FULL BROTHERS AS RACERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19376, 10 July 1926, Page 15

FULL BROTHERS AS RACERS.

WHAT RECORDS REVEAL. I BY PHAETON. The fact of the lons price of 5500 guineas having been paid for a yearling full-brother to the unbeaten Valien re furnishes another illustration of what an advantage it is to a youngster to be advertised by a close relative. and, further, that though many disappointments can be cited where fullbrothers have been very wide apart in racing capacity, there is always a strong desire to purchase a close relative to a noted racer when everything is in order as to health and conformation. There is an old saying, "Like begets like," but many illustrations can be cited to disprove the same, and such is brought out rronouncedly at times when full-brothers of the equine family conio under the searchlight. When men set out in these southern lands to discuss tho interesting question of full-brothers the case of Poseidon and Orcus, who, got by Positano from the Mar-tini-Henry mare Jacinth, ranked as fullbrothers, is always pretty sure of first attention. Poseidon, who waa bought as a yearling for 500g5., proved himself a firstrater, and hie earnings in stakes amounted to £'19,496. On the strength of the brilliancy displayed by Poseidon there was great competition for his full-bwother when he went into the ring as a yearling, and the New South Wales sportsman who raced Poseidon was so enamoured of his prospects of securing another great winner that ho bought the young colt at 3050g5. The colt, who was raced as Orcus, was considered to be even better looking than his famous brother, but that looks aro not everything was the important point that had to be recognised in the case of Orcus. fot he failed to win a race, and that, too. when given the opportunity of doing so in very moderate company. Richmond and Segenhoe were full-brothers by Maribyrnong from The Fawn. And what a contrast is here 'to bo found! Richmond was undoubtedly a first-rater, the A.J.C. Derby, Australian Cup, and Champion Stakes being included in his captures at three \ear3 old. Segenhoe, though of splendid physique, could not stay, and he did not. I think, win a race after he passed the two-year-old stage. Chester. Roodee, and St. George wero all by Yattendon from Lady Chester, and while tho first-named won a high-class certificate his relatives were of no account as racers. Then there is First King and his brother Second King. First King won a place in the category of the great, but Second King, I fancy, went off the turf with but one race, at two years old. to his credit. In tho cases cited above, the superior offspring of the mating where full brothers arc concerned is in the first instance. The stud book reveals that the St. Albans mare First Lady threw three colts in successive seasons to Yattendon, viz., First Lord, Beauclerc, and Grand Flaneur. The first named pair were of little account; while Grand Flaneur retained an unbeaten certificate, and is widely accepted as one of the best .-horses that graced tha Australian turf. The first produce of the Goldsbrough mare Frailty as a result of mating with Musket was Trenton, who was high-class, and Cuirassier (also by Musket), who was her third foal, was also a good performer, who would in all probability have attained greater fame had he stood proper training. The English-bred mare Idalia opened her stud career bv throwing a colt to Traducer, and under the name of Betrayer he won fame as a stayer. A full-brother to Betrayer in Sir Modred was Jdalia's second foal, and he also was a horse of high class. Idalium. Cheviot, and July, wha were Idalia's other contributions to th# Stud Book by Traducer, were not near the stan dard of her previous- produce. The Angler mare Onyx threw Nordenfeldt, Jacinth, and Enfilade to Musket in successive years. Nordenfeldt won both the A.J.C. and V.R.C. Derbies, and he was rated very highly. On the other hand. Jacinth and Enfilade wero moderates. La Notte (by "Eiridspord) ftrew two good colts to Multiform in the shape of Noctuiform and Midnight Sun, who both won distinction as cup winners, and Nightfall, who ranked as full-sister to the pair named, ranks as a Derby and Oaks winner. The interesting fact to be mentioned in connection with Noctuiform and Midnight Sun is that they were quite dissimilar in colour, the first-named being of the chestnut shade, while the latter was a brown. Record Reign and Coronation. who ranked as full brothers (by Castor—Winnie), were aa unlike as possible to be. Record Reign, though of coarso physique, was a solid all-round performer, flat, hurdle race, and steeplechase victories embellishing his record. Coronation, though of more blood-like appearance than his brother, was a perfect disappointment; and when his name disappeared from tho Turf Register in 1907 at which period he ranked as a five-year-old) he had not scored a single win. In 1918 the Spearmint mare Pinetta threw a colt to Martian, and when the youngster reached the yearling stage he was sent to auction. Mr. K. S. Williams bought the colt for 1150gns and raced him under the name of Penitent Pinetta's second foal (Rapine) was bouglt by Mr. A. B. Williams for 450gns, and o«oe again the wide difference that can exist between two full-brothers was strikingly exemplified Penitent only managed to win a couple of hack handicaps, while Rapine has proved himself a first-rater, and his st»>ke captures run out to over £16.000. Wairiki and Seddoii were the produce of Rose and White,' by Soult. The former was a first-rater, while Seddon was nothing more than u moderate. The brilliant Gloaming is down to the credit of The Welkin, and the Eager mare' Light, and what a vast difference there is between "the flying bay" and his fullbrother Lightning the records furnish striking evidence. In 1915 and 191G respectively the Bobadi) mare Bob Cherry threw colt foals to Eudorus. The 1915 foal is known as Nivelle and the 1910 foal as Eurythmic, and the two chestnuts furnish a very striking illustration of how greatly full-brothers can vary in galloping powers. Nivelle was a moderate of moderates, while hi 3 brother earned a place with the great horses that have carried silk on the Australian turf. Biplane, who was got by Comedy King from Air Motor, displayed brilliancy of a high order, but his full-brother. Winged Victory, was summed up as "not worth a row of pins." The colt by Valais from the Malster mare •Courante is credited with being of true masculine physique, and it goes vnthout saying that his appearance under silk is awaited.with very keen interest. In connection with Valicare and the youngster sold for the sum of 5500g5. in April it has to be noted that Yalicare is a fillv. while her relative is of the male *ex, and that of course adds a further marked spice of interest to the part the colt is destined to play. It can be said for Valais that colts and fillies for which he figures as the sire have proved equally brilliant, so th"t he has already the double record. Maybe another record awaits the Cicero horse in the case of Valicare and her yearling full-brother.