Annie
Daily Gleaner, June 27 1930
Daily Gleaner, January 9, 1922
ZILLAH AND HER GREAT OFFSPRING.
Interesting History of the Famous Thoroughbred Mare: Her Turf Career.
CROWNING VICTORIES
Great Racing Qualities and Staying Power which Distinguish This Line
(Specially written for the Gleaner by Dr. Harold Castle.)
. . . We must dwell on Annie who stood about 15 hands and was a liver chestnut in colour, Mr. Palache tells me, and adds, she was unquestionably the best Zillah mare bred in Jamaica. She was bred by the late Mr. John Cuff at Emaus Pen, St. Elizabeth, and after his death purchased by his nephew, Mr. Michael Cuff Morgan, who owned and trained her during the whole of her racing career. Her first appearance was at Mandeville as a 3 year old, where she won the Untried and Maiden Stakes, and then went from better to best. She started 32 times won 28 races, 2nd three times and 3rd once. Amongst her races were two Queen's Purses, one of 2 mile heats, and one of 3 mile. She won 2 cups of 2 miles, and a distance. In her last racing season when 7 years old she was beaten by that great 2 year old Newminster, carrying 6st. 7lbs. whilst she had up 9 st. 12lbs. in the Stand Plate and Governor's Purse, 1 mile and a distance each. But the last day, carrying 9st. 7lbs. she won the Kingston Cup race, 2 miles and a distance, beating a good field and retired from the Turf with a crowning victory. She was a mare with such a back, loin, and second thighs, I never saw before or since, so says Mr. Palache. She then took up Stud duties, and strange to say, refused Sir Amyas as a mate. To Camillo of No. 13, a branch of her own blood a sire of Newminster quality she produced a son, Best and Bravest, who that great master of the horse, Mr. Palache, the Allison of Jamaica, says was the best horse ever bred in Jamaica. He was never beaten. As a 3 year old he won the Maiden and Untried Purses at Mandeville like his mother. The St. Jago Park Plate and Governor's Purse at Spanish Town. In Kingston he won the Stand Plate, 2 and 3 year old Stakes and Cup. As a 4 year old at the Kingston Midsummer meeting he won the great match with Smallwood of the No. 5 Family. John Wilson Davis' strain of blood, then the champion horse of Jamaica, and the Midsummer Cup, beating a good field. At the Kingston December meeting he won the Queen's Purse over three miles, again beating Smallwood, and won the Cup, 2 miles and a distance, beating a strong field. These were the only race meetings in those days and there were great owners in the land, McGrath, Roper, Walker, and the Clementsons, had strong studs of good horses. In the January of his 5 year old he was sold to go to Trinidad where after winning several races, beating all the English importations, he was purchased by the Government and did yeoman service in the paddocks.
Annie left four daughters. Sweet Cicely and Busy Body, by Timbale, a No. 3 horse of Herod descent, the son of Macaroni No. 14 a Derby winner, and Rhada and Annie Douglas the daughters of Masslnissa a No. 5 horse bred in Jamaica of Black Beauty strain and also of Herod descent. Sweet Cicely won several 2 year old races and a Kingston Cup. Busybody was never trained owing to an accident. Rhada besides other races won a Queen's Purse, 2 Kingston Cups, and a Waterloo Cup at Black River. Annie Douglas won several races and had a great turn of speed, but would only win when In the mood to gallop. At home she could make rings round Summermorn. These mares have all left descendants that are carrying on this branch of the Zillah family, and maintaining its prestige. Lady Selma from Annie Douglas, and the latest Slander from Busybody.
