TOPICAL COMMENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 63, 15 March 1944, Page 7

TOPICAL COMMENT

RACING ROOM IX GERMANY Extraordinarily high prices were realised at a sale of yearlings in Berlin, according to reports that reached Renter from Stockholm in the closing stages of the old year. An average price of 25,344 reiclimarks (about £2500 at pre-war rates) was secured for 95 yearlings auctioned at Hoppegarten. The hie- figure of 81,000 reiclimarks (about £5750) was forthcoming in two instance; An order cancelling horse racing when total mobilisation was ordered last winter was soon revoked, and racing later reached a boom unprecedented In Germany, the report states. WINNER BY REVELATION Sedgemere, winner of the maiden event at the Egmont meeting, is a three-year-old brown colt by Revelation from Siega, and is raced by Mr. W. S. Howson, Nelson, for whom he is trained by R. Brough, at Hawera. Sedgemere was sold to his present owner for 130 guineas at the national yearling sales at Trcntham in 1942. He is the first foal of Siega, a Siegfried mare from Auriculus (dam of 1 lie Douro Cup winner Gay Fox). Te Waipu, Paymaster, Money Order and in earlier times Taringamutu, Kilboyne and Kilrea come from the same family. FIRST FOAIi RY HIGH CASTE There is an interesting foal now at Mr. E. E. Steele's Windsor Park stud at Oamaru. This is the first foal sired by High Caste, which is standing at the Segenhoe stud, Scone, New South Wales, at a fee of 100 guineas. High Caste had his first regular season last year, but tiie foal in question was sired by him at the end of the previous season and was foaled on December 31, 1943. She is a fine big brown filly, and her dam is Link Divine, by Captain Bunsby from tlie good race mare Silver Link, by Achilles. Link Divine was brought from Australia by Mr J T. .Tamieson. She won four races there, including the V.R.C. Wakeful Stakes. PREPARING FOR WINTER

An interesting acceptor for the Ohinemuri Cup is Erndale, winner of the Great Northern Hurdles in 1942, and whose last success was in the Longrieacn Hurdles at Iliccarton on August 1, 1942. This aged son of Lapidary and Lunette was turned out after contesting the Hemes Memorial Cup at Te Arolia in February of last year, and he had his first race since resuming training in the Franklin Cup on February 4, when he ran past beaten horses to finish liftli. Ji.rnuaie should be at the top of his form bv the time the jumping season opens. He is owned by Mr. A. W. Ebbett, of Hamilton, and is trained by J. Muir, who won the last race at the Franklin meeting with the hitherto disappointing Foxstar. VARYING REACTIONS Palora and Colais had an adventurous trip from Hastings to Trentham, spending two days on the road walking, one through the conveyance breaking down and the second occasion to reach the float that brought them the last 30-mile stage of the journey to the course, states the Dominion. The experience did not affect Palora, who won the Railway Handicap brilliantly after taking a lot out of herselt bv misbehaviour at the barrier which delayed the start. Colais, a two-year-old, did not react so favourably, and he was off-colour when he contested the Island Challenge Stakes, in which he finished third. Colais is a grand type of colt who will improve with age.

CORDAV UNLUCKY Not many of those who watched the race for the Thompson Handicap will dfsacree with the view that Corday would have won had he been raced a little evenly, states a southern writer In a nee that was run in record time foi the track and with topweight of 9.0 on his back Corday was taken from a rear posing into second place in less than three furlongs. To battle on as he did and fail only by a neck was an outstanding performance, particularly as Fiying Ace ! acl in advantage m weight of 261b. coiciay fs one of the most improved horses in trafning and has scored five wins and Saturdfy's second in his last seven starts.

OWNERS' REMINDERS Friday-—Auckland autumn nominations onfi forfeits for Great Northern Oaks, Champagne Stakes and St. Leger; Auckland trotting nominations.