Syndicate operating for 39 years

A syndicate formed 39 years ago to buy the broodmare Mellition has won two races with her descendant, Crispin recently.

The Mellition syndicate bred Crispin and race her from the stable of Brian and Shane Anderton. She followed up an easy maiden win at Wingatui with success over at Ascot Park with a big run from back in the field over 1600m.

The White Robe Lodge stable also won with Coulee ($35,000 Southland Stakes) and Fascinate ($30,000 rating 85 Summer Cup) at Ascot Park on Saturday. Gallant Guru sired Taniwha, winner of the $40,000 Invercargill Gold Cup (2600m). Fascinate won the Southland Stakes last year and Include won  the race for WRL on 2015 and Darn Chancy in 2001.

Crispin is a 4yr-old mare by Raise The Flag from Red Stilettos, by Pins from Red Sophia, by Noble Bijou from Mellition, by Mellay.

Brian Anderton formed the syndicate in 1979 to buy Mellition. He was joined by his wife Lorraine, the Dennis brothers, Tony, Ray, Martin and Joe, veterinarian Jim Murray and his wife, Shirley and the White brothers Con, Johnny and Graham.

Brian and Lorraine, the Dennis brothers and the estate of the Murrays now comprise the syndicate.

Mellition (ex First Addition) won five races in NZ and Australia when owned and trained at Wingatui by Arthur Didham. She was bought by the syndicate with a colt foal by Approval, her second foal. She slipped twins by Noble Bijou the following year.

Mellition subsequently left seven foals by Noble Bijou, among them Our Sophia, Destined For Me and Red Sophia.

Our Sophia, the first live foal the syndicate bred from Mellition, won the 1985 AJC (Australia) Oaks and the Grand Prix at Eagle Farm. She was sold for $70,000 to Melbourne trainer George Hanlon at the National yearling sale, then held at Trentham.

Destined For Me was knocked down to Australian Bloodstock, of Blenheim for $120,000 as a 2yr-old at the 1984 South Island sale. The buyer defaulted on the payment and the filly was re-auctioned at a Trentham sale, where the buyer was Terry Crommelin, of Perth, who had been the underbidder in Christchurch.

Destined For Me won in Australia and as a broodmare in NZ, re-named Meant For Me, became the dam of Dowry (South Australian Oaks) and Fatal (NZ International Trophy).

Our Sophia became the granddam of Carnegie Express (Canterbury Guineas).

Red Sophia was unraced through a tendon problem when leased to Australia. She left eight foals for the Mellition syndicate, among them Lodger (a useful performer in Victoria) and Red Stilettos. The latter was leased to clients of the David Hayes stable and won over 1235m at Geelong at her first start. She was restricted to three further starts after chipping a bone in a knee. Crispin is the last of three foals left by Red Stilettos.