckland Cup.
- 5 point bonus for each individual winner greater than one.
- 5 points for each broodmare sire win.
- 1 point for each winner sired by a stallion son.

ROTHSCHILD 1889
(Childe Harold-Belle Briggs-James Lick)(Died aged 32)
Four WINS, Four WINNERS, Two BROODMARE WINS, Two SIRE SON WINNERS - 67 points.

Rothschild, Australian foaled, but of all American blood, was the leading sire for about a decade from 1904. When he died at the Wellington Zoo in 1921 he had left the winners of over 1000 races.
Rothschild sired the fastest pacers, fastest trotters as well as the fastest fillies in Australasia. He had a wonderful temperament. A famous photo shows a small boy holding his lead. Note also that some of his best son's race careers pre-dated the New Zealand Cup.
Rothschild didn't have much ability but it is remarkable that a year after his third NZ Cup winner Ravenschild won, a son of Rothschild, King Child sired the Cup winner, Win Soon. Another son, Harold Rothschild, was a key influence in all three of Southland's most famous families.

TRIVIA FACT - Rothschild's sale to William Jarden's stud (in Gloucester Street, Christchurch) was organised by Dan O'Brien who earlier trained the legendary galloper Carbine at Riccarton. O'Brien wanted to buy Rothschild's brilliant brother, Osterley. When he couldn't he advised Jarden that the much slower Rothschild might be as good as a sire. Osterley was a flop at stud and Rothschild the Champion.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in Harnessed Nov 2016