THE TURF IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18949, 21 February 1925, Page 12

THE TURF IN AUSTRALIA.

CAUL,FIELD FUTURITY STAKES. BY PHAETON. The Caulfield Futurity Stakes, with ila fine prize of £3OOO, is one of the big events of the Australian turf. 'Tlie race ill question is net down for decision to-day, and, with a prospect ot The iMgut i-atroi. The Hawk, and Heroic figuring among the contestants, a very wide mturest will be centred in the result. The iiawk won the race last year under a 101b penalty,, which brought his impost up to 8.8. In this year s race the .New Zealuud gelding will have to curry a 201b penalty wnicb means that the impost opposite his name is 10.1. Heroic has incurred a 151b penalty and his impost will therefore be 9.6, 'lue tollowmg is a list of the horses engaged; st. lb. The Night Patrol (201b penalty) 10 7 The Hawk (201b penalty) . . 10 1 Heroic (15lb penalty) . . ..96 Balbus (15lb penalty) . . ..96 Sir Diirhlock (7lb penaitv) . . 8 12 Bedonia (71b penalty) . . ..89 Father's Voice . . ~ . » 8 5 Mercian King 8 5 Fujisan 8 2 Friarsdaie (allowed 25UA . ..73 Robespierre (allowed 211b.) . . 612 Linlitnspw (allowed 21lb) .. 612 Verbinß (allowed 211b) . . . . 612 Irish Colleen colt (allowed 211b) 6 12 Flying Start (allowed 211b) ..69 Ekaladi bllo.wed 211b) . . ~69 Tresset (allowed 201b.) . . ..CD Magpio—Tarlet gelding (allowed 211U 6 9 Shepherd King—Destruction filly (allowed 211b) ..6 9 HIGH PRICE COLT. The purchase of the yearling colt .by Valais from iSurletta for iiOOOgns by the Melbourne sportsman vvno races under tne assumed naiuo of "Mr. fcl. M. Melrose" was (remarks a Melbourne writer! made during a, recent visit to the Macquario Stud. The reason assigned tor " Mr. Melrose'' purchasing the colt privately was on account oi his leaving for England beioro the yearling sales in April. The experts who have inspected the Burlctta coit give him a high certificate on the score oi physwue, and the prediction is offered that he will prove a rncehorse of class. Burlctta, who is a daughter of Wallace, it is interesting to relate, threw a noteworthy performer iu the shape of Radnor. That horse has his name enrolled among noteworthy winners of the Champion Stakes, and. as he was credited with galloping the three miles attached to that great race in 5m 2235. he furnished pointed evidence of possessing the staying quality to a marked degree. When, a yearling Radnor was bought for 400gns. it will be interesting to note an time wears on how his 3000gns relative sold this year compares m the matter of racing performances. The mention of Radnor's namo revives an interesting little story connected with his career at three years old. for it shows how even a man in the forefront of the training profession can be induced to sign a. sale note for a horse just when the animal is ready to register a, sequence ox wins. During the progress of the v.R.C. Spring Meeting of 1914 Radnor was so id by the late Ike Earnshaw to the late Mr. S'. P. Mackay for £ISOO. In his very first race under new colours, and within a couple oE days of being sold. Radnor won the C. B. Fisher Plate of £BO6, and, with the West Australian Derby, V.R.C. St, L-sger, Champion Stakes, A.J.C. St. Leger, and other earnings, he won stakes to the value of £6643 at three years old under Mr. Mackay's colours, and was then sold for a high figure. STUD NOTES. WINNING SIRES' LIST. BY PHAETON. The first half of the present racing season in Australia concluded on January 31. ami figures compiled to that auto show that descendants ot The Avclkui had captured stakes to the value of £16,311 which placed the son ot Flying Pox at the head of the list, Valais is a good second with £15,465, and, with a good prospect of his three-year-old son Heroic being prominently on the scene at the autumn meetings, it is quite possible that Valais will head the list, when figures come to be made up at the end ot April. According to & compilation made by the Australasian, descendants of 'lhe Weikm have won stakes to the value of £248,715 from the spring of 1914 to the summer of 1925. That places the English-bred horse in | second place so far as Australia is concerned, but he has still a long way to go to equal Maltster's record, which stands at I £276.991. However, the fact of Maltster I having been numbered amons the defunct for j some time and that few of his descendants I are now racing, while The Welkin is still in vigorous life, and further that he is well represented, gives the latter a good chance of beating the record held by the Australianbred stallion. When the winning sires' list is under survey the record down to the credit of j the New Zealand-owned Martian is always j entitled to be taken into account for it is a. great record that is down to the credit j of the Martai'on horse. From 1909 to the 31st of last month, descendants of Martian had won stakes to the value of £259.316, and, with his brilliant son The Hawk racing for big stakes in ' Australia and several others of a. promising stamp claiming him as sire likely to develop winning form at an early date," the total against Martian's name should be considerably raised by the end of the season. The New Zealand-bred sire Egypt (ftiil brother to Desert Gold), who was allowed to 1 go cheaply at auction in the autumn of 1 1922 at 350gns, claimed a two-year-old winner I in Sydney recently in the shape of Domini. This*fillv is out of War Cry (by Finland— War Talk), so that Domini can boast of quite a Xew Zealand pedigree.