Family C-17: Sharkie

This family has consistently put out good winners since a mare of unknown pedigree called "What's That to You" was imported from New South Wales into New Zealand to beat her new owner's rival's horse in the early 1840s. Many branches of the family tree are still active in both New Zealand and Australia, with classic winners and top handicappers, weight-carrying sprinters and sturdy distance horses in the female line; quite a few of the best in this family have been mares, most of which have bred on.

What's That To You and some other mares were sent on a cattle ship from New South Wales to Rangitikei (North Island, New Zealand), where racing by early settlers had been popular at places like Parewanui, Himatangi, and Bulls before the 1850s. A number of well-known personalities in 19th century racing in New Zealand had roots in Rangitikei -- the Scott family, the McDonnell family, the McKelvie family, the Coyle family, Donald Fraser, and others. Robert "Bobby" Jenkins, owner of the New Zealand Hotel, had a grudge against Wellington magistrate Henry St. Hill, who owned a stable of good racehorses, and secured this cattle-ship mare, a "long, low-set bay" that apparently looked as if she could run, from his trainer, Joe Grimaldi, with the intent of beating St. Hill's horses. She did just that the first time she met St Hill's Camilla (also imported from NSW). When her racing days were over, Jenkins bred her to the imported Emilius son, Riddlesworth (1837, not to be confused with Riddlesworth, the Guineas winner), producing a filly in 1846, named Sharkie.

Riddlesworth was brought to New Zealand by Hon. Henry Petre, second son of William Petre (11th Baron) of Thorndon Hall, Essex, England. Petre, who arrived in New Zealand in 1840, was a director of the New Zealand Company, formed to promote colonization and was colonial treasurer of New Munster (the Middle Island). During his first stay in New Zealand, he rode the winning (non-thoroughbred) horse, named Calmuc Tartar, in a hurdle race held in Wellington in January of 1840. He returned to England briefly, and arrived back in New Zealand in 1843 with his family, two thoroughbred stallions -- Aether and Riddlesworth, the first thoroughbred stallions to be imported into New Zealand directly from England -- and nineteen thoroughbred mares. Riddlesworth was at stud in Wellington until 1857 (see also Family C - 20), after which he went to Bidwill's Pihautea station, near Featherston in the Wairarapa, and then to Nelson. Aether, considered the better of the two, was soon sent to Australia, where he was a successful sire; he was later brought back to New Zealand.

In the stud, Sharkie produced eleven foals, including five daughters that continued the family. Her first six foals were bred by Major William Rawson Trafford, who had arrived as a lieutenant in New Zealand from Sydney with the 6th Regiment of Foot in 1846. By 1848-50, he was a captain, and reputedly the best horseman in the Auckland area, winning early races throughout the region. At the time he was breeding Sharkie's first foals he also bred Sybil, the taproot mare of Family C - 20.

For Trafford, Sharkie produced three unnamed colts by the native-born Rubens and Alma, both sons of Rubens by Aether, and by Glaucus. She also bred Young Sharkie, by Alma, and another Young Sharkie and a filly named Golden-drop, both by Glaucus. It is through the latter two fillies that some of this family descends to the present. None of these youngsters have birthdates associated with them, but were all probably born in the 1850s. Young Sharkie (by Glaucus) produced Uira (1872, by Traducer), who in turn bred three fillies that continued the family, notably Whaitiri (1882, by Musket), a big winner in 1886 Hawke's Bay of the Guineas and St. Leger, and of the 1887 ARC Handicap, later dam of the Hawke's Bay Guineas winner Quiltiri (1892, by Quilt), and of Matiri (1901, by Mahaki), that continued the family. Golden-drop, in the stud of Alick Higgie in the Wanganui, produced one daughter that continued the family line, Rose d'Amour (1872, by Traducer), but that mare bred four successful broodmare daughters, including New Zealand Cup winner Rosefeldt (1888, by Nordenfeldt), and a son, the gelded Pasha (1881, by Mute), who won the Canterbury Metropolitan Handicap and the Wellington Cup. A number of recent stakes winners descend from both Young Sharkie and Golden-drop in tail-female.

Sharkie then produced five youngsters for Dr. Mussen: Prairie Bird (1862, by St. Patrick), Myrtle (1864, by Nutwith), Huntsman (1865, by Antidote), Laurel (1866, by Peter Flat and Bay Leaf [Vanessa] (1867, by Peter Flat). Myrtle produced Maid of the Mountain (1871, by Traducer), who bred Dummy, an outstanding late 19th century jumper that won the Grand National Hurdles, the Grand National Steeplechase and the Great Northern Steeplechase, and Sylph (1883, by Javelin), through which a family branch contined. The brilliant race mare Silver Link (1915, see below) and the New Zealand champion Beaulivre (1936, see below) descended from Myrtle. A recent winner from this branch is the sprinter Youth (2000, by Quest for Fame).

Laurel became the dam of the gelded Fishhook (1872, by Traducer), an oustanding weight-carrying galloper that won races at all distances, including the 1877 Dunedin Cup and the Dunedin Queen's Plate of 1879 (20 furlongs). Sharkie's daughter Bay Leaf was in Scotsman Donald Fraser's important stud at Pukehoe, Rangitikei; she bred Laurel (1879, by Young Gownsman), a winner of twenty races and forever famous as the dam of the great Advance (1896, see below).

Notable Descendants