| HORSES |
YEAR: 1974
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| Tactile at stud |
The brilliant NZ pacer who won an unprecedented five derbies in NZ and Australia, then raced with distinction in America, where he pushed his earnings to $189,415 before launching a successful stud career there, has arrived back to his Ryal Bush (near Invercargill) owner Jim Dynes.
Dynes, who is already standing the Nandina stallion Scrappy Wave at his stud, has had so much enquiry for Tactile that he may have to place him the coming season on the property of his cousin and former partner in the horse, Derek Dynes who has a larger property. This keen enquiry is not surprising for from his first two crops in America of 32 foals Tactile is already represented there by 14 individual winners. These are headed by a smart youngster Jinks Minbar, who after starring in his 2-year-old campaign last year when he took a mark of 2:03.2 has continued as a good three-year-old winner this term, his victories including several at Yonkers Raceway, the track on which his sire flew the NZ flag high several years back. The Dynes cousins bought Tactile in a private deal with Tactic's breeder Andy Wilson, as a Hal Tryax foal in embryo and they raced him in partnership with outstanding success before Jim bought Derek's share when Tactile was ending his racing career in America.
His dam Tactics was a Cup class pacer herself (11 wins, including a New Brighton Cup), Tactics was of course the dam also of Deft (10 wins and 29 placings for Mr Wilson's wife Ann), in turn the dam of Mrs Wilson's champion 2-year-old of the current season Noodlum. Tactile's sire Hal Tryax also sired the mighty Cardigan Bay and grand mare Robin Dundee not to mention numerous other winners that saw him top the leading sires list in 1965-6 and 1966-7, and Tactile capped his NZ and Great Northern Derby wins with victories the same season (1962-3) in the South Australian, Victorian and New South Wales Derbies. Winning his way to the best class here, he ran Cardigan Bay to half-a-length in the 1963 Auckland Cup in which epic encounter the mighty Cardy, after giving away starts of up to 78 yards, prevailed but had to pull out all the stops to survive Tactile's late bid.
Like most of our top horses, Tactile eventually found his way to America, and so impressed was Yonkers Raceway chief Martin Tananbaum with the form he showed in around New York, where he took a mark of 1:59.6, then he persuaded Jim Dynes to let the stallion stand at his White Devon Stud in upstate New York. Tananbaum died in 1970, but Tactile carried on in service at White Devon under the farm's manager Harry Moss. With such fierce competition in breeding in the States, it was a struggle to get Tactile mares of any reasonable quality or quantity. So it is a credit to him that from his first two crops of 32 foals he already has 14 individual winners.
With the decision to disperse the White Devon stallion string, Tactile was earlier this season shipped to England on the first leg of his return home to Southland. After his compulsory six-month quarantine there, he was flown to NZ and recently completed the mandatory fortnight's quarantine here. He travelled by float and boat from the quarantine base at Alton Lodge, near Te Kauwhata, to Ryal Bush to meet up again with Jim Dynes. Says Alton Lodge proprietor Eric Haydon "he arrived in fron England in great nick and will reach Southland in wonderful order."
Now rising 15, Tatile appears assured of a fine future at stud in NZ.
Credit: Ron Bisman writing in NZ Trotguide 18Jul74
YEAR: 1962
1962 NZ DERBY STAKES
Sent out a firm favourite in the New Zealand Derby Stakes, Tactile fully justified the support and established himself as one of the greatest three-year-old pacers ever to race in the Dominion.
Field Chief took charge at the end of a quarter and set a scorching pace. Tactile began safely from the second line and was back in about eighth place when the field settled down. Going down the back for the last time, Tactile appeared to be struggling to keep his position, which was not really surprising in view of the 'scorched earth' policy of the pace-maker, Field Chief. However, Tactile began to improve gradually passing the half mile but was forced three wide rounding the home turn. Once into line Tactile's undoubted stamina prevailed and he went on to beat Vanderford by two lengths and a half, with Garcon D'Or third and Wendy Dawn fourth. Next to finish were Carina Star and Field Chief, with five lengths back to the rest.
Tactile paced the mile and a half in the new NZ record time for one of his age of 3:10.4, which was 1.04 seconds better than the time put up by Stormont in the race in 1959. All first four place-fillers bettered Stormont's time - Vanderford returned 3:10.8, Garcon D'Or 3:11.2 and Wendy Dawn 3:11.4. Wendy Dawn's time can be safely claimed as a New Zealand record for a filly. Some idea of the torrid pace can be gained from the sectional times. The leaders paced the first quarter in 35 seconds, the first half in 65.6, the first six furlongs in 1:38.6, and reached the mile post in 2:08.6. They took 30secs for the next quarter and 31.8secs for the last quarter.
Vanderford began smartly and led out from Flyn, Carina Star, Field Chief and Thunderboy. Once Field Chief took command the pace quickened sharply, and at the mile post Field Chief was being followed by Flyn, with Vanderford, Wendy Dawn, Carina Star, Thunderboy, Siva and Tactile next ahead of Vantago, Admiral and Garco D'Or. Thunderboy began to tire after passing the half mile, and shortly after Tactile began to improve, but was forced three wide at the two furlongs. Field Chief and Carina Star led to the straight, with Tactile on the outside ahead of Vanderford and Wendy Dawn, with three lengths to Garcon D'Or.
Tactile soon worked clear, and in the last 100 yards had the rest well covered. The race was a true test of speed combined with stamina, the first four youngsters gaining full marks for high-class performances. Garcon D'Or, Admiral and Professional Globe all lost ground at the start, and Garcon D'Or's third placing was a fine effort, and one which points to him developing into a good winner. Vanderford lived right up to the high opinion held of him in the North Island, and could be classed as a little unlucky in striking a horse of the calibre of Tactile. Wendy Dawn proved herself a grand filly by the manner in which she saw out every yard of the journey, and her future prospects look particularly bright.
Tactile's success on Saturday brought his stakes-winnings to £4435, the result of seven wins and four placings from 11 starts.
Credit: 'Irvington' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 21Nov62