Pakistan II – the life changer
By any measure, Pakistan II (Palestine) stands among the most successful stallions in New Zealand breeding history.
The one measure that sorts the men from the boys is the stakes-winners-to-runners ratio and Pakistan II sired 43 from 326 runners, or 13.2 per cent.
Compare that to the country’s current champion sire Savabeel (Zabeel) whose 115 stakes winners from 1,049 runners places him at 10.9 per cent.
Savabeel’s sire Zabeel (Sir Tristram) has an identical ratio of 10.9 per cent having sired 166 stakes winners from 1,525 runners while Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor) sired 130 stakes winners from 1,000 runners, a ratio of 13 per cent, just a notch below Pakistan II.
Kiwi Chronicles recently had morning tea (stretching to lunch) with Gerald Fell, MNZM, whose family stood Pakistan II at Fairdale Stud in Longburn, just south of Palmerston North in the Manawatu province.
Gerald and his wife Robyn now reside in Taupo, their home is on the northern amphi-theatre rise from the lake, thus offering a fabulous view across the calm waters. On a clear day, the snow-covered trio of peaks known as Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe can be seen. Robyn never gets tired of the view.
Gerald may be retired, yet remains very active and is in regular contact with very many people within the industry. Having been present at every Trentham or Karaka National Yearling Sale since 1956, his interest remains as strong as ever.
His being one of the two drivers to establish the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame, of which he became its inaugural chairman, plus his deep involvement in racing administration, was brought to the attention of the New Zealand government. Appropriately, he was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit.
The Fell family were farmers in Longburn, their farm was of a mixed variety; breeding stud cattle and sheep plus crops, backing on to properties where their neighbours bred and reared thoroughbreds. Most were hobby breeders.
In that environment Gerald’s father, Arthur, in 1949, went into partnership with Awapuni horse trainer JL (Jack) Muir, who trained horses for the Hon. WS Goosman.
In the days when colonially-bred stallions were overlooked, they took the gamble of standing Tauloch, a son of champion sire Balloch (Obliterate). Tauloch was a top class two-year-old, winning five times but at three was in a class of his own. His ten wins included the Triple Crown, the Great Northern Derby (Gr 1, 12f), the Great Northern Guineas (Gr 2, 8f) and Great Northern St Leger (Gr 2, 14f). He was declared the Champion of his time.
Tauloch’s dam, Taupiri (Hunting Song), also produced the brother and sister duo Brown Prince and Super Snipe, both by champion sire Ruthless (Hyperion). They each won at Group 3 level.
A few years later, the stud imported Shall Cross (Legend of France), who, in five seasons of racing won 16 times in England but he died of colic before the stud season began and never covered a mare.
Gerald takes up the story: “In Fairdale’s history we have stood 17 stallions but Pakistan II put us on the map. He was an absolute sensation. He was so potent and upgraded all his mares, many of which were moderately-bred, especially his first book of mares. That initial crop of 27 foals saw 23 to the races for 19 winners.”
As a racehorse, Pakistan II’s sole outing at two resulted in a listed stakes third placing at Longchamp while his five starts at three brought three placings, the best effort being second in the Prix du Chemin de Fer du Nord (Gr 3, 1400m) at Chantilly. He twice won as a four-year-old in England including open handicaps at Aintree and Leicester.
“Alec Head, the champion French trainer, trained Pakistan II and his son, Freddy, then an apprentice jockey, was dispatched to Australia to broaden his experience under Tommy Smith,” Fell recalls. “Alec sent a message with Freddy. The message to Tommy Smith was to look out for the progeny of Pakistan II when visiting the Trentham sales, that Pakistan II’s race record did not reveal his true ability. Alec could not get the horse’s back right. Otherwise, his performances on the track would have been much better.”
Tommy Smith did indeed purchase a colt from Pakistan II’s first crop, a colt from a half-sister to the Champion and legend Kindergarten (Kincardine), named Karachi. He would win 15 races, including four open handicaps in Sydney.
For most of the 20th century it was common for stallion imports to New Zealand to be modestly performed but well-bred. Pakistan II easily fell into that category.
Palestine (Fair Trial), his sire, was bred and raced by The Aga Khan and made a huge impression at two and three. From 13 starts he won 11 times, six of them at two, his premier performances being The Two Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 8f), the Sussex Stakes (Gr 1, 8f) at Goodwood, Royal Ascot’s St James’s Palace Stakes (Gr 2, 8f) as well as the Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) at York.
Tambara (Nasrullah), his dam, also scored at Royal Ascot in the Coronation Stakes, (Gr 2, 8f) and dead-heated for second in The One Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 8f). Her half-brother, leading sire Turkhan (Bahram), took out The St Leger (Gr 1, 14f) and the Irish Derby (Gr 1, 12f) while her dam, Theresina (Diophon), was an Irish Oaks- (Gr 1, 12f) winning half-sister to the leading US sire Alibhai (Hyperion).
Pakistan II was not the first son of Palestine to stand in New Zealand or Australia. That honour belonged to the Malcolm Brothers, Te Rapa Stud import El Mughar, sire of Railway Handicap (Gr 1, 6f) winner Maria Mitchell. A number of studs followed Fairdale’s lead but none had anything like the success that Pakistan II enjoyed. The next most successful was Wandering Eyes, sire of 13 stakes winners.
A great crop – of potatoes
“Stallion imports during the 1950s and 1960s were only possible via import licenses,” continues Fell. “Pakistan II was brought to our attention by Simon Scrope of the Anglo Irish Agency who was holidaying in New Zealand. Simon was married to a cousin of Nancy Williams (Te Parae Stud) and was also a distant cousin of my father’s.
“The Anglo Irish Agency’s New Zealand connection was via New Zealand Thoroughbred Agency’s Jack Cameron and Bob Millar, who operated out of Cambridge in the Waikato region.”
The same agency collaboration later imported the successful sire Battle-Waggon (Never Say Die), who would stand at Ancroft Stud in Matamata.
Fell continues: “Dad, my brothers Rex and Tony plus myself drove up to Cambridge to finalise the Pakistan II deal. Jack and Bob gave us the option of either buying the stallion outright or leasing him. So, we went for a walk around the streets of the town to discuss it. When we circled back and around to their office Dad made the comment that the farm had had a bumper crop of potatoes that year so the decision was made to buy him outright.”
“The license was for a maximum of £3,000 but the landed cost of Pakistan II was actually less than that. We got him for £2,000 and, as they say, the rest is history,” said Fell. “Studs could not compete with the northern hemisphere and could not afford to buy performance and pedigree. Therefore, performance was sacrificed. The licensing limitations also came into play. Additionally, our clients, being mostly hobby breeders, were limited as to how much they could afford regarding stud fees.”
Fairdale Stud, now run by Gerald’s son Duncan, continues to produce high quality stock and the stud is responsible for 36 Group 1 winners and more than 200 stakes winners. Gerald’s first big winner, bred in his own name, was Misere (Belvedere), winner of Trentham’s Telegraph Handicap (Gr 2, 6f). Belvedere (Nearco) was Shall Cross’s replacement.
Goodwood Stud, also in Longburn, is run by Gerald’s nephew William Fell and by some coincidence (re the timing of this piece) is co-breeder of Order Again (Iffraaj), winner of the Winter Challenge (Listed, 1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Pakistan II’s golden 1965 crop of just 31 foals included ten individual stakes winners, Rajah Sahib, a striking dark brown colt, being the standout. After scoring the Ellerslie Championship Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) at two and being named Champion New Zealand Two Year Old Colt, he took Australia by storm the following season.
In the spring of 1968 he added a memorable back-to-back Group 1 double, the Caulfield Guineas (8f) and W S Cox Plate (10f). Two seasons later he scored another double, the Doncaster Handicap (Gr 1, 8f) and the Stradbroke Handicap (Gr 1, 7f) and retired to stud with 14 career wins, siring 14 stakes winners.
A shade below Rajah Sahib were super sprinter-milers Sharif, Count Kereru and Sharda and they were remarkably durable and tough, too. Count Kereru raced as a 13-year-old, winning 25 times. Sharda (21 wins), Ayub Khan (20 wins), Sharif (13 wins) and Honda (17 wins) all raced as ten-year-olds. Royal Tudor was an exception, ending his career at four years but won 14 times.
Following crops included the outstanding miler Triton, classic fillies Prepak and Wood Court Inn, top-class milers Purple Patch and Tiptoe plus brilliant sprinters Ajasco and Zambari.
Ajasco’s win in the 1972 Railway Handicap (Gr 1, 6f) at Ellerslie was especially notable. Not only did she race in the Fell’s colours, the next three home, New Moon, Tauporae and Tashi, were all by Pakistan II.
The Fells bred Silver Liner (Sovereign Edition), Ajasco’s first foal. Mother and daughter both scored Ellerslie’s Railway Handicap as well as Riccarton’s Stewards’ Handicap (Gr 3, 1200m). To Music Teacher (Bold Ruler), Ajasco would also foal Concert, a dual stakes winner including the Cuddle Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m).
Like Ajasco, Silver Liner produced two stakes winners. Her second foal, Petrava (Imposing), was sold at the 1983 Trentham Sale and exported to South Africa where she was named the Champion Three-Year-old Filly, winning ten, including five Group 1s, which featured the prestigious Paddock Stakes (Gr 1, 1800m) at Kenilworth.
Her racing days over, Petrava found herself in the USA where she foaled Jallad (Blushing Groom) who was sent “home” to South Africa to bag two Group 2s before standing at stud there. At the age of 16, Petrava was brought “home” to New Zealand by the Vela Brothers where she foaled Hoeberg (Maroof).
Hoeberg, like her mother, was exported to South Africa and was crowned Champion Three-Year-Old Classic Filly, taking out the same Paddock Stakes, one of her eight Group victories, which included three at the elite level. Sadly, Hoeberg, when retired to stud, never produced a foal.
South Africa has proved a happy hunting ground for the family. Recent four-time Group 1 winner and Champion at both two and three, Princess Victoria (Victory Moon), is a great-granddaughter of Precious Platinum (Sir Tristram), a half-sister to Petrava.
A three-time Champion Sire of New Zealand, Pakistan II made a huge difference to many New Zealand thoroughbred families. His first crop was foaled in 1964 and his career was all too short (just nine seasons) but you can still find his name in modern pedigrees.
Waikato Stud’s Garry Chittick knew early on the value of mares by Pakistan II and went to great lengths to get one, bringing Georgina Belle back from the USA via England to become one of Waikato Stud’s foundation mares.
Current star Probabeel (Savabeel) descends from Georgina Belle through Habania (Habat), the latter imported as a filly foal at foot. Habania would produce two Listed winners and from the first crop of O’Reilly (Last Tycoon) the unraced Hyades, Probabeel’s third dam and thus a double up of Pakistan II in her bloodlines.
When Chittick moved his operation from Manawatu to Matamata, he would have been delighted to find another mare by Pakistan II at the stud. Her name was Hunza, Group 2 winner of the VRC Bloodhorse Breeders’ Plate (1400m).
Hunza, 1989 New Zealand Broodmare of the Year and who has a paddock named in her honour at Waikato Stud, would produce Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Courtza (Pompeii Court), who, in turn, would foal Waikato Stud’s super sire O’Reilly.
Whenever you spot Pakistan II in a pedigree, you can be fairly sure that the family has strongly benefitted from his presence.
Winding down
The season is winding down and the number of stakes races run last Saturday numbered just four (three in Australia and one in New Zealand).
Two of the Australian stakes fell to New Zealand-breds. That’s the good news. However, if you are wanting to send a mare to their respective sires, you’re out of luck.
Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit), sire of the Bletchingly Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) winner Sansom, is not shuttling to Windsor Park in Cambridge this year.
Neither is Iffraaj (Zafonic), a stalwart at Haunui Farm for many years, and the sire of Winter Challenge (Listed, 1500m) winner Order Again.
Sansom was the sole Kiwi-bred to line up in the Bletchingly and the rising five-year-old continued his preference for racing well fresh up. His ninth win, which includes the Chatham Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at Flemington last November, was the fourth occasion in which he has succeeded at the beginning of a campaign.
From sixth at the 600 metres he was pushed wide when rounding into the straight and dived late to get up in a head-bobber.
Sansom’s dam Bryony (Fastnet Rock) is a winning sister to the Group 1 two-year-old and classic placed at three, Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock). Heroic Valour’s premier victory took place in the Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Ellerslie.
Heroic Valour’s half-brother was also a Group 1 winner of the Doncaster Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m), Triple Honour (Honours List), adding two at Group 2 level and recording four Group 1 placings.
Sansom’s granddam is the Morphettville Group 2 winner San Pauli Girl (Western Symphony) from the family of classic three-year-old fillies Jennifer Rush (Prince Echo) and Emerald (Grosvenor), both winners of the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m).
In Sydney at Rosehill, Order Again was rewarded after some solid efforts of late but this win, his eighth and third stakes, was a bustling affair. Last into the straight, he was shunted sideways when attempting to push through a gap at the 250 metres yet kept finding to get his head in front short of the line.
As previously mentioned, Order Again was bred by Goodwood Stud in partnership with CE and CJ Stewart. Goodwood Stud is run by William Fell, nephew of Gerald Fell.
His dam, Glass Half Full (Van Nistelrooy) is a winning half-sister to the Brisbane Cup (Gr 2, 2200m) winner Jetset Lad (Elusive City), one of his nine wins in New Zealand and Australia and whose best placing was to run third in the Thorndon Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) at Trentham.
His granddam, Jetset Lass (Jetball) was a half-sister to Singapore Listed winner Sky Frontier (Senor Pete) while his third dam, Midnight Lass (Kaapstad) was a sister to two Listed winners including Midnight Madam, herself the dam of Doomben Cup (Gr 1, 2200m) winner Perlin (Carnegie).
The local scene
New Plymouth’s Opunake Cup (Listed, 1400m) was a triumph for local trainer Allan Sharrock, who is enjoying his most successful season ever, spanning 33 years. His strike-rate is excellent and on Saturday he trained the quinella when Justaskme (No Excuse Needed) strolled two lengths clear of stablemate London Express (Shamexpress) over the last 100 metres, the former having his first start in stakes company.
In the last race of the day Sharrock saddled Penelope Cruise (Ocean Park) to take his season’s tally to 54 wins.
The lightly-raced rising six-year-old Justaskme was having only his eleventh start and this was his sixth win. The gelding has been nominated for next month’s Winter Cup (Gr 3, 1600m) at Riccarton.
He ranks as a brother-in-blood to I Do (No Excuse Needed) because they are by the same sire and out of sisters by O’Reilly (Last Tycoon).
I Do’s 15 wins included six stakes, her best performance being the Makfi Challenge (Gr 1, 1400m), the first leg of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Triple Crown. The mare was in superb form in the spring of 2014 scoring a stakes race double, taking out the Foxbridge Plate (Gr 3,1200m) at her previous start.
I Do’s half-brother is Iggi Pop (Savabeel), a Listed winner, while her granddam Freequent (Mistral Dancer) won the New Zealand St Leger (Listed, 2500m) and is a half-sister to the dam of Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Court Ruler (Viking Ruler).
Sharrock owns Justaskme’s dam Often (O’Reilly) and shares the ownership of I Do with Waikato Stud. Often is in foal to Mapperley Stud’s Contributer (High Chaparral).
No Excuse Needed (Machiavellian) stood at Waikato Stud until his passing at the age of 17 in September 2015 and Justaskme is his 20th stakes winner, representing his sire’s last full crop.