TURF IN INDIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22643, 3 February 1937, Page 11

TURF IN INDIA

THE ECLIPSE STAKES

NEW ZEALAND-BRED WINNER

HERITAGE'S NOTABLE VICTORY

BY PHAETON

Tho announcement of a victory for the New Zealand-bred colt Heritage in tho All India Eclipse Stakes makes very pleasing reading. The race, which holds an important place on tho Indian calendar, is run over a mile and a-quarter at fixed weights, the maximum for live and six-year-olds being fixed at 9.0. The stake value of the race is 75,000 rupees, which is reckoned to be equal to about £4500 in Australian money. Twelve months ago Heritage was purchased in New Zealand on account of tho Maharajah of idali for 2500 guineas, and, so far as is known, the Eclipse Stakes marked his first success for the Indian noble. Heritage, who is by the English-bred sire Posterity from the New Zealandbred mare Homage, was bought when a yearling for 525 guineas by Mr. W. H. Gaisford and under the colours of that sportsman ho won several good races, the C.J.C. Challenge Stakes, seven furlongs, at two years old, and the Trentham Stakes, one mile and a-quarter, at three years old, being his most noteworthy performances. Heritage is not the first New Zea-land-bred horse to win an important race in India. Four years ago Karapoti, by General Latour, scored in the Rajpipla Cup, run over a mile, in which lie displayed brilliancy. Ho was bought in Auckland for 2000 guineas. Other New Zealand horses who scored victories in India include Soultline, Synagogue, Master Delaval, Tho Monk, Kahapa and Heremia.

FORM OF VETERAN MARES

LADV ZETLAND AND CUDDLE The victory registered by Cuddle in tho Auckland Cup at seven years has formed tho subject of pointed reference, and, as with 9.3 she carried an impost in excess of weight-for-ago, tho feat was well entitled to a place with notable performances. When tho racing exploits of mares who had reached the veteran stage is under consideration Lady Zetland must not be overlooked. The daughter of Perkin Warbeck was in her ninth vear when she won the New Zealand Cup and Canterbury Cup afc Riccarton in the spring of 1896. In both those long-distance races she displayed marked brilliance, especially in tho latter race, run at weight-for-age, in which she defeated Euroelydon, a good four-year-old, and encompassed the two and a-quarter miles in 3.59 1-5.

RACING TWO-YEAR-OLDS

TESTS IN OLD DAYS Two-year-olds in Australia were at one period tested over longer distances than they are now and to find a youngster in a mile and a-quarter race in the early autumn was not unknown. When two years old the Auckland-bred colt Medallion won over the distance named at Flemington, and there were other winners over 10 furlongs there. In the present day mile races for two-vear-olds toward the end of the season are promoted in Australia, but for ,<the most part the youngsters are confined to races ranging from five to seven furlongs.

SALE OF YEARLINGS PURCHASES FOR AUSTRALIA The sum attached to the purchases made for Australia at this year's sale of yearlin ,> at Trentham is computed at 12,995 guineas. A reference to the figures connected with the sales at Trentham in the two preceding years shows that the total sum expended by Australian buyers runs out to over 33,000 guineas.

STUD ITEMS

BLOODSTOCK SALES The dispersal sale-of the Westmere Stud serves to revive recollections of previous sales of the same character in this Dominion. Following is a statement of the lots submitted at auction and the sums realised:—

3891—New Zealand Stud Company's stallions, hrood mares and yearlings, 72 lots . . '22,475 1891—Middle Park Stud Company's mures, loals and yearlings, 41 lots 4,055 1003—Messrs. L. D. nnd N. A. Nathan's Sylvia Park Stud stallions, brood mares, foals and yearlings, 02 lots .. 11,387 1005—"Wellington Park Stud Company's stallions, brood mares, foals and yearlings, 70 lots 0,703 1008 —G. G. Stead's stallions, brood mares, yearlings and horses in training, 72 lots . . . . 41,815 1012 —J. B. Roid's Eldorslio Stud, stallions, brood mares and foals. 00 lots . . • • • • 10,025 1917—,1. D. Ormond's horses, in training, 34 lots . . . . 7,272 1918— J. D. Ormond's stallions, brood mares, yearlings, two-year-olds, thrce-year-oiih and others, 107 lots 8,203 1919 J. B. Reid's Elderslie Stud stallions, brood mares, foals and yearlings, 00 lots . . 22,570 1025—8. B. Reid's Elderslio Stud, stallion, brood mares and yearlings, 27 lots .. 10,015 ]<)2s j. p. Roid's Burnsido Stud, stallion, brood mares, two-year-olds and yearlings . • 5,250 1037 —j. Donald's Westmere Stud, staliions and brood n.ares, 34 lots 15,710

SON-IN-LAW'S PROGENY The sale of the English-bred sire Beau Pere for transportation to Australia must be regarded as a loss to New Zealand, but the fact that the Dominion claims two other horses, Siegfried and Philamor, bv the same sire, Son-in-Law, to somo extent lightens the disappointment. Siegfried has already been represented by several winners, among which is \Votan, whose Melboiirne Cup victory was high-class. Philamor has been represented by several winners also, among them being Philomup, Kindheart and Devastate. AN ILLUSTRIOUS FAMILY Much romanco is bound up in the pages of the English Stud Book. In reciting some highly-interesting examples ft London writer says:—"Osborno's Agnes, founder of the Agnes family so called, sold with her foal, cost Mr. Osborne only 20 guineas. Her grand-daughter, Polly Agnes, as a yearling was so small and weedy that Sir Tatton Sykes uave her to his studgroom, Mr. Snarry. She produced Lilv Agnes, who, offered as a yearling, could not get a bid. Yot she won 21 races, including the Doncaster Cup, and at the stud she produced Ormonde and Ornament, the dam of Sceptre. Thus Lily Agnes was the dam ot tlio best colt and her daughter produced the best filly which has appeared in England during the last 50 years." Ormonde is included among the select who wore ilever beaten, winning B3 races. The Two Thousand Guineas, Derby and St. Lcger were among his triumphs and his winnings in stakes amounted to £28,405. Sceptre Avon the One Thousand Guineas, Two Thousand Guineas, Oaks and St. Leger and her stake winnings stand as a record for a max - e iu England.