CUP WINNER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22612, 28 December 1936, Page 11

CUP WINNER

A BARGAIN PURCHASE STAKES AND TROPHIES WON DAUGHTER OF MARTIAN MARE The Wellington sportsman Mr. R. J. Murphy has good reason to be pleased with the deal ho made when he purchased the dual Auckland Cup winner Cuddle in September. 1935, for 600 guineas and three contingencies, one of a hundred and two of fifty. In the meantime she has won £8405 in stakes and four cups valued at £IOO, £75, £SO and £SO respectively. Cuddle was bred by Mr. J. A. Hennali, of Hastings. She is by Psychology from the Martian mare Caress and is bred on sound staying lines. She was turned out in first-class condition by trainer T. R. George, who received the gold cup from the Hon. P. C. Webb, Minister of Mines, on behalf of Mr. Murphy, who was not present. Mr. Murphy has now won the Auckland Cup three times, having been previously successful with Concentrate in 1929 and Cuddle last year. He has also won two New Zealand Cups with Oratrix in 1928 and Cuddle in 1935. CLASSIC VICTOR CONSISTENT RUNNER BREEDING OF ROYAL CHIEF The Great Northern Foal Stakes winner, Royal Chief, was one of the lots sold at the National Yearling Sales at Trentham last January and was knocked down to Pvne. Gould, Guinness, Limited, acting as agents, for 160 guineas. Bred by Mr. J. Donald, Westmere, Wanganui, Royal Chief is a good-looking bay colt by Chief Ruler from Modiste IT., by Franklin from Vogue, by Tracery from Charmeuse, by St. Frusqiiin from Fairy Martin, by Martagon, so that he has good breeding behind. Misfortune overtook the three previous progeny of Modiste 11. and all died, Royal Chief being the first of her stock to race. Trained at Riccarton bv F. D. Jones, Royal Chief has been a very consistent performer and in five starts has registered two thirds, a second and two wins. Irrespective of a £75 breeders' premium, he has earned £960, so that lie has already proved a bargain. The manner in which Royal Chief came from the rear and defeated his opponents in spite of being hampered by Francis Drake, who hung out badly, stamped him as a good colt and he may prove the leading two-year-old of the season. An interesting feature of his victory on Saturday was that he was the third successive winner of the Great Northern Foal Stakes to run 1.13 1-5. Royal Chief is the fifth winner of the race sired by Chief Ruler.

AN UNLUCKY HORSE

ROYAL APPELLANT LEFT One of the unlucky horses of the racing at Ellerslie on Saturday was Royal Appellant. Usually a good beginner, he failed to leave the barrier cleanly in the Christmas Handicap, and it was only by a good effort that he got up seventh at the finish after being a long way back early. It appeared as if he would have been very difficult to beat if he had left on even terms with the others. J {oval Appellant is a brilliant miler and has also performed solidly over longer distances, so that he will not be overlooked when produced again at the meeting. Gay Bronev and Greek Gold were also badly served by the start in the Christmas Handicap and failed to show up. Greek Gold was a most consistent performer at the New Zealand Cup meeting at Riccarton last month and is always worthy of reject at distances up to a mile, especially when the ground is soft.