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HORSES

 

YEAR: 1981

ROYDON SCOTT

Roydon Scott, one of NZ's best pacers of the last decade, had to be put down at Roydon Lodge Stud last week.

The decision to put the grand pacer, who suffered very badly from arthritis, down, was taken by trainer Fred Fletcher after consultation with owner Roy McKenzie. "He was suffering a lot more than people realised," said Fletcher last week.

Roydon Scott still holds two NZ records and broke 2:00 on four occasions, taking his lifetime mark of 1:58.9 as a 3-year-old. In all, Roydon Scott raced only 49 times for 18 wins, five seconds, four thirds, three fourths and three fifths for stakes totalling $79,792.50.

During his career, he raced against and beat the best horses in the country, even when sorely troubled by arthritis late in his career. He missed several major events because of injury. Roydon Scott had his last race in the 1980 NZ Cup at Addington, finishing down the track, but brilliantly won his two lead-up races.

He was buried at Roydon Lodge.

Credit: NZ TrottingCalendar 20oct81

 

YEAR: 2012

FRED FLETCHER INTERVIEW

Q. You seemed to come into race training and driving a bit later than some. Where did it all start?

In racing not until I was 28 when I got a job at the old Roydon Lodge in Yaldhurst. We came over from the Coast when I was 12 and I was brought up with horses. Later on, I worked a team in the bush for a while. I played league right through the grades and was still playing when I went to Roydon Lodge after I answered an ad in the paper. I broke my jaw playing football soon after and that was the end of the sport. Captain Adios had just passed on when I started and Thurber Frost was the star stallion then. I worked under Ralph Bonnington who was the stallion manager.

Q. You didn't train there though? How did you find it later on taking on training a good team without the background some have had?

The granddam, Aspiring Lass, was a good mare in America and Charlie Hunter trained her down here. She had a twisted bowel at one stage. I got her back for a last season and she won the Canterbury Park Cup for us. The dam (Aspiring Gal) broke a pelvis. But she had showed plenty as a two year old. I was going to try her again but it didn't come to anything. But it was no surprise she would leave fast horses.


I spent a lot of time watching George Noble. There weren't many people who were better to learn from. A lot of it was just what you know and common sense.I started training after we set up the new Roydon Lodge at Templeton. That was a big job and it took time to get it organised. Scottish Hanover was our anchor stallion then and he did a great job. When that was up and running I was breaking horses in and thought I might as well be training them.

Q. Talking of Scottish Hanover, Roydon Scott was your first star?

He was a brilliant horse, a great horse really. I don't think people realised how good he was. I firmly believed he would be the first to run two miles in four minutes here and I think he would have done it. He had a big long stride and everything seemed effortless to him. He battled navicular disease for a long time and when Dr Irvine changed the medication rules on what we were treating him with it finished his career really.

Q. He still ran as favourite in the New Zealand Cup?

It was the owner's decision to run and you can understand wanting to win a Cup. I have to say I would probably not run had it been up to me.

Q. He was a different sort from Roydon Glen who ended up with the better record?

Roydon Glen had a lot of ability but he was always "seeing things" which made him a hard horse to drive. Peter Wolfenden drove him up north for us and didn't actually seem to think a lot of him and I had to take over when he won the Derby by lengths up there. But I could understand why Peter thought like he did. You had to be careful what you did with him in the race and where you put him. Sometimes driving him what punters might think was the right way was the wrong way.

Q. His third in the Cup must have been your biggest disappointment?

There wern't any other races to match it. He drew in, actually began too well, got into the trail and when they eased in front we were four and five back on the fence. Then when I was going to work off the fence I got held in. He flew home of course and should have won it but there wasn't a lot else I could have done.

Q. He didn't really succeed as a sire apart from the trotter Lyell Creek, and Roydon Albatross was a bit disappointing too?

Yes, you wouldn't believe Roydon Glen wouldn't have been a great success with his pedigree. Roydon Albatross was by Albatross but his maternal line was not as strong. He had the bad luck to be foaled down here late in one season instead of early in the next. That meant when he won the Nelson Cup in record time he was really a three year old and it showed what a good stayer he was.

Q. Phillipa Frost was a mighty wee mare too?

A super little mare, tough as they come. Bluey Steel, who worked at Roydon Lodge then had bred her. There was nothing of her but she wore a long hopple for the size she was (59 inch). I liked horses in long hopples. Roydon Scott wore a 64 inch hopple and Roydon Glen a 61 inch. Philippa Frost's length was really massive for her size. She had to battle Delightful Lady in the mare's races and she ran third to Hands Down and Lord Module in the NZ Free-For-All. We got a bit mixed up at the start. Slim Dykman was next to us and told me he was going to do one thing but he did it differently when the gate went. When you look back at her record and what she raced against she was a terrific mare.

Q. We always have to talk about Sundon at Roydon Lodge but Game Pride smoothed the path for him.

He was really the first of the modern trotting sires here, the ones who could leave horses with speed. He did a terrific job year after year once he got established. One thing which surprised me about him is the ability he had. His race record didn't show it but he was a dumpy little guy and we used to have to work him in the cart a bit to get the condition off him. The speed he showed when you chirped him up amazed me. There was a stallion close up in his pegigree called Bill Gallon which the Americans rated highly even though he was not as fashionable as some. He turned up in Sundon's pedigree as well so there was something in it.

Q. Sundons had a mixed reception with many trainers and probably still do. What do you put that down to?

Basically I think they have so much speed that if you let then show too much of it you can have problems. I had Jo Anne early on and she just had phenomenal speed. But Sundon was a lovely relaxed horse. He would spend a lot of time sleeping. One odd thing about him was that he would pee just before the start of every race he had. His sire Arndon was a bit different. I saw him run his world record at the Red Mile. He was sore then and drifted out into the middle of the track but still ran the fastest mile ever. Phenomenal speed. But he wasn't the relaxed horse Sundon was.

Q. There was a bit of a tizz over a positive swab with Sundon at an Inter-Dominions?

A veterinary error. I think vets should be made more responsible for their actions in these sort of cases like they are in some other countries. The owner and trainer have to carry the can.

Q. And you didn't get to drive him when he won the Dominion?

That is a bad memory. I was given three months for not giving him every chance in the Trotting Free-For-All on Cup Day. You wouldn't not try in a $35,000 race then especially a free-for-all. We were the victim of circumstances but the stewards didn't want to know. Peter Jones took the Dominion drive. He had been driving some of my team in the spring and we had talked about Sundon earlier. Then after the Dominion the siren went and they inquired into whether Sundon had checked something early in the race! My charge was quashed on appeal. It left a sour taste.

Q. Morgan James was another good horse I remember?

Just one of those great everyday horses. My friend from Perth, Mick Lombardo, talked me into selling him in a weak moment. He ended up winning $600,000 over there. Just went on and on year after year until he was about 13.

Q. First Jinja Girl and now Royal Aspirations both give you and (grandson) Sam Smolenski Harness Jewels triumphs. How confident were you this year?

Very confident. I told Sam it was his race to lose and drive accordingly and he did. Sam has a great temperament for driving. He does his homework, listens to instructions and is patient. He doesn't worry about things and thatis an asset in big races - to stay cool.

Q. On paper the immediate breed looked sort of just okay. Did you come from another angle?

The granddam, Aspiring Lass, was a good mare in America and Charlie Hunter trained her down here. She had a twisted bowel at one stage. I got her back for a last season and she won the Canterbury Park Cup for us. The dam (Aspiring Lass) broke a pelvis. But she had shown plenty as a two-year-old. I was going to try her again but it didn't come to anything. But it was no surprise she would leave fast horses.

Q. Royal Aspirations is a horse which can go on?

He's smart as well as fast. He got mixed up at the start of a race at Addington but he still tried to head for the birdcage. He knew where the winners went and wanted to be there. He has a good spell now but he can get better yet.

Q. You are a man of many talents, especially with the manipulation of horses. How did that start?

I suppose it went back to my sporting days in a way, getting over injuries and that. I started to read up on acupuncture and similar treatments and taught myself how to do them watching others and practicing. I started doing it with the race horses to stretch them before a race like an athlete does with hamstrings and other muscles and then started post race treatments. The horses are running around in circles after all and they can develop specialised ailments. A lot of problems happen in the paddock because the circles they are running in are that much smaller. So I don't like to see them turned out after a treatment as some recommend.

Q. You are also a "heartbeat" man with yearlings?

I probably did 100 horses this year at the sales. No special science, I just listen to the heartbeat. You can tell quite a lot from it. Some of them sound like a Mack truck. I think it is a fairly credible thing and more people seem to be asking me to do it. Anything you can find out about a horse someone else might not know is an advantage.

Credit: HRWeekly 25July2012

 

YEAR: 1933

PARISIENNE - Classic Winner Producing Mare

Parisienne (1933 Rey de Oro-Yenot), NZ family of Bessie B; 2:07.8; £13,532; 16 wins; 10 foals, 6 winners. Breeder: George McMillan, Remuera. Foals bred by: Mrs D R Rewell, Auckland (Bohemian, Jacqueline); D R Rewell (Agricola, Spring Fashion); Sir John McKenzie, Christchurch (Mary Wootton, La Mode, Scotch Paree); Roydon Lodge Stud, Christchurch, (U Scott filly, La Mignon, Golden Hero).

Parisienne's sire Rey De Oro (Copa De Oro) was imported in 1922 (his dam Subito had left four winners of 2:10MR at time of Rey De Oro's export). He won in harness at New Brighton and under saddle at Addington. Rey De Oro was leading sire on three occasions as well as a leading broodmare sire. His siring credits (230 winners) included Daphne De Oro & Gold Chief (NZ Derby), Graham Direct & Uenuku (AK Cup), Morello (NZ Cup), Parisienne & Roi L'Or (NZFFA & AK Cup), Subsidy, Symphony & Daphne De Oro (GN Derby), Turco (NZFFA); damsire (308 winners) of Buller Pass (WA Cup), Chamfer(GN Derby & NZ Cup), Fallacy, Scottish Lady & Free Fight (NZ Derby), Gold Bar (NZ Cup & FFA), New Oro (Hunter Cup).

Her dam Yenot (Harold Dillon-Rothschild mare) was bred at Springburn by Rogatski's and originally owned and trained by T H McGirr. Yenot traces back through Bessie B to Minto, a Berlin mare. Yenot was sold to Geotge McMillan after winning the Drayton Hcp at the 1024 Methven Racing Club's spring meeting. Apart from Parisienne, she left Lillian Bond (ancestress of Beaudiene Butler, Beaudiene Bad Babe, Beaudiene Boaz, Beaudiene Christian, Guns N Roses, Role Model) and Princess Yenot (Western Ridge). Yenot died shortly after foaling Parisienne who was bucket raised.

Bessie B started one of NZ's leading maternal families. Her 1933 foal Parisienne is the major source of her success. Many of her daughters continued strong branches of the family. The list of major achievers is extensive including Terror To Love, Lombo Pocket Watch, Lombo La Fe Fe, Suave Stuey Lombo in recent years and Preux Chevalier, Scottish Command, Garcon Roux, Soangetaha, from earlier eras.

Commencing racing in the 1935/6 season as a 2yo, Parisienne's one success came in the Sapling Stakes at Ashburton. Raced by Mrs D R Rewell and trained by Roy Berry, she had a productive three-year-old season with victories in the blue Ribbon GN/NZ Derbies, also victory at New Brighton with a second in the Champion Stakes at Ashburton. Her Stellar season was at four with no less than eight wins, seven at Addington (Queen Mary, Heathcote, Lyttleton & Mason Hcps, ID heats[3]) and the Metropolitan Hcp at Forbury Park. Parisienne rounded out her Addington season by taking out the ID Pacing Championship on points (28½) for trainer/driver Roy Berry, being stake earner of the year in 1938 (£3,340).

At five, Parisienne's three victories were at Ashburton's Boxing Day Hcp, CPTC Selwyn Hcp and Forbury's Metropolitan Hcp in a world pacing mares record of 4:15.6 for two miles. Notable placings recording seconds in the Hannon Memorial, NZFFA (Logan Derby); third in Easter Hcp and fourth in NZMTC Presidents Hcp. At six, her only performance of note was fourth in NZFFA and her final season at seven being victorious in the Hannon Memorial. She finished with a career record of 16 wins, 14 placings, stakes of £13,532 and 2:07.8MR. Parisienne was acquired for breeding by John McKenzie with assistance from George Noble in 1945.

Parisienne is a member of NZ Trotting Hall of Fame.

Standout performer La Mignon's thirteen victories came in a race career spanning from two to seven years. Raced by Sir John McKenzie and trained by George Noble, her three two-year-old wins from four starts came in the Methven 2yo Stakes, CPTC Juvenile and Sapling Stakes (11th filly winner) beating Light Nurse. La Mignon was unraced at three due to a training injury and from four 4yo starts saluted the judge on two occasions at Addington (Shirley & Islington Hcps). At five her three wins were at Ashburton and Addington (CPTC Presidents Hcp/ Winter Cup) and a fourth in the New Brighton Cup. Her most productive winning season came at six when her four wins were FPTC President's Hcp, CPTC Otley Hcp and at Alexandra Park, CF Mark Memorial & Farwell Hcp. La Mignon's final victory came in the Louisson Hcp as a seven year old (3rd NZ Cup) before proceeding to the broodmare paddock. She was the dam of:
- Filet Mignon, granddam of Ohoka Ace (WA C/S-4/5, Fremantle Sprint twice); 3rd dam of Four Starzzz Flash (Elsu Classic-3, Akaroa, CPTC Winter, Ashburton & Central Otago Cups & Maurice Holmes Vase).
- Garcon Roux, brilliant pacer, winnerof 16 NZ races the most important ones being Timaru Nursery Stakes, Welcome Stks, GN & NSW Derbies, NZ Sires Produce-3, AK Cup, National Hcp together with numerous juvenile (two to three-year-old) events. Among first 100 2 minute pacers in NZ (14th) and first 100 NZ bred pacers in two minutes, recording 1:59.6TT at Hutt Park in February 1969, this being the first time a three-year-old in Australasia had broken two minutes. He was the second three-year-old to qualify for the NZ Cup after Tactile. Garcon Roux also won three races at Harold Park(NSW Derby, R C Simpson Sprint, 4YO Invitation Stakes). Garcon Roux became the inaugural Pacer and Harness Horse of the Year in 1969. Sold to America he won several good races, the last being a Hollywood Park invitational as an eight-year-old. Last raced in July 1973 prior to his being put down owing to back trouble.
- Ma Cherie, 5th dam of Andys Favourite (Redwood-2T)
- Rouxla, granddam of Captain Sensible (Wairarapa Cup).
- Roydon Roux, classic juvenile filly whose 11 wins (seven wins as a two-year-old included Golden Slipper Stakes, GN Derby, NSW Raith Memorial and heat VIC Oaks. After winning VIC Oaks heat, she shattered a pastern bone on the Melbourne Showgrounds course and had to be destroyed.

La Mode, unraced mare, granddam of star juvenile pacer Rocket Glenfern (NSW Sapling, QLD Derby); 3rd dam of Pardon Me Boys (WA Golden Slipper-2); 4th dam of Aapennon Lad (VICSS-2c).

Mary Wootton, named after the first Miss New Zealand (also an engagement present from JR McKenzie to son Roy and future daughter in law Shirley), had four unplaced starts as a two-year-old before commencing an extremely fruitful breeding career. She was the dam of:
- Flying Mary, dam of classy trotter Highland Flight (23 wins) for the Lockyers of Raetihi in late 1960's (ID heat, Cambridge trotter Flying Mile, Bridgens & Rhodes Memorials).
- Heather Mary, winner of eight, five in succession including Thames & Waikato Cups, St Heliers & Champion Hcps (Alexandra Park); dam of Golden Sands, GN Oaks, Stratford Cup among 8 NZ wins for Brian Meale and Charlie Hunter, 8 USA wins and then bred from by Delvin Miller and Roy McKenzie; good producer and granddam of Preux Chevalier ($¾m, 1:54.3, WA, Winfield, Harold Park & Hunter(2) Cups, NZFFA, !D Pacing Final, Qld Pacing C/S, Miracle Mile, Grand Circuit Pacing Champion, Australian Harness Horse of Year, sire of Ryans Day-SA Cup, damsire of millionaire Fleur de Lil-1:51.3US, WA Oaks, Breeders Crown-3f).
- Highland Melody, dam of Chaka (Waimate Cup); Granddam of Mels Boy ((Welcome & Kindergarten Stakes, GN Derby, Wellington Cup); 4th dam of Distant Memory (Bathurst Gold Tiara, VICSS-2f), Dazed and Confused (APG-3f).
- Roydon Mary, dam of Roydon Dream, dam of:
1. Dream Star, granddam of Slick Vance (WA Golden Nugget); 3rd dam of multiple(3) NZ Cup winner Terror To Love ($2m, 1:51.0, Taylor Mile, Jewels-4/5, Easter, Auckland & Cranbourne Cups, Canterbury Classic(2), ID heats(2)); 5th dam of Ambro The Thug (NZSS-2c).
2. Roydon Glen, winner GN Derby, Messenger, Auckland Cup, Pan Am Mile, Harness Horse of the Year, sire of 47 NZ winners- champion trotter Lyell Creek (15 Australasian Gp1's, T1:52.2US, approximately $3m), damsire of 53 NZ bred winners - Richard Henry (WA Derby), Solberge (Nevele R Fillies).
3. Roydon Scott, top class pacer winner of Hannon & Barton Memorials, Wellington Cup.
4. Roydon Vision, granddam of Tuherbs (Welcome Stakes, Easter Cup), and third dam of Canny Lombo (VICSS-2c), Misty Maiden (AUS Derby, AUS Broodmare of the Year); 4th dam of Lombo Pocket Watch ($1.5m, Bathurst Gold Crown-2c, APG-2&3c, VICSS-2&3c, AUS, TAS & VIC Derbies, WA Golden Nugget, Harness Horse of Year); 5th dam of Lombo Skyrider ($¾m, 1:50.0US. AUS 2YO Pacer of Year).
5. Scottish Command, 16 NZ wins including Auckland Cup off 60 yards, ID Pacing Consolation winner with whom Roy McKenzie won his first race as a reinsman. Placed third in 1961 NZ from Charlie Hunter, second to Cardigan Bay in NZFFA and fourth in Cardigan Bay's 1961 AK Cup. Sent to North America, he won several races but suffered bad quarter cracks. He won races at Prestatyn Wales, on his return journey to NZ. Sire of 123 winners taking out sires premiership in 1977/78 season. His winners included Black Watch (NZ C/S-2, Broodmare of Year, NZ Trotting Hall of Fame), Paula Scott (GN Oaks), Scottish Charm (ID Pacing Consolation (4th dam of Keystone Del T1:53.9, Glenferrie Farms Challenge(2), Great Southern Star), Scottish Laddie (GN Derby), Scottish Warrior (Messenger), Sole Command (NZ & AK Cups), Trevira (Easter Cup), Trusty Scot (NZ Cup & FFA). Broodmare sire of 281 winners including good trotter Game Paul, Jack Morris ($¾m, ID Pacing Final, Truer Memorial, Aust & TAS Pacing C/S), Markovina (ID Pacing Final, Aust Pacing C/S), Scotch Tar (Dominion Hcp twice).

Scotch Paree, good class trotter (8 wins) who didn't commence racing until a six-year-old winning on six occasions (Nelson twice, Wellington, Timaru, Forbury Park, Addington). Major success came at seven in winning the NZ Hambletonian (Addington) and also at New Brighton. Following a placing at eight and being unplaced at nine, she became the dam of:
1. Garcon D'Or, 10 NZ wins (Ashburton Flying Stakes) and multiple winner in North America (1:57.4US)
2. Irish Paree, 3rd dam of Letterkenny Lad (Firestone FFA, AxP Winter Cup (1:51.4US)
3. Light Paree, 3rd dam of Argyle Gem (WA Sires Produce-2c)
4. Light Scotch, 3rd dam of Lombo Adreamin (Breeders Crown-2f, QLD Oaks), Hurricane Jett (NSWSS-2c); 4th dam of Lombo La Fe Fe ($½m, VICSS-2f, NSW Breeders Plate-2, GN Oaks)
5. Mon Amie, Otaki Cup.
6. Scotch Cherie, 3rd dam of My Cherie (VICSS-2f, Tatlow Memorial-2f, VIC Oaks; 5th dam of Ultimate Girl (TAS Oaks).

Spring Fashion, five race winner including Canterbury 3YO Stakes (New Brighton), Marlborough Cup. She was the dam of:
1. Andrea Kaye, 3rd dam of The Kindly One (Bathurst Gold Tiara-2f).
2. Spring Fever, dam of Blue Venture, damsire of Armada Miss (NSW Oaks)

Ultra Girl, unraced mare dam of:
1. Meadow Leigh, 4th dam of Alta Orlando (Welcome Stakes).
2. Prince Kid, ID Trotters heat.
3. Tawarri, granddam of Le Ruisseau (VIC Oaks); 3rd dam of Riverlea Bay (VICSS-2f), Riverlea Jack (VICSS-3c, VIC Bicentennial Challenge, Qld Winter, Geelong, Kilmore, Cranbourne & Melbourne Pacing Cups, sire of Ataturk (ID ht).
4. Trios Choice, winner and sire in Australia of 70 winners (40 as broodmare sire).

Parisienne's male progeny included:
- Bohemian, the Roy Berry representative won two races including GN Stakes-2, third in Cross Stakes and fourth in Wellington stakes at three before his second win at Greymouth JC meeting. He raced unsuccessfully for a further three seasons.
- Golden Hero proved a successful juvenile winning the Sapling & Oamaru Juveniles at two and being placed thirdin the Timaru Nursery and second in the Methven two-year-old. At three his sole success came at Ashburton and his placings included a second in Canterbury 3YO Stakes (Addington), third in T S Harrison 3YO Stakes(Methven) and fourth in NZ Derby. He went on to record one further win in his final season at four - Auckland TC Devonport Hcp.
- Agricola, race from three to ten and apart from two placings as a six-year-old and another at seven, was a nine-year-old before recording his three victories at Ashburton, Geraldine RC and Greymouth.


Credit: Peter Craig writing in Harnessed May 2015



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