The third 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.
N2 BESSIE B
Bessie B started one of NZ’s leading maternal families, consisting of a number of branches, with 1933 female descendant Parisienne establishing an outstanding family of winners.
Bessie B by Young Irvington, a grandson of Hambletonian 10 from Black Bess, a mare of thoroughbred origins. Leaving three daughters who bred on : Bessies Child (Rothschild); Betty Wild (Wildwood Junior), descendant’s include Soangetaha, Bad Luck, John Gilbert, Classic Move, Prince Polka, through to Lusty Mac (NZSS NI Mares Classic twice) and a Rothschild mare leading to daughters Prospect, trotting descendant’s Mairo Sultan, Our Eileen, Our Luck, Brite Speed; Yenot, daughter Lillian Bond ancestress of Beaudiene tribe (Boaz, Bad Babe, Christian, Guns N Roses), trotter Role Model and famous daughter Parisienne; Princess Yenot dam of Western Ridge.
PARISIENNE (1933 Rey de Oro/Yenot); 2:07.8; £6.766; sixteen wins; ten foals, six winners. Breeder: George McMillan, Remuera. Foals bred by: Mrs D.R. Rewell, Auckland (Bohemian, Jacqueline); D.R. Rewell (Agricola, Spring Fashion); Sir John McKenzie, Christchurch (Mary Wootton, La Mode, Scotch Paree); Roydon Lodge Stud, Christchurch, (U Scott filly, La Mignon, Golden Hero)
Rey De Oro (Copa De Oro) was leading sire on three occasions as well as a leading broodmare sire. Race winning dam Yenot (Harold Dillon/Rothschild mare) traces back through Bessie B to Minto, a Berlin mare. Yenot died shortly after foaling Parisienne who was bucket raised.
Commencing racing in the 1935/6 season for Mrs D.R. Rewell, trained/driven by Roy Berry, Parisienne’s one success came in the NZ Sapling Stakes at Ashburton. A productive three-year-old season came with three victories including the blue ribbon GN/NZ Derbies while a stellar season at four brought eight wins, seven at Addington ID heats [3], (Queen Mary/Heathcote/Lyttleton/Mason Hcps and the Metropolitan Hcp at Forbury Park. Parisienne rounded out her Addington season by taking out the ID Pacing Championship on points, stake earner of year in 1938 (£3,340).
At five, Parisienne’s three victories included a mares world pacing record of 4:15.6 for two miles (Forbury’s Metropolitan Hcp), seconds in the Hannon Memorial, NZFFA (Logan Derby); third in Easter Hcp and fourth in NZMTC Presidents Hcp. At six, her only performance of note was fourth in NZFFA while her final season at seven saw her victorious in the Hannon Memorial. Her career record showed sixteen wins, fourteen placings, stakes of £6.766, 2:07.8MR.
Retired to stud and acquired by John McKenzie in 1945 with assistance from George Noble,
Parisienne became one of the greatest broodmare progenitors in New Zealand. Of her eight Classic Progeny, three won two year old pacing classics while her trotting daughter Scotch Paree won the New Zealand Hambletonian. Six of her daughters produced strong branches that are all still active. Parisienne fillies included full sisters by Springfield Globe (La Mode, Mary Wootton, Spring Fashion), U Scott (Scotch Paree, Ultra Girl) and full brother/sister by Light Brigade (Golden Hero/La Mignon).
Standout performer La Mignon’s thirteen victories came in a race career spanning from two- to seven years old. Raced by Sir John McKenzie and trained by George Noble, three two-year-old wins from four starts included NZ Sapling Stakes. Later wins came at Addington (six), Alexandra Park (two), Forbury Park and Ashburton, she finished third in False Steps first NZ Cup before proceeding to the broodmare paddock.
Among her progeny and descendant’s are :
- Filet Mignon, grand dam of Ohoka Ace; 3rd dam of Four Starzzz Flash
- Garcon Roux, brilliant pacer, winner of sixteen NZ races; numerous juvenile (two and three year old events including Timaru Nursery Stakes, Welcome Stakes, GN/NSW Derbies, NZ Sires Produce – 3) as well as Auckland Cup, National Hcp. Among first 100 two minute pacers in NZ (14th) and first 100 NZ bred pacers in two minutes, recording 1:59.6TT at Hutt Park in February 1969, the first time a three-year-old in Australasia had broken two minutes. The second three-year-old to qualify for NZ Cup after Tactile, Garcon Roux won three races at Harold Park (NSW Derby, RC Simpson Sprint) and was inaugural NZ Pacer and Harness Horse of Year in 1969. Sold to America and winning several good races, the last being a Hollywood Park Invitational as an eight-year-old. Last raced in July 1973 prior to being euthanised owing to back trouble
- Ma Cherie, 4th dam of Americanprimetime (1:49.0US), 5th dam of Andys Favourite (Redwood – 2T)
- Roydon Roux, classic juvenile filly whose eleven wins (seven at two) included Golden Slipper Stakes, GN Derby, NSW Raith Memorial and heat VIC Oaks. After winning VIC Oaks heat, she shattered a pastern bone on the Melbourne Showgrounds course and had to be destroyed
La Mode, unraced mare, grand dam of star juvenile/ill-fated pacer Rocket Glenfern (NSW Sapling, QLD Derby, died at three); 3rd dam of Pardon Me Boys (WA Golden Slipper – 2, twelve successive wins at two); 4th dam of Aapennon Lad (VICSS – 2c)
Mary Wootton, named after the first Miss New Zealand (an engagement present from JR McKenzie to son Roy and future daughter in law Shirley), four unplaced starts as a two-year-old before commencing an extremely fruitful breeding career. Dam of:
- Flying Mary, dam of classy trotter Highland Fling (twenty three wins) for the Lockyer’s of Raetihi in late 1960’s (ID heat, Cambridge Trotters Flying Mile)
- Heather Mary, winner of eight, five in succession including Thames Cup; dam of Golden Sands, GN Oaks, eight NZ wins for Brian Meale and Charlie Hunter, eight NA wins prior to being bred from by Delvin Miller and Roy McKenzie; good producer and grand dam of Preux Chevalier (full details at bottom of article), 5th dam of Living On Fire, VICSS – 3c, SA Derby
- Highland Melody, grand dam of Mels Boy (Welcome/Kindergarten Stakes, GN Derby, Wellington Cup); 4th dam of Distant Memory (Bathurst Gold Tiara, VICSS – 2f ), Dazed and Confused (APG – 3f )
- Roydon Mary, dam of Roydon Dream, dam of:
- Dream Star, grand dam of Slick Vance (WA Golden Nugget); 3rd dam of multiple (three) NZ Cup winner Terror To Love ($2m+, 1:51.0, twenty one Classic Race wins, Taylor Mile, Jewels – 4/5 Emeralds, Easter/Auckland/Cranbourne Cups, Canterbury Classic (2), ID hts (2)); 5th dam of Ambro The Thug (NZSS – 2c)
- Roydon Glen, winner GN Derby, Messenger, Auckland Cup, Pan Am Mile, sire of forty seven NZ winners – champion trotter Lyell Creek (fifteen Australasian Gp1’s, T1:52.2US, approximately $3m), dam sire of fifty three NZ bred winners—Richard Henry (WA Derby), Solberge (Nevele R Fillies)
- Roydon Scott, Hannon Memorial, Wellington Cup
- Roydon Vision, grand dam of Tuberbs (Welcome Stakes, Easter Cup),
and Roydon Mary is 3rd dam of Canny Lombo (VICSS – 2c), Misty Maiden (AUS Derby, AUS Broodmare of Year); 4th dam of juvenile champion Lombo Pocket Watch (first family millionaire, sixteen Classic Race wins, three Derbies AUS/TAS/VIC, Bathurst Gold Crown – 2c, APG – 2/3c, VICSS – 2/3c, WA Golden Nugget); 5th dam of Lombo Skyrider (1:50.0US, AUS 2YO Pacer of Year), Suave Stuey Lombo (1:49.6, APG – 3c, Cordina Sprint); 6th dam Handsandwheels (WA Derby)
- Scottish Command, sixteen NZ wins including Auckland Cup (60 yds), ID Pacing Consolation. Placed third in 1961 NZ Cup for Charlie Hunter, second to Cardigan Bay in NZFFA and fourth in Cardigan Bay’s 1961 AK Cup. Leaving NZ in 1962, winning several races in NA and at Prestatyn Wales, before his return journey to NZ. Sire of 123 winners, won sires premiership in 1977/8 season. Winners included Black Watch (NZ C/S – 2, Broodmare of Year, NZ Trotting Hall of Fame), Paula Scott (GN Oaks), Scottish Charm (ID Pacing Consolation, 4th dam of Keystone Del T1:53,9, Glenferrie Farms Challenge x 2, Great Southern Star), Scottish Laddie (GN Derby), Scottish Warrior (Messenger), Sole Command (NZ/AK Cups), Trevira (Easter Cup), Trusty Scot (NZ Cup/FFA). Broodmare sire of 281 winners including Jack Morris (ID Pacing Final, Truer Memorial, Aust/TAS Pacing C/S), Markovina (ID Pacing Final, Aust Pacing C/S), Scotch Tar (Dominion Hcp twice)
Scotch Paree, eight win trotter including NZ Hambletonian (Addington), dam of:
- Garcon D’Or, ten NZ wins, Ashburton Flying Stakes, multiple NA winner, 1:57.4US
- Irish Paree, 3rd dam of Letterkenny Lad, Firestone Junior FFA, 1:51.4US
- Light Paree, 4th dam of Flashing Star (WA Golden Nugget), Hilarion Star (WA Cup); 5th dam of Amaretto ($½m+, Queen of Pacific, Norms Daughter Classic, Breeders Crown – OP, 1:51.4)
- Light Scotch, exported to Australia, 3rd dam of Lombo Adreamin (QLD Oaks); 4th dam of Lombo La Fe Fe ($½m+, VICSS – 2f, NSW Breeders Plate – 2, GN Oaks) and Joes Star of Mia (1:49.3, Menangle)
- Scotch Cherie, 3rd dam of My Cherie (VICSS – 2f, Tatlow Memorial – 2f, VIC Oaks); 5th dam of Ultimate Girl (Tas Oaks); 6th dam of Lochinvar Art, Bathurst Gold Chalice – 3c
Spring Fashion, five wins, Marlborough Cup, dam of :
- Andrea Kaye, 3rd dam of The Kindly One, Bathurst Gold Tiara – 2f
- Spring Fever, dam of Blue Venture, dam sire of Armada Miss, NSW Oaks
Ultra Girl, unraced, dam of :
- Meadow Leigh, 4th dam of Alta Orlando Welcome Stakes
- Prince Kid, ID Trotters heat
- Tawarri, grand dam of Le Ruisseau (VIC Oaks); 3rd dam of Riverlea Bay (VICSS – 2f), Riverlea Jack (VICSS – 3c, VIC Bicentennial Challenge, QLD Winter Cup, sire of Ataturk ID ht)
Parisienne’s male progeny included: Bohemian (Lucky Jack), GN Stakes; Golden Hero (Light Brigade), NZ Sapling/Oamaru Juvenile Stakes; Agricola (Springfield Globe), three victories at nine.
Parisienne is a member of NZ Trotting Hall of Fame.
Bessie B’s descendants contain many major race winners among the massive number of classic performers included in the various founding branches of the family, one of only three three time winners of NZ Cup in Terror To Love.
Derby winners :
NZ – Parisienne
GN – Parisienne, Soangetaha, Garcon Roux, Roydon Roux, Mels Boy, Roydon Glen
AUS – Misty Maiden, Lombo Pocket Watch
NSW – Garcon Roux, Denver Gift
QLD – Rocket Glenfern
SA – Jagged Knight, Living On Fire
TAS – Lombo Pocket Watch
VIC – Lombo Pocket Watch, Scandalman
WA – Richard Henry, Beaudiene Boaz, Handsandwheels
Hunter Cup : Preux Chevalier
Miracle Mile : Preux Chevalier
Interdominion Pacing Champions : Parisienne (1938 on points), Preux Chevalier
with several Harness Horse of Year Awards in New Zealand (Garcon Roux 1969, Roydon Glen 1985, Terror To Love 2013, 2014) and Australia (Preux Chevalier 1985, Lombo Pocket Watch 2006) with Australasian Grand Circuit Pacing champion Preux Chevalier in 1985.
Oaks winning daughters of this family include Golden Sands, Le Ruisseau, Lombo Adreamin, My Cherie, Thorninmyside, Dougs Courage, Ultimate Girl, Shelley Lee and Lombo La Fe Fe, whose Oaks was one of fifteen Classic Race wins.
The fastest Bessie B family members are Americanprimetime (1:49.0US), Joes Star Of Mai (1:49.3), Western Australian Derby winner Richard Henry (1:49.3US), Suave Stuey Lombo (1:49.6), and Australian Two Year Old Pacer of the Year, Lombo Skyrider (1:50.0US), the only 1:50 pacers in this family. The family millionaires number three : Terror To Love, Lombo Pocket Watch and Beaudiene Boaz.
The greatest performer of the family is Preux Chevalier, from the Axworthy sire line. He raced mainly in Australia winning WA Triple Crown and WA Championship at four; WA Pacing Cup, Fremantle Mile, Winfield Gold Cup, NZFFA, Miracle Mile in race record time, Hunter Cup, undefeated in the heats and final of the Inter Dominion Championship at Moonee Valley. He retired the fastest horse in Australian pacing history (1:54.3), winner of 29 classic races, Grand Circuit Pacing Champion and an Australian Harness Horse of the Year. He was sire of Ryans Day – SA Cup, dam sire of millionaire Fleur de Lil – 1:51.3US, WA Oaks, Breeders Crown – 3f.
Next Edition : Verity (A1)
Peter Craig
3 April 2019
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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