AUSTRALASIA’S LEADING FAMILIES

AUSTRALASIA’S LEADING FAMILIES –

The twelfth in a series of articles reviewing the leading Australasian maternal families. Family numbers are as shown on the Classic Families (CF) database. Due to the extensive size of these families, only brief mention can be made of some of the more prominent family members and/or items likely to be of interest to Australasian readers.

N5 BONNIE BELLE   

Bonnie Belle is the foundation mare of a classic winner producing family.

BONNIE BELLE (1894 Lincoln Yet [half-brother to Thelma]/Wilsons [pure breed arab] mare from stud of Sir John Cracroft Wilson, Cashmere), bred by Tom Yarr; 2:52.5, £35, solitary win; five foals, one died, two winners. All bred by WJ (Bill) Morland, Rakaia. Note : Lincoln Yet (Irvington/Pride of Lincoln)

Bonnie Belle left two extremely productive daughters whose branches of the family continue on to this very day.

Country Belle (Wildmoor by Wildwood), £3,702, bred by Bill Morland, Rakaia; winner of twelve races including 1915 NZ Cup (second 1914), Forbury/New Brighton Cups; 2:07 1/5TT NZ Pacers and Pacing Mares mile record, among first one hundred in 2:10 in NZ, stake earner of year 1915/6, £1,930. Dam of nine foals all bred by WJ Morland, now of Riccarton, two died, three winners including male progeny in :

• Countryman, Gore Cup, Henry Mace Memorial
• Gold Country, Gore/Ashburton Cups, Henry Mace Memorial
• Gold Gift, broodmare sire of Good Lady grand dam of Miranda Bay – descendants include luminaries such as Luxury Liner, Christopher Vance, Mi Muchacho, Mr Hasani, Shardons Rocket, Better B Amazed ……

Country Belle’s daughters included :

• Escapade (Nelson Bingen), good trotter, winner of Sockburn/Easter Hcps at Addington, Mountain/Association Hcps at Alexandra Park; dam of Tam O’Shanter (Timaru Nursery – 2/Cup), Daredevil (NSW Easter Trotters Cup), Levity (Cambridge Cup)

grand dam of Fallacy, NZ Derby, sire of 254 (29 Aust), triple NZ Cup winner False Step (NZ Derby, NZFFA); Allakasam (Auckland/Easter/New Brighton Cups); Dignus (NSW Derby); Kotare Legend (Ashburton Flying Stakes); True Averil (NZ Cup, Flying Mile); dam sire of 539 (93 Aust), Geffin (ID Trotters Final), Hands Down (NZ Cup/FFA, three Easter Cups); Maori Sultan (Rowe Cup), Mighty Me (GN/NZ Derbies); Our Maestro (ID Pacers Final, Gold Nugget, Miracle Mile); Royal Ascot (NSW Derby, Auckland Cup); Tutira (Dominion Hcp, Trotting FFA)

• Rustic Maid (Copa De Oro), bred by Bill (WJ) Morland, Riccarton; unraced, seventeen foals, fifteen winners; foals bred by WJ Morland (Highland Scott, Gallant Maid, Arawa Lady, Scottish Lady, Scottish Lord, Slavonic, Rustic Gold); balance of foals bred by George Youngson, Gore who purchased her for 250 guineas (in foal to future Derby winner Free Fight) at Morlands dispersal sale in 1943, year after Morland died

Rustic Maid was dam of a NZ record fifteen winners from seventeen foals produced over twenty one years (Australian record Lovely Lawn/Barrington Lass fifteen winners) and a NZ Trotting Hall Of Fame inductee. The male progeny of Rustic Maid included :

Chamfer (Dillon Hall), won fourteen races, leased from George Youngson by Duncan MacFarlane, Christchurch with Maurice Holmes trainer/driver of Chamfer and NZ Derby winners Scottish Lady/Free Fight. Chamfer won Timaru Nursery at two; at three, GN Derby (4th NZ Derby), Metropolitan Challenge Stakes; five wins at four (three Alexandra Park, two Addington, second in Easter Hcp); four wins at five (National Cup Hcp, NZ Cup, NZ Pacing Championship, Campbell Hcp), third in ID heat at Auckland/unplaced in final. Chamfer’s final win came at six in the Challenge FFA at Hutt Park. He was unplaced on all four days of NZ Cup carnival and in his final season at seven, a fourth in NZFFA was his best result.

Leading sire in Australia for seven seasons (1963−1969), leaving 301 winners/191 Australia (broodmare sire of 351), majority in Tasmania; sire of Chamfers Star (unbeaten three ID heats/final, TAS Pacing Championship, Easter Cup), Granny Smith/Prancing Ruby (TAS Pacing Championship), Norfolk Jay (TAS Derby); dam sire of Stanley Rio (NZ Cup, Messenger, ID Final), Family Boy (TAS Derby), Jane Byrd/Rangler Jane (TAS Oaks), Macs Gift (Ladyship Mile), Prancing Percy (TAS Pacing Championship).

Free Fight (Light Brigade), NZ Derby, Canterbury 3yo (3rd Champion Stakes – 3), Oamaru Presidents Hcp, NZMTC Autumn Stakes 4/5yo among seven victories; sired 174 winners (133 AUS, forty one NZ, East Dome (New Brighton Cup), Panthers Flight (Dullard Cup), Polo Breeze (ID Consolation); broodmare sire 150: 134 AUS, sixteen NZ), Girl Friend (Kindergarten Stakes), Governor Frost (NZ Derby, Messenger, Thames Cup, ID ht), Tanya Hanover (NSW Oaks).

Highland Scott (U Scott), won eight NZ races, GN Stakes, Timaru Nursery at two and all three days of Auckland Christmas carnival as nine year old (Victory/Electric/Campbell Hcps), later winning WA Easter Cup as a fourteen year old.

Congruent (Hal Tryax), won four (Oamaru Presidents Hcp), siring forty four winners in Australia, dam sire of Wilbur Post (NSW Derby). Rustic Lane (Hal Tryax), winner, siring seventy Australian winners (one NZ) mainly SA, dam sire of Fearless Quick (SA Derby), Sleepy Van (SA Breeders Plate). Slavonic (Lusty Volo), won three, Sapling/Canterbury/Wellington Stakes. Yare (Logan Derby), won four (Wairio Cup), siring thirty six winners at stud in Australia.

Rustic Maid’s fillies included:

• Gallant Maid (Gallant Knight), won five, New Brighton Hcp; dam of Don Carlos (Westport Cup), Whaka (Cambridge Gold Cup); 3rd dam of Tuapeka Dream (breed brought to the fore by Father Dan Cummings, his sister Julie Davie and brother Peter Cummings : Tuapeka Lodge) including :

1. Tuapeka Knight (Smooth Fella), boom juvenile, won twelve of fourteen starts, Welcome/Sapling Stakes, NZSS – 2c; sire of 238 (four Aust), Cherubic (GN Oaks), Facta Non Verba (Easter Cup, City of Auckland FFA), Gracious Knight (NZ/Easter Cups), The Court Owl (GN/NZ Derbies, NZSS – 2c); dam sire of 275 (89 Aust), Pay Me Christian (NZ Derby, NZSS – 3)
2. Maureens Dream (Lordship), five race winner, NZSBA Broodmare Excellence Award, dam of nine fillies amongst fourteen foals including :

• Atom Queen, dam of Zacharia (Welcome Stakes), Kokona, DB Fillies heat
• Reality Check, Delightful Lady Classic, NZYSS – 2f; dam of Ultimate Machete, 1:51.9 (NZSS – 3c, NZFFA, WA Golden Nugget/4yo Championship); Major Reality, 1:50.9, WA Oaks, Norms Daughter Classic; Ultimate Sniper, p3 1:52.9, NZSS – 3, NZYSS – 3, GN/NZ Derbies
• Tuapeka Dancer, grand dam of God Send 1:51.8, God Forbid 1:50.1US
• Tuapeka Wings, dam of Ideal Scott (GN Derby, QLD Blacks A Fake, Breeders Crown – 4h, QLD Pacing Championship)

and 5th dam of Blistering Belle, dam of Daniela Hantuchova (1:53.6), Five Card Draw (Cardigan Bay Stakes – 2, NZSS – 2c, Jewels Emerald – 2), Ideal Belle (NZ Oaks)

La Boheme (Sandydale), unraced, left many Australian progeny; 3rd dam of Autumn Gold (Thames Debutante – 2f, VIC Youthful – 2f). Rustic Gold (Gold Bar), winner, grand dam of Sonny Jim (Westland Cup). Rusticate (Andy Derby), unraced, mainly Australian descendants including Romantic Chris (Geelong Cup), Bills Belle (SA Oaks)

Little Toff (Dillon Hall), winner, dam of :

1. Prince Jeldi, sired seventy nine Australian winners; broodmare sire of 128, Cooper Class (VICSS – 4m), Deep Rena (NSWSS – 3f ), Quantum Lobell (SA Cup, TAS Pacing Championship, Newcastle Mile, four ID hts)
2. Storm King (Wyndham Cup)
3. Student Prince (NZ Derby), at stud in Australia sired 136 winners, Homage (ID Trotting Consolation; broodmare sire of 148, one in NZ, Bills Student (NSW FFA’s, Cordina Sprint), Kyalla Fling (Bohemia Crystal)
4. Flair, dam of Captain Armbro (WA Golden Slipper – 2)

Scottish Lady (U Scott), won four, Riccarton Stakes/NZ Derby, November/Heathcote Hcps at Addington. Purchased by George Youngson, dam of :

1. Gentry, cup class pacer, FJ Smith/CF Mark/Adams Memorials, sired 153 (eighty seven

NZ, sixty six AUS); Dawn Mist (leading juvenile, winner first running Nevele R Fillies), Margaret Shannon (VIC Mares/Marathon, grand dam of Gretamaro, NZSS – 2f ), Miles Gentry (Matson FFA, Louisson Hcp), Paul Gentry (Thames Cup), leading juvenile Shannons Squire; broodmare sire of 234 (134 NZ, 100 AUS); Dillon Dale (NZ Championship – 2, NZFFA, Thames Cup twice, Franklin Cup), Dillon Dean (NZSS – 3, NZ Derby, NZ Championship – 3, Messenger, NZFFA), Flushing Meadow (Tatlow Memorial – 2), Our Mana ((Easter Cup, twice second in NZ Cup/second AK Cup, NZ Flying Mile, Down Under/Waikato Flying Miles twice, winner inaugural West Coast bonus), Try A Fluke (Hunter Cup, ID ht)

2. Scottish Brigade (Welcome Stakes, GN Derby), sire of 228 (one NZ, 227 AUS); Clare Brigade (VIC Oaks), Nicks Lad (QLD Derby), Scottish Fusilier (Kilmore Cup); dam sire of 314, Lehigh Lad (two ID hts, TAS Pacing Championship), Master Clan (WA Derby)
3. Scottish Bank, dam of Kudos sire of Fur Elsie (NSW Oaks), dam sire of Friendly Footman (NSW Breeders Plate – 2, NSWSS – 3c, Miracle Mile), Honey John (Dullard Cup); grand dam of Karloo Frost (NSWSS – 3c)

Curfew Belle (Wildwood), three quarter half-sister to Country Belle, £607, winner of six races, dam of nine foals, all bred by WJ Morland (first three when located at Rakaia and final six at Christchurch), three winners, including :

• Logan Chimes (Logan Pointer), founded extensive branch still active today; descendants include free- for-allers Celevale Van/Tara Meadow; Defoe 1:53.0TT; trotters Reprimand (NZ Trotting FFA) and Delvin Dancer, set Australasian record for trotter of fifteen successive wins (bettered by Court Jester), VIC/NSW Trotters Derbies, leading sire of trotters in Australia; Speed King, CAN Milton Stakes; Non Commital, 1:49.4US, $820,311; Terror Time, 1:49.1US; Dream Out Loud 1:48.4US; Secret Potion, GN Oaks, Nevele R Fillies; Dodolicious, WA Westbred Classics 2/3, WA Oaks
• Belle Logan (Logan Pointer), 2:20¾; £320, two wins; eleven foals, nine winners. Breeder : WJ (Bill) Morland, Rakaia. Foals – 1926 Dillon Logan bred by D. Rodgers, Rangiora, mare then shipped to Edgar Tatlow, Hayley, Tasmania in 1929; all others foaled in Australia including 1929 foal Pendant (in foal to Native King NZ)

Belle Logan’s progeny included the legendary Logan Derby (Globe Derby), winner of 57½ races (one a dead heat) for prize money in excess of £10,000. Logan Derby was undefeated in the inaugural IDs in Perth 1936 (three heats/final) and champion on points (heat winner, two thirds and fastest times from long marks) in 1940 ID’s in Perth. During this ID carnival, Logan Derby established his 2:04TT record mark being among the first six horses to better the 2:05 mark in Australia.

Logan Derby spent time in NZ in late 1938 where in seven starts he won on three occasions (NZFFA; Forbury/Forbury Presidents Hcp) and placed in the other four (thirds in NZ Cup [Morello]/Ollivier Hcp, seconds in Louisson/Recovery Hcps). His NZ earnings amounted to £1,795.

Exported to FJ “Wizard” Smith in NZ (1944) after initially standing at stud in Perth in 1943 for JP (John) Stratton) following his retirement at age 13, Logan Derby sired ninety eight winners (thirty six in Aust), including champion Johnny Globe (winner of thirty four races/forty five placings, fifteen FFAs, four world records, NZ/GN Derbies, NZ Cup, NZFFA (twice), leading sire – NZ Hall of Famer Lordship, Fabius (GN Derby), Jewel Derby/Tapuwae (Rowe Cup), Vodka (Dominion Hcp, NZ Trotting FFA, first Australasian winner in North America, NZ Hall of Fame). Dam sire of Logan Count (Dominion Hcp), Master Dean (NZFFA, five classic race mile wins). Logan Derby passed through a number of hands during his siring career—after Smith’s death he went to Edgar Kennerley, Tamahare owner RC Mason before being sold to George Youngson, Gore.

Other male progeny of Belle Logan included Dillon Logan (John Dillon), eleven wins (seven at four), Hawera/Dunedin Cup, Oamaru Hcp; Lone Raider (Raider), nine wins, CPTC Winter Cup; Van Logan (Van Derby), winner in Australia, exported to stand at stud in NZ (1947), minor sire leaving fifteen winners (four Australia).

Belle Logan’s fillies included:

Pendant (Native King), Tasmanian winner, heat 1939 IDs; grand dam of High Pendant, sire of sixteen winners including Sally Alla, Australian Broodmare of Year in 1987 &1988, dam of Rowleyalla ($½m, NSW Breeders Plate -2, NSW SS -3, QLD/NSW Derbies, QLD Winter Cup, Aust 2YO mile record 1:55.0TT, Aust Mile record 1:52.6TT); dam sire of  Grand Thor (ID heat).

Jean Logan (Globe Derby), Tasmanian Easter Cup but did not breed on. Para Belle (Van Derby), non-winner left eleven foals for three winners. Logan Globe (Globe Derby), dam of two winners.

Other minor winners in Australia included Beaudesert and Speedy Logan.

Bonnie Belle is one of New Zealand’s leading families with two NZ Cup winners in Country Belle and Chamfer together with a number of classic performers included in the various founding branches of the family. Other major race winning performances include :

Derby winners :

NZ – Scottish Lady, Free Fight, Fallacy, Student Prince

GN – Chamfer, Scottish Brigade, Ideal Scott

NSW – Perfect Lass; Delvin Dancer (Trotters)

TAS – Nickorado, Mister Lennox

VIC : Rodillo Bronze, Delvin Dancer, both Trotters Derbies

ID winners : Pacers – Logan Derby

Oaks winners from the family include Perfect Lass, Secret Potion, Ideal Belle, Five Star Comfort, Bills Belle, Major Reality and Dodolicious.

The family has three on the 1:50 list in Dream Out Loud (1:48.4US), Terror Time (1:49.1US), Hez A Dude (1:49.4US) and Non Commital (1:49.4US) while the families Australasian fastest are Picard’s 1:49.4 (2019) and Courtsinseesion’s 1:50.0 at Menangle (2019) while in NZ Ultimate Machete’s 1:51.9, NZ record time for 1950m (2017 NZFFA at Addington) is quickest. Drop the Hammer’s trio of T1:54.6, T1:55.3 and T1:55.5 (twice) at Menangle in the past two years makes him by far the families’ fastest trotter. The families’ $500,000 earners are Dream Out Loud, Non Commital, Five Card Draw, Ideal Scott, Dodolicious and Ultimate Machete.

Next Edition : Kate by Highland Chief (U301)

Peter Craig

10 July 2019

Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com

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