This is the first of two articles covering the harness racing involvement of Queenslander Chris Rookwood and the NZ bred Scottish Hanover mare Scottish Belmer, her forebears and descendants.
A native of Queensland, Chris’s property is located on five acres about thirty km’s south of Brisbane and approximately forty minutes from Albion Park (previously similar distance to Gold Coast’s Parklands track). Chris who is a self-employed adjists his mares on his property and sends them down to Victoria for serving.
My first contact with Chris Rookwood came in July 1992 when I received a letter (see below) enquiring about then three year old filly Scottish Hostess. Chris had purchased her dam Scottish Belmer from National Bloodstock Corporation (NBC) in 1989 at a cost of $8,000. At the same time, NBC had her weanling filly foal Scottish Hostess for sale for $10,000 Chris informed me. Not surprisingly, Chris was only able to afford the mare, not the mare and foal package. The author must concede that he was the lucky recipient in that regard purchasing Scottish Hostess at the 1990 NBC Yearling Sale (Supplementary Sale) on Sunday 24 March 1990 for $2,100 plus GST from her breeders/owners Meadowlands Breeding Ltd and Co, Auckland (NBC off shoot).
Chris and I corresponded for a number of years by “snail mail” but ultimately lost contact until February 2014 when Chris’s very good race mare Awesome Belmer won the Sibelia Stakes at Menangle. I contacted Harness Racing Australia for Chris’s phone number (I was going to be in Sydney attending 2014 Interdominion Grand Final day), managing to re-establish contact, initially by phone Sydney/Brisbane before Grand Final Day (Awesome Belmer ran in Ladyship Mile) and ever since by the occasional e mail.
Chris has had a great association with Steve Turnbull training his horses at The Lagoon, Bathurst. Together with Steve’s wife Jenny, daughter Amanda and others from the Turnbull clan, the Turnbull’s have given Chris consistent success over the years.
Harness Racing New South Wales Living Legend Steve Turnbull with wife Jenny (father Tony AD also a Living Legend)
Amanda Turnbull
Chris’s principal mare over the past three decades had been Scottish Belmer, a member of the Purple Patch branch of the family of Papilla (N15), part of a breed nurtured and developed by Percy Watson of Methven, Mid Canterbury, NZ. The Purple Patch branch of the family is extensive with many exported to both Australia and North America. Scottish Belmer’s influence extends over the past four decades. The family members mentioned in these two articles are generally the most notable but by no means a complete record of those most successful.
Scottish Belmer (1979 Scottish Hanover/Countess Belmer), one Australian win and two placings, 2:08.9, 14 : 1 – 1 – 1, $928; dam of thirteen live foals, nine raced for four winners, one in two minutes. Progeny and direct descendants of Scottish Belmer will be discussed in the second of these two articles.
A closer look at her racing record shows that she commenced racing with three starts as a three year old. The first start at a Wagga, NSW night meeting on 4 June 1983 where she finished second in a three year old pace over 2100m (1:22.3km/2:12.4MR) for earnings of $180, her only success at that age,
As a four year old, she had eleven starts with her solitary victory coming at her eighth seasonal start (eleventh overall) at Bridgetown, WA on 31 March 1984 in a 28+ Pace over 2100m for an $800 total stake. Driven by Ray J Retzlaff, her kilometre MR was 1:20.1 (2:08.9MR). Placed third at her tenth four year old start at Williams on 23 April 1984, 27+ Pace over 2289m (1:19.3MR) together with two fourths, she won $748 in stakes leaving her with an overall career record of 14 : 1 – 1 – 1, $928, 2:08.9, when retired to the broodmare paddock.
Sire Scottish Hanover (Hoot Man/Scotch Rhythm), descends from the Happy Medium line through Peter The Great (T2:07¼US, Kentucky Futurity, great sire/broodmare sire), Peter Scott (T2:05.0US, wealthiest son of Peter The Great; winner of 50 of 57 heats, second in remainder), Scotland (T1:59¼US, super sire and broodmare sire) and Hoot Man (Kentucky Futurity, Hambletonian, two minute trotter and prolific sire/dam sire in USA). From an all trotting paternal sire line, he represented a double cross of Scotland to Volomite with his sires third dam being Minnetonka (second dam of Light Brigade). Trained by Sanders Russell, trainer of Hal Tryax, Cardigan Bay’s sire. A 1:57.1USTT performer, he was the fastest stallion in NZ in late 1960’s being an immediate success at stud with champion juvenile Roydon Roux in his first crop. Scottish Hanover was leading sire (stakes) in NZ in 1975/6, 1978/9 and (winners) 1977/8.
Dam Countess Belmer (1959 U Scott/Ingle Belmer), five unplaced starts as a pacer, $0, dam of eleven live foals, six classic progeny other than Scottish Belmer (refer above). NB : both sire and dam of Scottish Belmer were twenty years of age when she was foaled. Countess Belmer’s foals were all bred by Percy Watson of Methven. They included –
- Belmers Image (1973g Armbro Del), 1:58.2, $83,025, sixteen NZ/one AUS win, NZ Three Year Old Pacer of Year (Waikouaiti/Cardigan Bay/Russley/Celebrity/Cross Stakes, EF Mercer Mile, NSW Derby heat), Premier Stakes, NZ 4yo Championship, Adams Memorial, Timaru/CPTC Flying Miles. Second in an Auckland Cup and NZFFA, ran in two NZ Cups
- Bryn Morphydd (1969f Garrison Hanover), one win, 2:11.2, $1,745; dam of seven foals, winner in Count Karalta, eighteen TAS/VIC wins, $45,612, TAS 4yo Championship; third dam of Atoms Exit (QLD Breeders Classic – 3c), Schvet Lana (TAS Shirley Hills Memorial); fifth dam of Sweet Pea Jasper, TAS Sweepstakes – 2f
- Deep Belmer (1968f Fallacy), unraced as Deep Purple in NZ; dam of nine live foals for five winners; grand dam of SA FFA Pacer Myrniong Meadow and DB Fillies heat winner Koala Tabella; fourth dam of Stormont Czar, $232,165, 1:50.9 at Menangle (1:50.4US, $254,871)
- Earletta Barmin (1966f Garrison Hanover), unraced, fourth dam of Clean Off Hour, SA Sapling
- Scottish Belle (1970f Lumber Dream), unraced, dam of ten live foals for four winners; second dam of Genghis Karalta (1:58,1, $290,227, TAS Easter Cup/Golden Mile, both twice), Aftoodo (Hobart Pacing Cup); third dam of Chilled Sanction (VIC Cinderella Stakes), Our Sir Jeckyl (1:53.7, $301,604, TAS Plate – 3c, Easter Cup, Golden Mile, Governors/Metropolitan Cups, Watts Memorial), Classical Mover (WA Empress Stakes), Tuanaki (WA Marathon Hcp), Davisons Destiny (WA Nights Of Thunder)
- Tuatahi Rakel (1971f Fallacy), unraced, dam of five winners including Noble Garry, fifteen wins, 1:59.6, $42,420
- Lord Chase (1974c Good Chase), 2:07.5AUS, eleven NSW wins (four Harold Park), $11,310
- Glen Innes (1975g Garrison Hanover), one NZ win, 2:09.2/USA wInner in 2:01.2US, $45,325
Grand dam was open class pacer Ingle Belmer (1938 Jack Potts/Purple Patch), 2:07.5, $17,759, Forbury Park Metropolitan Hcp, New Brighton Presidents Hcp and Alexandra Park’s St Heliers, Presidents and Ranfurly Hcps; dam of eight foals bred by Percy Watson, Methven, six winners; five other classic progeny in addition to Countess Belmer (refer above) including :
- Battlefield (1960h Light Brigade), 2:09.6, $5,620, five wins, Nelson Cup; sire of dual gaited Ritch Hill, Rowe Cup
- Ingle Brigade (1952f Light Brigade), one win, 2:28.0, $624; dam of eleven foals, five winners; fourth dam of Garstang (VIC Battle of Claimers, Eastern Challenge), Mainland Spur (Welcome Stakes); fifth dam of Latte, WA Caduceus Club Classic – 3, Northam Cup
- Ingleburn (1958f Captain Adios), 2:07.3, $4,220, four wins
- Lady Belfield (1954f U Scott), three unplaced starts as a pacer, $0, dam of eight foals, four winners including dam of Royal Belmer, Kaikoura Cup, inaugural NZ Breeders Stakes in 1973, fourth in 1972 NZ Cup
- grand dam of Harvest Gold (nine wins, Ladyship Stakes, GN Oaks; second Nevele R Fillies, third NZ Oaks)
Royal Decision (ten wins, DB Fillies heat [third final], second GN/third NZ Oaks), Sovereign (six wins, NZ Derby)
- third dam of Windsor Royal (Maryborough/Echuca Cups), Motoring Anvil (Waikato Guineas, NSW Derby heat), Rondel Franco (1:51.3US, $385,312, two NZ/thirty five USA wins)
- fourth dam of Gayleen Royalty (VIC Evison Memorial Trot), OK Royal (1:53.3US, $200,319, Messenger), Selby Bromac ($331,942, Bohemia Crystal, Cordina Sprint twice, Spring Championship, Sydney/SA Cups), Courageousnquick (VIC Sapling /NSW Pink Bonnet – 2f), Saveapatrol (Invercargill Cup)
- fifth dam of A Piccadilly Princess (1:50.4, $733,842, eight NZ/nine AUS wins, GN/VIC Oaks, Harness Jewels Diamond – 3f/4m, Graham Goffin Memorial, NSW Robin Dundee/Ranji Bill/Ladyship Mile, WA Parliamentarians Cup; seconds, NZSS – 3f, NZ Breeders Stakes, Parliamentarians Cup, Ladyship Cup, Sibelia Stakes; third Nevele R Fillies)
Following all out of Sabrina Bromac (dam of winners of 169 races, $1.58m to date) – Ardle McArdle (1:53.3, twenty eight wins, Menangle Country Series), Slick Bromac (thirty three wins, Shirley Turnbull Memorial, City of Launceston Cup), Tuscan Breeze (twelve wins, VIC Sapling Stakes – 2f) and Smudge Bromac (1:53.2, $460.958, thirty six wins, TABCorp Melton/Albury/Melton/Yarra Valley/Echuca Cups, VIC Enduro, VIC Claiming Masters twice); Lightning Mach (1:51.1US), Pats Delight (1:52.2, Harness Jewels Emerald – 3, NZMTC Summer Cup, ID heat, Shepparton Gold Cup), Stars Of Courage (SASS – Southern Cross 2c), Bad Leroy (SA Breeders Plate – 2), Hugh Hefner (1:51.3US), Playing With Fire (1:50.2US)
- sixth dam of Morton Plains, VICSS- 3f, Redcliffe Oaks
- Lady Belmer (1951f U Scott), 2:05.6, $21,983, thirteen wins, Easter/Dunedin Cups, Wildwood Hcp, second Alan Matson Hcp, third Hannon Memorial, fourths NZFFA, 1961 ID Grand Final. Lady Belmer was part of a spectacular four way finish to the 1961 ID Pacers Grand Final at Addington. The first three home ahead of her eventually went to North America – Massacre (winner, broke down in USA), False Step (second, winner of three NZ Cups, NZFFA, NZ Derby, 2:03.1US), Arania (third, NZ Oaks, speedy mare went 1:57.0TTUS) with the latter two big stake earners in North America.
Ran in five successive NZ Cups, placing fourth in 1958, fifth in 1961. Dam of one winner; third dam of Erics Legend, 1:53.0; fourth dam of Ellmers Image (1:49.6, ID Consolation, Truer Memorial, Mount Eden Championship, Joe Ilsey/Renshaw Cups), Ellmer Hanover (1:52.2, Methven Green Mile), Tuahiwi Trick, 1:54.1US, $294,304
- Royal Brittania (1953g U Scott), 2:09.4, $9,380, eight wins, Auckland Premier/Campbell Hcps
Scottish Belmer’s third dam was Purple Patch (1929 Rey De Oro/dam of Purple Patch), who whilst unraced produced ten foals, five winners and seven other classic offspring apart from Ingle Belmer (refer above) including :
- Anita Patch (1939f Jack Potts), unraced; dam of Patchwork, Easter/Dunedin/New Brighton Cups, twelve NZ wins, placed second in 1961 NZ Cup, moderate USA performer, successful broodmare in NZ
grand dam of Major Craig (Tamworth Cup); third dam of Knight Pistol ((T1:56.4, $612,203, VIC Trot Championship [three heats/final], NOR Harley Davidson Race, Alf Goran Memorial, VIC Enduro, Gramel Hcp, ID Trotters heat, Cochran, Coulter Memorial) and half-brother Scandinavian (Geelong 4yo Classic, Stawell/Charlton Trotters Cups); Bally Moss (NSW Sapling – 2); fourth dam of Helmar Bob (1:51.4US), Shredder (Wellington Cup); fifth dam of Takahoa (1:52.3), Amortizor (QLD Paleface Classic 2); sixth dam of Sly Grin (1:53.4US, $321,404), Sokys Big Bullet (1:53.9, Menangle Country Series, Bunbury Cup)
- Countless (1936g Jack Potts), 2:08.5, $20,870, Purple Patch’s second foal. Winner of Hannon Memorial, National Cup/Canterbury Hcps, second in 1943 NZ Cup to Haughty, fourth in 1944 and 1945 (ran in five NZ Cups)
- Dora Patch (1944f U Scott), unraced, fifth dam of Highfield Jewel, 1:55.6, $157,459, Fremantle Members Sprint
- Ingleside (1949f Highland Fling), unraced, grand dam of Daryl John, WA August Cup
- Inglewood (1947f U Scott), 2:07.8, $9,300, Forbury Park James Hcp; dam of nine foals all bred by Percy Watson for seven winners including Glenurquhart (nine wins, Hororata/Methven Cups), Rhinegolde (eleven wins, Ashburton Flying Stakes); third dam of Vanston Jack, QBred Breeders Classic – 2c; fourth dam of Armbro Innocence, 1:51.4US, $220,443, thirteen NZ/two USA wins, Cambridge Gold Cup, Premier Mares Championship, Renwick FFA, second Queen Of Hearts;
fifth dam of Mafuta Vautin (1:52.2, QLD QBred Triad/Breeders Classics – 4), Blakey 1:53.3US (Yarra Valley/Charlton Cups)
- Starwood (1965f Thurber Frost), unraced, dam of seventeen foals, six winners, dam of Jaydare (Tatlow Memorial – 2f), Misswood (SA Oaks, VIC Silver Chalice – 4m, Ararat Cup); second dam of Conrod Straight (NSWSS – 3), Forest Elbow (1:51.2US, $252,935); third dam of Emmas Only (1:57.1, $604,483, twenty nine wins, Breeders Crown, APG – 2c, VIC Derby, Harold Park Cup twice, NSW Winter Cup/May Championship, Watts Memorial),
Patchwoods Star (Paleface Adios Sprint – 4; second Chariots Of FIre), Scooting Along (Breeders Crown – 2f), Dee Devito (LH Little Memorial, Hall Memorial); fourth dam of Stoke On Trent (WA Autumn Championship), Lucky Vista (NSW Super Sprint Series), Uncle Jay (Menangle Country Series, Canberra Cup)
- Loyal Rey (1934g Grattan Loyal), 2:07.4, $9,534, first foal of Purple Patch. Winner of Ashburton All Aged Stakes and Canterbury Hcp while second in 1942 NZ Cup to Haughty (two NZ Cup starts). Exported to Western Australia where he won Stratton and Winter Cups
- Peggy Patch (1941f Lusty Volo), unraced, fourth dam of Aus Pacers Mares record holder La Sharee (1:56.5TT at Gloucester Park), Adios Brad, WA Derby
Fourth dam was the dam of Purple Patch (1910’s), an unraced Logan Pointer mare whose one claim to fame was her Rey De Oro foal Purple Patch (see above), foundation dam of a large number of successful horses for Methven breeder Percy Watson.
Her fifth dam was the McKendry’s mare, an unraced early twentieth century mare (early 1900’s) by Advance, a Prince Imperial stallion (Aust bred, dam Rose; exported to NZ), winner of National Cup, second in 1907 NZ Cup, bred by JCN Grigg. Among her four classic offspring was the dam of Purple Patch (see above) together with Blush; Locanda Mac, winner 1924 Auckland and NZ Gold Cups; Rapido, third dam of Stormy Cove, Qbred Triad – 4h.
Sixth dam and foundation mare of this family was Papilla (1897, thor), CF family number N15, by thoroughbred stallion Phaeton (1890). Phaeton was a grandson of Musket, leading Australian sire of 1885/86, 1888/89 and 1890/91, subsequently exported to New Zealand and sire of the great Carbine. On export to Australia, Carbine won 1890 Melbourne Cup before moving to the United Kingdom. Papilla was a half-sister to Bloodshot (Maxim – Iris),
Papilla’s descendants contain major race winners among their many classic performers predominantly in the Purple Patch branch of the family. Summarising leading performers as mentioned above, we find major Cup** winners in NZ, Easter Cup winners : Patchwork, Lady Belmer; Auckland Cup : Locanda Mac; SA Cup : Selby Bromac; Derby winners : NZ – Sovereign, SA – Sir Crockett, VIC – Emmas Only, WA – Adios Brad; dual Oaks winning daughter A Piccadilly Princess (GN/VIC), together with Harvest Gold (GN), Misswood (SA) and a dual Australian Trotter of Year in Knight Pistol.
** Note – whilst no family winners of NZ Cups, second placings by Loyal Rey, Countless, Patchwork and fourths by Countless (twice), Lady Belmer and Royal Belmer.
The fastest Australian family members in under 1:52.0 are Ellmers Image (1:49.6/1:49.9/1:50.7/1:51.0), dual Oaks/Jewels winner A Piccadilly Princess (1:50.4, 1:51.5), Bronski Belle (1:51.8) and Stormont Czar (1:50.4US, 1:50.9/1:51.1AUS), Australian times all recorded at Menangle. North American examples include Playing With Fire 1:50.2US, Lightning Mach 1:51.1US, Rondel Franco/Hugh Hefner 1:51.3US and Armbro Innocence/Helmer Bob 1:51.4US. Knight Pistol is far and away, the family’s only champion trotter, T1:56.4 (Bendigo). The family’s half million dollar stake earners are A Piccadilly Princess ($733,842), Emmas Only ($604,483) and Knight Pistol ($612,203).
Next time : Scottish Belmer and her progeny.
Peter Craig
29 May 2019
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
