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DOUG MANGOS

Doug Mangos, who started life in Buller, became a prominent figure in Canterbury and New Zealand harness racing over many years, chiefly through his long association with the famous George Noble stable at Roydon Lodge, Yaldhurst. He talks to David McCarthy.

I suppose with a name like yours you must have spent some time in Lyell. That is where the Mangos name came from?
I was there until I was seven. There are actually about three main branches of the Mangos family in the country, one of them from Timaru and they are distant relations. My parents were storekeepers and moved to Inangahua when I was just a youngster.

Where did the horses start?
There was a fellow at Inanguhua, Plugger(W E) Taylor who had the butcher's shop and had a few horses. I remember Battle Flight was one. I used to do a bit with them, lead them into the birdcage and that sort of stuff. The local publican bought a horse called Elation for one and sixpence about that time and won four races with it. I was 14 when I came over to Christchurch. I wasn't doing a lot at school - I didn't go often enough for that - and in the end they thought I was better off out of it. I went to Roydon Lodge soon after that. (Wife) Eileen had a brother working there and he got me a job.

You stayed a long time?
Nearly 35 years. It was actually the only job I ever had, working for George Noble. I loved every day of it. Wouldn't swap a day.

But you must have thought of going out on your own for bigger rewards?
No, I didn't, at least not seriously. With the travelling we did to Auckland I looked at those trips as three paid holidays a year for a start. No, I was quite happy and George was such a great horseman and boss you never got tired of learning from listening to him. He liked good listeners and I think he thought I was one.

You seem to have finished up all right anyway?
After I left Noble's I used to race a few, usually of my own, and look to sell them. We've done alright over the years. One of the first was a nice trotter called Isa Rangi which we raced with Bill Prendeville. She was pretty good. We beat Ilsa Voss twice. Anyway we agreed her price was $15,000. Then Les Purdon rang up and wanted to buy her. I was a bit cheeky, because I knew Les well, and reckoned we couldn't sell under $25,000. "I don't know about that but I could do $20,000," Les said. Anyway we got the 25 which was a big bonus. We bought this house with what we got from Isa Rangi. It won a few in America.

Was it hard work at Roydon Lodge?
We started at 6 o'clock and got £3 a week. There were 15 horses in full work then but it wasn't as simple as that. The boss used to double heat them all the time so actually it was just like working 30.

Double heat. What was that?
We would work them, not fast, over 2000m, bring them back, take the carts off and rub them down, then later on go out and work another heat brushing home the last bit. It made for a long day.

Was it long before you got a raceday drive?
A couple or three years I suppose. It was good to get a drive. Every one was a week's wages so the competition was keen. I drove Highland Air to win at Forbury Park when he qualified for the New Zealand Cup. I had run a second in a probationary race with Wha' Hae. But my first drive at Addington was on Royal Minstrel which had dead-heated in the New Zealand Derby (with Single Medoro in 1954). He all but fell going into the back straight. It wasn't a great start but we made up for it over the years.

You must have been a very young bloke then when you had your first New Zealand Cup drive?
Yes, on La Mignon the year Lookaway won (1957). She ran third. I think the first three were all by Light Brigade. The boss drove Highland Air (it was the first year of Cup runners for Roy McKenzie after his father's death). There was quite a go after the race.

What can you tell?
We got a nice run and got home well. I was quite pleased with myself. The next thing the chief stipe, Fred Beer, was calling me into the room and there was talk about us being put out.

What was that about?
They reckoned I had checked Roy Butterick on Roy Grattan and Beer gave me a speech. He said to me,"This is a very good race with a big stake that people spend a long time getting ready for. Every horse should have an equal chance of winning this race. I don't think you gave Mr Butterick an equal chance."

How did you get out of that?
I just said,"Well, I don't think Mr Butterick has done too badly out of it". Beer, an arrogant bloke, said pretty sharply,"What do you mean by that Mangos?" So I told him.

Which was?
Soon after the start General Sandy shot away to the front and Lookaway, which could be tricky at the start - Maurice Holmes could be a genius at getting them away - came up but Bob Young on General Sandy wasn't giving it away. Roy Butterick was in the trail and I heard Maurice call to him, "There's £500 for you to pull back". Butterick did and Lookaway got the run of the race. They just walked around and sprinted home and you couldn't have beaten him. The Cup was worth £7500 but £500 was a good payday in those days. I said that nobody was doing anything about that, while I didn't even know what I was supposed to have done.

What did Beer say to that?
"You can go now, Mangos," was all he said.

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The Press 23Jan10

Roydon Lodge had some great horses over the years and you got the chance to drive a lot of them. Which ones do you remember most?
We had some terrific seasons, but we had some bad ones, too. I remember one season we only won one race with 15 horses, which was right out of character. It is hard to remember all the good ones. Sounds silly, but there were a lot of them. Roydon Roux was one I had a bit of luck with in Australia.

Roydon Roux? She was a champion young horse which had a sad end.
I think she won seven as a two-year-old and, at three, she won the Great Northern Derby for me, beating Bachelor Star and Van Glory. It was then that we took her to Autralia. She was out of La Mignon and so was Garcon Roux.

What happened there?
She won the Wraith Memorial Series, which was a big go then in Sydney. She was hot favourite in a leadup, but knuckled over at the start and I had to drive her back. She ran second. When the final came around, the winner of the leadup had drawn in and was the favourite. Before the race, I was taken into the stipes' room. They wanted to know how I was going to drive her.

And?
"The best I can." I said, but they wanteed to know more than that, so I said I would try to get to the lead and, if I couldn't, I would sit outside the leader and I'd beat him anyway. They seemed happy with that. I sat her out and she just bolted in and broke a record. I wasn't too popular on the lap of honour. A few empty cans came my way and they booed. Funny thing was that though she had won all those races, they dodn't count for handicapping and she wasn't actually eligible to run at Harold Park in the classes.

The news was not so good after that?
She broke a pastern bone; just shattered it, running around that little showgrounds track in Melbourne. She couldn't be saved.

Garcon Roux had a big reputation?
The old boss (Noble)thought he was one of the very best. I drove him in a time trial at Bankstown in Sydney and there was a bit of drama. When we started off, there was some bloke crouched under the inside rail taking a photo and the horse balked. He went his furlong(200m) in 16 seconds and ran the mile in 2:01.2. That was some performance.

Jay Ar was one of your favourites, I suppose?
He won a trial at Ashburton one day and even the old boss was amazed at the time. "He couldn't have done that," he kept saying. I can't remember now just what the time was, because the trial was over six furlongs(1200m), which was very unusual, even then. Whatever it was, it was a record.

He dead-heated in an InterDominion Final, of course.
I didn't drive him in that series - the boss did - but I won a lot of races with him, especially in Auckland. He just got beaten in the Auckland Cup by Lordship just before the Interdominion. He was a bit of a nervy horse whe he got out on the track...he wasn't quite as good from a stand because of that. But, gee, he was good. He was in a 3200m free-for-all one day and Garcon D'or had drawn out and we had drawn in. The boss said to me,"You might as well lead till the other one comes around." Jar Ar was off and gone. We haven't seen the other horse yet.

Wasn't there a story over his low heart score?
Taking heart scores had just come in here and a few were very keen on them. The experts seemed to think a horse had to have a high heart score to produce top runs in the best company and Jay Ar was a bit below average. But there's a few stories about those early scores.

Such as?
A lot of the top trainers were sceptical of them. The boss was one of them. Allen McKay came down from Wellington and did the heart scores over quite a few years. When he first came, we were under instructions not to identify the horses, and we mixed them up a bit in the queue. One horse came out at 123 and they were all excited about it. The next time he came, he kept asking when Jay Ar was coming, and when we told him, he couldn't believe his read, which was about 100 then. I think he thought he was the 123 one, originally. Jay Ar won about $100,000 and the horse which was 123 won a small race somewhere in the Central Districts. It was all quite experimental here then and scores could vary a lot. This one showed that judging a horse just on its heart score was a ticket to trouble.

Samantha was another good one you drove?
Yes, I won a Wellington Cup with her - she won two of them - and beat Lordship just. I learnt a big lesson from George over that.

Which was?
Well, I won the race and when I got home everyone was very happy and the boss congratulated me on my drive. A couple of days later, though, I got a call to go up to the house. When I got there, George, who had a special way of telling you things, started talking about the Wellington Cup and how Samantha was the best-gaited horse in the race. It was just as well, he said, otherwise she wouldn't have beaten Lordship.

What was that about?
Well, there was no video or anything in those days. But during the week, in the paper, they published a photo of the finish. I had my left hand high in the air holding the reins and I was weilding the whip with the other one. George wasn't impressed. He didn't think he could go on putting me on top horses if I was going to throw everything at them like that. I knew without him actually saying it that I was getting a good dressing down. I never forgot it. There was no more of that.

You didn't do so much driving later on, but it wasn't because of things like that?
The main reason was that John(George Noble's son) decided to work full time with the horses. In those earlier years, John was a mechanic in town and wasn't able to drive them much of the time. When he came into it, naturally, I was going to miss out, but it didn't persuade me to leave. I was quite happy.

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The Press 6Feb2010

General Frost was a brilliant young horse you drove?
Gee, he was good. He won the first Juvenile Championship in Auckland. It was a great effort because he was hopeless right-handed. We had a problem about what to do going into the race.

What did you do?
The old boss (George Noble) gave me unusual instructions. He said not to drive the horse around final bends no matter where he was. He wanted me to just let him find his own way; that even if he lost a lot of ground he would still be too good. Well, he lost a good bit of ground on the bends all right but he picked them up and dropped them in the straight. Won easy. He had incredible speed, General Frost. It was a shame he went in the wind. They couldn't do anything about it.

You had a lot of big moments at Alexandra Park?
I won my biggest trophy there - the one I value the most. it is the only one I have really kept. I was the leading driver at the 1968 Interdominion Championship at Auckland. I actually tied with Peter Wolfenden and Kevin Newnam(Sydney) so I was in pretty good company. They decided there would be a toss and George stood in for me. I reckoned I had always had a bit of luck with the toss and George did the right thing. It was an odd man out toss. The first two came up heads all round and then one head and two tails. It was quite an honour when you consider the opposition.

Julie Hanover. I think Andrew Cunningham and their wives raced her. Did you handle her much?
I should have won an Auckland Cup with her. A really top mare. She was usually foolproof but that night she missed away. She ran fourth to Allakasam. John (Noble) usually drove he but he was on a holiday. However, I still blamed myself. It was a terrific effort. She raced for Martin Tannenbaum who organised all the international races at Yonkers at the time when she went up to America. She raced well there and left some good stock. Vista Abbey was another one and I won with Arania (New Zealand's first mare to beat two minutes in a race) off 36 yards up in Auckland on day. She was phenomenal when she was right.

You drove quite a few outside horses at that time too. I hadn't realised you handled Holy Hal. He had been a terrific young horse?
He was older when I first came across him. They had brought him up from Southland for the Auckland Cup. They said he could break down at any time and Kenny Balloch wanted to come up and drive him in the cup so,"Would I be happy to drive him in the lead-ups under those conditions?" I knew he was a smart horse and leapt at the chance. They were hard-case blokes those Southlanders.

How?
They came to me after we'd done the final feeds one night and asked if I minded giving him an extra feed before I left. I said,"why, you have given him his tea? Yes, they said but they wanted to give him a bit of his breakfast in case they were late in the morning! I think they were going out for a big night. Anyway, the horse dodn't mind.

He had had problems as I remember it. What was his form like then?
Sensational. He was a moral beaten in the Auckland Cup. I couldn't believe it. He won both nights I drove him and I thought he was a good thing in the cup.

What happened?
They had reintroduced lap times. Every time they came round Holy Hal was not just in front but well clear. He was six lengths in front one round. He still ran third. I could have cried.

Did you get another chance with him?
Yes, and we proved a point. We had a chat about the Cambridge Flying Mile and I was to drive him in that. They didn't like it when he drew out but I told them he would still win. Sure enough, outside draw and all, he bolted in. Many people never realised how good Haly Hal was.

Did your success at Alexandra Park bring many extra drives?
Yes, quite a few. One of the more unusual was Merv Dean whose wife, Audrey, owned Cardigan Bay. Merv ran a billiard saloon. He was a big guy and y the standards of those days a huge punter but a really top bloke with it. He started flying me up to Auckland just to drive one horse and it was a lucrative operation for a while there. One time I drove down here during the day and caught the plane to Auckland to drive one for him. Merv met me at the airport and gave me five hundred and he had the colours for me to put on on the way. The horse won. It was Great Return which won a few down here. He gave me another five hundred after that and paid all the expenses. We had a great strike rate for a while there.

You probably liked a bet youself. Any huge collects?
I learned after a while it was quite hard. A lot of people have learned that. I did put 100 each way on La Mignan as a four year old. She had been working so well and she won. I remember going to Forbury one night with Ohio which George trained. It was pouring early in the night and Jimmy Walsh had a horse in earlier in the nightthat we knew loved it like that and it won. The rain stopped and the track improved so it wouldn't bother Ohio with his problem, and he won.

Ohio. He was a top horse?
He would had been but he was tubed. Horses that couldn't breathe properly then, they opened up a breathing passage through the chest - they called it tubing - and put a stopper in it which they took out for the race. It was not uncommon then though I think he might have been one of the last allowed to race. The trouble was you had to be very careful on the wet grit and sand tracks because of the danger of the tube getting blocked and the poor buggers would run out of breath. The boss tried ever sort of gauze over the tube to make sure it was kept clear but we weren't going to risk any tragedies and he had to be retired because of it.

Credit: David McCarthy writing in The Press 16Jan2010

Greg Brodie receives the trophy from Daren Garrard

2001 GARRARD'S SIRES' STAKES 2YO FINAL.

It is not time for Bruce Negus to say 'move over Courage.' There is no real danger of that. However, it seems certain that he will speak of Sly Flyin in the next breath.

Putting sentiment aside, Sly Flyin has Closed quickly on the achievements of the great Courage Under Fire, who Negus developed into a young champion, and there was fresh evidence of his endless stamina and stubborn determination following his powerful win in the $150,000 Garrard's Sires' Stakes Final on a slushy track at Addington.

The Greg Brodie-owned and Colin De Filippi-driven colt won with the same stamp of authority that Courage Under Fire issued in his year. Tricky Vic made a valiant attempt from back in the field on what was pretty much a front-runner's night to finish second; Hardly Matters had a good trip and made good use of it to get third and All Hart was fourth after sticking on well following a tough trip.

For Sly Flyin, it's a seven-week break, and the declaration of another career when his racing career has finished. Negus was more or less committed to geld Sly Flyin at the end of his campaign, and said so. "Courage was perfect in this respect. Anyone could give him a pat and show him some affection. He liked that. This fellow is a little more aggressive, and could bowl you over without being nasty at all. But I promised him he would stay a colt if he won. Gelding him, by the look of it, couldn't make him go any better," he said.

In the cold light of day, the run was exceptional, because there was some difficulty for him when a hopple shortener became stuck. It meant that he had one of 53 inches on one side and 56 inches on the other. "That is why Colin had to force the issue when he did. He is a short coupled horse but it would not have been comfortable for him. Colin's drive was very astute. He drove to the horse's strengths. In the last four or five years, Colin has just got better and better. He really is top class," he said.

The quality of Sly Flyin's win was not a revelation, and Negus no longer is afraid to give him the kudos he has deserved. "His trial a week earlier at Motukarara in 2:41.8 for 2200m did surprise me, but then he has improved many lengths since his Welcome Stakes win last months. He was not distressed, and it is hard to describe how well he did that. He is a great stayer, and to be honest I don't know how good he is. He could be a super horse, but here we have rated him a second behind Courage in all departments at this stage. Up till now, I have hesitated to say that he is up with him, but I think he has earned that right now. In a tight finish, he will win nine times out of ten," he said.

With his boyish tendencies needing to be ironed out at the start of his campaign, Negus went to a couple of senior horsemen for advice, his father Bob, and Doug Mangos. Through his time with George and John Noble, Mangos was an old hand with young horses, and won nine successive races at two with the brilliant filly, Roydon Roux. As a result of their wisdom, Negus worked Sly Flyin every day in the cart, for weeks on end.

Sly Flyin is a 15.2-hand son of Sands A Flyin, who achieved a remarkable and honourable double when his iron-willed daughter Sparks A Flyin won the Group 1 Nevele R Fillies Final on the card - in the same willing manner. Brodie bought Sly Flyin for a six-figure sum on the recommendation of Greg Payne. "I recall Greg saying after just his fourth hopple, 'here is a $100,000 horse'," said Negus. That was in September.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 16May01

George with Stanley Rio's Inter-Dom spoils

GEORGE NOBLE

G B Noble's effort to top the trainers' list for the Dominion this season was a fitting reward for an association with trotting in this country which began in 1941 when he was appointed private trainer of the Roydon Lodge team. Of the record total this season of £28,361 15s won by Mr R A McKenzie, horses trained by Noble won around £23,000 of that amount.

Before coming to NZ, Noble had trained at Harold Park from 1918 to 1941. Besides being a horse trainer and reinsman, Noble is a qualified architect and a farrier of no mean ability. He had made a study of the horses foot and its footwear and it was this fact that weighed heavily in Noble's favour when in 1941 Mr J R McKenzie was seeking a private trainer.

Noble's early interest in trotting was through his father, a trainer, and it is more than 40 years since he drove his first winner, Elmo Chief, at Harold Park. In his early years of training at Roydon Lodge, Noble prepared the outstanding trotter Fantom, who won the Dominion Handicap at Addington and the Rowe Cup at Auckland twice.

One of Noble's best records is in the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes, a 2-year-old semi-classic, first run in 1941. He trained and drove Scottish Emperor to win the event in 1943 for Sir John and for the same owner won with Royal Minstrel in 1954. In 1956 he produced Golden Hero to win for Mr R A McKenzie and was successful for him again with Jar Ar in 1960. Two years later he drove Thunderboy to win the race at odds of more than 70 to 1.

With La Mignon (1954) and Golden Hero (1956), Noble won the NZ Sapling Stakes, driving both himself.

After the death of Sir John, Noble continued to train the Roydon Lodge team for Mr R A McKenzie. The establishment has produced some good winners, including two of the best mares to have raced in NZ, Arania and Samantha. Arania won nine races and £8960 in NZ. Her successes included the NZ Oaks, Dunedin Festival Cup and two heats of the 1961 Inter-Dominion series at Addington. She then went to America, where she ran a 1.57 mile against time - the third fastest of all time for a mare and just outside the world record time for a mare of 1.56¾, held jointly by Rosalind(T) and Her Ladyship(P). Arania did not race a great deal in the United States, but won six races and was 11 times placed for $45,400. Samantha, who, like Arania, was by U Scott, took a mile record of 2.01 4/5. She won 15 races, including the Wellington Cup twice, and £14,910.

As a driver, Noble has been associated with many of the winners he has trained, and has also met with success in the odd outside drive. He has more than 250 winning drives to his credit. This season he has driven 25 winners, his best total ever, placing him eighth on the drivers list. Asked who was the best horse he ever drove, Noble unhesitatingly plumped for Light Brigade, and one of his greatest earlier thrills in the Dominion was when he drove Bronze Eagle (trained by R B Berry), to win the NZ Cup in 1944.

NZ Trotting Calendar 14Jul65

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George Noble, one of NZ's most capable and respected trainers over the past 40 years, died in Christchurch last Thursday at the age of 85 after a brief illness.
During a career which commenced in New Zealand in 1941, the former Australian trained and drove some of NZ's greatest pacers and trotters to win here, in Australia and in the United States. He was leading trainer in New Zealand on two occasions.

George, or "G B" as he was known to his great number of friends, was born in New South Wales, the son of a farmer who also raced standardbreds. George received his early education with the family horses and drove his first winner at the age of 18. However, he decided to follow a career as an architect and did so until the depression in 1930. He then decided to return to the world of harness racing, and in one of the toughest periods of Australian trotting, made a success of his new career.

He was among the top trainers in New South Wales when the late Sir John McKenzie chose him to take over the training and stud management at Roydon Lodge in Yaldhurst. It was a partnership which was to prove highly successful, as a string of champion racehorses went forth in the McKenzie colours to win many of the country's top races. Horses such as Red Emperor, Flight Command, Commander Scott, Royal Minstrel, La Mignon, Highland Air, Slipstream and Highland Kilt saw J R McKenzie head the owners' list on three occasions and following his death in August 1955, the success continued as his son Roy headed the owners' list on seven successive occasions. Scotch Paree, Golden Hero, Garcon Dór, General Frost, Valencia, Bonheur, Adioway, Jay Ar, Heatherloch, Samantha, Bewitched, Arania, Garcon Roux, Roydon Roux and Hurrania continued to keep George Noble and Roy McKenzie to the forefront.

When Roy decided to expand Roydon Lodge's stud activities and transferred the stud and training operation to Templeton in 1970, George Noble remained at the Yaldhurst property he had operated from so successfully. It was from here that George performed one of the training feats which will probably go unequalled in NZ harness racing history. In November 1976, he turned out the Australian-bred 4-year-old Stanley Rio to win the NZ Cup, took him to Auckland to win the NZ Messenger Championship in March 1977, the across the Tasman to win the Inter-Dominion Grand Final at Albion Park. Stanley Rio is the only 4-year-old ever to win such a demanding treble, and only a trainer of George's expertise could have programmed it. He raced the Tasmanian-bred pacer in partnership with his son John and Wayne Francis. The same year, he trained Rustic Zephyr to win the NZ Derby at Addington and was justly named 'Racing Personality of the Year' by the NZ Racing Writers' Association.

Few major NZ races escaped George Noble in his long and successful career, but he also made his mark in international competition. He won the Inter-Dominion Grand Final twice, deadheating in the 1965 event at Forbury Park (with Robin Dundee) with Roy McKenzie's Jay Ar whom he drove himself, then winning the 1977 event with Stanley Rio. He won the NZ Cup with Stanley Rio (1976), the Auckland Cup twice with Highland Air (1957) and Garcon Roux (1971), the Sapling Stakes twice with La Mignon (1954) and Golden Hero (1956), the Rowe Cup with Fantom (1943 & 1944), the NZ Juvenile Championship with General Frost (1968), the NZ Messenger with Stanley Rio (1977), the Great Northern Derby with Garcon Roux (1968) and Roydon Roux (1971), the Dominion Handicap with Fantom (1945), the NZ Derby with Royal Minstrel (1954) and Rustic Zephyr (1976), the NZ Trotting Stakes with Highland Kilt (1950), the NZ Oaks with Arania (1959), Bonnie Frost (1969)and Hurrania (1974), the NZ Futurity Stakes with General Frost (1968), Bonnie Frost (1970), Roydon Roux (1971) and Fabriani (1975), the NZ Sires' Produce with Garcon Roux (1968), the Timaru Nursery Stakes with Meadowmac (1963) and Garcon Roux (1968), the North Island Oaks with Bonnie Frost (1970), the NZ Golden Slipper Stakes with General Frost (1967) and Roydon Roux (1970), the Wellington Cup with Samantha (1962 & 1963).

George also campaigned successfully in Australia. He won the NSW Southern Cross Stakes at Harold Park in 1970 with Bonnie Frost and again in 1976 with Stanley Rio when the race was renamed the Prince Stakes, won the NSW Oaks - Victoria Oaks double with Bonnie Frost in 1970, the same year she took out the J L Raith Memorial at Harold Park, and won the NSW Derby and the R C Simpson Sprint at Harold Park in 1969.

Under his guidance, Garcon Roux became the first 3-year-old ever to better 2:00 in New Zealand when he time-trialled at Hutt Park in 1:59.6 while, when campaigned in the United States, his champion mare Arania narrowly missed becoming the then fastest mare in the world when she time-trialled in 1:57 at Lexington when driven by Bill Houghton. Only Her Ladyship (1:56 3/4), Dotties Pick (1:56.8) and the trotter Rosalind (1:56 3/4) had gone faster at the time.

Arania, one of NZ's best mares, was narrowly beaten in the sensational finish to the 1961 Inter-Dominion Grand Final, which saw Massacre, False Step and Arania locked together at the post. Arania and False Step then went to the United States for the 1961 International Series at Yonkers, and, though she performed dissappointingly during the series, she was to win at Roosevelt, and George also drove his Inter-Dominion winner Jay Ar to win at Santa Anita, California, in 2:01 and Garcon Dór to win on the same track in 1:59.

As a trainer, George Noble may have been equalled by few, but never bettered, and he earned the respect of everyone in the industry for his willingness to help others. He was, in every respect, a 'Gentleman' and harness racing is the poorer for his passing.



Credit: Tony Williams writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 28Jun83

SCOTTISH HANOVER

The honour of being NZ's leading sire of stake-earners for the 1978-79 season falls again to Roydon Lodge's sire Scottish Hanover. And who better to be his best representative than Roydon Lodge's own star performer, Wellington Cup winner Roydon Scott.

Epitomising much that is typical of Scottish Hanover's stock - speed, size, great staying ability and durability, Roydon Scott did much to enhance the already growing stature of Scottish Hanover, who looks destined to go down in our record books as one of the most influential sires of the late seventies and early eighties. Scottish Hanover's siring career has been notable for his remarkable consistency in leaving quality fillies and colts each year, and all improving with age. Breeders, after a slow start, have now recognised these qualities and have ensured his book has been near full each season.

The decision of Mr Roy McKenzie, managing director of Roydon Lodge, to purchase Scottish Hanover in 1966 for stud duties in NZ was a fortunate one for our breeding and racing industry. With such an excellent record of having stood previous top sires like Light Brigade, U Scott, Captain Adios and Thurber Frost in past seasons, it was hardly surprising that Roy McKenzie chose such a worthy successor. To quote Roy McKenzie's reasons for purchasing him: "Apart from his good race record in his races, he always finished strongly and usually covered extra distance, as Saunders Russell's wife did not like him driving horses and was only happy about his doing so if he kept out of a packed field, which often meant he raced one out in the death seat!"

Allied to his obvious racing ability (he paced 1:59 as a 3-year-old and 1:57.2 as a 4-year-old) was the appeal of his pedigree, which had a double strain of Scotland blood so successful in NZ with U Scott and the mare Minnetonka, who was the second dam of Light Brigade. The Peter The Great line in NZ has enjoyed great success under our racing conditions, through siring sons like Wrack and grandsons like Dillon Hall. The greatest influence, however, has occurred with Volomite's siring descendants (Light Brigade, Out To Win, Local Light, Fallacy, Tuft etc.) and Scotland's (U Scott, Scottish Hanover, Young Charles, Scottish Command, etc.)

Scottish Hanover's bloodlines have crossed well with most, and his stream of winners now exceeds 132, with over 12 in 2:00, inclding horses of the calibre of ...

~ Roydon Roux, a champion filly whose nine wins included a NZ Golden Slipper stakes and Great Northern Derby.
~ Final Curtain p, 1:59.6 - the winner of 18 races and 24 places.
~ Palestine - whose list of notable wins includes a Wellington Cup.
~ Roydon Scott p, 1:58.9 - the brilliant winner of the 1979 Wellington Cup.
~ Hanover Don p, 1:58 - an excellent performer in USA.
~ La Roue and Kara Kara - excellent racemares.
~ Classiebawn - winner of NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes.
~ Scottish Heath - a durable type who competed with distinction at this year's InterDominion.
~ Watbro - a leading Southland 4-year-old.
~ Gretna Hanover - a leading North Island 3-year-old filly.

If past records are anything to go on, it will be in the broodmare field that Scottish Hanover will make a new impact, and Roy McKenzie expects his mares to be excellent producers in the years ahead - a pattern followed incidentally, by his other leading sires, Light Brigade and U Scott.

For the future, it is pleasing to see some of Scottish Hanover's sons being retained with a view to stud duties. Palestine, one of his best pacing sons, is being given a chance at stud, while Roy McKenzie is considering Roydon Scott's full brother Dreamover for a possible stud career once his racing days are over. There would be nothing more tragic to our breeding industry that to have such an excellent sire's bloodlines lost to out racing and breeding scene.


Credit: Ron Bisman writing in DB Trotting Annual 1979

1971 NZ DERBY STAKES

The voice crackled through the loudspeaker: "Would Mr R M Cameron please report to the Secretary's office." It was early last Wednesday evening, and Cameron, up from the southern township of Wyndham with his two-year-old, Great Twinkle, hurried the 200 paces to the top of the straight to honour the call. His mind was still was still at work on the cause of such a request when he entered the office where, standing to receive him were Highbank trainer Alister Kerslake and Templeton reinsman, Derek Jones.

A few minutes later Cameron left their company in high spirits, for not only had he been asked to handle Kerslake's promising three-year-old, Bachelor Star, that evening, but also in the New Zealand Derby the following Saturday. And after being thrilled with the colt's first night effort, Cameron rated the rich-ginger son of Bachelor Hanover perfectly to cuff stablemate Golden Guest a few yards short of the $7225 and then hit the wire with a fast-diminishing long neck advantage over the gamest of fillies in Van Glory.

Owned in the Christchurch suburb of Spreydon by Mr W F Woolley, who is now well into his eighties and still handling the distance admirably, Bachelor Star is out of the Captain Adios mare, Adio Star. Before leaving Bachelor Star, Adio Star had combined with Garrison Hanover to leave the top class but ill-fated pacer, Loyal Adios, and then to Goodland's cover left the consistent pacer, Colonel Adios, a 2:14 horse.

Bachelor Star's fourth dam was the imported mare, Estella Amos, who as well as establishing a winning family that is fast carving out a niche here and overseas, left the great Indianapolis, three times winner of the NZ Cup. Tondeleyo, a daughter of Estella Amos and Wrack, proved a great broodmare, being responsible for Margaret Hall and Loyal Guest, who between them left some top winners including Orbiter (1:58.8), Kinsella, Cappy Rowan, Late Frost, Orbette, Rowan Star, Snell, Rosslyn Rowan, True Guest, Grand March and Adio Star. As a racehorse, Tondeleyo had little in her favour, and after three chances, left the scene. Loyal Guest, by Grattan Loyal, and second dam of Bachelor Star, is also the granddam of Golden Guest, True Forbes, Worthy Guest, Special Dream, Overland and Goldstep, all of whom won races.

This was Bachelor Star's fifth win - he won two last season as a juvenile - and he won in a manner that pointed to staying potential; previously he had been recognised as a shorter-course specialist more than anything else. But after racing three back and one out, tracking Star Land three-wide passing the three furlong peg and then firing a dogged finishing thrust in the stretch, Bachelor Star looked the ideal racehorse in beating Van Glory by a long neck.

Van Glory tried hard to reach Bachelor Star, but this tough little filly gave him too much of a start from where she was lodged at the back of the field and had to be content with the $2225 cheque. A plain bay, Van Glory in a filly to be proud of; she certainly put her whole heart in the attempt of bettering the place filling roles in this same event of her parents, Van Dieman and Malabella. Golden Guest, who appeared to have the race won inside the furlong until she gave it away just short of the line, ran a mighty race, although she had a great deal more in her favour than the luckless Roydon Roux, who came fast and late to run fourth. Armbro Free, after a poor run early, battled on for fifth.

Bachelor Star is trained by Mr Woolley's son-in-law, Alister Kerslake, who gained experience in the stable of M B Edwards, before moving to a butcher shop in Methven. Then, feeling tired of the whole business one day about three years ago, he erected a sign in the window advising customers he wouldn't be back. Instead, he branched out into training, taking over Mr Woolley's string of trotters and soon experiencing success with a team of about 12 horses that was climaxed by the New Zealand Derby win of Bachelor Star. There is no chance of him donning the striped apron and wielding the carving knife again. As Cameron quipped after the race: "This meat you've got now would be a bit too good for the shop."

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in NZ trotting Calendar

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