Bell was modest about his achievement but Brown said of him at the time: "I think he is a genius but he doesn't know it."

Tartan Lady's Mosgiel owner Dr Onn Chin was equally full of commendation.

Dr Chin, a retired GP, said that after Tartan Lady had produced a Falcon Seelster filly foal at the stud, her health began to deteriorate. After about six weeks, plans were put in place to send her to the Southern Vet Centre, for Bell's attention.

"He scanned her and found a massive hernia," Dr Chin said, "I checked and there had only ever been one survivor (from the operation) and that was at a top American equine university. I'd heard he was pretty good vet, I knew what was involved, he and his staff did a pretty fantastic job."

Brown said Invercargill was fortunate to have access to the skills of the locally-born Bell who joined the practice from Auckland, having returned there from Illinois University where he worked under Dr Gordon Baker.

Dr Chin said Tartan Lady, second to Under Cover Lover in the 1998 New Zealand Oaks and the winner of 13 of her 41 starts was just a fabulous strong mare, and any other may not have coped.

"She has healed up and recovered well from the operation, she is in foal to Mach Three," he said.

Meantime, her first foal Tartan Rover, the winner of eight of his 30 starts has been sold.

"It was getting too tough for him here," Dr Chin said, "he was not over-raced and did a good job but was having to race off big handicaps, this will give him a chance to have another go."

Tartan Rover's trainer Graeme Anderson said the buyer had picked him as a good horse for the United States but saw later he had gone to Australia. Records show Tartan Rover has yet to race across the Tasman.

Mac Henry