STUD NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19275, 13 March 1926, Page 15

STUD NOTES.

FIRST FOALS. BY PHAETON. Pilliewinkie, who has placed himself well iu the limelight at the six-year-old stag© of his career, is the latest performer of note included among first foals. At one time—and that n't'ifc so very long ago—a marked prejudice existed against the first produce of a mare, and, though one does not in these days hear so much of that old-time prejudice against first foals, there are those of the old school who will rather chance the later offspring of a mare than her first foal. It is somewhat difficult to say on what grounds such an absurd prejudice got the start. The English Stud Book furnishes Quite a number of marked instances wkero the first foal of a mare has proved of great value, and illustrious names that come readily to mind are Touchstone, Castrel, Sultan, Buccaneer, Wild Dayrell, Sir Hercules. Vedette, The Baron. Pocahontas. Barcaldine. and Bendigo. Of Wild Dayrell it is recorded that he was so feeble at first that ho had to be wheeled about in a barrow, thus causing his ovnier to observe —he had never had a thoroughbred before--that if that was the class of animal he had gone in for raising, ho had better go back to crossbreds. for he was sure he could never make up his mind to have his foals wheeled about in a barrow. Yet this sickly foal eventually grew into a fine horse, and, trained by his .owner's groom, ho won the Derby! Spread Eagle. Daniel O'Rorke, and Favonius are another trio of first foals that captured the coveted blue ribbon at Epsom. A glance through the New Zealand and Australian Stud Books also furnishes some striking illustrations where first foals reached the high class. The most noteworthy first foals entered up in the New Zealand Stud Book are Templeton. Trenton, Mata, Foul Play, Grip, Mitrailleuse, Forme, Antares, Go -Medallist, Frisco, Maniapoto, Captain Jingle. Emperador 11.. Croesus. Martian, Nightfall, Artillorv. Betrayer, Miss Delaval, Bobrikoff, and Thespian. First foals that earned distinction in Australia also bulk largely, among the number being many celebrities, to wit, Goldsbrough, Richmond, Wellington, Portsea, Chester, Darriwell, Sheet Anchor, Malvoho, Wakeful, and Cisco. It may be mentioned that Chester and Sheet Anchor, who each have their names enrolled as Melbourne Cup winners, were got when their respective dams were two find a-half years old.