The third in a series of articles reviewing full brothers with 20 or more offspring {worldwide} as shown on the Classic Families (CF) database.
The timeframe being reviewed covers the 25 year period 1960 – 1985.
Two brothers who both stood in NZ were ARMBRO HURRICANE (1964) and EAGLE ARMBRO (1961) – Tar Heel/Dotties Pick. Imported from USA, by top race horse and sire Tar Heel (35 wins from 60 starts), out of multiple world record holder Dotties Pick (8 WR‘s and 42 wins), these two brothers commenced stallion duties in NZ in the 1970’s. They were the result of a classic breeding cross, Tar Heel over an Adios mare. Armbro Hurricane, a two minute 2yo, left several speedy young horses among his 223 NZ bred winners including Hurrania (NZ Oaks), Hybrow, Rustic Zephyr (NZ Derby). Damsire of classy pacer Aqua Caliente (NZFFA, Messenger) trained by Peter Wolfenden, Gay Boyden (WA Derby), Morgan James and The Suleiman (Tas Pacing C/S). Eagle Armbro left 69 winners in NZ and was damsire of Dick Prendergast’s leading trotter Simon Katz (Dominion Hcp, Trotting FFA). In Australia, Armbro Jodie and Lucky Kiwi won the NSW Oaks. Both brothers produced Australian bred winners with limited success.
Siring brothers of note, at least one of whom stood in NZ during this period included :
REGAL YANKEE (1961)/SELECT YANKEE (1965) – Tar Heel/Jean Adios. These brothers were the result of Tar Heel being crossed with an Adios mare. Standing at stud in NZ, Regal Yankee produced 121 winners with a further 2 born in Australia and 3 in United Kingdom. His standouts included Ladys Rule (NZ Oaks), Nimble Yankee and being damsire of So Long Eden (Rowe Cup) and champion Western Australian pacer Village Kid (1:55.5, $2m, 4 WA Cup’s equalling Pure Steel’s record, Hunter Cup, ID Pacing G/F, Miracle Mile twice, Truer Memorial, Aust Pacing C/S, Fremantle Cup twice, twice Grand Circuit and Australian Harness Horse of Year). Select Yankee was a successful stallion siring 121 Australian winners and 135 worldwide (USA/UK) being damsire of Lady Allora (VIC/TAS Oaks).
TUDOR HANOVER (1964)/TYROS HANOVER (1965) – Tar Heel/Time Wave. A successful son of Tar Heel, Tudor Hanover was purchased on the recommendation of leading US horseman Billy Haughton, having been bred by world renowned Hanover Shoe Farms. A leading North Island sire for many years, he topped the NZ sires list in 1980/81. His 167 NZ winners (4 Australia, 4 United Kingdom) included the “Queen of the North” Delightful Lady (2 AK Cups, NZ Breeders Stakes, 5 NI Breeders Stakes), Gymea Gold/Precious Sally (GN Oaks), John Tudor (Messenger). Tudor Hanover was damsire of Big Bucks (NSW Oaks), Hammer (NZSS -2c), Silk Brocade (Ladyship Mile), Slugger (NZ C/S – 2), Smooth Falcon (Vic Derby). Full brother Tyros Hanover, won 20 races and was a successful sire in Australia (predominantly Tasmania) of 147 winners. The best of these was Melfield Tyros (TAS Derby).
KNOWING BRET (1969)/KNOWING FAME (1970) – Bret Hanover/Worth Knowing. A son of sensational racehorse (winner 62 of 68 starts, 35 consecutive)/sire Bret Hanover (Adios), Knowing Bret scored eleven victories at two and raced successfully until six. Standing in Southland, he produced 247 winners in NZ with a further 8 winners foaled in Australia. Offspring included Josephine Bret (NZ/Southland Oaks), Night Allowance (ID Trotters G/F), Tuapeka Star (Tatlow Memorial – 2f, Ladyship Mile). Damsire credits included Iraklis (1:54.2, $1m, NZ Cup/FFA, Miracle Mile), Ermis, Matthew Lee (Easter Cup). Knowing Fame, a two minute miler at three, stood successfully at stud in Australia producing 111 winners including Quite Famous (TAS Pacing C/S).
BERRY HANOVER(1969)/BRAVADO HANOVER (1963) – Tar Heel/Bertilde Hanover. These brothers were another example of Tar Heel over an Adios mare breeding cross. At the time the highest priced and arguably best performed stallion imported into NZ, Berry Hanover stood at Nandina Stud. The sire of 169 pacing winners in NZ and a further 8 Australian bred winners, he is best known as damsire of champion [Roy/Barry Purdon trained] pacer Christopher Vance ($1.7m, GN Derby, Messenger, AK Cup, Miracle Mile, NZ Cup/FFA), Mark Purdon trained Sharp and Telford (AK Cup, AUS/VIC Derby), Tony Milina trained Elmer Gantry (Honda Cars 2000) while his other major winner was Alert Fella(Messenger) Older brother Bravado Hanover was leading 2yo sire (stakes basis) in Australia in 1972/3. Riverlea Jack was his best performer among 223 winning progeny in Australia.
SERGIO HANOVER (1970)/SURGE HANOVER (1971) – Stars Pride/Surrey Hanover. By one of the all time trotting greats in Stars Pride (sire of 8 Hambletonian winners; Nevele Pride, Super Bowl, Tuft; damsire of Noble Victory, Speedy Somoli, Chiola Hanover), Sergio Hanover was a dual gaited performer racing as a pacer at three before switching to trotting. He was the sire of 114 winners in NZ (91 trotters, 23 pacers) with Buster Hanover (ID Trotters G/F, 2 Aust Trot C/S, NZ Trot FFA) and Mairo Sultan (Rowe Cup) being the pick of them. Surge Hanover (T1:59.4US) was the winner of 11 races including Dexter Cup – 3T and Canadian 3YO C&G Trotter of Year. His 20 CF offspring means he just qualifies for inclusion in this article.
PRECIOUS FELLA (1973)/SON OF AFELLA (1976) – Most Happy Fella/Precious Newport. The dam of these sons of Most Happy Fella, Precious Newport left 10 foals for 10 winners, 8 in two minutes. Son of Afella commenced stud duties at Les Norman’s Bryleigh Stud in Edendale. In time he became a very successful sire leaving good hardy horses. His 342 winners included Arden Meadow (WA Derby), Bogan Fella (NZ Derby, NSW Ben Hur), Cedar Fella (Dominion Hcp, Trotting FFA/Championship), Jay Bees Fella (Taylor Mile), Oneinamillion (Qld Derby, one of only two NZ breds in first 100 in 1:50 – 1:49.3US in June 1998), Robyns Treasure (NZ Oaks, Nevele R Fillies). As a broodmare sire he left Arden Banner (NZSS – 2f), Giovanetto, Holmes DG (GN/NZ/VIC/NSW Derbies, NZFFA, Miracle Mile (2), Chariots of Fire, Truer Memorial, Victoria Cup, City of AK FFA (2), AK Cup; 1:54.5, $1.9m), Its Ella (Breeders Stakes), Meredith Maguire (NZSS -3f). Precious Fella, who time trialled in 1:55.0 was a winner of the Canadian Prix D’ete – 3c and a successful sire in North America.
HAPPY TALK (1975)/SMOOTH FELLA (1973)/MOST CHANCE (1974) – Most Happy Fella/Smooth Talk. The brothers sire Most Happy Fella, was by boom sire Meadow Skipper, one of the breeds greatest sons. Meadow Skipper sons (led by Cam Fella) and daughters were to dominate the track and the breeding barns throughout North America and Australasia. The brother’s maternal grandsire was Adios Butler who completed the coveted Triple Crown (Cane Pace, Little Brown Jug, Messenger Stakes). Smooth Talk, their dam was a full sister to Honest Story (1:55.2TTUS).
Smooth Fella was a top Grand Circuit performer in USA, winning five of his sixteen starts including Lawrence Sheppard – 2c and Reynolds Memorial – 3c. He was to prove an exceptional stallion in NZ with ‘a high winners to foals’ percentage. Often leading sire at yearling sales (top sale and averages), Smooth Fella holds the record for the highest priced yearling at a NZ standardbred sale, $340,000 – Roydon Reign (Smooth Fella/Roydon Dream filly). She was offered at 1987 Premier Sale by Roydon Lodge and purchased by John O’Dea as agent for South Taranaki Bloodstock and Curtin Farms. Roydon Dream was a future Broodmare of the Year and dam of Roydon Glen (sire of Lyell Creek), brother of Roydon Reign and Roydon Scott. Leading sire once on stakes (1984/5, from only five crops) and winners (1986/7) and leading broodmare sire twice (stakes and winners), Smooth Fella maintained a high overall position on the siring charts throughout his career. He had 809 winners in NZ, 62 when standing in Australia for Alabar (Windshield Wiper stood in NZ by way of a swap) and all told over 880 winners worldwide. Smooth Fella was the first NZ based sire at age fifteen with eight crops racing to leave 100 two minute performers (Marsa Star number 100). Other star performers included Ermis, Smooth Gretna (GN Oaks), Tuapeka Knight (NZSS – 2c). Damsire credits include Alta Serena (Nevele R Fillies, Easter Cup), Anvil Vance/Baileys Dream (Easter Cup), Divisive (VIC/NSW/AUS/TAS Derbies, Taylor Mile, Miracle Mile), Ginger Man (NZ/GN/QLD Derbies, Chariots of Fire), Jack Cade (NZSS – 3c, NZ Derby, NZFFA), Just An Excuse (Taylor Mile, Messenger, 2 NZ Cups, NZFFA), Monkey King ($3m+, 1:50.8, GN Derby, Messenger, 2 Easter Cups/NZ Cups/NZFFA, AK Cup, Miracle Mile), Smooth Satin (NSW SS – 3, Ben Hur, Chariots of Fire, Miracle Mile, ID Pacing G/F). Happy Talk, standing at stud in South Australia left 182 winners as well as being damsire of Hunter Cup winner Mont Denver Gold. Most Chance, also stood at stud in Australia siring 165 winners (170 worldwide).
ADMIRAL HALSEY (1977)/GENERAL STAR (1976) – Meadow Skipper/Bardot Hanover. The dam of these sons of Meadow Skipper was top race mare/broodmare and Canadian Hall of Famer in Bardot Hanover. Admiral Halsey won six races and stood at stud for prominent commercial breeder Grant Sim (Southland Standardbreds, Makarewa). This proven progenitor was second only to Vance Hanover for mares served in the 1990/91 season (187). He left Admiral Holiday (VIC Derby/WA Golden Nugget), Admirals Avenue (WA Cup) among his 238 winners and was damsire of Hokonui Ben (WA Cup). His three quarter brother Cadillac also stood in NZ. His full brother General Star, was a winner of Tattersalls Pace – 3c, sire of millionaire Covert Action (George Morton Levy FFA) as well as NZ based sire Lake Hills Jeb. His broodmare credits include millionaire Till We Meet Again (USA Breeders Crown – 2c).
FRENCH CHEF (1978)/PLAT DU JOUR (1976) – Meadow Skipper/La Pomme Souffle. Further Meadow Skipper influence came from these brothers out of La Pomme Souffle. Plat du Jour was the winner of 6 races including American National and Goshen (Historic) Cup at two. Initially standing at Sam Ballantyne’s Eastwood Lodge, Prebbleton, he had some fertility issues during his career but coped well with limited books. The sire of both good class pacers and trotters, among his 251 winners were Rosso Antico Stakes/now GN Trotters Derby winners (Bellam, French Accent, French Dynamite), Gee du Jour (Rowe Cup), Gina Rosa (GN Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, Breeders Stakes), Rostriever Hanover (Messenger), The Suleiman (Taylor Mile, TAS Pacing C/S). As a broodmare sire he left Gees Pride (Trotting Stakes -2T, NZSS -3T), Mac de Destroyer (Taylor Mile). French Chef was USA 2yo C&G Pacer of Year winning the Kentucky Pacing Derby – 2c in the process. He stood at stud in both NA and Australia (183) siring 472 winners in total which included standouts in millionaire horses Beach Towel (covered in next article), Amity Chief (Messenger, Terrapin, USA/Canadian 3yo C&G of Year) and Frugal Gourmet (Meadowlands Pace, Canadian Prix d’ete, Provincial Cup) that stood a period in NZ as did Dancing Master (Cane Pace). Broodmare credits include About To Rock (Hunter Cup, Tas Pacing C/S), Arizona Jack (NA Cup, Oliver Wendell Holmes), La Mosca (SA Trotters Derby), Montana Anna (Vic Oaks), Our First Jewel (VIC SS 2/3T, NSW Trotters Derby, Dullard Cup), Sassy Sarah (SA Oaks, VIC SS – 4m, Ladyship Mile), Viva La Fever (Dullard Cup, VIC SS – 4T).
Part IV of the Brothers In Arms series will review the modern era 1985 to present day.
Peter Craig
8 February 2017
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
