GALLOPER AND SIRE

Evening Post, Issue 50, 27 August 1935, Page 6

GALLOPER AND SIRE

"THE rSPOTTED WONDER

The recent, death in Ireland of. The Tetrarch means the passing of a horse who-was unbeaten on the Turf and who also Avon high honours at the stud, writes "Phaeton."

At-Doncaster in-the autumn of 1912 a grey colt by .Roi Herode from the Bona Vista mare Vahren figured in the list:of yearlings submitted at auction, and he was bought by the trainer Atty Persee. for 1300 guineas. The colt, who was subsequently resold to Major Dermfant McCalmont, made his debut on the racecourse at two years old under; the title of The.Tetrarch.

Registering seven successive victories;;, each of them brilliantly: achieved. The Tetrarch gained the title of !'The Spotted Wonder," and he was, popularly. regarded as the probable winner of the triple crown at three years old. However, he was not destined to carry his record on the racecourse beyond his - two-year-old days for a-leg injury, due to striking himself, brought about his retirement from the Turf. -..; .

The first of The Tetrar'ch's progeny made their appearance on the Turf in 1918, and, as half a dozen were successful, his position on the winning sires' list was immediately established. ;The leading feature of his career as a sire.is that three of his sons, SalmonTrout,' Polemarch, and Caligula, scored in the St. Leger. His progeny won a sum in excess of £180,000 in prizemoney, of which Tetratema was responsible for £21,778.

It was authentically stated that a Russian sportsman unsuccessfully made an offer of £100,000 for The Tetrarch when he wound, up unbeaten at two years old. Although the colt had to be retired from racing at the outset of his three-year-old career, Major McCalmont, had: no reason to l-egret de r clining..the,offer, tempting as it was, ioi- he: reaped a very large sum in stud fees/ ■■■-.:•':■? •f-; V- . , ■■■'-..-.

■ Tetratema, who is the most notable of The Tetrarch's progeny at the stud in England, .headed the winning sires' list in/1929.

Four- of The Tetrarch's sons, Chief Ruler, \Tractor, Tea Tray, and Magnus, have' been imported to New Zealand, buti the first-named had a comparatively.short career, his death being .recorded'last year. -Chief Ruler won,:an attractive place on the winning sires' list, the sum. won by his progeny being well over £100,000. -<-..-. - . ,-; ;