FROM ROYAL STUD

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 116, 12 November 1938, Page 24

FROM ROYAL STUD

CATALOGUE'S THIRD DAM

The pedigree of Catalogue, surprise winner of the Melbourne Cup, brings to mind the long association of the Royal Family as breeders of thoroughbreds, writes "Beacon" in the Melbourne "Leader."

Queen Anne, founder of the Royal Ascot Meeting at Ascot Heath, founded the Royal Stud at Hampton Court. It remained in existence until about 1894, when it was disbanded by Queen Victoria owing to the Sandringham Stud, founded by the Prince of Wales (afteri wards Edward VII), being then firmly established in Norfolk.

Queen Victoria bred many famous horses. Two of them were the classic winners Sainfoin and La Fleche. Her. Majesty bred in 1893 the chestnut filly Amphora, who was to become a famous brood mare. Colonel McCalmont had her at his stud for a while, and then transferred her to King Edward VII soon after he came to the throne.

When aged 19 years Amphora threw to the sprinter Symington the filly Symbolism, who was imported to New Zealand by Mr. J. B. Reid for .his Elderslie Stud at Oamaru. A young half-brother of Symbolism was Lucknow, winner of the Caulfield Cup in 1918, and fourth for the Melbourne Cup that year. At Elderslie Symbolism was mated with Catmint, a first-class longdistance winner in England, and, 'to him she foaled Catalani, the dam of Catalogue. From Catalani, Mr; W. G. Stead—part-owner of the 1916 Melbourne Cup winner Sasanof —bred Catalogue.