WHOSE OFFSPRING ?

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1936, Page 15

WHOSE OFFSPRING ?

A VANISHING DISTINCTION

Recent important winners in Australia and New Zealand might lead one to the conclusion that there is no longer any particular distinction between being bred in Australia and being bred in the Dominion. The Derby and Epsom Winners at Ranawick last Saturday were from lines that had passed portion of their existence in Australia end portion in New Zealand; and on Monday the Metropolitan winner (Young Crusader) was out of a mare bred in' New Zealand from a mare impcrted from Victoria, and the Breeders' Plate winner (RotJborough) was by v New Zealand-bred stallion from an Australian mare. Young Crusadar, who spreadeaglea the field in the Metropolitan, is a four-year-old chestnut horse by Caledon, a full-brother to the Derby winner Coronach (Hurry On—Wet Kiss) and .a three-quarter-brother to Captain Bunsby (Captain Cuttle—Wet Kiss), who sired Saturday's Epsom victor Capris. It is a coincidence that appears to have escaped notice that Young Crusader and Capris are by sires so closely related. Caledon has not yet been an outstanding sire in the Commonwealth, his average of success being somewhat similar to that of Captain Bunsby, but he has got some useful horses, among them Cabalist, Kagal, Duke Caledon, and Benedict, as well as YoUng Crusader, who has now to be rated his best performer. : i The dam of Young Crusader js Bonnie Lady, a mare by Boniform from Portland Lass, by Bill of Portland. Portland Lass was bred in Victoria, being a descendant of the Fisherman mare Mermaid, who is a different mare from the Mermaid (by King Tom) who has exerted such influence on the Turf in New Zealand. She was imported to New Zealand in 1905 by Mr. G. T. Seymour, and later was secured for the Waikanae Stud by. Mr. I. G. Duncan. Her earlier progeny, included Portland Bill, Portland Lady (Greymouth Cup, etc.), and Bondage (Cheviot Cup twice), and her last offspring was Bonnie Lady, who was bought as a yearling by Mr. E. S. Luttrell for 100 guineas. Bonnie Lady failed in a. few starts on the race track and was sold in Sydney as a three-year-old. It is interesting to note how the line that leads to Young Crusader spent a generation in New Zealand. Bonnie