NEWS UPDATE

June 2004

Exciting galloper My Governess is back on track for an Australian racing campaign with her main aim being The Melbourne Cup at Flemington in November. She has been back in work for a couple of months and is expected to have two or three runs here before heading off to Melbourne.

Chequers Stallion Services set for this year: Both Chequers stallions services will remain the same for the 2004 breeding season.
Deputy Governor...............................................................................$8.000 +GST
Green Perfume ..................................................................................$3.000 +GST

March 2004

An australian campaign has been temporarily put on hold for Deputy's Governor's lastest star My Governess due to her developing a foot problem. This has resulted in her trainer John Boon to withdrawing her from a start this month at Otaki.

February 2004

Deputy Governor is Mr. Consistant:
 
December 2003 Highlights.
  - My Governess (Group 2 Waikato Times Gold Cup) 2nd over 2400m.
  - Leica Guv comes back to form (Group 2 Queen Elizabeth H/Cap) 3rd over 2400m.
 
January 2004 Race results - 10 Individual winners.
-   7  seconds inlcuding Hong Kong $1 million Sports Club Jubilee Challenge Cup. (Flying Bishop)
-   9  thirds including Group One Auckland Cup (My Governess).

2004 Sales results
-  Premier lot 57 purchased by Bruce Wallace $82,500
-  Lot 274 out of The Grin bred by The Dennis Brothers purchased by Mark Wyborn $180,000
-  Lot 495 purchased by NZB for Hong Kong $70,000.
-  Premier results average $110,833.00 

-  Select Sale congratulations to:  Jerry Sung; C & C Company, Korea; John Carran; Tony Pike; John Wheeler; Donna Logan; Neville Couchman; Simon & Katrina Alexander.

February Race results to 11th
-  4 Individual winners (1200 to 1400m)
-  3 seconds and 4 thirds.

Zirna Arrives in Dubai
- Top-class Kiwi mare, Zirna (Deputy Governor), has fully acclimatised in readiness for her Dubai debut this weekend according to her connections.
“Zirna has been in the United Arab Emirates now for almost two months which has allowed her time to fully acclimatize to the temperatures in the desert,” said the five-year-old mare’s part-owner Russell Warwick of Westbury Stud“ and her trainer, Malcolm Thwaites, tells me that she has settled in very well,” Warwick said.

The first task in Dubai for Zirna will be the $US140,000 Listed Al Rashidiya, a 1777m event for four-year-olds and upwards.

- My Governess (Deputy Governor), who finished third in the Auckland Cup, will resume racing in the $35,000 Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Otaki on March 13. My Governess is being aimed at a start in the $80,000 Hawke's Bay Cup (2200m) at Hastings on April 17 as a prelude to a possible tilt at the Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville in May.

January 2004

After an exciting Auckland Cup where we saw My Governess (Deputy Governor) run third we have now been advised that her trainer John Boon is seriously considering entering her in the Melbourne Cup along with his Wellington Cup winner Cluden Creek. She is currently spelling and we eagerly await her return to work. All going well it should shape up for an exciting 2004 spring campaign.

November 2003

DEPUTY GOVERNOR UPDATE
Breeders
HIGHLIGHTS

June 2003 – Analyst - Winner G2 Pao Macau Cup
3rd Group Two ‘Star of Sands Stakes’
Zirna – Winner Singapore Derby Trial
2nd Group Two Singapore Patrons Bowl
Republic – 3rd Eagle Farm Stakes L.
Baby Star – 3rd Selangor Gold Cup
Leica Guv – 3rd Group Three Crombie Lockwood H/Cap
Plus 9 individual winners

July – Zirna – 3rd Group One Singapore Derby
Plus 3 winners; 4 seconds; 6 thirds.

August – Royal Express – Finance Gallop Trophy
Plus 6 seconds; 5 thirds

September – Flying Bishop – HK$1,000,000 Guangzhou H/Cap
Plus 4 inidvidual winners; 4 seconds and 3 thirds.

October – 10 individual winners incl.
Zirna – Group One S$350,000 Singapore Raffles Cup.
5 seconds and 4 thirds.

November so far….
My Governess wins the $60,000 Listed Feilding Cup
Plus Republic in Australia and Garfield in Macau. Members’ Glory wins $570,000 Panasonic Handicap in Hong Kong

And not to disappoint our breeders….
ZIRNA (Deputy Governor/Riverly Lass) wins the prestigious ‘SINGAPORE GOLD CUP’

New Zealand-bred and owned racemare Zirna (NZ) (Deputy Governor) laid claim to the mantle of Singapore’s best horse when she scored a brilliant win in the
$S1.5 million Singapore Gold Cup at Kranji last night.
Racing from the stable of Malcolm Thwaites for a Westbury Stud-Karaka Group partnership, the five-year-old added to her previous start Raffles Cup win to came from well back and beat topweight Moon Shadow by one and three-quarter lengths. With regular rider Mark Du Plessis in the saddle, Zirna had settled third last in the 2200 metre race before powering home for an authoritative win. The result was a near clean sweep for New Zealand-breds, with the Laurie Laxon-trained Dreyfuss (NZ) (Oregon) coming in third ahead of the race favourite Exaggerate (NZ) (Zabeel).

The win in the Gr. 1(Sing.) race took Zirna’s Singapore record to three wins, a second and a third, all her starts since being relocated after her Gr. 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders’ Stakes victory last autumn. Zirna is one of eight group one winners by Deputy Governor, who stands at her birthplace, Chequers Stud, from whose draft she was sold at the 2000 Karaka Premier Sale for $40,000.

Zirna’s latest performance capped a big weekend for the Kiwis in Singapore, with a total of nine winners over the two-day fixture. The pleasure of being on hand for Zirna’s win was added to for Westbury Stud principals Eric Watson and Russell Warwick when Lim’s Grand (NZ), a son of former stud stallion Gold Brose, enhanced his reputation with a fresh-up win in the Gr. 3(Sing.) Paititi Gold Trophy.

Another Chequers Stud product, King Creole (NZ) (Deputy Governor), scored his fourth Singapore win, On the first day card New Zealand-breds won five races, including Yamasaki (NZ) (Mellifont), who headed a Kiwi trifecta completed by Lim’s World (NZ) (Woodborough) and Blue Topaz (NZ) (Yachtie).

The Stephen Gray-trained Dubrovnik (NZ) (Slavic) scored his second win, while other winners were Titan Smile (NZ) (Mellifont), Southern Sunline (NZ) (Last Tycoon) and Kiwi Rebel (NZ) (Desert Sun).

Elsewhere in Asia on the weekend New Zealand-breds made their presence felt with Hong Kong wins by Members Glory (NZ) (Deputy Governor) and Lucky Paradise (NZ) (Flying Spur), also bred by the Campins.

Deputy Governor’s book closes at 75 nominations….
If you have not booked your mare – do it now!

October 2003

Deputy Governor's Group 1 winning daughter does it again.......

ZIRNA, narrowly beaten in the Patrons’ Bowl (1,400m) and third in the Singapore Derby (2,000m) last time out, scored a magnificent win in the S$350,000 Raffles International Cup over 1,800m at Kranji today.

Ridden by Mark Du Plessis, the five-year-old bay New Zealand mare by Deputy Governor out of the Gleam Machine mare Riverly Lass defeated the luckless LORD OF THE PINES with Derby winner LEAD TO VICTORY third of nine runners.

It was ZIRNA’S second win in four starts in Singapore. She won the Singapore Derby Trial in between her two previous placings.

A Group 1 winner of three races in New Zealand, ZIRNA will be one of the favourites for the S$1 million Singapore Gold Cup in three weeks’ time.
Interesting to compare the stakes she won in NZ = NZ$155K in 22 starts - she has already won Sing$405K in 4 starts in Singapore.

Vice Regal's Legacy Lives on

Article written by Susan Archer NZTM ,October 2003

VICE REGAL is best known and valued now as a broodmare sire whose daughters have left 47 stakes winners, including 12 Group One winners (five of them by Zabeel). There are still a few of his own progeny racing though, and one of them Crown Prince (ex Green Queen by King Delamere; Mr J.J. Allan) became his 33rd stakes winner when he took out the ARC Mitchelson Cup LR on 4 October.
Himself a marvelously brave and gifted racehorse in an era of outstanding performers, Vice Regal had a curious stud career, leaving only eight stakes winners after his 1986 crop. The best of those, G1 Sapio was very tough and durable but not in the same class as Vite Cheval, Prolific, Eva Grace and All Glory, all from his early crops.
As a damsire Vice Regal appears most recently in the pedigrees of G1 Luvly Jubly, G1 Critic, G3 Danceinthesun and last season's New Zealand Derby G1 runner-up Kajema.

August 2003

Performance - Proven - Promise - Deputy Governor and Green Perfume.

Deputy Governor Update - Leading stallion Singapore/Malaysia.

Zirna back in light work after her 3rd in the Derby and headed for the Raffles Cup in October, then the $1,000,000 Singapore Classic in March. Trained by Malcolm Thwaites. Westbury Stud are very pleased with her efforts and reports from Singapore say she is 'tops'.
More from Singapore: The Elizabeth Pollard Deputy Governor/Stirling Rose colt skyrocketed to stardom at the Karaka Select Colts sale for $140,000 and is now called Law and Order had his first start back on Sunday 10th...much more to come.

Bookings for Deputy Governor are coming in steadily. With his service fee at $8,000 there is a huge opportunity for a profitable return for the breeders as this stallion is so consistent in producing good racehorses. I am very are pleased with today's decision by the Duchess of Bedford to send 'Repetition' (daughter of the top race mare SNAP) to Deputy Governor this season. She is already the breeder of a very promising Deputy Governor filly Like the Wind. There is some exciting racing around the corner for this filly, according to Rick Wyllie (Bloomsbury Stud). And from Australia: The grapevine tells us that Victorian trainer BEVAN LAMING also has a something special by Deputy Governor up his sleeve for spring racing...watch out for the full brother to Like the Wind.

Reports from the local scene tell us that the Deputy Governor filly 'Jingling' is back in work after a brief spell and is now only two weeks off having a serious hitout. After an impressive win at Te Aroha, both trainers Graeme Richardson & new training partner Mark Donoghue believe she certainly has ability and will be one to look out for late spring.

Green Perfume Update - Delvecchio (Green Perfume/Human Touch) racing in Victoria, Won his last start at Mooney Valley by five and half lengths - will compete in the black type staying races this spring and has been entered for the 2003 Melbourne Cup. Trained by Mick Price in Melbourne, Australia - who reports that he could not be happier with Delvecchio from only 16 starts has etched up eight wins, four seconds, two thirds and a fourth. . She's Swan Lake trained by Graeme Rogerson is now back in work after a three week spell, heading for the black type fillies races in Melbourne this spring. This filly has plenty of talent. From Hong Kong - Lui trained Flashing Star (Green Perfume/Art Lover) will soon be hitting his straps again after earning well in excess of $1,000,000 dollars in the short period he has been on the Hong Kong circuit. He was purchased by Graeme Rogerson at the ready to run sales for $55,000. Mark & Diane Hodge, owners of the broodmare Art Lover
have confirmed her service to Deputy Governor this season, the resultant progeny will be a full to recently deceased Malaysian star galloper Strength n Honour.

There is also an un-named Green Perfume filly being kept under wraps in Auckland, and without saying too much, she is bred by two magnanimous people who have already seen Group One success in their short period in the industry as owner/breeders - I wonder who they could be. Numerous offers have been made but I am told, the filly is simply NOT for sale.

On the foaling scene - First one off the block !
Jen's Halo foaled a dark brown Deputy Governor filly on the eighth of the eighth That's got to be a good luck sign. She has a Cape Cross filly for the Karaka Premier Sale whilst her two year old filly called J'Lo (Unbridled Song) is headed for some serious spring racing according to her trainer Jim Campin.

Regards
Jen

WHAT A WEEK FOR DEPUTY GOVERNOR

July 2003

The last week of June will certainly be a memorable one at Chequers Stud, with Deputy Governor stamping his mark across Asia with winners in Singapore, Macau and Malaysia, and in Australia.

The week started with Dear Deputy taking out a 2100m race at Kilmore Australia followed by Lady Avonlea winning over 1400m at Belmont Park. But on Friday they really started to roll in the big ones:

Golden Legacy took out the S$55,000 Open Benchmark over 1200m at Kranji followed by Zirna's outstanding win from back in the field in the S$150,000 Singapore Derby Trial (for full story); then on Saturday Analyst once again showed his pizzazz with a 2.25 winning margin in the MAC$650,000 G2 Sing Pao Macau Cup, and to complete the day Zugar in Malaysia took out the M$650,000 National Stud Farm Challenge Cup WFA. Sunday continued to be successful with Baby Star running a very creditable 3rd in the G1 M$1,500,000 Selengor Gold Cup. Incidentally this race was won last year by the late "Strength'n'Honour" also by Deputy Governor.

Green Perfume not to be completely overshadowed also produced winners over the weekend with Delvecchio in Australia picking up his 6th win from only 13 starts - this horse to date has virtually never been out of the money as also to his credit he boasts, 4 seconds and a third! In Malaysia the 'Impress' gelding Saffron won his 1600m race at Selengor.

June has also proved to be a good month for Green Perfume with Flashing Star his leading light in Hong Kong taking his winnings in only 1/2 dozen starts to well over a HK$1,000,000 by winning the HK $1,000,000 Hin Keng Handicap over 1000m on June 14th. This Green Perfume too like Delvecchio does not like to be out of the money with a race record of only 6 starts having won three, and placed 3rd twice.

CHEQUERS STUD SUPPORTS INDUSTRY MOVE TO REDUCE SERVICE FEES

May 2003

Chequers Stud has once again shown its policy of putting breeders first by reducing service fees for its two resident stallions this year.

Studmaster Jim Campin announced today the fee for Deputy Governor will be $8000 plus gst (down from $10,000 plus gst) while Green Perfume's fee has been lowered to $3000 plus gst (previously $5000).

Campin said the climate in the industry at present was one where breeders needed to be given full encouragement to breed their mares with the confidence of a profit margin.

"In light of the downturn in the New Zealand breeding industry and a tightening of the belts we must be sympathetic to breeders who are having to pay the service fees," Campin said.

"This is why Chequers Stud has decided to bring down the service fees of both our stallions to meet the request of breeders for studmasters to provide stallions with good records at affordable prices where they can see, they have a better chance of achieving a positive outcome from what they have invested, in time and money," he said.

By reducing Deputy Governor's fee Chequers Stud has enabled breeders to capitalize on his continued strong international performance.

This season alone Deputy Governor has produced a 41% strike rate (107 runners for 44 winners) which is in fact four per cent better than champion sire Zabeel.

>From the May Karaka sales catalogue it is shown that Deputy Governor's progeny has achieved 178 winners from 276 starters; 26 stakes winners with a ratio of 9.4 per cent stakes-winners to starters.

He is third on the stakes winners to starters list behind Zabeel, who has had 60 stakes winners from 564 starters and stands at $85,000 and Kaapstad with 41 stakes winners from 404 starters and who stands at $20,000 plus gst.

Armed with this current statistical information breeders can clearly see that Deputy Governor is performing extremely well particularly in relation to his service fee.

By following the same successful formula as Chequers Stud - using premier mares breeders can confidently know a mare going to Deputy Governor increases their chances of a profitable return.

In Macau, Deputy Governor has been represented by Analyst who has been sweeping all before him. His wins have included the Group One Macau Derby and Group Two Chairman's Challenge Handicap.

In New Zealand Deputy Governor's flagbearers have included the group race winners Zirna and Lonestar Lady and dual Listed winner Royal Show.

Zirna, bred by Chequers Stud, posted a Group One win in the $120,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha in March.

The mare is now in Singapore where she has joined the stable of leading trainer Maclolm Thwaites in preparation for a tilt at the four-year-old Triple Crown series.

This will see Zirna eventually tackle one of the premier races on the Singapore circuit, the $S800,000 Singapore Derby (2000m) at Kranji racecourse on July 18.

Lonestar Lady scored in the Group Three Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham earlier this year while Royal Show won twice in Listed races and finished runner-up in the New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Filly Of The Year series.

Another rising star by Deputy Governor in New Zealand is the three-year-old filly, Like The Wind, who made it three wins on the trot when she scored in brilliant fashion at Te Rapa last Saturday.

Deputy Governor is also developing a name for himself as a broodmare sire. In this realm he featured as the dam-sire of this year's Duke Of Norfolk Stakes winner Heyguy at the Melbourne autumn carnival.

In the past couple of seasons Deputy Governor has also been prominent as the sire of Group One Mercedes (NZ) Derby winner Leica Guv and the late Strength "N" Honour who was one of the best performed gallopers in Malaysia where he won four races as well as four placings including the Selangor Gold Cup.

Despite small numbers, Green Perfume has produced 19 winners from only 35 starters including a number of very consistently performed horses like Sovereign and Green Beret in NZ, Delvechhio in Australia who from 11 starts has had five wins, four seconds and a third.

Swan Lake is held in high regard by Jen Campin and accordingly she has been sent to Australia to be trained by master trainer Graeme Rogerson which to date has shown she is correct in the faith she has in this horse, with a win at her first trial in Australia recently.

On May 6 at Matamata another very promising Green Perfume hit the track in the Mike Moroney and Andrew Scott-trained Green Perfume-Kansas City Belle who finished second behind J'Lo (Unbridled Song/Jens Halo) - both Campin-bred horses - in a 1100m trial.

In addition to these horses Green Perfume also has a very smart sprinter in Hong Kong - Flashing Star who in only three starts has had two wins and a third with stakes earnings nearing $HK1,000,000.

In spite of a number of recent personal changes at Chequers Stud, Jim and Jen Campin will retain their partnership in both stallions Deputy Governor and Green Perfume.

"This is confirmation for the breeders, it is business as usual, with both of us continuing to produce the best possible results for the breeders and the industry as a whole," said Jen Campin.

Chequers Stud has a long history of excellent results and no less than 36 individual Group One winners have come off Cambridge-based property.

"Chequers Stud aim is to continue being well known for its innovative ability to produce marketing strategies that work for both the stud farm and the breeder introducing such initiatives as the Breeders Support Scheme in 2001," Jen Campin said.

"For me it is important to 'create positive change' within the industry whereby everybody benefits. I have always considered our efforts at the stud as a partnership and I still believe that one's expertise compliments the other, hence the decision to stay in partnership with the stallions. We will also retain a couple of racing interests together and that can only be seen as a very positive outcome for the future," she said.

HIGHS & LOWS OF RACING REFLECTED IN LAST
8 WEEKS FOR CHEQUERS

April 2003

Chequers Stud have recently experienced an outstanding period of success, including another Group 1 title for their resident sire Deputy Governor, a Group 3, 3 Listed races and of course the 2003 Macau Derby! In the same period they have also had two major losses, firstly of the Premier class galloper Strength'n'Honour who dropped dead mysteriously on the 25th March at a track gallop in Malaysia, and secondly one of their premier broodmares Domino, who was bred and raced with great success by Jim and Jen Campin.

Domino, by Grosvenor out of Tupelo Honey, by Vice Regal, was the second top filly on the 1989-90 New Zealand Free Handicap. She was the winner of both Group I AJC Oaks and Group I New Zealand's Oaks. She was the dam of Hero, the winner of 15 starts including Group 1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas, multiple winner Dominant and Evergreen in New Zealand; Meiner Empire in Japan; American Dream in Singapore.

Strength'n'Honour, a 5 year old gelding by Deputy Governor, winner of 6 races including the "Selengor Gold Cup" and four placings was raced by a syndicate of Penang Turf Club Committee Members and Jen Campin. He was having his final track gallop before heading off to Kuala Lumpar to contest the Malaysian G1 WFA, when he dropped just 400m after the finishing post, apparently from a heart attack. However the autopsy revealed the horse was in good health and condition and all internal organs within normal limits. The syndicate are now awaiting results on tests from blood, tissue etc samples to confirm the true cause of his death. "It's a big loss for the stable" said trainer Richard Lines. "I just don't know what happened to a champion like him".

However on a brighter note what a month to six weeks Chequers have had starting with the win by Lonestar Lady (bred by T Harrison) of the G3 Desert Gold Stakes on March 8th, Royal Show (bred by Jim & Jen Campin) winning both the Listed Gore Guineas and the Listed NZ Bloodstock Insurance Stakes; Zirna (bred by Chequers Stud) winning the coveted G1 NZ Bloodstock Breeders Stakes, and just last weekend (Sat 12 April) they were again to the fore with the 2003 Macau Derby winner Analyst (bred by Alan & Linda Jones). In addition Deputy Governor was damsire of Heguy who won the Listed Duke of Norfolk Stakes in Australia and is the sire of Royal Show who currently second in the South Island Filly of the Year Series.

Zirna, decorated after winning the $120,000 NZ Bloodstock Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha.
(picture from Friday Flash, 21 Mar 2003)

DEPUTY GOVERNOR SIRES 2002, 3 YEAR OLD NEW ZEALAND HORSE OF THE YEAR

August 2002

Leica Guv by Deputy Governor out of Leica or Not (Kendor) bred by Mr RA and Mrs RJ Scarborough, Australia and trained by Jeff McVean of Cambridge was crowned 3 year old New Zealand Horse of the Year for 2001/2002 racing season.

Leica Guv fended off outstanding gallopers such as Final Destination, Sixty Seconds and Distinctly Secret to take out this prestigious title.

An extremely versitile galloper Leica Guv has won over distances from 1150m to 2400m with 12 starts for 6 wins, of which 4 of are black type. These being the G1 Mercedes New Zealand Derby (pictured below), the G2 Avondale Guineas and the G2 Lindeaur Guineas as a 3 year old and the Listed Breeders Stakes as a 2 year old.

REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE

for the Thoroughbred BREEDER - March, 2002

The 2001 season saw Chequers Stud concentrate their efforts on how to stimulate the breeding industry to the greater advantage of the breeder and create new interest.

Cash flow is an imperative part of any successful business and therefore we are pleased to advise the following restructuring of ‘service fee’ payments exclusive to Chequers Stud resident proven stallion Deputy Governor and Green Perfume.

Your contract agreement:
20 % of the service fee payable at 42 day positive.
The balance payable by 31st March 2004. (updated for the coming season)

“This concept has been very carefully researched and it will work” said Jen Campin when interviewed in June 2001. The old payment structure has worked adequately for breeders in the past. However, over the last five years we have continued to receive feedback from clients indicating there needs to be more flexibility to enable breeders to prosper in the industry. It is time for a change and we at Chequers sincerely believe that this is a step in the right direction to ensure the growth of the New Zealand breeding industry.

The breeders / our clients, who take up this offer with G1 proven sire Deputy Governor and up and coming Green Perfume, will benefit greatly. “We are delighted to pioneer this initiative for the breeders”

Jen Campin addressed both the Southland and Hawkes Bay Racing & Breeders Associations. “At both functions, the confidence I had in the concept was reinforced by the positive response from breeders.” The results already from 2001 are reflective in the interest and bookings for 2002.

Our strict policy on Limited nominations stands and books are closed at 75 (total)
with our clients having first priority. Indications show that the stallions will be fully booked and nominations are restricted to two per client per stallion. If you would like to nominate today there is an application form/mare profile link below.

We would also like to advise that the Chequers Stallion's Service Fees will remain the same as last year, these being:

• Deputy Governor $10,000 + GST
• Green Perfume $5,000 + GST

If you have any further queries or would like further details please feel free to contact our office on either 64 7 827 7153 or 64 21 750 921, or fax your request to 64 7 8278846 or Email: chequers.studfarm@clear.net.nz

This is breeding to Succeed !

Application Form/Mare Profile

IT'S OFFICIAL
The Top 10 Leading Vendors

The January 2002 issue of the New Zealand Bloodhorse magazine published the results of Leading Vendors at New Zealand Yearlings Sales 1990 -2000. (12 or more lots sold). Vendors represented at 2002 New Zealand Yearling sales according to their position on findings by percentage of Black Type Winners sold are as follows:

1. Chequers Stud
2. Te Parae Stud
3. Whakanui Stud
4. Ancroft Stud
5. Riverlea Lodge
6. Waikato Stud
7. Newmarket Lodge
8. Shelby Park
9. Windsor Park
10. Trelawney Stud
11. Northfields
12. Fieldhouse
13. Cambridge Stud

This data is supplied with the compliments of Arion Pedigrees courtesy
of New Zealand Bloodstock. Figures as at 11 December 2001. (refer page 40 Bloodhorse January 2002)

OBITUARY

Compliments of Jan 2002 issue of 'Bloodhorse Review'

Master Willie Ch 1977
(High Line-Fair Winter by Set Fair)
died November 2001

THE death at 24 of triple Gr.1 winner and English Derby runner-up Master Willie brought closed a chapter on one of the great ³rags to riches² stories of the turf.
Here was a horse who fetched just 2200 guineas as a foal and was eventually syndicated for $US7m to stand alongside Northern Dancer. A horse bought back as a yearling (8400 guineas) by his superstitious breeder who rarely watched him race because he thought he would be beaten if he did!
Olympic yachtsman William Barnett was an Irish Turf Club member who never sought the limelight and would not buy expensive or fashionable bloodstock. Many of his ideas on bloodstock breeding originated from his studies of breeding poultry (he was famous in that field).
Whatever his methods, they were successful, with hundreds of good winners in more than 50 years as an owner and breeder with Master Willie the best of them. William Barnett died on Boxing Day, 1980, but he lived long enough to witness Master Willie¹s career at three when he was a Gr.1 winner and Derby second.
Master Willie is important in Australasia as his best son, the Gr.1 winner Deputy Governor (USA), is one of the better sires in NZ and one of the few remaining Hyperion-line horses not to descend from Star Kingdom.
But first things first, Master Willie¹s grandsire High Hat (Hyperion-Madonna by Donatello) was bred by Winston Churchill and was a good performer who appropriately won the Winston Churchill Stakes, the International Gold Cup and other good races and served 10 years at stud in Ireland before export to Japan. He was Leading Sire of Broodmares in the UK in 1980.
William Barnett was a friend and mentor of Irish breeder Tim Rodgers and Rogers purchased Time Call (Chanteur-Aleria by Djebel) as a foal for Barnett at the 1955 Newmarket December Sale for just 800 guineas. She was bred to run further but scored her sole win over 5f at Phoenix Park at three, lived to 24, and produced nine winners for Barnett including High Line, by High Hat and the sire of Master Willie.
High Line was a courageous performer for Barnett, winning nine races and he was never out of the frame in 17 starts over four seasons.
He won first-up over 7f at two and then at 12f at Epsom and Goodwood at his first two starts at three. He missed the Derby because of an injured joint but scored the first of his three consecutive victories in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (16f). In each of his remaining two seasons he also won the Geoffrey Freer Stakes.
Described as a ³bigger edition of his grandsire Hyperion², High Line retired to Adstock Manor Stud in 1972 at a fee of just £600 (no foal, no fee), then under the guidance of a young James Delahooke who had taken over as owner-manager following the death of his mother Priscilla three years previously.
William Barnett thought the world of High Line, but even he must have been tested when, by 1974 and because of the bias against stayers, High Line could only attract a dozen mares (half of them Barnetts), with nominations available for £150.
The canny breeder was to have the last laugh though when in 1980 a homebred colt called Master Willie (named after a grandson) was runner-up to Henbit in the English Derby (three-quarters of a length) and at the York Festival that August High Line had four consecutive winners on the opening day, Master Willie, Shoot a Line (grandam of Thunder Gulch), Cocaine and Heighlin - all but Shoot A Line bred by Barnett.
Even more remarkably Shoot A Line (Yorkshire Oaks) and Master Willie (Benson and Hedges Gold Cup) scored in Gr.1 events.
That was enough to see High Line fully booked (45 mares) in 1981 with a fee of £5000 (July 15) and a further £5000 (October 1) if the mare was in foal. His best runners in a long career at stud included Dubian, Nicholas Bill, Dry Dock, Centrocon, Adonijah, Lucayan Princess and Metal Precieux (who stood in Australia).
Master Willie¹s female family had also been with Barnett for some time, his third dam Red Winter (My Babu) was purchased cheaply by Darby Rodgers (father of Tim) for Barnett and there must have been a touch off sentiment behind the purchase as she was out of Bold Maid (by Sandwich), a mare formerly owned by his late Uncle William Barnett (who raced Derby winner Trigo).
Red Winter¹s daughter Winter Gleam was a temperamental filly by Aureole (also by Hyperion and from a mare by Donatello as is High Line; Master Willie is 3mx4m to Hyperion, 4fx5f to Donatello and 4fx5m to Djebel). Winter Gleam won just one race over 12f at Salisbury at three but she bred the first notable winner reared at Adstock Manor for William Barnett in the shape of Fair Winter (Set Fair).
Fair Winter was an unlikely candidate for track success as she was foaled with a deformed (flattened) muzzle, failed to reach her modest reserve as a yearling and was then leased, only to have the lesee default, leaving William Barnett to race the filly.
She won seven races including the Nassau Stakes over three seasons (also fourth in the Sun Chariot Stakes) but was initially disappointing as a broodmare, with five minor winners from her first six foals (including two fillies by High Line), her seventh foal though was Master Willie.
Like many by his sire, he was no oil painting but he did inherit his sire¹s toughness, soundness and resoluteness and had four starts at two for two wins and two seconds. He actually ³won² the Acomb Stakes but was demoted to runner-up.
He had eight outings at three and established himself as one of the best of his generation with wins in the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup-Gr.1 (10.5f) at York and the Easter Stakes at Kempton Park and placing second in the English Derby-Gr.1, Dante Stakes-Gr.2 and Champion Stakes-Gr.1, he was fourth in the Classic Trial Stakes and fifth in the Irish Derby.
William Barnett was lucky to own Master Willie, selling him as a foal at Newmarket December sales for 2200 guineas. However, he impressed James Delahooke so much at Newmarket the following October, he paid 8400 guineas to get him back for his breeder.
The Henry Candy trained-horse raced on at four for his owner¹s children Robert and Elizabeth, and when he accounted for Henbit (unplaced) and others with a 15 length win in the Jockey Club Stakes-Gr.3 (12f), he was made 2/1on favourite for the Coronation Cup (12f) against four opponents including Dual French Gr.1 winner Mrs Penny. The pace was so slow early on in this race that jockey Philip Waldron sent Master Willie to the front after a furlong and there he remained, beating Prince Bee by two lengths with five lengths to Vielle.
Seven horses lined up for the Eclipse Stakes-Gr.1 (10f) at Sandown on July 4, 1981 with Master Willie favourite at 6/4 from Hard Fought. Philip Waldron was worried that the trip might prove too short for Master Willie and he immediately took him to the front and he led all the way, resolutely galloping up the home straight as Vielle and Hard Fought gave chase. He finished three-quarters of a length in front of subsequently disqualified Hard Fought with Vielle promoted to second.
After such a brilliant start, the rest of the season proved an anticlimax, he was fourth to Shergar in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes-Gr.1 and third to Beldale Flutter in the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup-Gr.1 before an uncharacteristic 10th in the Champion Stakes-Gr.1 behind Vayraan.
He retired the winner of seven of his 18 starts and £340,000 and was sold for $US7m to stand at Windfields Farm in Maryland where he was expected to be the ideal consort for mares by that stud¹s great sire Northern Dancer (who carries a daughter of Hyperion in his third generation).
The big winners didn¹t come however and Master Willie is generally
regarded as a disappointing stallion. He did sire Gr.1 winner Deputy Governor (whose dam is by Vice Regent, a son of Northern Dancer), German Gr.1 winner Hollywood Dream, Gimcrack Stakes-Gr.2 winner Chilly Billy and St Leger Italiano-Gr.3 winner Pay Me Back.
Master Willie spent his later years as mainly a National Hunt sire and among his best jumpers have been Champion Hurdle winner Make A Stand and Ladbroke Hurdle winner Master Tribe.
Master Willie had seen quite a few countries during his stud career being repatriated from America to England in 1988, exported to Germany in 1993 before returning to England in 1998.
Master Willie was put down, aged 24, at Conduit Farm, England late last year. He had been suffering from a badly arthritic knee.
In 17 seasons at stud Master Willie sired 141 winners from 237 starters with progeny earnings of $US8,239,822. His 22 stakes winners include 10 Group/Graded winners.
His best son Deputy Governor has been an excellent source of winners for New Zealand¹s Chequers Stud. Deputy Governor began his racing career in England where he won the Washington Singer Stakes and finished second in the Champagne Stakes-Gr.2 and Royal Lodge Stakes-Gr.2 at two. At three he was placed in the Greenham Stakes-Gr.3, Diomed Stakes-Gr.3 and Jersey Stakes-Gr.3 before being sent to America where he won the Del Mar Derby-Gr.2 and was an excellent fourth in the Breeders¹ Cup Mile-Gr.1.
Like his sire, Deputy Governor improved even further as a four-year old winning the 1988 Eddie Read-Gr.1 and John Henry-Gr.1 Handicaps and earnings of more than $US531,000. Deputy Governor entered stud in NZ in 1989 and has had 222 runners, 134 winners (60.4%), 17 stakes-winners (7.7%), 12 stakes-placed (5.4%) for earnings of more than $A12.8m, including Gr.1 winners Hero, Clear Rose, My Duke, Sawatdee and Yelgun Dawn.
Just before he died, William Barnett wrote, ³Master Willie is a likeable sort of a horse and I hope that some day he will have done enough to justify following his father at stud².
The big shame is that William Barnett did not get a chance to support Master Willie, a horse who was always going to find the going tough at stud, but especially so in the USA where late-maturing stayers hardly fit the pattern of racing.
Perhaps it¹s fitting that Deputy Governor is in NZ where classic lines are nurtured and applauded -his success there has certainly vindicated that policy.

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