Tara's Pride

I used to post on Racecafe years ago when it started and I remember having this same conversation and asking this question. A well known owner-breeder of one of our true champions replied with:' You can easily recognize them- they're the ones with the knives in their backs!'

Well I loved it, Pogo. A good laugh- it's sort of like how I feel on my way to the races. This is the second thread about negativity in 24 hours- not a good sign. As for me- I'm bombing out at T A, the sun's over the yardarm, so I'm headed for the Red.

I don't know what their ideas were but I have theories, of course! P of Kildare was by Royal Charger, from a speed sire line but when he mated with Gainsborough Lass he must have nicked with her stamina, "St Simon" maybe, which allowed him to throw speed and stamina (Hi JInx). On the other hand Knight's Romance, also by Royal Charger, inherited speed blood perhaps from his G/Granny Mumtaz Mahal. Admiral's Luck's sire Precipitation is from a stamina sire line and when he met Gainsborough Lass, amongst other things, his Sainfoin blood nicked through Sierra with her (GL'S) Sundridge blood which is a legendary nick much prized by Tesio and other breeders of old; that particular meeting, maybe, eventually gave us Mainbrace. This is just a sweeping, rough explanation. I don't completely understand it myself but it's a lot of fun. You need some old books if you're really interested, about tb breeding last century. I've got 'Tesio, Master of Matings' by Ken MacLean amongst others by Ross du Bourg et al.. They tell you the history of our NZ sire lines- and the great mares. Go to second hand book shops- that's where I got mine. It seems a long time ago but you can still see the relevance of those bloodlines. It's amazing when you can follow a line back to the 17th century even. Good Luck.

I haven't got an answer, Mulebacker but I think unpredictability of breeding and racing is what makes it so enthralling. The most amazing things can happen and often do. Gainsborough Lass, for instance, the best of the great sire Gainsborough's racing mares, who then went on to sire four very useful, even brilliant at times, sire sons who all stood in NZ in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Pride of Kildare, (unraced) by Royal Charger sired good sprinter milers (Tara's Pride) and even a Melbourne Cup winner Hi Jinx! Most of them would go in anything too. His full brother, chestnut Knight's Romance- beautiful, flashy sprinter milers- Karina, Bliss, His Grace and remember Commanding and Castle Rae charging down the Trentham straight. Resurgent by The Phoenix threw some really tough mudlarks like Ruakiwi Lass and Olwyn Ann? And Admiral's Luck by Precipitation sired the brilliant Mainbrace- I think Golden Galzzzn too. A very interesting family to analyse and what a mother!

Hey, you're taking me down memory lane! What a great post! I grew up around Trentham. TP was my all time favourite- when you look at his career- Wellesley Stakes 1961, 7th in the Caulfield Cup 1962, then some great wins in a career culminating in the Thorndon Mile(then Tatts.)1967 and the Easter 1968. Raced in the red colours of C W Ansford who owned his contemporary Cabriere et al. By Pride of Kildare out of Fox Amber?? Sigh....

It's a relief to read that the majority of comments here support Sakhee's Soldier keeping the race, having just read Mike Dillon in the Herald this morning- and being really disappointed by his sentimental one-eyedness. Chevy and Chestnut have it right. Rising Romance was just about climbing SS's hind quarters at the turn.(If you watch the race and stop it at that point it can be clearly seen) A less laid back horse would have got very upset about that. But he just shook it off and ran on to victory. RR is, no doubt, a staunch, classy mare but SS is a gritty, determined fella who seems to grow another leg in a duel for the lead.Definitely the best of the Sakhee's Secret progeny in NZ.

O'Reilly. Goodbye, grand old fellow. You've given me some wonderful racing moments.