AUSTRALIAN CLASSIC WINNER PRODUCING MARES

This is the second of an occasional series of articles reviewing multiple classic producing broodmares with five or more offspring in results information as shown on the Classic Families (CF) database. A number of these mares won classic races, became the dams of classic winners/progeny and contributed to the genetic inheritance of numerous outstanding performers.

GRETA (1896 bay mare, Vancleve/Isis), Australian/NSW family of Greta (A38), unraced; nine live foals, nine winners; Breeder : Mr Foley, Wonrobbie Farm, Warren, NSW. Foals bred by J.P. McCudden, Tomingly, NSW

Greta’s sire Vancleve (Harold) was imported to NZ by Robert Wilkin, spending three years there then leased to Andrew Town, Hobartville Stud for £500 and ultimately purchased in 1895 by JA (John) Buckland of Wonbobbie Stud in Warren, NSW following Wilkin‘s death setting an Australian Trotters Mile record of T2:28.0TT at 1893 Dubbo Show. The first to sire 100 winners (101) in Australia, Vancleve produced his greatest son trotter Fritz (T2:13.0TT) and his full brothers Frederick/Franz, Durbar (NZ Cup), Billy Wilson/Van Dieman (AK Cup), Quincey/Sir Joe (Dominion Hcp) and was dam sire of Whiisht (Rowe Cup/Dominion Hcp). Classic Families shows that sixty of his daughters produced classic winners with the best maternal line being that of Verity (notably through Pearlchild and Pansey).

Greta’s dam Isis owned by Mr Foley was by thoroughbred stallion Newington (half thoroughbred of arab maternal descent; 186-, by Sir Hercules, a famous thoroughbred sire) from an imported arab mare. She was bred three quarters arab to one quarter thoroughbred.

Sold in 1896 aged four to JP McCudden of Tomingly, NSW, Greta produced her first foal of nine (seven successively to Huon Junior) in 1902, dying in 1918 a few months after complications arose from her last foaling (Orphan Boy 1917). Her five siring sons (all full brothers) by Huon Junior left 471 individual winners. Greg Brown in his book “One Hundred Years of Trotting 1877-1977” commented that Greta put together “as fine a stud team as trotting ever saw”.

Aside from the male members of the Greta (A38) family listed below, this family bred on primarily through the deeds of Maphada as outlined later. Her fillies produced 12 winners – Maphada (11 foals, 5 winners), Greta Derby (8-7) and Lady Mac (1-0).

Note : classic winning progeny (six) of classic producing mare Greta are underlined.

The maternal line descendants of family of Greta follow – male progeny included five full siring brothers by Huon Junior/Greta by Vancleve. Huon Junior (Huon/Lucilla), dual gaited : T2:24½, NSW trotters record set on Brighton racecourse, P2:30.0; defeated imported American mare Hattie S in £400 match race at Brighton), sire of 174 winners [two trotters, leading colonial bred NSW stallion pre WWI], his best performed son on track was Denver Huon [2:12.0, 41 winners]; left top sire Rock Huon, broodmare Miss Fitz left six winners while Huon Junior’s full brother Globe, was dam sire of Globe Derby. Both Globe and Huon Junior were bred by James Roberts.

Dexter (2:18¾, 9 furlongs, bay horse 1904), 58 starts for ten wins (5 at Epping) and 21 placings. He won twice and placed on five occasions from nine starts at three at Show events only. Sold as a 4yo to JG Markham, Maitland his future racing took place in Hunter River District, Epping (Harold Park) and Victoria Park. He raced until nine years of age (last start 4 November 1913) but died of tetanus in January 1914. His stud services produced  27 winners.

Galtimore (2:18 4/5, bay horse 1910), sold as yearling to JJ Brynes, winner of third and final two year start at Victoria Park (14 July 1913). Unsuccessful at three and four, he won a further three successive races at Victoria Park over Christmas 1915. At stud, he produced nine winners and died at an early age.

Lulu Boy (2:17 2/5, bay horse 1907), Greta’s best, was a well performed racehorse winning Melbourne Thousand 1912 (£1,000) and NSW Flying Hcps at Epping. First racing at four for McCudden he had three wins and a second at Dubbo Show and two seconds at Dubbo Jockey Club meeting. His major win by a good margin was in “John Wren’s” Melbourne Thousand, richest race of its time, from a 25 yard handicap ridden by his trainer JE Phair. He did however have to survive a protest lodged by the connections of second placed Don Alto (Will Whitburn) on the grounds that Phair had crossed Don Alto too sharply. Then leased to leading Sydney trainer/driver Ray Geddes for whom he won three races and placed seven times from difficult handicaps due to his Melbourne Thousand victory. He raced against his full brothers Dexter and Marble Arch on a number of occasions.

Following his retirement he was sold in 1916 to stand at stud in NSW (Cowra 1917, Wagga 1924, Goulburn, Junee 1926-1929); imported to Tasmania by Edgar Tatlow standing at Derby Lodge Stud, Hagley 1930, “self willed chap” who once got in a fight with Globe Derby; Eric Cochran, Victoria (Ballarat 1931 – 1935; died 19 December 1935). Lulu Boy together with two of his sons (Wrinkle and Cobber O’ Mine) were part of an eleven horse stallion parade at the Ascot, Melbourne’s inaugural meeting on 8 August 1932 (also paraded First Voyage, New Derby, Pedro Pronto. He left 158 winners (1 trotter)

• sire of Belalie/Lulu Mick (WA Cup), Kernel Lu (ID heat), Lulu Ribbons/Mylandra (Fremantle Cup), Lulureen (VIC Derby), Wrinkle (ID heats (2)/2nd Final)
• dam sire of multiple Derby winners Admirer, Amorous (Hunter Cup), Acclaim (all from Lulu Love – her progeny will appear in a later Classic Winner Producing Mares story)
• Lulu Boy’s best siring son was grey stallion Royal Lulu, late Lulu Roy (T2:12.0TT at Junee Show lowering Globe Derby’s record of 2:13.0, 3rd VIC Derby), died aged seven having spent two seasons at stud covering 100 mares

1. sire of 24 pacers (35 winner producing mares) including grey Royal Again (2:14.0, WA Cup heat/final; sire of 133 pacers standing at stud in NSW 1932-1941, SA 1942-1953; Eurolie Boy/Hailstorm [NSW Derby], Machine Again [sire of 39 winners, Blue Pennant ID heat/third Final], dam sire of Mineral Spring [VIC Derby, Hunter Cup, 2 ID heats/second Final, winner first mobile start event in Australia – Harold Park 2 November 1956])

Royal Van (NSW Derby); he and stable mate Royal Bill earlier won heats of inaugural NSW Derby and provided quinella in final

1. Royal’s Echo (2:09.0), sire of 21 pacing winners including dam sire of Highfield
2. Royals Hope, sire of Lews Hope, ID heat/second in final to James Scott
3. dam sire of Belgrave (NSW Derby), Chico (WA Cup), Active Ayr/Nevamaid/Para Derby (ID heat winners)
 

Marble Arch (2:15½, bay horse 1909), originally named Shamrock but changed to Marble Arch on his sale by McCudden to EJ Collard, Sydney. Peter Riddle trained him for one start, one win at Epping (Harold Park) at three; third in Sydney Thousand at four together with two wins including very quick for its day 2:15½ mile. Taken to NZ at five, he raced twice at NZ Cup meeting at Addington, unplaced over 1½m and second to Manderene in 2:15.0 mile. His remaining eleven five year old starts yielded three wins, his last lifetime win at Victoria Park, Kensington matching his best of 2:15½ (29 May 1915, seasons best).

Sold to AW Cooper, Marble Arch undertook stud duties in Newcastle and Maitland. Sire of 55 winners (3 trotters),

• Marble Bath, ID heats (2) driven by Sutton McMillan (scratched in final), TAS Easter Cup/Easter Plate

• Marble Ridge (2:11.0), bred by RG Harris, Singleton, NSW, won a considerable number of NSW feature races from late 1920’s/late 1930’s setting Australian record number of wins with 52 NSW victories. His trainer/driver was top reinsman Jerry McDonald. He raced from 15 September 1927 until 25 July 1938, commencing with a placed effort at the start of his four year old career. His career stats show

1. 4yo – 10 wins including nine successive wins at Victoria Park (4), Harold Park (then Epping 3), Richmond (Londonderry 2); 2:19¼
2. 5yo – 13 wins at Goulburn (2), Richmond (2), Orange (1), Victoria Park (6), Harold Park (2); 2:16.4
3. 6yo – 13 wins; by seasons end one win off then Australian record number of wins at registered meetings held by Grand Voyage (37); 2:15.0
4. 7yo – 3 wins, eight placings; 2:13.0
5. 8yo – 3 wins; 2:13½
6. 9yo – no wins, two placings
7. 10yo – 3 wins including fastest times, all over mile of 2:11.8, 2:11.2 and 2:11.0, track record until beaten two years later by Walla Walla’s 2:06.0 (Sydney Showgrounds); 2:11.0
8. 11yo – 1 win; 2:14.0
9. 12yo – no wins (non winner in period 11 March 1935 until 12 October 1936)
10. 13yo – 3 wins, five placings in a period of eight weeks at which point returned to his owner George Kohler, Arncliffe and prematurely retired; 2:14.2
11. 14yo – 3 wins when leased by Jim Simonds, Canterbury including first up for new owner/trainer/driver at Harold Park on 14 March 1938 (2:17.2 for 1 mile) plus other mile wins in 2:13.3 and 2:12.4 plus placed on three occasions to seasons and career end (1937/38)

a total of 52 wins, 46 placings, track records set at Victoria and Harold Parks. His career wins exclude many performances at Shows where he was also a winner.

Rock Huon (2:13½, bay horse 1902), NSW based throughout entire career, died May 1924. He mixed racing and stud duties throughout, starting with Western Districts Show Circuit (Bathurst, Wellington, Dubbo) until his initial registered meeting start at Bathurst, aged nine (19 June 1911). His best time (2:13½) was recorded in a dead heat with Van Roy over a mile in a FFA at Bathurst Show. He went on to beat Van Roy over a mile on 9 April 1912 at Victoria Park, Sydney. Retired as a 10yo – 34 starts over five seasons (four at registered meetings) for twelve outright victories and two dead heats plus sixteen placings, often racing against full brothers Dexter and Lulu Boy.

Rock Huon was a top sire for nearly twenty years; sire of 222 winners (6 trotters)

• Machine Brick, 2:10 4/5TT (Otahuhu Cup, Sydney Thousand from 85yds behind at Victoria Park when driven by Jack (JD) Watts, first big career win as trainer/driver), 1½m Harold Park record of 3:17.0, placed in 2:05 4/5 in NZ. He stood at stud in NSW until death in 1938, Sire of 97 winners – Auto Machine (VIC Derby, Otahuhu Cup, sire), Country Boy (NSW Derby), Machine Gun (Otahuhu Cup), Wilverley (VIC Derby, sire of Wilvernaji 2:03.0TT); Machine Brick was dam sire of Andi (ID heat), Double Note (Fremantle Cup), General Dixie (VIC Derby), Machine Again [sire of Blue Pennant, ID heat, Easter/Stratton/Northam/James Brennan Cups], Peak Hill (NSW Derby), Tycoon (SA Derby). Machine Brick’s daughter The Sequel was third dam of Paleface Adios while Apmat has three strains of Machine Brick blood in his first five generations
• Quartz (WA Easter Cup twice), The Gum Nut (VIC Trotters Cup), Western King (NZ International Hcp, 2:07.8)
• Rock Huon was dam sire of Lilas Walla/Monty Blue (Fremantle Cup), Marvel Lee (WA Cup), Miss Chicago (WA Derby), Royal Walla (SA Derby) and NZ pacers Billy Sea/Rock Burn, trotters Captain Bolt/Great Way/Lee Berry/Tiger Salve

Orphan Boy (2:25 2/5, black horse 1917 by Mambrino Derby), winner of a few races in Southern Mid West Districts of NSW.

Three members of Huon breed (imported by Dr G.M. Slate in 1887) in Kernel Lu (Lulu Boy), Marble Bath (Marble Arch) and Wrinkle (Lulu Boy) all won heats at the first Adelaide Interdominion carnival in 1937. Wrinkle was desperately unlucky not to win Grand Final finishing second to Dans Son.

Greta’s fillies included :

Greta Derby (2:16¼, 1916 by Mambrino Derby), raced early in her career as Infelice, winner of races in NSW and Victoria; dam of seven winners from eight foals, each metropolitan winners in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth including Prince Don

Maphada (2:43¼, 1905 by Huon Junior), winner of heat and final of 2m journey at Narromine Show (21 July 1909), dam of 11 foals for five winners :

• Altamonte (2:24.0), sire of four pacers

1. grand dam of Valley Echo (VIC Trotters Derby, Shepparton Trotters Cup)
2. sire 4th dam of Welcome Scot, dam sire of Special Dollar (SA/VIC Trotters Derbies, SA Trotters Cup, AUS 2/3yo Trotter of Year)

• Violet Ribbons, unraced dam of 11 foals including

3. Derby Lad (2:22¾, sire)
4. Violet Don (2:17.5)
5. Violet Dillon (2:21¼), dam of 10 foals including Dillonranj 2:12¾, sire; Letty Ranj, 3rd dam Swingin Harry [Port Augusta Cup]; Violation 2:15.9, sire, dam sire of Reichmann [1:58.0TT on Melbourne Showgrounds, $135,984, Miracle Mile, 2 ID heats/third Final]; High Advice [SA/VIC Derbies]; Aileen Dillon, dam of Monty Hall [Mildura Cup], 3rd dam of Omaorio [Central VIC Trotting Championship]; Clarify, 3rd dam of Hazel Daphne [1:56.6TT]

   

6. Miss Violet, grand dam of Patsys Pride (NSW Spring Hcp); 3rd dam of Derby Royale [SA Trotters Derby, ID heat/Trotters Final, SA/Shepparton Trotters Cups], Blumenthal [Junee Oaks]; 4th dam of Shack Mobile [Menangle Trotters Cup], Obligarch [NSW Spring Cup], Dandirea [NSW Breeders Plate – 2]
7. Ribbon Sign, 3rd dam of Tallong Boy (Goulburn Cup); 4th dam of Happy Haldon [1:56.7, $290,342, NSW Breeders Plate – 2, QLD Oaks], Bonded Velvet [1:54.3US, Bunbury/Albany Cups]; 5th dam of Tiffs Mystery [2:00.1, $168,202, AUS Pacing Championship ht], Another Tiff [NSW Breeders Plate – 2]

• Cascade (2:25¼), dam sire of Hailstorm (NSW Derby), Laughing Rose (VIC Oaks), Imperial (Fremantle/Bunbury Cups),
• Nichol Bells (2:25.1), Harold Park Hcps (2)
• Maphada Boy (2:14¾), sire of Meditation (WA Easter Cup)

Lady Mac (2:26½, 1911 by Huon Junior), despite having broken a leg in two places, won several minor country races. Her one known foal was filly Puta who left one foal Rex Globe, winner of many races at Harold Park in early days of night trotting from Eric Harpley’s Temora stable.

Greta was a quality foundation mare, without brilliance in her own pedigree and with only limited maternal family to follow. However, her own breeding record of nine winners from nine foals in the early 1900’s, influenced no doubt by Vancleve and the stallions she was bred to in Huon Junior and Mambrino Derby, speaks for itself.

Next Article in series on Classic Winner Producing Mares : SOMETHING HONEST

Peter Craig

22 March 2017

Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com

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