RANNOCK
Ch stallion, 11/12/1967, 15.2hh, ASH 9973
                 
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View The Rannock Legacy Article. Rannock was a beautiful looking horse with an outstanding head, a long arched neck, roomy gullet, well defined wither, short back and cannons, and strong square hocks. Although 15.2h he felt like a 16h horse to ride, with a brilliant walk and long, easy, low gallop. He was never known to disunite at the canter and his progeny inherited this attribute. RANNOCK was bred by Bob Mackay of Scone, breeder of the famous Panzer, to whom RANNOCK is inbred. Mr. Mackay says "Panzer began his polo career as a rising five year old in 1949 and played until 1956 when he was 11 years old and about reaching his prime. I say this because each chukka he played was better than the one before. The Panzer influence is now widely sought and is being felt through his sons Myra Bronze and The Gun (sire of Bobby Palmer's Nabinabah Breezette, and $15,000 purchase Nabinabah Gunner; also sire of Sinclair Hill's Terlings Mountbatten, sire of $15,000 purchase Colt 45). Other Panzer sires are Cairo, Alamein, Benghazi, Rommel, Prancer and Dundee, sire of RANNOCK. Dundee was purchased from Bob Mackay in 1962 and played A grade polo for a number of years. Progeny of this great horse formed the nucleus of all teams of polo ponies played by Angus and Hamish Munro. Some of the most noted of these were Swallow (twice champion at Quirindi) Mandy, Sarich (played two chukkas in every international match by Hector Grotto for Argentina). Rommel and Sonny (R.A.S. Champion and played in all International tests by Joe Barry for U.S.A.). Two full brothers to Sonny are sires on other Munro properties. Of Dundee's dam, Roseita, Mr. Mackay says "I played her first chukka for several years: a very fast mare and top quality. Her dam was also a polo pony by Nassau (imp.)." As a yearling, RANNOCK was sold to Alan McGregor, S.A. to be used for polo. Unfortunately as a two year old he received an injury which blinded him in one eye. Although he had been broken in, he was used only for breeding purposes until purchased by Peter and Jeanette Gower as a seven year old. Straight from the paddock he placed in all his led classes including Champion A.S.H. at the 1975 S.A. Light Horse Breeder's Show (judge Maurice Wright) and Reserve Champion at the S.A. Joint Palomino & A.S.H. Show 1976 (judge Mrs. June James). In one season of ridden competition he won and placed at dressage, English pleasure, Western pleasure, trail and Western riding. Despite being blind in one eye he showed a natural aptitude over jumps and was able to be ridden bareback amongst his mares. RANNOCK'S progeny excelled in all types of competition. His progeny include Holly (Hugh MacLachlan's brilliant polo pony), Question (played by John Kelly) Adelaide Club's Champion Novice polo pony 1978 and second placegetter at an open campdraft at her only start (field of 83), Swop (played by John Patterson) and Finalist S.A. Campdraft Championships, Narrator (played 1981 Easter International Polo Tournament under Aust. Team Captain and coach Jim McGinley), Action and Brittle. At the 1979 Australasian Gold Cup RANNOCK progeny played in three state A teams. RANNOCK progeny continued to dominate the S.A. performance scene. In 1980 he sired no less than half the winners of the 22 classes at the S.A. Central Branch's A.S.H. Show, including the Supreme Led Exhibit, three Champions, both Yearling Futurities and the Three Year old Maturity a record unlikely to be broken! Both novice and experienced horsemen have won with RANNOCK stock performing in every mainland state, in every type of event. Listed below are just a few of the multitude of show winners by RANNOCK. CHALANI RIMFIRE: At the 1979 S.A. A.S.H. Feature Show he won the Three Year Old Maturity (Led, Hacking, Working), took out the trail class 2 years running at the All Breeds Gelding Show, then won at the huge EXPO 80 Hack Show (English judge). CHALANI GARNET: Winner of the 1980 Q.H.A.S.A. Reining Futurity, the 1980 Three Year Old A.S.H. Maturity and undefeated in Open A.S.H. Reining Patterns. Sold to Greg Edwards, Marulan N.S.W. for Championship polocrosse. CHALANI SKELTER: Winner of the EXPO 80 Trail Class, High Point Q.H.A.S.A. Snaffle Bit horse for 1980, and runner up to Garnet on numerous occasions.
SIRE SONS:LITTLEWOOD MONTEGO (Monty): Well known sire of outstanding polo ponies leased by Andrew Gray to Kerry Packer, Ellerston. Reportedly the best polo sire in Australia of his time. GYPROCK - Sire of Show, Polo ponies and Endurance progeny. MASTER HERBERT - Progeny have competed in Polo, Challenges, Campdrafting, Hacking, Dressage and All-round competition. Rannock's temperament was outstanding, particularly in regard to boldness and calmness (required by novices for confidence and demanded by serious competitors). His amazing athletic ability was evidenced by anyone who had the opportunity to witness him running with his mares as he was blind in one eye. The majority of horses at Chalani contain Rannock in their pedigree. Rannock descendants have competed in a wide variety of competition at top levels and are all over Australia. He has 83 Australian Stock Horse registered progeny.
  Breezette (left) and Susie (right) - Granddaughters of Panzer. |
