Agricola sold to Australia

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32474, 8 December 1970, Page 8

Agricola sold to Australia

(N.Z. Press Association) I WELLINGTON, j Agricola, one of New Zealand’s top sires of stayers, was sold yesterday to an Australian syndicate for an undisclosed price. The 14-year-old stallion has been purchased by an Australian syndicate headed by Mr J. W. Kelly, of the Newhaven Park Stud, New South Wales. Mr Kelly stands the top Australian sire Wilkes at stud. However, Agricola will not stand at Mr Kelly’s property, but at the Kirkham Stud, New South Wales, owned by Mr F. W. Sutton. Pots.,slon from Now Year Mr D. M. Floyd, bloodstock

j manager of Wright, Stephenson i and Company, Ltd, who con-! firmed yesterday morning that Agricola had been sold, said that the Australians would take possession of Agricola as from January 1. Mr Floyd accompanied a party of Australians to Te Parae, near Masterton, on Sunday, where the 1 negotiations were completed. | In the party were Mr Kelly, Mr J. Inglis, representing the Australian bloodstock firm of W. H. Inglis and Company, Ltd, Mr L. Watters, representing Mr Sutton, and a veterinary surgeon, Mr P. Sykes. Agricola was purchased in 1960 by a syndicate in which the principal shareholders were Mr and Mrs C. Williams, of Te Parae, and Mr T. C. Lowry, of the Okawa Stud.

| Agricola stood his first season at stud in 1961 at Te Parae and ever since has been highlysought after as a sire and source of stamina. In 1964-65, Agricola was the leading first-season sire in New Zealand, but it has been in Australia that he has made his I mark. Agricola was champion Australian sire in 1967-68, mainly through the deeds of liis greatest son, General Command, which won almost $llO,OOO in stakes. Numbered among General Command’s Australian wins i was the Sydney Cup (two miles) and the Metropolitan Handicap (13 furlongs), in Australian and New Zealand record time. Agricola’s best daughter was (Lowland, which won the Sydney Cup as well as the A.J.C. Oaks and the S.A.J.C. St Leger.