NOTES BY PHAETON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22142, 22 June 1935, Page 11

NOTES BY PHAETON

. UNBEATEN HORSES BARCALDIN E TO BA H RAM SOME GREAT GALLOPERS The three-vear-old Bahrain having so far preserved an unbeaten record, the occasion is opportune for a reference to some of the illustrious horses who went through their racing careers 011 the English turf without sustaining defeat. Eclipse, Highflyer and Flying Childers, honoured names on the unbeaten list, are connected with ancient history, and tho present statement will be confined to horses who figured on the turf at a much later period. Making- a skip up to the 80's of last century, come to the period when Irish-bred Barcaldine, by Solon-Bally roe. figured as the outstanding performer. The greatest performance to his credit was registered in the Northumberland Plata, in which he carrier] !>.lO and beat his opponents as though they v ere mere hacks. Jn physique Barcaldine could be described as a giant, for ho stood 1G.2 and his girth waft returned as SGin. llis record was as follows Thirteen wins: four at two years, four at three years aTid five at five years. He was not raced at four years old.

An incident for wliieh the breeder and owner of Barcaldine was responsible went near to seriously affecting the career of the great Irish-bred horse. An overture was made to Sir John Astley that, if a certain sum were forthcoming, Barcaldine would bo •withdrawn from a race in which ho was engaged. Sir John forwarded the strange epistle to the stewards of the Jockey Club, who insisted upon an explanation. As 110 satisfactory one was forthcoming, the owner was summoned to appear before the stewards. In the meantime it was stated that Barcaldine had been sold, but. as doubts existed as to the boiiafules of the reported transaction, the horse was not permitted to start for the Cambridgeshire Stakes. He was then submitted at auction and was Purchased by -Robert Peck, a well-known trainer, for 1300 guineas. At the close of his racing career Barcaldine was bought by Colonel fearlow on account of Lady Stamford for 7000 guineas, and it is computed that his earnings as a fire for several years brought in something like £IO,OOO ft year in fees. Career of St. Simon

St. S.'mon, by Galopin—St. Angela, comes next under review. By all accounts ha displayed brilliancy of a very high order, and that he was also a stayer he left no doubt when at three years old he romped over his opponents in the Ascot Gold Cup, the distance of which extended to two miles and a-half. St. Simon's racing career terminated at three years old. and how much further he would have carried his record, studded as it was with true brilliancy, is left to conjecture. On all hands it is considered that he was one of the greatest gallopers that have graced the English turf. He scored five wins at two years old and four at three years old.

Ormonde, by Bend Or—Lily Agnes, was one of the select division who figure as winners of the triple crown (Two Thousand Guineas, Derby and St. Leger), and those victories add to the merit of his unbeaten record. At four years old he extended his winning record, and he is accorded a place among the most notable horses who have figured on the English turf. During his career Ormondo contested 16 races, and his record was as follows:—Three wins at two years, 10 at three years and three at four years. Hurry On, by Marcovil—Tout Suite, was raced only at three years old, and a victory in the St. Leger, included among the six races ho won, ranks as the outstanding performance for which he was responsible. The Tetrarch's Successes

The Tetrarch, by Roi Herode—Vahren, who was referred to as " a galloping machine," displayed a marvellous dash of pace in winning all his races at two years old, nine in number, and it is always regarded as a matter for regret that he did not race beyond the ,'uvenile stage of his career, for he was viewed as likely to have played a very attractive part in the classic events.

Bahrain, by Blandford—Friar's Daughter, who stands well out as the best colt of his age figuring on the English turf at the present time and who is unbeaten, with the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby included among his victories, seems likely to earn a place with winners of the triple crown, and. judging by the opinions of the London critics, he can be accepted as a colt who will win high honours beyond his three-year-old days. So far .'lahram has won seven races, five jit two years and two at three years. RACING IN ENGLAND HIGH STANDARD OF CONTROL The recent report from England that a leading jockey received a caution from the stewards at Epsom for pulling his mount out in the interests of another horse running in the nomination of the same owner furnishes another pointed illustration- of the high standard demanded. In tho Derby the Aga Khan started two colts, Bahram and Theft, and the rider of the latter pulled his mount out to let Bahrain come through. The stewards declared that, in accordance with the rules, every horse must be run on its merits, whether or not the owner was running another horse in the race, and carried the matter further by stating that disregard of the rule in future by any jockey would be severely dealt with. In the old days an incident such as that recorded would not have been regarded at all seriously. It required quite a number of years to convince the Jockey Club that declarations to win should be abolished. When such a procedure was in force fin owner, in starting two horses for a race, could declar« in favour of one inferior to another, which meant that the best one carrying his colours could be stopped in order to allow the inferior on? to score, and owners of the highest integrity did not hesitate to adopt such tactics. In 190!) Lord Cadogan led the agitation for the abolition of declarations to win, and eventually the old rule which had held sway for a long stretch of years was wiped out and a rule that all horses must be run on their merits was adopted. STUD ITEMS THE BREEDING PROBLEM In an interesting arficle a London writer says:—Some students of breeding assert that a brood mare's best years are between six and 13, nnd. while that assertion may not be exactly correct, a falling off in vitality can be noticed in both sire and dam as they grow older. The world's greatest sire. St. Simon, retired from racing at three years of ace and had 19 years of stud life, in which he sired 511 winners of stakes amounting to £532,1f1S Ms. After his fourteenth year at the stud, when 18 years old, his progeny wero only moderates nnd in his last season his eight winners won only £1787, NOTABLE MARE DEAD Warstcp, whoso death was reported from Gisborne recently, was well entitled to be accepted as tho most notable daughter of Martian. That, however, rests on her racing career. She contested '2B races and her placed record was as follows:—First 13 times, including one dead-lieat, second five times, third three times. Her winnings in prize-money amdunted to £IO,IOO. Foaled in 1010. Warstep hud reached the advanced age of 21 years at the time of her death. RICCARTON CASUALTIES BATTLE QUEEN BREAKS DOWN [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT 1 CHUISTCHURCH, Friday '1 wo of S. Barr's team for the Ashburton meeting will not be in evidence. Colossinn ran a nail into his foot this morning ant! will require a few days' spell. Battle Queen, who was expected to have her first race over country to-morrow, broke down badly when doing easy work to-day, the trouble being in the pastern, and she will have to btr sent, home to her owner. It is not likely that she will lie ftu ther persevered with as a racing proposition.