CUP CANDIDATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22608, 22 December 1936, Page 7

CUP CANDIDATES

BREEDING ANALYSED

FINE STAYING PEDIGREES FLOOD TIDE'S SOUND LINES BY SPEARMINT The field of 19 horses remaining in tho Auckland Cup constitutes the largest number of acceptors for stuno years past. The field contains the usual percentage of horses who are sure to be beaten by the distance, but all indications are for a field possessing well above the average stamina and a trulyrun race. Tho topweight, Cuddle, is by Psychology from Caress, by Martian from Trichas, by Thrush from Creme-Simon, by St. Simon. Sho comes from the great sire line that produced Peter Pan, Marabou, Contact and Quashed, and her dam is a daughter of tho famous Martian. She lias already proved her stamina by her effortless victory last year. Master Brierly is by Musketoon from Lady Brierly, by Archiestown from Ko Iwi, by Demosthenes from The Bo.yne, by Merriwce. Musketoon is by Stedfast from Musk, by Myram, and possessed a considerable amount of stamina. Lady Brierly is in-bred to Desmond and Musket, and her breeding shows an accumulation of staying blood, which has been ajnply demonstrated by Master Brierly's performances over tho distance. Flood Tide brings in blood new to New Zealand, as his sire, Tidal, is French-bred, by Sea Sick from Cccilie 11., by Prestige from Cyanin, by Cvllene. No horse now at the stud in NewZealand is endowed with more inherited stamina than Tidal. The dam of Flood Tide is Sicilian, by Crown Imperial 11. from Sicily, by Formulate. Flood Tide's breeding is entirely in favour of his being able to stay tho distance. Son of Hunting Song Sporting Blood is by Hunting Song from Gazi, a mare not in the Stud Book, whose breeding is believed to beby Gazeley from Cheddite, by Sou It from Lyddite, by Tasniau from Muscatel, by Musket. Tho best performer sired by Gazeley was the Easter Handicap winner Gazique, and none of tho progeny of Hunting Song has gone the distance successfully on tho flat. Argentic is bred on tho same lines as Silver Ring, an undoubted stayer, being by Silverado from a mare by Nassau. Tho breeding of Argentic on the distaff side is imj>eceable in a staying connection, but Silverado has only sired one true stayer, and, as he is out of a Suiulridge mare, he may represent a weakness in tho pedigree. Jonathan has brilliant sprinting blood on both sides of his pedigree. He is by Thespian, a son of Absurd and conqueror of Gloaming at a mile, from Joanfax, by Juggernaut, a horse by St. Simon from a sister to Sundridge. It is impossible to lay down hard and fast rules, but the complete absence of staying names in tho first three removes of Jonathan's pedigree is not in his favour. Fersen's breeding, from tho point of view of stamina, comes'out satisfactory in every respect. He is by Verbius, a stoutly-bred son of Swynford, from Gallantry, by Lemberg from Chivalry, a half-sister, by the great stayer Amadis, to Orange Girl, dam of the Ascot Gold Cup winner Tangiers. Fcrsen has already proved his staying ability. King Rey is by Raceful from Hilmar, by Marblo Arch from Lady Hilda, by St. Hilda, who was a half-brother, by St. Leger, to the good stayers An tares and Fulmen. Although Raceful did not prove himself a stayer, he is by Martian from a sister to All Bed and Ukraine, dam of Sasanof. There is a lot that appeals in this brooding. Mazir and Scotland Mazir is by Whirlwind from The Begum, by Chief Ruler from Lucella, by Lucullus from Seatonella, by Seaton Delaval. The Begum is a sister to Supremacy and Lucella was a halfsister to Arch Marella and Statuette. The breeding is all for speed on the dam's side, but Whirlwind's pedigree shows a certain amount of stamina. • Scotland is by Aero from Bonny Mabel, by Robert the Bruce (granflson of Wallace) from Little Mabel, by Medallion (son of Nordenfeldt). This in-breeding to Musket should make for stamina, but Acre and his sire, Linacre, were sprinters and Aero has not yet sired a true stayer. Werohia descends from Carbine,' as he is by Greyspear, a son of Spearmint and Kitty Grey, by Ayrshire. Greyspear way aire of the New Zealand Cup winners Rapier and Spearful. Huiarau, dam of Werohia, is by King Mark, son of Marco, from Te Aupaki, dam of Toxeuma, one of tho most brilliant milers of recent years. Dark Shadow is doubtfully bred, by Aero or Leigbton from Madam Lobelia, by Bunyan from Lobelia, who is said to have been by Albert, a brother to the Auckland Cup winner Leopold. Bunyan was a half-brother, by Pilgrim's Progress, to Danube. Neither Aero nor Leighton inspires confidence for the occasion. There is no fault to be found with the breeding of Con Fuoeo, but his performances to date do not justify his prospects being regarded enthusiastically. He is by Musketoon, sire of Master Brierly, from Trill, by the Trentham Gold Cup winner Kilboy, from Tetrazzini, by Soult from Miss Annie, by Seaton Delaval, which is stout breeding enough. King Tut can hardly be taken seriously. Ho is bv King Nassau from Nowcna, by Potoa from Hamadryad, by Eton from The Dell, by The Officer. King Nassau is by Nassau from St. Sophia, by Menschikoff. In any case, the breeding would not appeal. Kelly Solidly Bred

Kelly is ono of the most solidly bred horses in the race, being by Kilbronoy from Joy Queen, by Romeo from Thurnley, by Tliurnliain from Lira, by Cyrenian from Anna, by Musket. Lira was a half-sister to the Auckland Cup winner Anita. Kilbronoy was sire of "Concentrate, Oratrix, The Banker and Kilboy. Kelly will probably bo best judged on his performance to date. Knight of Australia is by the .Melbourne Cup winner Windbag, who has aired the good stayers Topical, Liberal and North Wind. The dam of Knight of Australia is Welle Shot, by Pistol, son of Carbine, from Hello Alliance, by Matchmaker. Windbag was by Magpie, who was not a stayer, and not all of his progeny will stay. Mungatoon is by Muskotoon, the only horse who has three representatives in the field. The dam of Mungatoon is Mangamaire, by Marble Arch from Waiorongomai, by Hotehkiss from IJianca, by Black Eagle. Marble Arch was sire of Uncle Ned and Mullingar, both of whom possessed a considerable amount of stamina. Mungatoon was prominent for a considerable part of the distance last year. Suneo is by Australian Sun from Bunco, by Earlston from Birida, by Wallace from Emmie, by Robinson Crusoe. This is one of the most famous of Australian families. Earlston was by the Ascot Cold Cup winner Love Wisely, and Australian Sun is by Sunstar and has sired some good stayers. Sinking Fund is by Acre from I'eggy Paul, by Husbandman from Maggio Paul, by St. Paul. The doubt which attaches to the stamina of Scotland applies in a still greater degree to this breeding. I