MILLIONAIRES AND MOKES.

Northern Advocate, 17 November 1919, Page 3

MILLIONAIRES AND MOKES.

A LITTLE BID OF 8000 GUINEAS,

FOR A YEARLING COLT,

Eight thousand guineas were paid for a yearling by The Tetrarch at the Doncaster sales this morning, says Hotspur in the London Daily Telegraph of September 11. The buyer was the newcomer among prominent owners on the turf—Mr. Watkins Williams, whose ample fortune has come out of shipping enterprises. In announcing who the buyer was, Mr. Somerville Tattersall mentioned that only two yearlings have ever made higher prices —Sceptre, who brought 10,000 guineas, and Cupbearer. Eight thousand guineas seems a tremendous lot of money to give for a year-old thoroughbred. Before the 8000-guinea colt came into the, ring a chestnut colt by The Tetv.-irch made 2000gns, the purchase being made on behalf of Mr. James White. But this one was not a grey. It is that colour which apparently fascinates buyers, and I do not think for one moment that the colt out of Lisma would have made SOOO guineas had he been any other colour but a good hard steel grey, with some chestnut hairs like his sire had at the same ago. Then, too, this young swell is really a most impressive individual. Ho looks a champion to-day, and if ever racing character stood proclaimed in the yearling it most surely docs in this high-couiag-ed one. You will understand, therefore, that there were points, apart from the Tetrarch being his sire, to recommend him. There was his splendid individuality, and then his dam, Lisma, had bred Omar Khayyam, the best three-year-old in America in 1917, as well as other winners, There wore present around the ring the finest judges of yearlings and thoroughbreds generally in the United Kingdom. When the young Tetrarch walked proudly in, Mr. Tattersall asked for a bid of 4000gns. There Mas no response, and then someone said "Three thousand." It was as though the 9tarting-gatc had gone up—and away went the bidders. Thero was a bid of SOOgns only—a mere trifling 500gns only—and Mr. Galstaun promptly jumpd the offer from 4000gns'to 5000----gns. He evidently meant to take other people's breath away. Instead his own must have been taken from him by what followed, for I never saw him bid again. Three more bids in quick succession, and another lOOOgns had been reached, but then the price went in hundreds to GSOOOgns. Here, Lord Glanely made his first thrust, his bid being one of 0700gns. I do not think he went any further. It was left to Mr. Williams and another, who, I fancy, was Alec Taylor. Mr. Williams nodded at 7000gns, but his rival was ready with another SOOgns, and then the end came to this brief and dramatic sale when Mr, Williams signalled a bid at 80u0gu8. At SOOOgns Mr. Williams had laid out all opposition. Ho only survived, and so the grnml colt goes to Chiltern to be trained by Leonard Cundell. Both Mr. Williams and his trainer aro young men, and they seemed well Satisfied. So also did the veteran breeder of the colt, Sir John Robinson, whose greatest breeding triumph this is. Mr. Williams had a great morning. Ono can enjoy this sort of sensation-making, if only tho purse is long enough. Thus he gave 2700gns for a I'olymelus colt from Cream o' the Sky.