The second 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.
U30 DAIRY MAID
Now boasting more winners than any other maternal family in Australasia, although a good number are North American based, the Dairy Maid family came to New Zealand through the importation of the mare Norice in 1903.
NORICE (1898 Charles Derby/Naulahka), USA family of Dairy Maid; bred by John F Boyd, Danville, California; 2:20.0; £926, NZ earnings only, eight NZ wins plus a winner in Australia; eleven foals, nine winners. Imported by James Pettie, Riccarton in 1903 who bred her first foal by Rothschild (Lady Derby). Purchased by Mrs Mabel Duncan, Coldstream Lodge, Fendalton (on current site of Fendalton shopping centre) who bred her remaining foals starting with Lord Derby (Rothschild) in 1907 before Norice was sent to Melbourne’s Allendale Stud Farm (Lou Robertson) for racing and breeding purposes then returned to NZ.
Norice was a high class race mare and the founder of a leading maternal family in Australasia from Dairy Maid. Born in North America, her sire Charles Derby was inbred to Hamiltonian 10, being by Steinway by Strathmore, a son of Hambletonian 10 from Katie G by Electioneer, by Hambletonian 10, leaving forty eight standard performers in the United States (thirty five pacers, thirteen trotters). Charles Derby was grandsire of Globe Derby through his son Owyhee siring Mambrino Derby, Globe Derby established the greatest siring influence in Australasia. Charles Derby’s granddaughter Trix Pointer won 1919 NZ Cup and is the only mare to leave a NZ Cup winner – dual gaited Wrackler in 1930 (Dominion Hcp 1932).
Dam Naulahka was by Balkan whose grandsire was George Wilkes out of a Black Walnut mare in Lucy E. Norice has six different strains of Hambletonian 10 through six different sons (paternal side: Strathmore, Electioneer; maternal side: George Wilkes, Sentinel, Enfield, Administrator). Norice traces back to Dairy Maid’s daughter Pilotta who’s other daughter Myrtle is ancestress of standouts such as Good Counsel, Nardins Byrd, Nat Lobell, Sonsam, Sealed N Delivered, Dawn Q, Mystical Maddy and Armbro Dancer.
Norice began racing at age six, winning five of her first seven races 1903/04 (Addington – Trial/Hornby/Leap Year/Champion Hcps; Tahuna Park, Dunedin – High Class Hcp). Running second in the inaugural New Zealand Cup (1904, won by Monte Carlo) before a further two wins followed in 1904/05 (Plumpton Park – New Year Hcp; Addington – Grand FFA). The final two NZ wins came in the 1905/06 season (heat/final of FFA Stakes at Addington in August 1905). Norice was a leading performer of her time (NZ leading stake earner 1903/04, £558), with overall stakes of £926.
Retired in April 1906, first foal Lady Derby was produced later that year, then leaving her second foal in 1907 (Lord Derby), she was taken to Australia in 1908 establishing an Australian mares pacing record of 2:20.0 at Richmond (Melbourne) with a best mile rate in her final race day start. Norice returned to NZ to continue her broodmare career after producing two foals by Abbey Bells (Derby Bells, Derby Chimes), a stallion that stood at Allendale Farm. All eleven of her foals were Classic Progeny as shown below.
One of four full brothers by Nelson Bingen, Native King was a leading trotter who achieved the Dominion Hcp/Rowe Cup double before becoming a successful sire. Among his fifty eight winners was Royal Romance (Dominion Hcp) and dam sire of Maori Home (NZFFA, ID Pacing Consolation). Nelson Derby, a classic winner of races such as AK Cup and GN Derby. Performing splendidly at stud leaving one hundred and seven winners including Haughty (granddaughter of Norice, first mare in Australasia under two minutes, two NZ Cups, NZFFA, Easter Cup, dam of Brahman sire of one hundred and ten winners), and Plutus (NZFFA). As a broodmare sire, his credits included Casabianca (Dominion Hcp, Rowe Cup), Glint/Petro Star (NZ Oaks), Massacre (ID Pacing Grand Final), Oreti (USA Governors Cup) and Willie Win (NZ Derby) and sire of Mount Eden’s grand dam Shepherds Brook. Nelson Fame, a speedy performer, died prematurely and left a number of foals for six winners. Bingen Boy stood in Australia, sire of eight winners, dam sire of Jovial Joy (NSW Trotters Derby).
Derby Chimes (Abbey Bells) established two track records, a best time of 2:13.0 before standing at stud in Australia and siring fifty eight winners and dam sire of Johnnie Lawn (NSW Derby) and Grand View (VIC Trotters Derby). Full brother Derby Bells was a minor winner who left three winners.
A son of Rothschild, stallion Lord Derby (unraced) left St Anthony, winner of NZ Sires Produce – 3T and dam sire of another winner of the same race in Quickfire amongst sixteen winners.
Norice’s four daughters established branches of what has become the second most prolific producing family of Classic Winners in Australasia. Norice’s progeny extending her maternal line included :
Cole Queen (King Cole), dam of Queens Gift (WA Pacing Cup) who left Admiral Royal (Fremantle Cup)
Theda Bara (Van Corando) bred on with Rose Warton and Una Dillon leaving minor winners
Lady Derby (Rothschild) was dam of a number of offspring including winners Derby Dillon (sire of two winners) and trotter Sister Beatrice (Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa Cups). Lady Derby’s daughters that bred on included :
Her Ladyship’s branch left Harogwen (Dullard Cup); Lady Pointers descendants include Nephew Bye Bye, Yarki (dam sire Yvette Bromac, Nevele R Fillies), Don Ngaree (NSW Derby/Welcome Stakes), and Te Kanarama (NSW SS 3c, WA Golden Nugget)
Sister Maud commenced a prolific branch of this family with descendants including Chief Command (NZFFA), Ardstraw, Debbies Chance (Leonard Memorial; grand dam of Fake Chance, Pelorus/Rangiora Classics), Adios Court (Hunter Cup, sire of seventy nine winners), millionaire Sokyola (two NSW Miracle Miles, Victoria Cup), Im Victorious (WA Derby, Golden Nugget, Fremantle Cup) and Dasher VC (WA Golden Nugget, Fremantle Cup)
Queen Cole (King Cole) provided the greatest producing line emanating from Norice with notable fillies who bred on including :
Colene Pointer (Timaru/Methven/New Brighton Cups) left several good winners in Kingcraft (NZ Cup heat), Village Guy and Kilrea. Tracing back to Colene Pointer are Bat Del (Ladyship Mile), Ashlees Babe (VIC SS 3f/4m, Qld Oaks), and Ringo, sire of thirty three winners, dam sire of Willadios (Fremantle Cup)
Albena won races and bred on through son Wrackful
Peggys Choice (unraced) left NSW Sapling winner Oro Bay
Queens Treasure leads to very impressive modern day descendants including Mount Eden, Nicotine Prince, Camelot, Brad Adios, Tuapeka Star, Swapzee Bromac, Starship, Our Ian Mac, Ima Rocket Star, Giovanetto, Holmes DG, Hexus, Saab, Talladega, Impressionist, Anvil Star, Karloo Mick, The Warp Drive, Ermis, Iraklis, Lavros Star, Brabham, Elect to Live, Monkey King, Gaius Caesar and Galactic Star.
Dairy Maid’s descendants contain many major race winners among a massive number of classic performers included in the various founding branches of the family :
Three winners of four NZ Cup’s (Camelot, Iraklis and Monkey King twice)
Derby winners :
NZ – Rustic Zephyr, Holmes DG, Locharburn
GN – Nelson Derby, Lavros Star, Holmes DG, Monkey King
AUS – Elect To Live
NSW – Don Ngaree, Holmes DG
QLD – Brad Adios, Look Sharp, Mach Alert
SA – Impressionist
VIC – Brad Adios, Lavros Star, Holmes DG, Courage To Rule
WA – Saab, Talladega, Im Victorious
Hunter Cup : Adios Court, Vics Vance
Miracle Mile : Mount Eden, Iraklis, Holmes DG/Sokyola (twice), Monkey King
with several Harness Horse of Year Awards in New Zealand (Iraklis 1997, Elect To Live 2002, Monkey King 2010) and Australia (Sokyola 2004, 2005) with Australasian Grand Circuit Pacing champions in Holmes DG (2000) and Monkey King (2010).
Oaks winners from family include Elect To Live (NSW/GN/NZ), Petro Star, Ruling Lobell,
Ashlees Babe, Tebaldi, Turkana, Riverboat Rosie, O Baby, Nickle Miss, Countess Gina.
The Dairy Maid family continues to breed successfully in North America where there are five millionaires and two on the 1:48 list including State Treasurer. In Australasia the family has five millionaire pacers equal with Regina family (N10) : Holmes DG, Sokyola, Monkey King, Karloo Mick and Iraklis.
The fastest Australasian bred from Dairy Maid family is dual Derby winner Anvilanunoit (1:49.4US) while Soho Wall Street and Lavros Star have both gone 1:50.0US in North America. Of those racing only in Australasia, the geldings Monkey King/Code Black (1:50.8), Mach Alert (1:50.9), entire Hail Christian and Courage To Rule (1:51.1) lead the way. Among the many great performers of the last fifty years is world record holder of the seventies, Mount Eden (1:56.6TT) who would have to be on most people’s lists. He was five generations removed from Norice and possessed two strains of her blood.
Four pacers have amassed an enormous number of Classic Race wins. Sokyola leads the way with thirty three, followed by Monkey King with thirty one, Holmes DG with twenty six and Karloo Mick with twenty five. Juvenile stars of the past two decades include dual Oaks winner Ashlees Babe and triple Oaks and Derby winner Elect to Live.
Norice’s influence as an Australasian foundation mare from the family of Dairy Maid over the past century has been immense.
Next Edition : Bessie B (N2)
Peter Craig
20 March 2019
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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