BROODMARE CENTURION AND NZ TROTTING BROODMARE GEM – PAULINA

This is another in an occasional series looking at some of New Zealand’s trotting broodmare gems, Paulina also being a broodmare centurion.

Race winning Medoro mare Paulina produced many worthy progeny throughout her wonderful broodmare career establishing a family branch of countless winners.

PAULINA (1952f Medoro/Lillete; a member of the Tot Huon family, CF N67) : 2:09.9, $2,240; ten foals, eight raced (four trotters, four pacers), five winners (three trotters, two pacers). Bred by Maurice Greville, raced and all foals bred by Arthur Gibbons.

** Conversion: $US1=$NZ1

Paulina did not commence racing as a pacer until she was eight years old, winning her first start at a Kumeu District Trotting Club meeting at Alexandra Park on the six furlong grass track driven by John Butcher (David’s father and Zachary’s grandfather) for owner/trainer Arthur Gibbons** of Glenfield (North Shore, Auckland) whose stables were located at Kumeu.

The following start at Cambridge she raced as a trotter, unplaced, her only trotting start. Paulina was a chronic puller who ultimately won four races for Gibbons during her three seasons of racing winning on two occasions at Alexandra Park (grass and new all-weather five furlong track), Claudelands and Hawera (grass). Her first of ten foals (Paula) arrived a year after her final race start.

** Arthur Gibbons trained in partnership with his son David for sixteen seasons (1968/9 – 1983/4) during which time they recorded 172 training successes, forty of them with trotters. During the early nineteen sixties, Arthur Gibbons trained eleven winners on his own account. A former Waitemata County Councillor and moderately successful driver known for often using Darky Broughton on his horses,  he died in February 1984, aged 71. Son Dave Gibbons was trainer, part owner and driver in majority of the “iron horse” Idle Scott’s forty six race wins from two hundred and nineteen starts.

Paulina’s dam Leeleeta (1933f Peter Bingen/Reta Huon, T2:21¾, $1,680) was a moderately performed two win trotter for Wilfred Johnstone. Acquired by Aucklander Dr Maurice Greville, she was first taken to Fiji before returning to Auckland where she and a couple of Greville’s Medoro foals were grazed on Arthur Gibbons then poultry farm at Albany. Greville granted Gibbons ownership rights to his horses with Leeletta leaving seven foals, five starters for two winners – Maletta (2:14.4, $680, one win at Claudelands/Waikato TC and Paulina (see above) with non-winner Leta Girl being dam of a winner.

Paulina’s grand dam Reta Huon (1915f Petereta/Tot Huon, 2:31.8, $760) left four foals with Leeletta being the only winner. Her full sister was dual NZ Cup winning trotting mare Reta Peter (1920, 1921, raced as a trotter against pacers in NZ Cup).

Her third dam was the foundation mare for this family Tot Huon (1907 Huon Yet/Berlin mare), unraced dam of four foals, two winners in Reta Huon and Reta Peter whose only wins in both the 1919/20 and 1920/21 seasons were in consecutive NZ Cups, T2:15.8, $9,300, twice stake earner of year; dam of Peter Locanda (Timaru Cup), Gracie Fields (second dam of Gay Gordon, sire of Mighty Gay, Ashburton Flying Stakes; third dam of Viva Amigo, VIC Derby heat, dual gaited) and Reta Axworthy (dam of Gay Callabaro, sire of Terylene : dam of Safe Return, Kaikoura Cup, ID Consolation and Teryman, Hannon Memorial, ID heat, New Brighton Cup; fourth dam of All Around, Wellington Cup, 1:52.4US).

Paulina left several very worthy performers for the Gibbons family and her daughters and their progeny have bred on with very good effect including both pacers and trotters of considerable note.

Paulina’s male progeny included :

Paul Gentry (Gentry), fifth foal bred/owned by Arthur Gibbons, trained by Arthur and Dave Gibbons, driven by Dave Gibbons (two wins in junior driver’s races when Frank Cooney and Graeme McMurtrie were in control of the reins). The winner of seven races from seventy four starts in NZ over five seasons (three Alexandra Park, two Hutt Park, Cambridge, Claudelands), 2:08.9, $11,220, Thames Pacing Cup; twenty eight USA wins, 2:03.1US (1976 season); total earnings of $83,229. Sire of two winners including Kane, winner of six, 2:05.7, third in NZ Messenger.

Paul Evander (Great Evander), eighth foal and second male progeny of Paulina, Paul Evander was a six win trotter for the Gibbons combination over three seasons (four to six years old). Opening two wins came in consecutive weeks at Te Awamutu TC meetings at Cambridge where Peter Wolfenden handled the driving duties. His subsequent four wins were all at Alexandra Park with Peter Wolfenden driving him to win number three before Dave Gibbons took over the reins for a further three victories, T2:09.3 (2200mSS), $12,240. Paul Evander was the sire of twenty seven winners, twenty one of them being trotters (Elgin Princess and Paul Charming both won six trotting) and broodmare sire of sixteen with eleven being trotters.

A further Great Evander gelding in Paul Duval qualified as a trotter (T2:17.9), once placing third from twelve starts, $215.

Paulina’s fillies included :

Paula (Great Evander), the first foal and her most successful in New Zealand, winner of fourteen races in NZ from seventy nine starts (five unplaced starts as a pacer, all others as a trotter), T2:03.4, $19,715 with the majority of her wins coming at Alexandra Park (twelve) with others at Cambridge and Kensington Park, Whangarei (Northland).

Whilst Paula had three starts as a two year old, her first win came at her tenth three year old start at Cambridge followed three months later with her other three year old success at Kensington Park. Paula was bred by Arthur Gibbons, owned by Dave Gibbons and apart from her first two victories trained throughout by Arthur and Dave Gibbons (trainers – Dave Gibbons first win and Arthur Gibbons second win). Dave Gibbons drove her to victory on eleven occasions (first two as a junior driver), Peter Wolfenden one and Don Hayes was the pilot in her final two NZ wins.

Among her twelve Alexandra Park victories were Royal Oak and St Andrews Hcp Trots together with the Reg Rhodes Memorial Mile (T2:03.4, her fastest mile rate : note : T2:03.3US which equates to T2:03.6 NZ time), all open class trots in their day. Paula won two lower grade trots on the same programme on 25 Oct 1969 – race 3 Quick Silver Hcp, one mile five furlongs, 36yds and race 8 Indian Parrish Hcp, two miles, 24 yds. In winning the Wairakei Hcp (Oct 1970), Paula smashed Jason McCord’s NZR for one mile five furlongsSS (T3:32 4/5) when trotting the journey in a new record of T3:28 3/5.

Paula produced some sterling placed performances in major trotting races such as twice being third in Auckland’s feature trotting race JR Rowe Cup – 1969 (18yds) to Single Cash and Highland Flight; 1970 (30 yds) Global Hall and Waterloo. Finished third in Cambridge’s McMillan Flying Mile prior to the 1971 Christchurch Interdominions. Paula finished second in one of the heats and a very close third beaten a neck and a half neck by Geffin and Beau Winter in her final NZ start, the two mile ID Trotters Grand Final. This brought Paula’s two mile record to two wins and three third placings at the extreme distance.

Exported to North America, Paula raced there for five seasons commencing in 1971 rated as a seven year old (six year old in NZ). Her twenty two American wins were recorded in the following seasons : 1971 – four, 1972 – seven, 1973 – six, 1974 five and 1975 – none. Her best mile time in North America was T2:03.3US set at Garden City Raceway, St Catherine’s, Ontario, Canada on a 5/8ths of a mile track on 8 June 1974. Paula’s complete record showed 36 victories, T2:03.4NZ, T2:03.3US, $79,159.

Paulette (Great Evander), was a dual gaited winner of eleven races (all at Alexandra Park), four as a pacer (2:10.4, $4,020) and seven as a trotter (T2:06.2, $15,565), total earnings of $19,585. Racing entirely as a pacer at two (six placings) and three, she recorded all four of her pacing wins as a three year old for breeder/owner Arthur Gibbons, trainers Arthur and Dave Gibbons and driver Dave Gibbons. Paulette had a further eight starts as a pacer at four for one second and twice more at six when unplaced.

Her trotting career commenced as a four year old with three wins from seven attempts. These included her second trotting win in a heat of the National Trot. Only racing twice at five at either gait, her two trotting efforts brought no return. At six in addition to her two pacing races, Paulette won on a further three occasions from sixteen starts – Association Hcp, EG Bridgens Memorial Trot (set NZR and world record for one mile three furlongs mobile of T2:53 3/5 which remained the record when switch made from imperial to metric distances 1973/4 season) and Rowe Cup in consecutive starts during the 1971 Auckland TC Christmas carnival.

Her two mile Rowe Cup ($10,280) win was recoded in a pedestrian T4:36 2/5 due to a very wet and slow track. Paulette was by Bill B stallion Great Evander, northern based sire of many pacing and trotting winners. Great Evander produced five Rowe Cup winners in the 1970’s decade (Paulette, Miss Debra, Robyn Evander, Easton Light, Even Speed). She placed third in the Reg Rhodes Flying Mile, rounding out her racing career with a final trotting success from seven starts as a seven year old in the Royal Oak Hcp Trot.

Paulette was the dam of ten foals, five raced for two winners – Midnight Sharvid (T2:29.5) and (My) Paul Lobell (2:02.3AUS). She was the dam of

• Jenny, non-winner, dam of three winners including Conundrum, four NZ wins, 2:02.2, 1:54.0US, $218,088
• Miss Paulette, unraced dam of ten winners (seven trotters)

1. Bionic Rabbit, three NZ wins, T1:57.2US, $128,958
2. Game Paul, twenty two NZ wins, T2:02.1 (nine Addington, five Alexandra Park)/one AUS win, T2:02.0; total earnings of $277,852; NZ Trotting Championship, Green Lane/Ordeal/Banks Peninsula Trotting Cups, Ashburton Trotters Mile, ID heat at Moonee Valley; second and third in Dominion Hcp
3. Tabella Supreme, 2:03.0, $8,637; dam of Supreme Justice, 2:00.6, $57,227, Stratford Cup

• Paula Command, unraced, dam of three winners

1. Commander Paul, 24 QLD wins (16 Albion Park), 1:56.7AUS, Albion Park Addington FFA; 20 NA wins, 1:52.2US; total of 44 wins, $277,527
2. Michelle Command, non-winner, dam of three trotting winners including Mafioso, T1:57.3US, $36,073
3. Petite Pauvre, six wins, 2:04.7, $29,200; dam of two winners

• Poor Little Rich Boy, eight NZ/five AUS wins, 2:00.0AUS, $58,019
• Poor Little Rich Girl, dam of The Great Gatsby, 1:54.2US

Paula Scott (Scottish Command), bred by Arthur Gibbons, owned by Mrs JL and DK Gibbons, trained by Arthur and Dave Gibbons with Dave Gibbons undertaking the bulk of the driving duties (two wins for Doug Mangos).

A top quality youngster whose nine NZ wins (2:07.9, $25,935, seven at Alexandra Park) graduated her to the verge of Cup class. Victories included six as a three year old with major victories in GN Oaks ($9,000, 3:35.8 2700mM) and Smalley Stakes with another three victories at four which included the Franklin Cup and Cambridge Gold Cup. She established a NZR for 2200mM (fillies) early in the 1973/4 season of 2:55.0 in the Cambridge Three Year Old Stakes.

Paula Scott recorded several significant placings with seconds in NZ Sires Produce Stakes – 3, Messenger heat (same night second in c7 & faster International Hcp) and third in the Debutante Fillies Stakes.

Paula Scott recorded seventeen NA wins, 2:00.0US, with his best mile time recorded at Yonkers Raceway on 21 July 1976; total earnings of $123,198. On her return to NZ, she was the dam of three foals, one non-winner and

• Paulas Legacy, unraced dam of two winners including Falcons Legacy, two NZ/twenty seven (5 VIC with one at Moonee Valley/1 NSW at Harold Park; 21 QLD with 18 at Albion Park), 1:57.3, $225,917, VIC Derby heat/third Final, Geelong Guineas
• Cee Cee Paula, unraced dam of one winner

1. Super Command, six NZ wins (five Alexandra Park), T2:01.4/five VIC wins, T2:03.1, $172,846; NZ Hambletonian, VIC Breeders Crown 2/3T, VIC Trotters Derby heat; third GN Trotters Derby
2. Brite Paula, unraced dam of three winners

• Hot Holiday, three NZ, T2:03.1/eighteen WA wins (twelve Gloucester Park), T1:59.7, $209,161, Great Southern Star Qualifying heat; second WA Trotters Cup
• Superbowlcheerleader, Group One performing trotting mare, ten wins (three Alexandra Park, one Addington), T2:00.9, $139,782, ANZAC Cup, third in NZ Trotting Championship; dam of Cheerful, four wins (three Addington), T2:00.9, $74,077, NZ Trotters Oaks, NZSS Classique; thirds in Jewels Ruby – 2T

• Going Commando, three NZ/three VIC wins, T2:07.1, $37,477

The unraced or non-winning fillies produced by Paulina proved their worth in the broodmare paddock – they included :

Maid Paula (Scottish Command), one unplaced start as a pacer, dam of thirteen foals, seven to race for six winners including :

• Yankee Paul, five NZ wins (three Alexandra Park), 2:04.8, $8,945; 1:56.4US, total earnings of $370,908, Morrinsville Stakes, Manukau Stakes
• Pauls Byrd, ten NZ wins (nine Alexandra Park, two as a two year old), 1:58.6, $41,630, 2:03.2US, total earnings of $41,630, North Island Sires Stakes – now Cardigan Bay Stakes, NZ Flying Mile

• Paul, one Alexandra Park win, 2:12.1, $2,645, 1:57.4US, total earnings of $22,230
• Paulas Maid, unraced dam of six winners including five in two minutes

1. Stately Maid, 1:56.3US, $33,833
2. Fox Four, non-winner in NZ, $1,400; winner of eleven in QLD (five Albion Park), 1:59.8AUS, total earnings of $41,183
3. Aussie Dan, eleven wins (two WA both at Gloucester Park as a two year old; nine QLD with two at Albion Park), 2:00.2, $43,341, WA Western Crown – 2c at second start
4. Dom, twenty six wins (seven AUS, 2:00.1 – two QLD, one Albion Park; four VIC; one WA at Gloucester Park; nineteen NA wins), 1:52.3US, total earnings of $156,401

Paulova (Killarney Hal), unraced, dam of four foals, all three who raced were winners

• Paulovas Pride, three NZ wins, T2:14.4, $8,190; T2:06.0US, $19,074
• Paul Berry, non-winner NZ; 2:01.3US, $6,409
• Paulovas Joy, unraced, dam of five winners including Respect (five wins, 2:01.8, $19.698) and Fella’s Pride – three NZ 2yo wins (two Alexandra Park, 2:01.6, $33,150), Franklin Futurity, NZ Futurity – 2; fifteen AUS wins (twelve VIC with six at Moonee Valley; two NSW/Harold Park; one QLD/Albion Park), 2:00.9AUS, NSW Derby heat/final, Ararat Cup; total earnings of $183,408

Paulreta (Gentry), fifteen pacing starts for a second and a third, $345, dam of twelve foals including

• Paul Command, owned by Dave Gibbons and Bert de Boer (part owner of Chokin), winner of twelve races in NZ (six Alexandra Park), 2:03.9, $57,750 including four as a three year old, seven at four (Waikato Cup, Cambridge Classic) and Franklin Cup win in his final NZ season at six. Three AUS wins including one at Moonee Valley when driven by Dave Gibbons, 2:04,6AUS, $15,831; 1:57.2US; total earnings of $121,332
• Hurricane Paul, six NZ wins (three Alexandra Park), 2:03.7, $22,400, Tudor Hanover Stakes; one QLD/Albion Park win 2:01.5AUS, $3,405; 1:57.4US, total earnings $39,736
• That Fella, seven NZ wins (five Alexandra Park), 2:00.2, $58,217, Thames Juvenile, Cambridge Classic – 4 ; 1:57.4US, total earnings of $67,254
• Paula Gee, winner of one race at Pukekohe at three, fourth in GN Oaks, 2:12.9, $3,210; dam of twelve foals, two raced, one winner and a qualifier – Sur Matao, four NZ wins at two (two Alexandra Park), 2:01.4, $21,437; eighteen AUS wins (fourteen NSW/5 Harold Park and four QLD at Albion Park), 1:58.9AUS, total earnings of $77,705
• Just Paula, winner of one race at Manawatu at three, 2:08.9, $5,735; dam of six foals, two raced, one winner and a qualifier – Just An Ace, three wins, one at Alexandra Park, 2:03.6, $25,662
• Lady Reta, unraced dam of eight foals, three to race for a winner and two qualifiers – Carpe Diem, two NZ wins, one at Alexandra Park, 2:01.1, $8,235; seven WA wins/one at Gloucester Park, 2:01.8AUS, total earnings of $69,086
• Reta Smooth, unraced dam of eleven foals for one winner Nerology (five WA wins, 2:01.2, $18,004) and grand dam of Smooth Station (seven VIC wins, 1:59.4, $20,155; grand dam of Im Lonely, 1:54.6, $112,367 and Signs And Wonders, 1:54.3, $53,969 )
• Smooth Paula, three wins (two Alexandra Park), 1:59.4, $26,670; dam of eleven live foals, ten raced, nine winners and a qualifier including

1. Classy Cullen, three NZ wins, winner of first start as two year old at Addington, 2:01.4, $26,648, Nat Hall Memorial; one VIC win, 2:01.5AUS, total earnings $31,448
2. Matter Of Pride, six wins (five Alexandra Park), 1:59.0, $60,313, Kumeu Stakes – 4
3. Hardly Matters, eight wins (one Alexandra Park), 1:57.5, $61,596, third NZSS – 2c heat/final
4. Matter Of Interest, one NZ win at Alexandra Park, 2:07.2, $8,670; seven AUS wins (three VIC, four WA including one at Gloucester Park), 1:58.9, $53,670
5. Another Matter, eight wins from eighteen starts (seven Alexandra Park), 1:59.7, $68,381
6. End Of The Matter, one NZ win, 2:00.2, $12,378; eleven QLD wins, nine at Albion Park, 1:57.2, $66,363
7. Matters Not, non-winner, $35, dam of five foals, four to race, all winners including Mister Veejays Fella, one NZ win, 2:02.7, $10,965; fourteen AUS wins (three VIC/two SA/nine WA, six at Gloucester Park), 1:55.0AUS, WA Pat Cranley Memorial, fourth Fremantle Cup, total earnings of $138,742
8. Matter Of Time, unraced, qualified dam of seven foals, four winners including

– Inevitable, one Addington win, 1:59.8, $3,799, dam of six live foals, two winners

• Hes Bettor, one win, p2, 1:54.7 Menangle, $9,420, third Sapling Stakes
• Its Inevitable, eleven NSW wins (three Menangle), 1:54.1, $91,520

– Im Oni Jones, ten VIC wins (one Melton), 1:57.3, $48,513; dam of winner

9. Matter Of Fact, Smooth Paula’s first foal, winner of four (two Alexandra Park), 2:00.3, $28,565, NZSS 4/5 NI mares final (second heat); dam of eleven foals, nine to race for six winners including

– Cincinnati Kid, two NZ wins, one at Alexandra Park; twenty four VIC wins (three Melton, thirteen Moonee Valley), 1:55.0AUS, total earnings $499,495; two ID heats, Ballarat Cup, Sokyola Sprint, Minuteman/two Hunter Cup/Preux Chevalier FFA’s, VHRSC (MHRC) Classic, VIC Claiming Masters

– Honey Ryder, one win, 1:59.2TT, $12,331; dam of a winner

• Miss Patriot, one NZ win, 2:00.2, $8,270; nine AUS wins (seven NSW/one Menangle, two QLD/one Albion Park), 1:53.7, total earnings $50,021, third Canola Cup final

– Lady Fingers, non-winner, $692, dam of nine foals, four winners and a qualifier including

• Chessy Fingers, one Alexandra Park win, 2:00.1, $34,576, NZSS – 3f heat (second heat/fifth final), second Ladyship Stakes; two Menangle wins, 1:50.3, total earnings $82,190, Raith Memorial, third NSW Oaks heat/fourth final
• Robb Stark, two Alexandra Park wins, 1:59.6, $21,303; three WA wins, one Gloucester Park, 1:57.6AUS, total earnings $63,324
• Lady Smack, dam of Ideal Agent, p2 1:57.8, $24,835
• The Orange Agent, champion race mare, winner of eighteen in NZ (twelve Alexandra Park, two Addington), 1:51.1, $516,972; at three – GN Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, Jewels, Ladyship Stakes; at four – GN Breeders Stakes, Waikato Flying Mile; at five – City Of Auckland FFA, NZ Breeders Stakes; NZ 3f, 4m, 5m+ of Year; second Queen Of Hearts; numerous NZ records including 3yo/mares one mile record of 1:51.1, Ashburton Jewels Diamond 2015; undefeated winner of five in AUS (four Melton), 1:53.7AUS, Breeders Crown -3f, Make Mine Cullen, Angelique Club Cup, Queen Of Pacific; total earnings of $725,542

– Talks To Angels, unraced dam of five foals for a winner in Vettel, seventeen AUS wins (six QLD/four Albion Park, eleven NSW/three Menangle), 1:51.5, $104,299

– Lady Luck Smiles, two wins (one Alexandra Park), 2:02.7, $5,530, dam of Heez About To Rock, two NZ wins from two starts, 2:01.4, $6,950; eight WA wins, four Gloucester Park, 1:56.6, $87,644

– With A Vengeance, five wins (three Alexandra Park), 1:59.5, $48,423

• Whatz Left, Paulreta’s final foal was exported unraced to Australia where she is the dam of seven foals, four to race with three winners

1. Nexus Lad, winner of fourteen SA wins, nine Globe Derby, 1:59.8, $43,068
2. Jagmeister, NA winner, 1:53.3US, $52,578
3. Nonno Medoro, five VIC wins, 1:58.0, $26,146

Paulina has established a highly successful branch of the N67 Tot Huon family which continues to perform nearly seven decades after her own foaling.

Peter Craig

20 May 2020

Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com

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