NOTES BY PHAETON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20668, 13 September 1930, Page 9

NOTES BY PHAETON.

UNITED STATES CHAMPIONS.

RECORD STAKE-WINNINGS,

CALLANT FOX'S FUTURE.

Tho United States has been described as tlio land of records, <uid, according to tho figures published, it now has tho distinction of having bred two horses who Btand first and second respectively in tho list of great stake-winners. Gallant Fox, who is the bright particular star of this season's three-yoar-old division, is credited with winning prize-money to the amount of .€03,500, which bents Zov'h record of :i few years ago bv £IOOO.

Tho largest existing stakes in America now range from £20.000 to £IO.OOO, and there is a proposal to institute a race with a stake of £50,000.

Wonder is expressed in many quarters as to whero tho money is obtained to enable the American clubß to provide such prizemoney. Sweepstakes of £2OO aro not uncommon. so that in many cascß the owners supply a large proportion of tho stakes, but still it remains a bit of a puzzlo whero tho money comes from. Tho figures attached to the stake-winning record in America aro, no doubt, to be re garded with a large amount of interest, but tho question tha* arises is whether the owner of Gallant Fox will bo sufficiently encouraged thereby to send his colt to England to meet the best that the Old Country can produce. It has been frequently stated that tho Americans aro very anxiouß to furnish the winner of the Ascot Gold Cup with a horse bred in the United States, and it will bo interesting to see whether Gallant Fox is estimated to be up to the standard required to win tho historic weight-for-agc race, tho distance of which extonds to two miles and a-half.

HIGH-PRICED HORSES

NOTEWORTHY DISAPPOINTMENTS.

When a horse has been bought at a high figure much curiosity is evinced as to which side has the better of tho deal and whether tho horse acquired will prove a good speculation. A large number of illustrations can bo cited where the purchasers havo been disappointed. The news that Chide has broken down makes the prospect of the Sydney sportsman Mr. T. C. Trautwein, who paid GOOO guineas for him, being recouped for his largo outlay look anything but promising. It would havo been especially pleasing to chronicle that Chide had justified hiß purchase, for Mr. Trautwein experienced a marked disappointment with another New Zealand-bred horse. This was Runnyniedo, for whom, it was said, ho paid GOOO guineas. Runnymcde managed to win only one small race since changing hands in the spring of 1926, and, as he is now included with the aged division, ho is largely discounted. When the purchase of high-priced horses in New Zealand is under consideration, the case of Golden Slipper can always bo depended upon to-be cited. On the strength of her winning displays in tho C.J.C. Champagne Stakes and Challenge Stakes, the bay daughter 'of Multiform was mado the medium of spirited bidding when tho horses comprising the late Mr, G. G. Stead's team were submitted to auction in the spring of 1908, and the filly was bought for 4500 guineas on account of Mr. n. E. White, of Sydney. The records reveal that Golden Slipper won for him only a braco of small handicaps, the combined value of which did not reach to £2OO.

Mermin (by Absurd—Eulogy), who won eight of tho nine rnccß he contested at two years old, received such a wide advertisement that a commissioner acting on account of an Indian sportsman, effected his purchase at 3000 guineas. Mermin was novcr in a position to reproduce hia early form and ho proved a completo disappointment. When Finmark (by Finland—War Scare) was sold at three years old to Mr. A. P. Wade, of Sydney, the sum of 5000 guineas was understood to havo been involved in the transaction. Finmark won tho Australian Jockey Club's St. Leger for Mr. Wade, but he was of little use afterwards, and ho did not figure on tho racecourse beyond his four-year-old career. i

33ipla.no (by Comedy King—Air Motor), who had won the Australian Jockey Club's Derby and tho Victoria Derby, was bought at four years old by the late Mr. A. F. Sturton for 3000 guineas. He proved a bad speculation, for he failed to win a race for Mr. Sturton, and was eventually sold as a stallion fqr 350 guineas.

Satrap (by Paladin—Persian Lilac) won the New Zealand St. Leger and Great Northern St. Leger in tho autumn of 1928, and. having run a good second to Star Stranger in the Trentham Gold Cup, two miles, in tho record time of 3m 2215, there seemed to bo good encouragement to expect Satrap to pay his way well at four years old. A Queensland sportsman bought the black gelding at a high figure, stated to bo 3000 guineas, but Satrap did not display form calculated to give hiin a chanco in an important race in Australia, and he is now competing with tho hurdlers nt some of tho Bmall meotings around Sydney. A .brilliant feat for which Noctuiform was responsible in tho decision of tho Australian Jockey Club's Derln in 1905, and which he followed up by recording victories in tho New Zealand Cup and New Zealand Derby, gave that colt, who was bred by the late Mr. G. G. Stead, a wide advertisement, and he was bought by the English sportsman. Sir Edgar Vincent, for 5000 guineas. Much interest was centred in the form Noctuifonn would display in England, but ho failed badly. His only success thero was gained in a small handicap race, and a fall when contesting a like ovent resulting in n fractured limb, he had to bo destroyed. Those in close touch with the sale of racehorses in Now Zealand would havo no difficulty in citing tho one entitled to be regarded as tho most pronounced failure after being sold for £3OOO. This was the Australian-bred gelding Spanner. On the strength of five wins at. throe years old, some people—and some keen judges woro included —becaino obsessed with tho idea that Spanner had a good raco concealed about him, but they were soon disillusioned on that matter. Spanner actually proved a bad horse. »

In the spring of 1028 Ttaasay (by Lord Quex —Tressida) and Perception (by Psychology—Aniyrin), a brace of three-year-olds from New Zealand, were sold in Sydney at 3000 guineas and 2000 guineas respectively. Raasay has beon a marked disappointment, and though Perception has won a few races, tho successes credited to him have been confined to minor events.

LUCKY PURCHASES

THE lIAWK AND NIGIITMARCII,

The Hawk,.who wns bought by Mr. J. M. Cameron for GOO guineas in tho middlo of his four-year-old career, proved a bargain of tho golden order, for he won many valuable races, and his earnings in stakes after changing hands amounted to £20,774. Nightmarch, who was bought by Mr. A. F. Louisson for 1000 guineas at the closo of his two-year-old careor, wns a great prize, for up to tho present ho has captured prizemoney under tho colours of the Canterbury sportsman to the amount of £25,454, and ho looks good to extend his record further during tho present Benßon.

STUD ITEMS.

Sports Queen (by Glengowrie—Uranium) recently produced a colt to tho imported horse Spear Dance. Sports Quoen, who is owned by Mr. G. Carolan, of Wnharoa, is the dam of Princo Val and Royal Visitor, both winners last season.