Australian Turf

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 65, 18 March 1938, Page 12

Australian Turf

SOLD FOR 30GNS.

DAM OF TACTICAL CONQUEROR OF NUFFIELD. Racing romance has been enlivened at different times by stories of how David, winner of more than £30,000 in stakes, was purchased for 40gns as a yearling, of how many other great horses have been purchased for "a mere song." Who knows that Tactical, the winner of the Ascot Vale Stakes, at Flemington, in which he easily beat Nuffield, and a dead-heater with Valhalla for tlie March Nursery at the reccnt Flemington meeting may not go down in racing history as a sale ring bargain? Tactical is already a bargain, but for some extraordinary reason horses arc not regarded as "sale-ring bargains'' until they have won about a hundred times their purchase price in stakes. Buy a house to-dav for £2000 and sell it to-morrow for £4000, and it is a bargain, but not so with racehorses, which have to be purchased at 25gns or a little more and win stakes like Phar Lap or Heroic before they can be entered for the bargain stakes. But to revert to Tactical (says "Cardigan"). His dam, Iridian, has had a rather peculiar career. Her dam Ira was imported to Australia by Mr. Rundle Brendan, in 1029. Mr. Brendan was an English shipper, who used to make a practice of sending batches of bloodstock to Australia some years ago. and usually managed to obtain about four times more for them than he gave in England. Tired of Her. Ira. when she left England, was served by Herodote (a son of Roi Hcrode), and Iridian was foaled in Australia. She was at St. Albans (Geelong) for some time, but Messrs. Raymond and Ranken tired of her as a brood mare, and she was sold in March, 1934, at Mackinnon and Cxo's for 6ogns to Spry Bros. Unfortunately, Iridian did not remain long in the possession of Messrs. Spry, as Mr. Horrie Spry died and his Islay Vale Stud was dispersed. At the dispersal sale in 1935, which was also held at Mackinnon and Cox's yards at Newmarket, Mr. and Mrs. Ross GreySmith inspected Iridian with their trainer, Tom Branigan. The mare was believed to be in fonl to Simeon's Fort, and, believing that Iridian might throw a good-sized foal—she is a big. coarse mare —Mr. and Mrs. Ross Grey-Smith purchased Iridian for 30gns. Mr. L. F. Aldridge, of Kismet Park. Sunbury, was given the task of looking after Iridian and rearing her Simeon's Fort foal when he arrived. He always liked Tactical as a foal and a yearling, und he was one that was not the least surprised when Tactical won a good race at Flemington. Messrs. J. V. and P. Fairbairn now own Tachical in partnership with Air. and Mrs. Ross Grey-Smith, but they can thank the judgment of their partners in sensing a sale-ring bargain when they gave such a modest sum for a marc— only believed to be in foal—which had been through the sale ring twice before. Tactical has now ,won about £1500 in stakes, and who knows that in the spring he may not be one of the best of his age. He has speed, and his Ascot Vale Stakes win proved him to be a fighter.