Turf Monthly August 2022 by turfmonthly

monthly

TURF

AUGUST 2022

THIS MONTH

NATURE STRIP THE BUZZARD AND HIS BEST SONS PLAYBOY AND TJ

Editor’s Letter

This month brings to an end our series on Carbine. I never quite know where we are going to finish up when we start researching a pedigree. Who would have thought that he played such an important role in making the legend that was TJ Smith? With every horse comes a story and I hope that you appreciate some of the wonderful stories that these horses bring to life. Not only on the track, but sometimes the deeply personal ones that lie behind them. If you read closely, you will hear the name Firebox mentioned. He was a star of the late 1950’s in Queensland and a horse that has formed part of our family legend in an obscure way. Many of my family were horse people, and many more loved a punt. I was often discouraged from taking an interest in racing for just that reason but maybe there is something in the genes. These experiences and stories that make the thoroughbred such a central part of our society are one of the things that has always intrigued me about the breed. It is always interesting how some of the racing stories never quite make it into modern history.

CONTENTS 4

Nature Strip

THe Buzzard

Katanga

Playboy

Yaralla

Buzalong

The Buzzard - His Daughters

Now that we have finished our Carbine journey, hopefully it might have a few breeding enthusiasts looking for his presence in modern pedigrees through a range of different descendants. Spring is just about in the air, and a new racing season is upon us. Over the next few months, we will of course be looking at some of the horses that will win our time honoured events, and some of those that have been victorious in the past. Who knows, but history may even link a few of them in some odd ways. It is also just about time for a new breeding season to be upon us, and again we may look at some of the new stallions arriving on the scene, and maybe even make some predictions as to what stallions may have an impact in the coming 2yo season with their first babies. Then again, it only takes one good one to make a career.

Cover Image NATURE STRIP

I would like to take this opportunity for readers to let us know if there is anything you would like to see in the magazine in coming months. Even if you have a favourite race, we can always try and see if we can find the footage of it. Like most things, you just never know where it might lead. Until next month

Ross Prowd

Turf Monthly ABN 64 892 144 940 Phone 0412 712 181

Email editor@turfmonthly.com.au Unit 4/125 West St Menzies Qld 4825

TURF MONTHLY 3

NATURE STRIP THE BEST IN THE WORLD

ature Strip proved himself one of the best in the world by winning the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Ascot in June. Not only did he win, but he dominated a quality field to show the doubters what most of Australia already knew. Without in any way detracting from his stunning performance, we must remember that the racing industry has a habit of getting carried away with self-promotion. Nature Strip should rightly be rated the best sprinter in the world, but where does he really rate and what does he teach us about the thoroughbred?

TURF MONTHLY 4

hy don’t we start at the beginning? Nature Strip is a son of Nicconi out of the Desert Sun mare, Strikeline. He was foaled on 16 November 2014 making him one of the unwanted late foals that the Australian yearling market struggles with. As a result, he was passed in at the 2016 Melbourne Premier for $120,000 when offered for sale by Golden Grove. Nature Strip did not make his racetrack debut until 10 October 2017, winning a 3yo maiden at Mornington as an odds-on favourite. Sent to Moonee Valley by original trainer, Robert Smerdon, Nature Strip was beaten into fifth behind Sam’s Image again over 1000m. Two wins in BM70’s for 3yo’s followed before he was transferred briefly to the stable of Rob Hickmott. He has only one start for his new trainer in the Inglis Dash over 1100m at Flemington, a race that earned him over $150,000 in prizemoney. After a break Nature Strip returned in the stable of John Sadler to run second to Sam’s Image in the VOBIS Gold Dash over the same distance at Caulfield. A trip to Morphettville saw the gelding finish fourth in the Group 2 Euclase Stakes. Another change in stables occurred, and Nature Strip next stepped out seven weeks later, on 23 June 2018 for the first time for Darren

Weir. He won a 3yo Handicap at Flemington carrying 60.5kg before winning the Listed Creswick Stakes at the same track over 1200m, and then the Listed Lightning at Morphettville beating Sunlight over the 1050m scamper.

six week freshen saw Nature Strip win the Group 2 McEwen Stakes over 1000m at Moonee Valley beating Houtzen narrowly. A step up to the Group 1 Moir Stakes over the same course and distance proved too much finishing eighth of the eleven runners behind Viddora and Brave Smash despite starting the $1.80 favourite and leading into the straight. It was off to the paddock for a good rest, and Nature Strip returned to racing in the Autumn under the care this time of Chris Waller. His first run for his new trainer was in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes over 1100m at Caulfield where he beat Jungle Edge and Thermal Current, leading all the way at $1.75. Again, he stepped up to Group 1 level, this time in the Oakleigh Plate over the same course and distance as his previous win. He was again well backed, starting the $2.30 favourite but this time he was to finish tenth of eighteen runners behind Booker and Encryption when he also led. Waller then took the gelding to Sydney where he started in the Group 1 Galaxy over 1100m at Rosehill on 23 March 2019. He was to find this way of going much more to his liking and he held on to win from Pierata on a Heavy track by a neck having started at $4.20. A trip to Brisbane followed, and Nature Strip was to finish fourth behind The Bostonian in the Doomben 10,000 when the $2.30 favourite beaten a little over a length. Waller then sent the rising 5yo back to the paddock for a spell.

eturning in the 1000m Group 3 Concorde at Randwick, Nature Strip was again to start a solid favourite at $2.30 in his first clash with Redzel. He found that gelding too strong that day, finishing fourth with Pierata in second. Waller sent the gelding back to Melbourne to taste his first Group 1 success in that city winning the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley over 1000m, this time starting at $3.30 and beating Miss Leonidas and Sunlight. He returned to Sydney for the rich Everest at Randwick where he finished fourth of twelve behind Yes Yes Yes Yes and Santa Ana Lane over the 1200m. He was unfancied in the race starting at $21 and being beaten 1.3 lengths. Back in Melbourne for the Group 1 VRC Classic over 1200m at Flemington, punters again backed him in to $3.60 and saw him comfortably lead all the way to win by over three lengths from Loving Gaby and In Her Time. Another spell saw him return in the Autumn for the Group 1 Lightning over 1000m at Flemington, this time finishing fourth behind Gytrash and Redzel. It was another poor result for punters who had backed the horse heavily to start the $1.45 favourite. His next start saw him back in Sydney to win the Group 2 Challenge Stakes beating Redzel and Jungle Edge by three lengths at a more backable $3.10 over 1000m. This was followed by another Group 1 victory, this time in the TJ Smith over 1200m at Randwick on a Heavy 8. Nature Strip started at $4.20 and defeated Santa Ana Lane and Redzel by two lengths, again leading all of the way. He had done enough to deserve another good rest, and he did not return again until the Spring.

s a 6yo, Nature Strip first started in the Group 3 Concorde and again started at the prohibitive odds of $1.45. He sat outside Ball Of Muscle and cruised to the lead as the field headed into the straight, only to find Gytrash too strong at the finish, drawing away to win by a length and a half. His next start saw him finish fourth of eight runners, drifting in the betting from odds-on to start at $2.20 in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes over 1200m at Randwick. This time he faded to finish over four lengths from Libertini and Classique Legend. Another attempt at the Everest saw him finish seventh of twelve behind Classique Legend and Bivouac beaten almost TURF MONTHLY 5

four lengths. Off to Melbourne and Nature Strip finished second behind Bivouac in the Group 1 VRC Classic beaten over three lengths. A let-up saw him win the Group 1 Lightning in February over the 1000m at Flemington at the odds of $4.40 beating September Run. Back in Sydney it was another defeat, this time second to Eduardo in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Randwick. Nature Strip again started the odds-on favourite at $1.95. He then produced a dominant display to win the Group 1 TJ Smith beating Masked Crusader and Eduardo over 1200m at Randwick.

eturning from a spell, Nature Strip then won the Group 3 Concorde Stakes at $1.50 beating Wild Ruler and Trekking by 2.5 lengths in a dominant front running display. Another shock defeat followed in the Group 2 Shorts at Randwick when he split Eduardo and Gytrash in a close finish. Nature Strip then had his biggest payday to date by winning the $15 million Everest. He started at $3.70 and again led the field, hanging on to win by 0.2 lengths from Masked Crusader with Eduardo in third. He headed to Melbourne to again win the VRC Classic at Group 1 level beating Swats That and Bella Nipotina comfortably by over three lengths having once more started at odds-on. This time his shortest price of $1.28 but this time he did not give his backers any cause for concern. Nature Strip was beaten by Home Affairs in his return in the Autumn in the Group 1 Lightning in Melbourne. A third in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes in a field of four at Randwick followed with Eduardo and Shelby Sixty Six finishing in front of him. Again, punters who had taken the $1.70 were left disappointed. Nature Strip bounced back to win the TJ Smith by over three lengths with Eduardo and Paulete filling the places. Despite drawing barrier 11, Nature Strip led comfortably and was never challenged. It was then off to the UK for his date with destiny. Starting at $3.25 Nature Strip was at his best to win the King’s Stand Stakes on 14 June 2022 over the 1006m at Royal Ascot. For the record, Twilight Calls finished second with Acklam Express third, over 4.5 lengths behind the Australian.

T TURF MONTHLY 6

he rising 8yo has currently earned almost $18.5 million in prizemoney. It is hard to imagine such levels when it was not all that long ago that Kingston Town and

Manikato become Australia’s first million-dollar earners. Undoubtedly few would put Nature Strip up against those greats. Nature Strip has won 21 of 38 starts to date which is a good record, but perhaps not one worthy of the world’s best sprinter title, although few would argue that there are many better at the moment. It is unlikely that Nature Strip is any better than he was a few years ago, so is it an indictment on the current crop of sprinters internationally? Delving a little further into the statistics behind Nature Strip’s career, he has been unplaced nine times in his career although his last unplaced run was in the Everest of 2020. Interestingly, that was the only time in his career that he was unplaced two runs in succession, having finished fourth at his previous start in the Premiere Stakes. Nature Strip rather surprisingly has never started past 1200m. His record fresh is excellent winning five times from ten first up runs, with three second placings. His only unplaced runs first up were in the Concorde Stakes at Randwick in September 2019 and the Lightning Stakes at Flemington the following Spring. Interestingly Nature Strip has won only two of his nine runs second up, although he has been placed on four other occasions. His record on good and soft tracks is very good, winning 13 from 26 on good and five from eight on soft. He seems to enjoy the heavy tracks though, winning three of his four starts under those conditions, with one third. Certainly, over the last year Nature Strip has been kept fresh more often, although with only 38 starts to date, he certainly has not been over raced. It is hard to say whether he is improving with age and under the careful guidance of Chris Waller, or whether his competition, which we must remember included top horses like Gytrash, Santa Ana Lane and Redzel, is not quite of the same standard as it was.

s mentioned, Nature Strip is by the good stallion Nicconi out of Strikeline by Desert Sun. Nicconi is a quality stallion, but we often forget just how good a racehorse he was. By Bianconi out of the Scenic mare, Niccola Lass, Nicconi had only one start as a 2yo, winning at Sandown. As a 3yo he was to win the Listed Manfred Stakes before running second to Fravashi in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes. He was then fourth in the Cadbury Guineas at Flemington but when taken to Sydney ran third in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes before winning the Group 1 Galaxy and running fourth in the Group 1 TJ Smith behind Takeover Target and Northern Meteor. As a four-year-old, Nicconi was to win the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington and later travelled to Royal Ascot where he finished fourth behind Equiano in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes, the race fittingly won by Nature Strip. At stud Nicconi stands at Widden Stud in Victoria where he currently sits in the top ten stallions in the country siring stakes winners like Graceful Girl, Faatinah, Niccanova and Sirconni. TURF MONTHLY 7

trikeline is a daughter of Desert Sun like the great mare Sunline. She was a good racehorse in her own right winning six races including the Group 3 McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley, and the Listed WW Cockram and How Now Stakes. She has had six live foals although her last was an unnamed colt by Shamus Award born in 2016. Apart from Nature Strip she produced The Barrister by Star Witness who won the Listed Fernhill Handicap over 1600m in 2015, as well as a 2yo race in Melbourne. He was sold to Hong Kong where he raced under the name of High Volatility and won four races there. This was the second of Nature Strip’s siblings to go to Hong Kong, although the first called Crimson had little success. It is fair to say that the others from the family had little success with only one more winner in No Identity who won a 4yo maiden at Ipswich before finishing his career with the Queensland Hall of Fame Ballard family in Mount Isa where he won three more races in the region.

trikeline was a half-sister to Bashful Girl by Perugino who won four races from 1400-1800m including the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes. Their dam was Strike High by Pre-Emptive Strike who won five races from 1500m to 2500m. She won the Listed VATC Hopetoun Stakes but was also placed in the VRC Japan Trophy Handicap, Seymour Cup, VRC St Leger, Launceston Cup, Duke Of Norfolk Stakes and Geelong Oaks Trial. The family arrived in New Zealand in the 1960’s when a daughter of Wilwyn in Tiflis out of Verve was imported there. She was to produce Right Royal by Round Robin who won the 1967 Avondale Stakes.

t will be interesting to see how Nature Strip comes back from England, and if he can continue at his current level. Given the number of times he has been beaten at odds-on, punters might be wondering the same thing. As always, the time is right to enjoy and celebrate this marvellous horse and hope that we get to see him dominate races for at least the next few years.

TURF MONTHLY 8

Nature Strip has a relatively moderately inbred pedigree at 10.94%. The key feature is the all-male duplication of Danzig through both sire lines. Interestingly we see another line of Northern Dancer, the sire of Danzig, appearing through the sire line of Nicconi’s dam, Nicola Lass. We also see an additional line, perhaps importantly through a female, of Nearctic the sire of Northern Dancer. There is another duplication in the pedigree of the seemingly unimportant Petition. This is again sex-balanced, and we see that Petition is the grand damsire of Danzig. If we look more closely at his pedigree, we see that Petition carries five lines of St Simon within six generations. Sometimes it is things that are hidden within pedigrees that play important roles.

THIS MONTH A GRANDSON

THE BUZZARD

QUEENSLAND CHAMPION

n 1930, Jack McDougall, the stately gentleman owner of Lyndhurst Stud in Warwick, Queensland had his agents searching for a stallion. They found that Lord Rosebery had a well performed horse for sale named The Bastard but it was not available for a month as His Lordship had hopes of winning another race with him. McDougall dialled the young lady at the Warwick telephone exchange and advised her to cable his London agents with the note “Will wait for The Bastard.” The shocked girl responded, “Oh Mr McDougall, you can’t say that.” McDougall received the same shocked response from racing authorities when the stallion arrived in Australia leading to it being known here as The Buzzard.

TURF MONTHLY 11

he Buzzard was born in England in 1926, a son of Spion Kop who in turn as we have discussed at length was a son of the great Spearmint, the son of Carbine. The Buzzard was bred by Lord Rosebery and was out of the mare, Valescure. On the track, The Buzzard was well performed winning several good races up to a mile and a half as a three-year-old. He was also to finish third in the 1000 Guineas. The following season he won The Whip at Newmarket over two miles and the Yorkshire Cup over a similar distance, besides going down narrowly to the good stayer Arctic Star over two and a quarter miles at Doncaster. He also ran third to Bosworth and Hotweed in the Ascot Gold Cup.

he stallion was out of the Swynford mare, Valescure. She was a half-sister to Vaucluse by Dark Ronald who was the dam of another of Spion Kop’s best daughters in Bongrace. In turn, their dam was Valve who was a half-sister to the good stallion Cicero. Cicero was bred by the fifth Earl of Rosebery and foaled in 1902, from the second crop of his sire Cyllene. His dam was the beautifully bred Gas, a daughter of Two Thousand Guineas and Derby winner Ayrshire out of the fine producer Illuminata. Gas had run third in the One Thousand Guineas. Cicero was a handsome chestnut and trained by Percy Peck at Exning near Newmarket. The colt was unbeaten as a two-year-old, winning five races, including the Coventry Stakes at Ascot. As a three year old, he won at Newmarket before winning the Derby under Danny Maher, in a record time of 2 minutes 39 seconds. Cicero raced only once more that season, finishing second to Val d'Or. The following season he won the Biennial Stakes at Newmarket. Cicero was retired to his owner's stud, The Durdans, near Epsom, where he met with good success, siring the likes of Prue, winner of the National Breeders Produce Stakes, Coronation Stakes and third in the One Thousand Guineas; Friar Marcus, winner of several races, including the Prince of Wales Stakes, Rous Memorial Stakes, and Middle Park Plate before going on to become an influential stallion; and Kwang-su, out of Galicia by Galopin, who won the Select Stakes at Newmarket and was second in both the Two Thousand Guineas and the Derby. Cicero died in 1923 at the age of 21.

espite relatively limited opportunity in Queensland, The Buzzard proved to be a major source of stayers during a long career. He won the Australian Champion Sires Title in both 46/47 and 49/50, and as we will see later, was unlucky to not have won on more occasions. We will leave these details to a couple of newspaper reports of the time that do such a good job of telling his story for something different this month.

he Buzzard sired 42 individual stakes winners over his 20 year career that we must remember was impacted heavily by WWII. If not for that, it is likely that his performances would have been even better. Among his best progeny were Basha Felika who won four stakes races including the 1951 Caulfield Cup and a horse we have covered in the past. Similarly The Buzzard produced two Melbourne Cup winners in Rainbird who continues a remarkable legacy on the breed, and the roughie Old Rowley, both of which we have written about in the past. This month we are going to look at four of his other sons in particular in Katanga, Playboy, Yaralla and Buzalong as well as some of the descendants of his daughters that continue much of the legacy of The Buzzard.

TURF MONTHLY 12

The Buzzard has inbreeding of 11.72% which is getting towards a higher level of inbreeding than some other pedigrees that we have seen this month. If you have been looking at the pedigrees of many of the horses within our Carbine feature, you may notice names like King Tom and Lord Clifden that we again see in the pedigree of The Buzzard. A very interesting factor in this pedigree is the presence of a mare called Paradigm who appears in the female line of The Buzzard. Her daughter Paraffin is a three-quarter sister to Lord Lyon who is the sire of Minting, the damsire of Spearmint, the son of Carbine that is the sire of Spion Kop. Two other important influences are Toxophilite and Isonomy who both importantly appear in the sire line of both The Buzzard’s sire and dam.

Basha Felika

Warwick Daily News (Qld. : 1919 -1954), Saturday 12 January 1952, page 5

The Buzzard Australia's greatest stake-winning sire dead Greatest stake winning sire in the history of Australian racing, the imported stallion The Buzzard, whose progeny have won approximately £450,000 in prize money, and who, with such horses as Basha Felika and Blue Vest still racing, look like eventually reaching the half million pounds mark, has died. The Buzzard is the holder of the world record for a mile and a half, his time of 2.23 at Newmarket (England) in October 1929, still standing. The "old fellow," as Lyndhurst studmaster Mr. J. G. McDougall always affectionately referred to him, died at Lyndhurst on Thursday night at the age of 27 years. The Buzzard had, in Mr. McDougall's own words "kept the flag flying" at Lyndhurst for just over 20, years, having arrived there from England in September, 1931, after a successful, turf career in England, when raced by the late Lord Rosebery, from whom Mr. McDougall purchased him.. During his 20 years at Lyndhurst The Buzzard sired 516 winners of 10st races - and £439,259 in stakes up to the end of the last racing season. Since then his progeny have won approximately another £10,000 in prizemoney, including Basha Felika's Caulfield Cup. TURF MONTHLY 14

THE BUZZARD The Buzzard has been one of the most consistent sires of winners in recent years. While at the stud he headed the winning sires list on two occasion, was second five times and third twice. On two occasions when second to Beau Pere (imp.) he should have been leading sire in Australia, as the compilers took into account Beau Pere's winners in New Zealand, which considerably boosted his total. "If I could only get another sire half as good as The Buzzard, I would be a very happy man," said Mr McDougall yesterday in a tribute to his old champion. The Buzzard was a success at the stud immediately, his first crop of yearlings including such well known performers as Auto Buzz, Bustard (now leading sire in Tasmania), Buzzard King, Marauder, Gay Knight, First Buzzard and others. First Buzzard is believed by many to be the first of the progeny of The Buzzard, because of his name, but this honour fell to Buzonelle, a filly out of Ardonelle, who won several races in Brisbane. Last of the progeny of The Buzzard are a filly out of True Shadow and a colt out of Salvia. Both are particularly nice yearlings, and it is Mr McDougall's intention to race them himself. Statistics tell the story of The Buzzard's rise to fame as a sire. From his first year his future at the stud was assured, although his progeny won only nine races worth £2109 and he was 99th on the winning sires list. From 27th. place with 13 winners of 21 races worth £6497 in 1936, The Buzzard jumped to third place on the sire's list in 1938, and from that year onwards has been lower than sixth on the list on only two occasion. He was officially placed first on the list for the initial time in 1947, when he was represented by winners of £39,676 in stakes and he repeated this performance in the 1950 racing season. Last year he sired the winners of £31,843 in stakes, and this season so far has been represented by winners of approximately £10,000. Greatest number of races won by progeny of The Buzzard in one season is 104 (£33,523 in stakes) in 1939, when he was second on the sires' list. On two other occasions his progeny have won over 90 races in one year. Following is the stud record of The Buzzard:

TURF MONTHLY 15

BIG LIST OF CUP WINNERS While he has produced a number of top-rank sprinters, notably Yaralla, one of the fastest horses of his year in Australia and winner of the AJC Breeders' Plate, AJC Sires' Produce Stakes and Villiers Stakes, among many other successes, and Highstrung (Doomben Newmarket) it has been as a sire of stayers that The Buzzard has gained fame. Since the early days of his stud career progeny of The Buzzard have figured prominently in the decision of all big distance handicaps. His record in relation to cups is truly remarkable, as the following list demonstrates: Melbourne Cup: Old Rowley (1940). Rainbird. (1945) Caulfield Cup: Buzalong (1938), Basha Felika (1951). Sydney Cup: L’Aiglon (1938) Sir Falcon (1950)., Australian Cup: Marauder (1938): Old Rowley, by The Buzzard, ran second. King's Cup: Marauder (1939). Falcon Knight (1947). Brisbane Cup: Tragopan (1940), Lady Buzzard (1941), Blue Boots (1947), Silver Buzz (1950). Doomben Cup: First Buzzard (1937). Tattersall's Club Cup: Auto Buz (1937). QTC Jubilee Cup: Basha Felika Auckland Cup: The Buzzer. Progeny of The Buzzard have figured in many other important race successes, including Derbies and St Legers, as follows. AJC Derby: Playboy. AJC Sires' Produce Stakes: Yaralla. AJC St Leger: Cathartes, Playboy. Queensland Derby: Auto Buz, Six Fifty, Blue Slipper, Basha Felika. Queensland St Leger: Seven Fifty, Katanga, Basha Felika W.A. Derby: True Flight. Breeders' Plate: Yaralla. VRC Sires' Produce Stakes: Regency. Australian Hurdle Race: Elastin. Grand National Hurdle Race: Solvent. South Australian St Leger: Rainbird. Doomben Newmarket: Highstrung. AJC Doncaster: The Diver. AJC Villiers Stakes: Yaralla Colin Stephens Stakes: Katanga (twice in succession).

TURF MONTHLY 16

Rainbird

KATANGA AND YARALLA Opinions would be sharply divided as to which of the long list of winners he produced was the best by The Buzzard. Most non-committal on the subject is Lyndhurst studmaster Mr J G McDougall, who, when asked to name his choice, remarked: "That is asking a big question—there have been so many good ones that it would be a very difficult thing to pick one out as being better than another. Yaralla was a great sprinter, Old Rowley a wonderful sticker, Katanga as honest as the sun, while Buzalong was also a great horse, as was Rainbird. Auto Buz: although he won some good races, met with a lot of bad luck." "My answer to the query would be the same as that given by Lord Rosebery when asked to pick the best of his yearlings one season. His reply was: 'They are all good'." While Rainbird was the greatest stake winner among the progeny of The Buzzard, her eight victories earning £17,418 in prize money, my vote would go to Katanga. Though not a cup winner, Katanga was an outstanding performer, endowed with brilliant speed and great staying ability. His versatility is indicated by his record, which included races from six furlongs to 1 ¾ miles. Altogether Katanga won 22 races, including 12 weight-for-age events, and £14,626 in stakes. His impressive record included: Won Q.T.C. St. Leger, A.J.C. Autumn Plate (w.f.a 1 ½ miles), Autumn Stakes (w.f.a,1 ½ miles, twice), A.J.C. Plate (w.f.a 1 ¾ miles), All-aged stakes (w.f.a. 1 mile), Colin Stephen Stakes (w.f.a.1 ½ miles, twice), Final Handicap (twice), Squatters' Handicap, Members' Handicap, Trial Stakes, and Biraganbil Handicap, Tattersall's Club James Barnes Plate, A.J.C. (W.F.) (Randwick), Warwick Stakes (w.f.a, 7 furlongs), Chipping Norton Stakes (w.f.a 1 ¼ miles twice), and Greenhills Handicap, Canterbury Park T.C. Canterbury Stakes (w.f.a. 6 furlongs), and Rosehill R C Rawson Stakes (w.f.a.) and Rydalmere Mile Handicap, etc. Undoubtedly the best sprinter by The Buzzard was Yaralla, who although at his best up to a mile, won, races as far as a mile and a quarter.

TURF MONTHLY 17

Yaralla's record included: Won A.J.C. Breeders' Plate (5 furlongs, by 3 lengths, time 1 min.), Sires Produce Stakes, December Stakes (5 furlongs, by two lengths, time 59 ¾ secs.), Craven Plate (w.f.a., 1 ¼ miles), All-aged Plate (w.f.a., 1 mile, twice), Villiers Stakes, Challenge Stakes (carried top weight 9st. 7lb.) and Clibborn Stakes, A.J.C. (W.F.) Warwick Stakes (w.f.a., 7 furlongs, and Kirkham Stakes (by four lengths at Randwick); Canterbury Park R.C. Canterbury Stakes (w.f.a., 6 furlongs) and Nursery Handicap and Rosehill R. C. Hill Stakes (w.f.a., 1 mile, twice) and Dundas Handicap and ran second (beaten a long neck) in A.J.C. (W.P.) at Randwick, Hobartville Stakes, Canterbury Park R.C. Canterbury Guineas (beaten a head) and Rosehill R.C. Rosehill Guineas and Rawson Stakes (beaten half-a-neck), and third in A.J.C. Epsom Handicap, etc. It is not only as a sire of big stake winners, however, that The Buzzard has left his mark on the thoroughbred breeding-industry of Australasia. The blood he introduced to Australia and passed on to his progeny is and will continue to play a highly important part in the future development of the industry. Mares by The Buzzard are eagerly sought after by other breeders, particularly southern studmasters, and in this connection his great influence on the industry will be felt for many generations. The Buzzard who was foaled in 1926, is descendant of the maternal line founded by the mare Parrafin, whose descendants have included many other great sires. From the maternal line of the Bruce Lowe No. 1 family have come the sires Heroic (£293,849), Magpie (imp.) (£316,030), Cicero (£96,787) and sire of Valais, imp., Night Raid, imp. (sire of Phar Lap and Nightmarch), Rossendale imp. (£249,986), Syce 9£82,538), High Force (£72,391). The Buzzard himself was a well performed horse when purchased by Mr. McDougall for stud duty at Lyndhurst. He had won the Newmarket Stetchworth Stakes (1 ½ miles), The Whip at Newmarket (2 miles 118 yards), Southfield Stakes (1 ½ miles) in record time, the Sandown Park Warren Handicap (1 mile 5 ½ furlongs) and the Yorkshire Cup (2 miles). The Buzzard was sired by Spion Kop, a son of Spearmint and sire of winners of over £100,311 in stakes, from Valescure, by Swynford from Valve, by Velasquez from Gas, by Ayrshire; Valescure was a half-sister to Vaucluse, the dam of High Force. THE BUZZARD ONLY COST £2000 AS A SIRE Lyndhurst studmaster Mr JG McDougall yesterday disclosed a secret he had kept for 20 years – the purchase price of The Buzzard, which he revealed was £2000. “And what a wonderfully cheap purchase he turned out to be,” added Mr McDougall. The cheapness of the sire seemed to unconsciously influence the cheapness of his progeny, for despite his record as a sire the highest price ever paid for a yearling by The Buzzard was 2500 gns.

TURF MONTHLY 18

KATANGA

WAS HE THE GREATEST SON?

Katanga beating Flight in the Autumn Stakes

Like most of the progeny of The Buzzard, and dare I say it, the sire himself, Katanga is another racehorse that has been largely forgotten by history. We have found a wonderful piece of racing writing by a great Brisbane journalist in Bill Ahern who wrote for the long since defunct Brisbane Telegraph in the golden age of newspapers. It is a great piece of writing and tells a great story behind a top line racehorse. Katanga was to win the following races that were called Principal races at the time. Many would now be considered Group 1 races. He was to win a total of 22 races from 88 starts and £17,064 in stakes. 1942 1942 1943 1943 1943 1943 1943 1944 1944 1944 1944 1945 1945

Katanga was to go to stud at Angle Stud at Dubbo where he had limited success. He did produce a Randwick winner in Golden Tan before being transferred on loan to the Barnes family at Canning Downs Stud on the Darling Downs in Queensland following the death of his owner, Mr CH Hicks. Surprisingly his influence was one of the most remarkable of all and came through his daughter Dolled Up. When mated with the Canning Downs stallion, Dalray, she produced one of the most popular local gallopers of the 1960’s and 70’s in Tails who was to almost rival legendary Gunsynd in popularity.

AJC Colin Stephen Stakes 12F Tatt's NSW James Barnes Plate 10F AJC Autumn Stakes 10F AJC Colin Stephen Stakes 12F AJC Warwick Stakes 7F RRC Rawson Stakes 9F STC Canterbury Stakes 6F AJC All-Aged Stakes 8F AJC Autumn Stakes 10F AJC Chipping Norton Stakes 10F AJC Plate 14F AJC Autumn Stakes 10F AJC Chipping Norton Stakes 10F TURF MONTHLY 19

Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), Saturday 22 November 1952, page 10

The Greatest Son Of The Buzzard By Brisbane Telegraph Turf Writer BILL AHERN A FEW miles from Lyndhurst, near Warwick, where The Buzzard, outstanding sire in the history of Queensland racing, died, Mr. C. E. Barnes has The Buzzard's "greatest son" Katanga at the stud. I have quoted the words "greatest son" because they are not really mine, though I could find grounds for believing they are true even though Katanga did not win one of the big Cups. The words are those of George Pobar, incurable horse-lover who, years ago, ran away from home in Toowoomba to be with racehorses. George strapped Katanga during the greatest years of his racing career and he claims that if Flight can rightly be called "great," then Katanga, who beat her as often as she beat him" — here I quote George again — is entitled to the title, too. Pobar says that the son of The Buzzard (imp.) — Biddy's Robe is certainly entitled to be described as The Buzzard's greatest son, because he did what none of the Cup winners sired by The Buzzard could do — he beat all comers at weight-for-age -for years. "Katanga was outstanding at weight-for-age and was a very good handicapper," says George. “His performances were all the better because he was one of the worstfooted horses I have seen. "His trainer, Bailey Payten, could never give him a real preparation for races and it was only because he gave the horse's feet daily care, particularly with a preparation that I was lucky enough to have, that he was able to keep him going. Katanga was a six-year-old when I went to Payten's stables from Lou Robertson in Melbourne. I had been about four years with Robertson, but the weather in Melbourne finally forced me out. "It was shortly after I had joined up with Payten that I came to realise one of the reasons why Darby Munro is a great jockey. His ability to sum up the performances of horses he rides in races is uncanny.

Katanga winning the 1945 Autumn Stakes TURF MONTHLY 20

Katanga has a pedigree with the least inbreeding (6.25%) of any of the horses we have looked at this month. The key to his pedigree would seem to be the presence of St Simon who appears three times within six generations interestingly with two of these being through daughters. We cannot forget here that St Simon is a son of Galopin who we also see present through another descendant in the pedigree. We also see the stallion Hermit duplicated and he is a son of Newminster. It must also be pointed out that the mare Quiver is duplicated within six generations. The presence of multiple females within these pedigrees is a pattern that we see repeated regularly that we identified even in the pedigree of Carbine himself.

KATANGA had 9.4 in the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap, in which there was a pretty hot field. Darby Munro rode him and the stable backed him solidly. "An opening came at the top of the straight and Munro drove Katanga at it. He did not quite make it and Dewar, who won the race, beat him to it and chopped him off. Katanga lost ground steadily in the run home and finished last. "Naturally Payten was disappointed and worried. He was a pretty good judge himself but this form was well below his best. "Payten remarked to Munro: 'I thought he would do better than that.' "Munro looked at him and staggered Payten when he said: 'This is a certainty next run'." "I wonder if ever a leading trainer, on a metropolitan track, was told that a horse that had run stone last in a race was a moral next run? "Munro was right, too, and the books paid dearly. He told no one and when it seemed that the experts had missed spotting the trouble to Katanga, at the top of the straight, it was decided to hide his work as much as possible. "The books bet 12/1 about him at his next start. It was the Colin Stephen Stakes, of 12f., and the field was not bad. Stable commissioners backed Katanga in from 12/1 to 6/1. Dashing Cavalier was favourite at 2/1 and Evergreen, a smart horse trained originally by Payten, was at 2/1. Dewar was in the race, too. Katanga bolted in by four lengths, beating Evergreen. TWO days later he was unplaced with 9.4 in Grand Fils' Metropolitan. Munro reported that he just was not interested in racing. He reported the same after Katanga had finished seventh in City Tattersall's Cup, so he was spelled. "It was not

Katanga winning the Final Handicap TURF MONTHLY 22

long after his return from the spell that Katanga showed he was himself by working exceptionally well. "Katanga was backed to win the best part of £10,000 and when he went out on to the track Payten remarked that he wished he could feel as confident as Munro was. "He had told Munro to ride his own race, and Munro certainly did. He took Katanga to the front at barrier-rise and McMenamin sat Yaralla in behind him. "Gosh, I can remember thinking, the old bloke will need to be all that I think he is if he is to win after giving Yaralla the drop on him, says George. KATANGA set a fast pace all the way and it was obvious that Munro had set himself to find out if there was a weak spot in Yaralla. "The Boss (Payten) had a habit of timing his horses in races and when he saw that Katanga had run the first five in 1.3, he said there was little hope of his keeping that pace up. Actually, Katanga improved on it, for when McMenamin brought Yaralla on the outside at the four to tackle him, Katanga really got down to galloping. "Stride for stride they came around the home turn, steadily drawing away from Gold Salute, who was at his top at the time. "They were together at the furlong, but Katanga would not give in and over the last bit he was going away. "Katanga won by half a neck in 1.51— not bad time for a horse with 9.2, when you consider that the record for the track is 1.50 ½. Still, when you consider that he beat Yaralla, Gold Salute, Mildura, Dashing Cavalier, and Veiled Threat, I suppose you could expect pretty hot time. Later he ran in the mile and a half wfa Autumn Plate on Doncaster day, 1943. Veiled Threat was a hot-pot while Yaralla was well backed. Our fellow was third favourite. "The race is one I remember particularly because after Katanga had beaten Veiled Threat a long head in 2.31 ¾. Munro made one of the most surprising statements I have ever heard from a jockey," "Katanga had made most of the running and turning for home, was joined in front by Veiled Threat. Actually the favourite did not quite head him and Katanga always seemed to have the edge on him as they raced to the post. WHEN he returned to scale, I went to Katanga's. head. Payten came around, and after congratulating Munro, asked: 'How much would you say you had in hand?' "Munro rocked us both by grinning and replying: 'I think he would have about a stone up his sleeve!' "The following Saturday Katanga was given. 10.1 in the Final Handicap of 10f. Those were the war years and the Sydney Cup meeting was cut down to two days instead of four. "After talking things over with Payten and Munro, Mrs. Hicks, Katanga's owner, decided to scratch him from the Sydney Cup and run in the Final Handicap. There was some criticism of the decision in the papers and at the tracks, and most thought that Bailey was mad to pass over the chance of winning the Cup "The books bet 10/1 Katanga, and I heard that the stable commission was £1000. "Katanga walked off the mark and Munro did not bustle him. I was in a real stew when I saw Munro sitting quietly on him, about two lengths behind the last horse at the four furlongs, and I was not happy when he was still third last into the straight. "You don't have to be told. He mowed them down in the straight, despite having to be switched from the fence to the outside, and won by a long head from Ron Rico, who was ridden by Alan Gollogly. The Queenslander, Sir Neith and Jymjon, ridden by our stable apprentice, Athol Mulley, dead-heated for third. "Next in the weights that day to Katanga was St. Constant, with 8.7. Actually he gave away weights ranging from 22lb. to 43lb. "THAT was his last run that season. He was spelled and Bailey got him ready for the 7 furlongs Warwick Stakes, weight-for-age; "The distance was a bit short, but Bailey TURF MONTHLY 23

thought that the pull in the weights — he had 8.12 — might help. He was fresh and again was in commission. "Three furlongs from home he must have been 100yd. from the leader Yaralla. What helped was that it was very wet. That made some of the riders go out wide looking for good going. Munro kept to the rails and getting an uninterrupted run got up to beat Winnipeg by a length. Yaralla was third. "The old bloke showed his versatility, next run when he won the 6f. Canterbury Stakes on a holding track from the Queenslander, Nobleman. "Katanga was away till the autumn and came back to have his first start in the Randwick Quality Handicap. He was not quite ready and finished fourth. Flight won again. BAILEY had planned to start him in the Rawson Stakes but was not game to start him because the tracks were so dry that he had feared to work him with his gammy legs. Falcon Knight won that Rawson Stakes. "It was decided that he should run in the Chipping Norton Stakes and he had to have a gallop. Ridden by Munro, Katanga ran the best gallop I have ever seen and probably the best over 7f. at Randwick. "Working about 35ft. out from the rails on the course proper and carrying at least 10.0, he ran 7f. in 1.29. "Backed from 6/1 to 4/1, he won the Norton Stakes on the bit from Moorland and Mayfowl, and then proceeded to add the 12f. Autumn Stakes to his record in easy style from Main Topic. "Now came the race that gave him his revenge on Flight. He beat her in the mile All Aged Stakes. He proved his versatility when, at his next start, he won the 14f. AJC Plate. He beat Veiled Threat, dual Sydney Cup winner, by a neck. THEN came a much - discussed Colin Stephen Stakes, in which he clashed with Flight again. Flight beat him by a head after a tussle all the way down the running. Katanga had his head in front about 50yd. from home and turned towards her. Some say he tried to savage her. I think he turned to see where she was and she got a slight advantage to win it. He beat her twice subsequently. "He was fourth in the All Aged Stakes and fourth in the 14f. AJC Plate. He ran poorly in the Autumn Cup the following month. That was his last race. I left Sydney then and came back to Brisbane. "I was with Katanga long enough to develop a real admiration for the horse," says George Pobar. "He had the will to win to a great degree and he had the heart and stamina of a great horse."

TURF MONTHLY 24

Tails winning the Metropolitan

PLAYBOY THE CATALYST

part from being one of the greatest sons of The Buzzard, Playboy is the horse that was the foundation of the career of arguably Australia’s greatest ever trainer in Thomas John (TJ) Smith. TJ was born on 3 September, 1916, the eldest of seven children with his father Neil, an itinerant labourer and horse-breaker. By 1927 the family had arrived in Goolgowi, a railway siding town in south western NSW. Living in relative poverty, young Tommy received little schooling, instead working alongside his father in a variety of jobs on farms, carting wool, and even road building. His father was a skilled horseman and passed down his knowledge to his son who would earn extra money by catching brumbies and breaking them in before selling them to the local rabbit trappers. Tommy’s father acquired some rogue racehorses from Sydney and they raced in the local picnic races with TJ on board. He claimed to have ridden his first winner at 12 and this sparked a dream to leave the tough life and become a jockey.

hen 14yo, Tom headed to Melbourne with an introduction to a Mordiallic trainer Bill McLaughlin. It was the middle of the depression and Smith lasted less than a year with the struggling trainer before an uncle gave him a contact at the AJC. In Sydney, TJ started working for “Son” Mackinnon at Moorefield. By the mid-30’s, Mack Sawyer, a brother in law of Reg Inglis, left the family sheep farm

TURF MONTHLY 26

Playboy winning the Craven Plate from Benovo

in the Riverina for a new venture in Sydney as an owner-trainer. He rented some boxes at Newmarket and took over the apprenticeship of young Tommy to work his horses. In August 1937, TJ was granted a jockey’s licence, but it was not long before he started to have weight issues. According to his own words, though, he did not have the skill to make it in Sydney and he failed to ride a winner. He tried the jumps but had a fall, severely breaking his leg that left him with a permanent limp. After regaining fitness, he rejoined the Sawyer family as a strapper with an idea forming to become a trainer in his own right. Mack’s father, Matt, was looking for someone to ride and look after their racehorses at their Bethungra property, and Tom headed to the Riverina to become a makeshift trainer, jockey and travelling head lad.

om Smith was a canny punter all the while, but with the death of Matt Sawyer in February 1941, the family decided to wind up their racing interests in the region. As one of the last runners after Matt’s death, TJ took their best horse, Fearless, to win the Wagga Cup in May, returning some £450 richer. As a parting gift, Tommy was given a horse to take with him, and chose a bay gelding by Windbag that he had helped break in himself when all others on the property had thought him too wild. Arriving in Sydney, Smith rented a box for five shillings a week from Bob Battersby and moved in with him. He took his winnings to a leading tailor in Sydney and ordered three of the best suits he could, having learned from Mack Sawyer the importance of image in racing. He organised his trainer’s licence, registered his famous blue and green colours, and named his charge Bragger to take on the best of Sydney racing. Success did not come easily on the track. It was not until January 1942 that Smith even got Bragger to the races. Sadly, Mack Sawyer had died suddenly earlier that month at the age of only 49. Bragger was to finish a bad last in an Encourage Stakes at Canterbury. The following weekend the horse gave a buck-jumping exhibition at the start but still managed a close second earning Smith £35. Five weeks later Bragger was to win his first race at Rosehill with Jack Thompson on board. Starting at 9/2, the big betting

TURF MONTHLY 27

AJC St Leger Presentation

trainer had a good payday. Bragger was to win his next three starts including the AJC Coongee Handicap on Sydney Cup day, and then Smith’s first ever feature race, the Wagga Digger’s Cup. He was to break down at his next start at Newcastle when finishing third in the Cameron Handicap and it was to be three years before Bragger was to win another race. He had started at odds up to 25/1 in his winning streak, and TJ’s wagering had earned him more money than he had dreamt of. With a lot of the TJ Smith legend though, we will never know the true extent of his winnings as the truth became the casualty of a wonderful story.

he Yearling sales were on during this time, and Smith started buying yearlings. The following season Smith obtained his Number 2 trainer’s licence and trained Ajixa to win the rich Gimcrack Stakes. He was soon elevated to a Number 1 Licence causing some jealousy among the ranks due to his quick promotion. It was not enough to attract many new owners especially during the war years, and TJ had a small yet influential group of supporters that kept him going. Bragger continued to be his best advertisement, and about that horse, Smith was quoted as saying, ““Bragger was a great horse. He did not race until he was a January five-year-old and he was lame most of the time. He bled after practically every race, yet he raced until he was ten. He had 58 starts, won 13, was runner-up 9 times and won me £8,666 in prizemoney, a hell of a lot of money in those days. If I could have trained him properly, he would have been even better, a weight-for-age winner for certain. I was learning to train in those days and I must admit that I slaughtered him at times. And don’t forget that there were no midweek meetings and only three Saturday fixtures a month in the war years.”

t the 1948 Yearling Sales, Smith bought five yearlings for 4300 guineas including a son of The Buzzard. He had been particularly looking for a stayer, and although The Buzzard was nearing the end of his career, Smith thought his progeny would give him a good chance. Smith paid 1150 guineas for the The Buzzard colt out of

TURF MONTHLY 28

Home Bird by Fox Earth. It was to be the only foal of the mare who was a half-sister to Sea Bird who had won both editions of the 1939 QTC Hopeful Stakes and The Albatross, winner of the AJC The Shorts in the same year. The family had arrived in NZ from the UK a few generations before through a Trenton mare called Madowla. She proved a wonderful mare producing six stakes winners in Glenculloch (ARC Great Northern Foal Stakes, North Island Challenge Stakes), Glenowlet (Dunedin Champagne Stakes), Kirriemuir (CJC Champagne Stakes, Wellesley Stakes, Great Northern Foal Stakes), Madam Madcap (CJC Jockey Club Handicap, Champagne Stakes, Great Easter Handicap), Masterpiece (CJC Derby Stakes, McLean Stakes) and Quarryman (CJC Metropolitan Handicap, Hawkes Bay Guineas, Wanganui Cup).

ommy Smith could not find an owner for the horse and eventually decided to retain it himself, another remarkable moment in his career. No-one it seemed was after a slow maturing staying type. Called Playboy which very much fitted with Smith’s flamboyant lifestyle, Smith took the colt along slowly, having his first start in January 1949 where the colt was unplaced at Randwick. He was given a let-up and returned for the AJC Autumn meeting. On the first day of the meeting, the Wednesday, Playboy started at 100/1 running third beaten only a nose by a halfhead. On the Saturday, Playboy ran second the Fernhill Stakes, the first mile race of

Playboy

TURF MONTHLY 29

the season for the 2yo’s, having struck trouble in the run. He was then tipped out for the Winter with an eye on the Derby.

layboy returned with three unplaced runs over shorter trips but his form must have had Smith worried. His best run came only two weeks before the Derby when he ran third, beaten only a half-length in a mixed stakes event at Rosehill over 10 furlongs carrying only 47.5kg. Smith had preferred this to the Rosehill Guineas which had been run on the same day and won by Thracian Lad. The two horses that finished in front of Playboy were good horses in Benvolo who would go on to run third in the Melbourne Cup, and Sir Falcon who would later win a Sydney Cup. Importantly, the race was run a second quicker than the Guineas. Interestingly, Thracian Lad was a gelding and therefore was ineligible to run in the Derby. Bookmakers were not impressed and did not share Smith’s confidence. On the Monday, Smith reportedly backed Playboy, still a maiden, at the Tattersall’s Club to win more than £25,000 at good odds.

TURF MONTHLY 30

acing was going through a post-War boom and a field of twenty runners faced the starter for the Derby in front of a crowd estimated at 72,000. The shortpriced favourite was the champion colt Delta at 2/1 while others included Achilles trained by Frank McGrath who had been placed in the Chelmsford Stakes and Hill Stakes and Frank Packer’s Dickens. Playboy was backed into 10/1 largely because bookies were laying off their huge risk from Smith’s wager. Dickens, a genuine stayer, was a clear leader. In a roughhouse affair, Playboy ridden by George Moore, and Delta ridden by Neville Selwood both struck trouble. Meanwhile Field Boy ridden by Billy Briscoe had taken the lead and ran along freely establishing a lead of around 15 lengths by the half-mile from Dickens. Moore had by then decided to take Playboy to the outside to chase the tearaway leader reaching third before the field entered the straight. The move may have won Moore the race as Delta and others in the race again suffered interference. The unlucky Delta who had been held up for a run flashed home late to get within three-quarters of a length of Playboy with Dickens hanging on for third. Smith was well reported during his life saying that it was Playboy that made his career, and his winnings on the horse set the scene for what was to come in his legendary career. An interesting aside to the race was that Smith naturally wore a new fedora and double-breasted suit that saw him stand out from the other trainers. Allegedly a newspaper reporter said to Smith in the enclosure: “I believe you’re destined for great things.” Smith prophetically replied: “Yes, so do I.”

Bragger-Winning-the-1946-A.J.C.-June-Stakes TURF MONTHLY 31

n December 1949, Smith purchased the stables of the late Frank Marsden’s at No 16 Bowral Street, Kensington, a property that remained in the family until after his death. Playboy returned in the Autumn but was no match for Delta in the VRC St Leger although he did suffer from an abscess in his jaw. Back in Sydney he beat Delta in the AJC St Leger. While Delta went on to become a Melbourne star of the turf by winning the Melbourne Cup, history has largely resigned Playboy as the maiden that won the Derby for TJ. Playboy continued to race at the top level winning the Hill Stakes, Craven Plate, CB Fisher Plate, King’s Plate and AJC Plate as a fouryear-old. By the end of that season, Playboy had won more prizemoney than Delta. Smith and Playboy continued to dominate headlines when Darby Munro pulled up Playboy in Delta’s Melbourne Cup suspecting he had broken down. Smith would have none of it and entered him for the CB Fisher Plate on the following Saturday, replacing Munro with Jack Purtell at the last minute. In another coup, Playboy was heavily backed from 6/1 to 3/1 much to the displeasure of many racegoers.

layboy was to suffer from a blood disorder that robbed him of much of his 5yo career. He returned to the track to indifferent form and Smith sold a share to George Ryder who had by then purchased Woodlands Stud. The horse however was to suffer a ligament tear and retired from racing in March 1952. It had been planned to stand the horse at Woodlands after two more seasons of racing but his early retirement saw Ryder unable to find room for the stallion at the stud. He was sold to NZ where he had little success.

TURF MONTHLY 32

Playboy with inbreeding of 11.33% represents an interesting pedigree that has similarities with that of The Buzzard himself. In the pedigree of that stallion, we saw that a female in his direct line was duplicated. In the case of Playboy, we see an even closer duplication of a female in the direct female line of The Buzzard. In this case it is the mare Valve who is the second dam of The Buzzard. Valve also appears in the female line of High Force who is the sire of the second dam of Playboy. Again, we see stallions like Gallinule and his sire, Isonomy and St Simon duplicated which is a common pattern in many of the Carbine related pedigrees. We see two more interesting stallions duplicated in the pedigree. Ayrshire is a son of Hampton while Donovan is a son of Galopin.

YARALLA

FATED FOR GREATNESS

aralla is one of those thoroughbred stories that come along from time to time. It is a story of a first time owner who struck it big albeit an extremely wealthy one to begin with. We talk of Egmont Palmer (Monty) Walker who was born in Brisbane in 1881 and had always wanted to own a racehorse. Monty was the son of the Hon. James Walker, a director of the Bank of New South Wales and enlisted in March 1916, eventually became a lieutenant serving in the 8th Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps. Following the Armistice in November 1918, Monty returned home where a less exciting career at his father’s bank awaited.

TURF MONTHLY 34

y the start of World War II, Walker had found himself in the position to be able to afford what he liked. His aunt, the noted Australian philanthropist, Dame Eadith Walker, had died in October 1937 leaving an estate sworn for probate at £265,345. An only child, upon the death of her father in 1886, Eadith had inherited a fortune which was valued at the time at close to one million pounds and included the impressive Victorian Italianate mansion, Yaralla, on the banks of the Parramatta River which still stands today. Walker decided that the time to buy his racehorse was right and he attended the second day of the 1940 Inglis Yearling Sale at Newmarket in Sydney. He had his mind set on buying Lot 298, a brown colt by the boom sire of the time in Beau Pere. Offered by the famed St Aubin’s Stud at Scone, bidding was spirited for the colt. Monty was swept up in the excitement and he went to 3400 guineas before tempering his enthusiasm. The colt, who was to be registered as Beau Son, went to the bid of Alan Cooper for 3500 guineas.

nsuccessful in his attempt to buy Lot 298, Monty looked elsewhere. He had seen a colt being offered by Lyndhurst Stud by The Buzzard when walking around the sales. The colt was a full brother to True Flight who had won a WATC Derby and was a one-time Caulfield Cup favourite. His dam was a half-sister to the 1940 Melbourne Cup winner, Old Rowley and was from the same family as Flavinius and Magpie. Walker asked trainer Fred Cush to inspect the colt on his behalf, and with his approval set about bidding on Lot 334 which was offered on the Thursday of the sale. This time he was the successful bidder at 1200 guineas. He called the colt

TURF MONTHLY 35

Yaralla winning the Challenge Stakes 1944

Yaralla in honour of his aunt. The novice owner went to register his racing silks, but upon arrival at the AJC offices noticed a picture of Ammon Ra winning the 1931 AJC Derby carrying the famous colours of white, black sleeves, red diamond and red cap of owner Cliff Sheath. The colours had recently been passed in and were available for use. Walker left the proud owner of these unexpected colours.

aralla went to the stables of Fred Cush, a handy former jockey who was noted as a trainer of juveniles. In fact, the season just ended he had won five races alone with Dark Elegance who was owned by Walker’s brother-in-law WH Mackay. Walker was an enthusiastic owner and was excited when Yaralla showed early promise. He declared weeks before the AJC Breeders Plate that not only would Yaralla win the first race of the season for the 2yo’s but he would win the Derby as well. The colt had won three barrier trials before starting in the Breeders Plate despite the reputation of his sire for producing later maturing types. Yaralla however towered over his fifteen rivals in the race and was all the rage with punters starting at 9/4 favourite. Despite starting from the outside, Yaralla won by three lengths with his ears pricked. Stable jockey Ted McMenamin declared him the best 2yo he had ever ridden and the ‘Sydney Sportsman” newspaper nominated him as the best they had seen in years perhaps rivalling Phar Lap or Peter Pan in future years. Perhaps these headlines were influenced by Monty Walker who visited the press room after the race with bottles of champagne under both arms.

t his next starts, Yaralla won the Kirkham Stakes and December Stakes at Randwick, both times against small field with his reputation scaring off most others. The races were largely exhibitions although he won in good time, and both times Walker entertained the press room with champagne. While Yaralla was heralded the second coming, racing fans were noticing that there was another impressive 2yo that season, the lovely filly All Love who we wrote about recently being a daughter of Double Remove, the son of Felstead by Spion Kop.

esuming in the Autumn, Yaralla was unexpectedly beaten at Randwick over 6 furlongs. Yaralla was taken on in front by Mannerheim, and in the end a combination of a heavy track and a big weight proved too much with the colt finishing third behind Prince and Dick Whittington who were receiving 12 kg and 8 kg respectively. Despite the defeat, there was huge interest when Yaralla faced All

TURF MONTHLY 36

Walker-brothers-at-randwick

Love in the AJC Sires Produce shortly after. The race lived up to expectations, with All Love ridden by Ted Bartle taking the advantage stealing an early lead of four lengths. Entering the straight, the filly was still two lengths in front with twelve lengths to Prince and Dick Whittington. Yaralla moved up to the filly who was in for the fight, and the pair went stride for stride to the wire with the big colt eventually prevailing by a half-head. The two stars met again a few days later in the Champagne Stakes but heavy rain in the interim spoiled the affair. Yaralla detested the conditions and was beaten early in the run, eventually finishing fourth of the five runners with All Love winning by three quarters of a length from Prince. It was the slowest time for the race since 1929 underlining the conditions.

eturning in the Spring, Yaralla was again beaten in the AJC Tellers Handicap at the Randwick Bank Holiday meeting. His victor was Beau Son, the high priced yearling that Monty Walker had bid on as a yearling. With a 12.5 kg weight advantage, Beau Son was the medium of heavy support but there were bigger targets for Yaralla. At his next start he again lined up against All Love this time in the Hobartville Stakes. All Love again set a strong pace, but this time she was able to withstand the finish of Yaralla winning by a neck. Ted McMenamin was suspended

TURF MONTHLY 37

TURF MONTHLY 38

Yaralla-Mansion

for his ride in the race missing the mount on Yaralla in both the Guineas and the Derby. Third was a very promising colt in Laureate, a son of Law Maker whose second dam was a daughter of Comedy King, another stallion we have looked at in length. Yaralla started next in the Canterbury Guineas where he was sent out the even money favourite. Punters were unhappy when he was caught in the last stride by the outsider Chatham’s Choice in a lacklustre affair on the tight track. Laureate had bypassed the Canterbury Guineas to tackle the Chelmsford Stakes, a race where he lost any chance by playing up at the barriers. The Rosehill Guineas was the next engagement for the top 3yo’s, with All Love already in Melbourne with connections determining that the Derby distance was beyond her. Yaralla started as the 2/1 favourite, but Laureate who was at 20/1 was primed for the race and under a masterful ride from Maurice McCarten, won going away by two lengths from Yaralla and It’s Funny.

n the strength of his win in the Guineas, Laureate was a clear favourite in the Derby. Yaralla, Beau Son and The Champion shared the next line of betting and despite his breeding, doubts about Yaralla’s stamina persisted. The Champion, trained by George Price, was a full brother by Spearfelt to the former Queensland galloper, Spear Chief, and bought for 1300 guineas. He had finished fourth in the Canterbury Guineas and had finished strongly in the Rosehill event. Linemond was fractious at the start and sent to the outside of the field but jumped well and led early. The pace was slow and Yaralla pulled his way to the front although shortly after Chatham’s Choice who also refused to settle took over. Yaralla hit the front as the field entered the straight, but again failed to stay, fading to finish sixth. Laureate who had settled comfortably came with his run and put the race away in a few strides chalking up a commanding victory with Galliard finishing second.

TURF MONTHLY 39

espite not staying the Derby distance, Yaralla was to go on to a wonderful career for the most part. In the Autumn after the Derby, he won the AJC Villiers over a mile. He did all of his racing in Sydney and in the next few seasons proved an outstanding galloper winning the 1942 AJC All-Aged Stakes, Craven Plate, Warwick Stakes and STC Canterbury and Hill Stakes. In 1943 he won his second All-Aged Stakes and Hill Stakes. His final stakes win was in the AJC Challenge Stakes in 1944.

aralla went to stud with little success. He retired from racing after suffering bleeding attacks, and his trainer, Fred Cush, always maintained that his racing career was curtailed by wet tracks. Perhaps these two factors affected his stud career where he produced only one stakes winner, a son called Yoorana who won two Townsville Cups. His daughters continued the influence of this line, but it seems that few have made it through to the modern era. Among the best runners tracing back to daughters of Yaralla are Relko Lass who won the 1989 Tasmanian Oaks, and Oliver Twist by Alex Nureyev who won six stakes races in Melbourne including the Group 1 Underwood Stakes and Mackinnon Stakes in 2000.

TURF MONTHLY 40

Miss-Eadith-Walker-1928

Yaralla at 11.72% is another similar looking pedigree which is notable especially for the duplication of the mare Illuminata. In this pedigree we see her influence through the three-quarter sisters Gas and Skyscraper. We also see that another mare Vista is duplicated reinforcing a close relationship between Valve and Syce, both in the third generation of Yaralla’s pedigree. While we can focus on this relationship, we should not forget that we also see Isonomy, Wenlock, St Simon, Hampton and Galopin repeated. One final duplication that deserves special mention and that is a duplication of Musket. Musket is the sire of Carbine and he also appears in the sire line of Yaralla’s third dam, Ardonelle.

BUZALONG THE BARGAIN

uzalong was bought as a yearling by owner-trainer A. Leftwitch from Kingaroy for the bargain price of only 110 guineas. He was placed twice as a 2yo in Queensland including a sixth Division Maiden in Ipswich that earned the colt three pounds in prizemoney. As a 3yo, Buzalong was to win a Maiden at Doomben and a 3yo Handicap at Eagle Farm. He then was moved to Sydney where he won the Rosehill Rydalmer Mile and AJC Monash Handicap at that age. The following season he won five more races including the Grafton Cup. As a 5yo, Buzalong was to win the Hawkesbury Gold Cup and run second in the AJC Metropolitan. He then went to Melbourne for a tilt at the 1938 Caulfield Cup. It was an open race with

TURF MONTHLY 42

Buzalong starting at 6/1. Avenger had run the great Ajax to a neck in the Caulfield Stakes and had won the 1937 AJC Derby and was the 11/2 favourite. Sadly, Avenger was to injure himself in the race, and was to never race again. Buzalong was prominent in the run and reached the lead into the straight. For a few strides it looked as if Marauder may have been able to peg him back, but his run was short lived. Interestingly Marauder who finished third was another son of The Buzzard. St Constant managed to edge out Marauder for second some two lengths adrift of Buzalong. Perhaps punters would not have been so confident had they known that Buzalong had suffered an attack of colic on Wednesday prior to the Cup. His trainer stayed with the horse

until 2.30am the following day, treating him with a concoction of ground ginger, whiskey and chlorodine. Buzalong had been the subject to numerous offers by potential buyers. Leftwitch had been offered £1500 even before he left Queensland, and he was offered £5000 prior to the running of the Metropolitan. After winning the Cup, Buzalong was to win the Newcastle Cup in 1940 before retiring to a property near Larras Lee called Fernleigh owned by Mr AW Crockett.

uzalong was out of Saccharine by Highfield. His half-brother Fox Prince by the imported Foxlaw stallion Fox-Earth won the 1938 QTC Hopeful Stakes. The full sister of Buzalong in Honey Buzz produced two stakes winning brothers in Countwood and Earlwood.

TURF MONTHLY 43

Countwood won the 1959 Queensland Guineas while Earlwood was to win seven stakes races in all. His wins were in the DJ O’Mara Stakes, Summer Cup, Queensland Guineas and Derby in 1958, the Tattersall’s Cup and Doomben Cup in 1959 and a repeat win in the Doomben Cup in 1960. He went to stud where he produced Earlmark who was to win the Labour Day Cup, and Exhibition and Moreton Handicaps.

TURF MONTHLY 44

Buzalong winning the Grafton Cup

Buzalong at 9.38% represents a moderately inbred pedigree that tells a tale of duplicating the key ancestors in a pedigree. We have investigated the legend of Carbine over the past months and there is arguably no greater influence in Buzalong’s pedigree than that stallion. We see him appear critically in both the sire line and tail female line of Buzalong. There are more minor influences in the stallions Wenlock and Hampton, both sons of Lord Clifden but the other most notable feature is the multiple lines of St Simon, and his sire Galopin, who we have seen repeatedly in many of our descendants of Carbine.

THE BUZZARD HIS DAUGHTERS

espite the success of The Buzzard at stud, his fee and the prices of his progeny never reflected his stature. Similarly, while his sons had their opportunity, few had any success with Yaralla perhaps the most enduring of these. Katanga of course as we noted was responsible for one of our best gallopers of the 60’s and 70’s in Tails who we have mentioned. Surprisingly, The Buzzard’s daughters had their successes, but these too were largely limited. Nonetheless, some of these lines endure today. Rainbird is one of The Buzzard’s Melbourne Cup winners who continues to play an important role in the modern breed but is another horse who we have discussed in previous editions.

air And Rare was a daughter of The Buzzard out of Dark Elegance by the Argentinian stallion El Cacique. In turn, she was out of the Magpie mare, Deferential. Fair And Rare produced the 1950 Canonbury Stakes winner, Fengari. Her line has produced the 1997 VRC St Leger Stakes winner Wexford.

Wexford

TURF MONTHLY 46

ady Wheat by The Buzzard produced Sir Helion who won the 1954 Toowoomba Cup. A full-sister to Sir Helion by Parhelion in Miss Helion was to produce a son by Boxwood called Firebox who was a good Brisbane sprinter of the 1960’s who won multiple races including the 1965 Weetwood Handicap. This line was to eventually lead us to a filly called Don’t Tell Clang by Clang who was to win the 2005 AJC Adrian Knox Stakes.

nother daughter of The Buzzard was Rezan who was a half-sister to Ensign who had won the 1940 Canterbury Guineas. They were out of the Magpie mare, Reserved who was in turn a daughter of Wallace. Rezan was to produce two stakes winners including Prince Rezan by the Italian stallion, Brueghel, who won the Grafton Cup and the QTC Metropolitan and Queensland Cup. Her other stakes winner was Sabah who won the Adrian Knox Stakes and Princess Handicap at Randwick. Sabah was to produce the remarkable Royal Sovereign, winner of the Queensland, AJC and VRC Derbies in 1964 and another we have talked about at some length in a previous edition.

ueen Buzz by The Buzzard was to produce the wonderful Lucky Ring who won two editions of the Hopeful Stakes as a 2yo in Brisbane before winning the QTC Stradbroke Handicap in 1949 and 1950. With The Buzzard standing at Lyndhurst Stud, it comes as no surprise that some of his daughters had success with the wonderful stallions they have stood over the years including Smokey Eyes. We wrote about Eye Liner, one of Smokey Eyes best daughters who produced Pacific Ruler. He was to produce Creoliner by that stallion who was to give us Fast Talker by Daybreak Lover who won the 1992 Meynink stakes. This line is one of the most current giving us most recently the stakes placed Heart Skipt A Beat by Falvelon who was to run third in the Group 1 JJ Atkins in Brisbane to continue the Queensland heritage of The Buzzard.

Don’t Tell Clang winning the Adrian Knox TURF MONTHLY 47

Turf Monthly August 2022

Articles inside

BUZALONG