NOTES BY PHAETON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 9

NOTES BY PHAETON

THE KING'S HORSES GOOD START FOR SEASON NEWBURY SPRING CUP WINNER The victory in the Newbury Spring Cup of the four-year-old horse Limelight, who was bred at the Royal Stud, was particularly pleasing because, coming so early in the new flat-racing season in England, it encourages tho hope of further successes for His Majesty's colours. Limelight is a son of Pharos, and. as he is considered to be one of the most promising horses in training at Newmarket, he can be regarded as an eligible candidate for honours in the Ascot Gold Cup. an event run over the long course of two miles and a-qunrier. which furnishes a supreme test for a horse as a stayer. This race is to be run on June 15. Limelight is also engaged in the Coronation Cup. about one mile and a-half, to bo run at Epsom on June 1. Tho first of the season's classic events will be decided at Newmarket this month, and tho result of the Two Thousand Guineas, in which rare The Abbot and Whitehead figure in the King's nomination, may be expected to reveal whether they come up to Derbv standard. Tho Abbot is by Abbot's Trace, son of Trncery, and Whitehead is by Gay Crusader, son of Bayardo. In the One Thousand Guineas His Majesty has Bayleaf. by Knoekando, and Wiry, by Colorado. The Abbot, Whitehead and Sandalwood (by SanBovino) are engaged in the Derby. The Two Thousand Guineas is to be run on April 26, the One Thousand Guineas on April 28 and tho Derby on May 31. AUSTRALIAN-BRED HORSES SUCCESSES IN AUCKLAND There is a larger number of Australianbred horses racing in Auckland than in any other part of tho Dominion, and some are paying their way satisfactorily. King's Knave, by Comedy King; Knight of Australia, by Windbqg: Flying Prince, by Flying King; Emancipation, by Sir Dighton: High Pitch, by Sarchedon; Red Sun." by Australian Sun; British Columbia, by Top Gallant; Hoihoma, by Legionaire; Moonfleet, by Silverado; Eldora, by Pantheon: Great Emblem, by Emblematic; Belltopper. by Cunusa; Demylus. by Polymestor; Hampton Park, by Tarquin; and Ornamental, by Ornamentation, have all raced successfully in Auckland this season. Last year Bronze Eagle, nn Australianbred colt owned in Auckland, won prizemoney to the amount of £3BIO. Unfortunately ho developed unsoundness and has not been raced this season. BUYING FULL-BROTHERS LOTTERY OF THE SALE-RING " Follow «the winning strains" is, no doubt, good advice, but it does not always prove profitable to buyers in the case of full-brothers—indeed, many pronounced disappointments in this respect can be cited. The latest case mentioned is that of Koomeela, full-brother to the doughty Amounis. who figured among the yearlings sent up to auction in New South Wales in the autumn of 1930 and who was bought by Sir James Murdoch for 1300 guineas. Koomeela has so far failed in all his race 3, and, as he is rising five years old, he has to be written down as a disappointment. STUD ITEMS BREEDING IN AMERICA A cry has been raised in America in regard to over-production of thoroughbred horses, and many breeders are alarmed at the outlook, which is no longer a paying industry. A statement published shows that in 1918 tho number of colts and fillies registered was 2000. In 1930 there was an increase to 5000 and in 1932 to 7000. It is contended that to bring about a satisfactory state of affairs the number of foals in the United States must be limited to not more than 4000 a year. America is a land of colossal undertakings, but, judging by the comments on the breeding of thoroughbred horses for racing purposes, the business is greatly overdone. BROTHER TO MOLLISON So v far as the sales of yearlings in Australia have progressed this year, the highest price paid for any lot is 725 guineas, which was given for a black colt by Seremond from Molly's Robe, who ranks as a fullbrother to the brilliant Mollison. As a yearling Mollison was bought privately by Mr. E. M. Pearce, of Melbourne, for £GOO. and his winnings in prize-money amounted to £30,829. THE BEND OR LINE Jackdaw, two of whose sons, Grakle and Kellsboro' Jack, have won the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase, traces to the celebrated Bend Or through his sire, Thrush, who is by Missel Thrush, son o£ Onne and grandson of Ormonde. ABSURD MARES AS MATRONS Although tho progeny of Absurd failed to develop the staying quality, four of his daughters. Homage, Waterwings, Veil and Parody, produced horses that have to be accepted as stayers. Homage is the dam of Honour,* winner of the New Zealand Derby. Waterwings claims Agrion, winner of the New Zealand Derby, Veil is tho dam of Veilmond, winner of the V.R.C. St. Leger. A.J.C. St. Leger and Randwick Plate, and Parody is tho dam of Topical, winner of the Australian Cup. Unfortunately leg troubles came against Honour and Agrion and brought about retirement from racing at an early stage. STUD FEES IN ENGLAND Service foes for stud horses continue to be well maintained in England. Solario. by Gainsborough, and Tetratema, by The Tetrt\rch, head the list, each at 500 guineas. Gainsborough, by Bayardo, Blandford. by Swynford, and Manna, by Phalaris, stand at 400 guineas. It is computed that the progeny of Gainsborough have won prizemoney to the amount of £250.000 during the past 12 years. STUD DISPERSAL Another prominent stud of thoroughbreds in Now South Wales is to be submitted to auction this month. This is the Ardsley Stud, owned by Mr. J. J. Leahy. The stallions to bo offered include Silverado, by Polymolus, Archery, by Tracer, Leighton. by Roi Herode, and Air' Balloon, by Stedfast. At the dispersal of Mr. J. B. Reid's atud at Oamaru in 1925 Mr. Leahy bought Archery for 4500 guineas. AUSTRALIAN-BRED- SIRES High Syce, by Higtyield, Middle Watch, by The Night Patrol, and Chatham, by Windbag, are booked to go to tho stud in Australia next season. RETURN OF IMPROMPTU DONUM ALSO AT HAMILTON C. Moran s fine pacer Impromptu has arrived at Hamilton from Chrißtchureh and will be given a spell before being put in work again by his owner. While beiug trained by J. S. Shaw at Addington this season Impromptu won some good sprint racos, and, although he failed to score at two miles, twice took a placed second of 4.20 4-5. Donum. a full-brother to Free Logan, who raced earlier in the season in the joint interests of Moran and Shaw and later was owned solely by the trainer, has been sold to Mr. L. Hodgson, of Hamilton, and has gone into Moran's stable with a view to being prepared for the cpuntry meetings next month. ,