The eleventh 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.
U302 FANNY FERN
The American Fanny Fern family in Australasia descends from the mare Trix Pointer, imported into New Zealand in the early nineteen hundreds. Fanny Fern (1849 Blind Tuckahoe [Irwins]/Normis [thor]), was the seventh dam of Trix Pointer who boasted Strathmore, Electioneer, George Wilkes, Nutwood and Director blood in her first four generations while her broodmare sire Star Pointer was the first two minute horse in history (1897).
TRIX POINTER (1914 Demonio/Bally Pointer); imported from North America, bred by BJ Marshall, California; owner Bill (WH) Norton; 2:09.4, £7,411¾; winner of thirteen races; dam of nine foals, one died, seven winners; foals bred by WH Norton and Free Holmes (Wrackler, Arethusa, Racliam), other six foals bred by Miss P Norton and Free Holmes
The all American bred mare was purchased by Free Holmes during one of his North American trips (other purchases made in 1915 were Bonilene, Logan Pointer; 1922 Rey de Oro, Estella Amos; 1930 Grattan Loyal, Frank Worthy). Her sire Demonio was by Charles Derby, being the sire of outstanding mare Norice (second to Monte Carlo in the inaugural 1904 NZ Cup). Demonio, a Strathmore line stallion, just four removes from Hambletonian.
Trix Pointer’s thirteen successes included as a six year old the 1919 NZ Cup from a six second handicap in her first start in the event winning by four lengths and defeating Moneymaker and Matchlight. Fifth favourite, she recorded a time of 4:30.0 for the two mile journey in the hands of her Upper Riccarton trainer/driver Free Holmes for owner Bill Norton. Trix Pointer’s NZ Cup victory assured her of leading stakes earner status in the 1919/1920 season with earnings of £2,635.
Four subsequent NZ Cup starts began with her being unplaced in 1920 in Reta Peter’s initial Cup win, fifth in Reta Peter’s second Cup victory in 1921 (on protest, Sherwood relegated from first), sixth in 1922 to Agathos and again sixth in 1923 to Great Hope.
Apart from her NZ Cup victory, major races won at Addington included NZFFA, Lightning/National Cup/High Class/Christchurch Hcps and Winter Oats Hcp at Forbury Park. She established national mare’s records over various distances, including an all comers record 2:08 3/5 for the mile when placed third to Ena Bell at Addington in 1921.
At stud, among her eight live foals of which seven were winners was Wrackler, her major claim to fame being the only mare to have won the NZ Cup and whose subsequent foal then. Noted male progeny included :
- Aldershot (Wrack),winner Canterbury Juvenile Stakes at two, Wellington Stakes and NZ Derby at three (2:13.0, £1,731)
- Stamboul (1934 Frank Worthy), winner of two
- Wrackler (Wrack), seventeen wins (thirteen pacing, four trotting), 2:08.4/T2:12.0, £8,655, all American bred first foal of Trix Pointer, dual gaited. As a pacer, winner of five at three ((GN/NZ Derbies, Oamaru Presidents Hcp) and four at four (Alexandra Park : Ranfurly/Spring/Alexandra Hcps; NZ Trotting Gold Cup at Hutt Park). The winner of three as a five year old starting with the NZ Cup Trial at Hutt Park, the second division and final of the 1930 NZ Cup at Addington off twelve yds (4:24 1/5) for trainer Don Warren, driver “The Maestro” Maurice Holmes and Ashburton owner Harry Nicoll, then President of NZ Trotting Conference; third in NZFFA; fourth off 60 yards in Carmel’s Auckland Cup. At six, second in NZ Cup heat, fourth in NZ Cup final and unplaced from eighty four yards in Auckland Cup.
Switched to the trotting gait, he won at Addington in July 1932 prior to Maurice Holmes piloting him to victory off sixty yards in Dominion Hcp in November 1932 aged seven; won International Trotting Championship match race (Addington, February 1933); leading trotting stake earner for 1932/3 season with earnings of £895.
Unplaced at eight (including NZ Cup), nine and ten, before recording seventeenth and final win in the Addington Hcp Trot, off sixty yards and third in 1936 Dominion Hcp aged eleven; retired after third unplaced effort as a twelve year old.
To date Wrackler holds the unique position in NZ harness racing history, and one unlikely to ever be threatened, as the only horse to have won both the NZ Cup (pacing) and Dominion Hcp (trotting), our two premier races. Both Wrackler and dam Trix Pointer are inductees of NZ Trotting Hall of Fame.
Trix Pointer’s five daughters (all by Wrack except Festivity by Rey de Oro) founded successful branches of the family :
Arethusa (1927), winner of Sapling Stakes (NZ Two Year Old filly record of 3:25 3/5 for 1½ miles), NZ Derby (double for owner Harry Nicoll, trainer Dan Warren and driver Maurice Holmes on same day Wrackler won 1930 NZ Cup), Henry Mace Memorial, Methven Cup, Ritchie and Park Hcps, £3,505, 2:09.4 (among first 2:10 performers in NZ). Arethusa was dam of several fillies that continue to breed on with Eva Sophnally (1:55.3, Ashburton F&M Mile) being the most recent example.
Arethusa was grand dam of leading trotter Ordeal (T1:59.3US, Dominion Hcp, Rowe Cup, USA Californian Trot); third dam of Cute Van (TAS Pacing Championship) and Elbejay (QLD Derby); fifth dam of Ryans Day (SA Cup).
Raclaim (1928), £990, T2:13.6, dam of
- Acclamation (NZ Trotting Stakes at three, four/five, Dominion Hcp, fourth dam of Top Evander [VIC Trotters Derby], Alley Brown [dam of Cameron Hanover, 1:52.4US; grand dam of Easton Alliance 1:49.0US, Vanlo Yorker WA Pacing Cup]; sixth dam of good juvenile pacer Joker Man)
- Guilane, dam of Interdominion Trotting Grand Final winner Yamamoto, third dam of Lady Netty [1:55.0US], fourth dam of Master Bomber [Ordeal Trotting Cup, Summer Trotting FFA])
- Rewa Scott (Rowe Cup, dam of Our Own [Three Year Old NZ Trotting Stakes]; grand dam of Geffin [Three Year Old NZ Trotting Stakes, ID Trot Final/2 heats], Dupreez [ID Trot heat], Hilton Adios [Aust Trotting Championship heat], Hilton Bear [ID Trot heat] and fourth dam of Megalite (SA Trotters Derby)
- Doonholme, amongst numerous progeny, dam of
- Pebbles [Ashburton Cup]
- grand dam of
- Humphrey [NZ/Kaikoura/New Brighton Cups, Barton Memorial, ID heat]
- Seattle (dam of Nostradamus [Messenger], Scimitar [1:54.0US], Alliage [dam of Neroship, NZ/Auckland Cups, Flying Mile; third dam of Sweet Talking Man, NZSS – 2c; fourth dam of Gomeo Romeo, Taylor Mile/Waikato Flying Mile]
- Local Lie, NZ Oaks
- third dam of Doubter [QLD Derby]
- fourth dam of Next Bonus [NSW Breeders Plate – 2], Golden Flyin [VIC Queen of the Pacific], Larrakeyah Lady [VICSS – 4m, AUST Broodmare of Year, dam of
Safe and Sound [APG – 3c, VICSS – 4h, SA Cup, AUST Pacing Championship, Hunter Cup, ID heat/consolation]
and third dam of Beauty Secret [VIC Oaks], Major Secret [NSW Derby, VICSS – 2c]
- fifth dam of Star Bonus [1:50.1US], By My Side [VICSS – 4h], Fabrication [VICSS – 3T, Aus Trotters Championship]
- sixth dam of Mindful [VICSS – 3f], Lovelist [Breeders Crown – 4m]
- seventh dam of Brallos Pass (SA Derby), Rocknroll Magic [VICSS/Breeders Crown – 3f], Ride High [Breeders Crown – 3c]
- eighth dam of Let It Ride (1:49.4, NSW Breeder Challenge – 4h, Blacks A Fake)
Ochiltree (1931), fourth dam of New Law [NZ Derby], sixth dam of Premium Kiwi [VICSS – 2T], seventh dam of Scoleala [1:50.3US].
Mistral (1932), dam of Chinook [Greymouth Cup]; grand dam of Fri [National Trot] and Urrall [Kaikoura Cup]; fifth dam of Versary [1:49.4US]; sixth dam of Tupelo Rose, Caduceus Club Fillies, NZ Two Year Old Championship, VIC/AUS/QLD/GN Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, Messenger, NZ female Pacer of Year at two, three and four, raced successfully in North America, 1:51.2US, successful at stud with numerous group winners including grandsons Machapelo 1:51.3US winner of 2011 Battle of Waterloo/Resistance Futile, 1:49.1, Little Brown Jug heat winner in North America and Maretai, TAS Derby with a great grand daughter Mayheem Seelster 1:51.3.
Festivity (1937), winner of Methven Cup, £1,536½, 2:13.1, dam of Affiliate (Manawatu/Wanganui Cups); Festivity’s daughters bred on including Scotch Melody, dam of Game Pointer (NZ Trotting Championship, Dunedin Trotting Cup) and Camilla, grand dam of Charles Nero (1:53.3US) and Frisco Frost (SA Cup).
The Fanny Fern family occupies a prime position in regard to NZ Cup winners descending from it – four NZ Cup winners (Trix Pointer, Wrackler, Humphrey, Neroship) place her third equal with Dairy Maid, Millie C and Kate by Highland Chief behind Pride Of Lincoln (six) and Regina (five). A number of classic performers are included in the various founding branches of the family. Other major race winning performances include :
Dominion Hcp : Wrackler, Acclamation, Ordeal
Derby winners :
NZ – Wrackler, Arethusa, Aldershot, New Law; Trotters Derbies : Geffin, Our Own, Acclamation
GN – Wrackler
NSW – Major Secret
QLD – Doubter, Elbejay
SA – Brallos Pass; Megalite (Trotters)
TAS – Maraetai
VIC : Top Evander (Trotters)
WA – Earl Derby
Hunter Cup : Safe And Sound
Interdominions : Trotters – Geffin
with a number of New Zealand and Australian age group award winners.
Oaks winners from the family include multiple winner Tupelo Rose (AUST/GN/VIC/QLD), Local Lie, Ata Take and Beauty Secret.
The family has four on the 1:50 list in Keep On Rocking (1:48.2US)**, Easton Alliance (1:49.0US) and Versary (1:49.4US)) with the families Australasian fastest being Let It Ride (1:49.4, 2018 and 2019) at Menangle with Medal Of Honour’s 1:50.4 and Newcastle Mile winner Yayas Hot Spot (1:50.9) both at Menangle next best. The families’ $500,000 earners are Safe And Sound (just $10,000 shy of a million), Neroship, Tupelo Rose and Yayas Hot Spot.
** bred by Fred Crews : Keep On Rocking is fastest ever Australian bred pacer (14 March 2019, Dover Downs). In addition, Fred Crews is also breeder of fastest ever Australian and Australasian trotter, Maori Time T1:51.5 (24 February 2018, Menangle).
Next edition : Bonnie Belle (N5)
Peter Craig
3 July 2019
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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