BLOODSTOCK SALES IN ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2343, 26 January 1899, Page 56

BLOODSTOCK SALES IN ENGLAND.

A sum of 57,300gs was realised during the 'five days' bloodstock sales at Newmarket last December. This compares unfavourably with last year's results, when upwards of 82,400gs .were made during the four days. On that occasion, however, M. Lebaudy's stud, numbering 53 lots, was responsible for nearly 29,000gs of the huge total. On the first day the prices obtained were for the most part low, many horses going for merely nominal Bums. The highest figure reached was AOOgs, paid by Captain Machell for the three-year-old filly Grand Prix, by St. Simon out of Selection. On the second day some of the horses sold well. The five-year-old Bradwar dine changed hands for 610gs to Mr Heath, and of the mares disposed of, Won by Waiting, sent up from the Exeter stud, was purchased by R. Marsh, the trainer, for 700gs. Spirited competition waa evoked by a yearling named Crested Grebe (by Gallinule out of Cresta), and she was eventually knocked down to Mr M'Calmont for 1050gs. Next day The Reeve changed hands to Mr Wigan for 1200gs, Labrador was knocked down to Mr H. Bottomloy for llOOgs, and Disraeli, the Two Thousand Guineas winner this year, was taken by Mr Jones for 850gs, being purchased for the French market. The American-bred horses sent up to dissolve a partnership hardly provoked so much competition as had been anticipated, and Diakka was bought in for 1450gs and Elfin for 200gs, while Mr R. Ward gave 520gs for Draco and S. Pickering 370rb for Bayard 11. Of the brood mares belonging to Mr Jersey, Lady Rosebery and Bride of the Sea each commanded considerable bidding, and both were taken by Count Lehndorff, for Germany, llOOgs being the price of the firstnamed and 1250g8 of the other. On the fourth day the top price of the sale was reached when M. Blanc gave 3000gs for Simoon, a daughter of St. Simon and Shotover. 'Another French sportsman, M. . Maurice GEphrussi. took Lilythorn, a mare by Hampton out of Jersey Lily, for 1500gs. The highest price realised on the last day was 800gs, given x»y Lord Falmouth for Wise Virgin, a brood mare by Wisdom out of Elizabeth, sent up by Mr A. F. Basset. It was at this sale that Cartridge was sold, as cabled, for 15gs. The price was ridiculous. Cartridge, by Musket — Rosalie, is the youngeat Musket mare in England, and Mr J. Williamson, the buyer, is congratulated all round on having secured a rare bargain.

A TWOFOLD BOIL-OVER

Lucky Dog, son of Martini-Henry, was a warm favourite for the Western Australian Derby, the ring refusing to lay a better price than 3 to 1 on. The colt, however, ran very unkindly, and from all accounts Bolcer had anything but a pleasant ride. He hung to the rails- throughout, and Bolger states that he was afraid he would repeat his Sydney performance and jump over the fence into the course. When it came to the finish Lucky Dog was hemmed in without a chance of getting out. The race was won by the St. Albans castoff, Ormuz, son of Bill of Portland and Cooya. When taking his preliminary canter^ Ormuz aaowed unmistakable

signs of weakness in the near hind quarter; but, says an exchange, "when he was set going he moved as freely as ever, and many who had fancied him before the breakdown accepted 7to 1 about his chance." For three parts of the journey Thomas was content to let Ormuz occupy the rear position, and it was not until they were in the straight, where all the pace was on, that he gave the colt his head. Then the little black strode up to the leaders, and with a brilliant run from the half-distance he snatched a victory on the post by a neck. Ormuz started at 15 to 1, and in the straight-out machine paid a dividend of £16 15s. Mural, winner of the Perth Cup, of 75030V5, two miles, is a three-year-old by Carbine — Marchesa, and was sold at the Kirkham yearling sales of 1897 for 200gs to Mr Ogborne, who still retains po?session. As a two-year-old Mural only scored one win, and it came as a surprise on Boxing Day when he defeated Ormuz for the Canning Guineas, the latter starting at 3to 1 on. This performance cauped Mural to shorten to 3 to 1 for the W. A. Derby, but a couple of days before that race he was reported slightly amiss, and went out of favour. In a field of 12 he returned a dividend of £7 3s for each half-sovereign invested. Mr Ogborne is also the owner of Aqua, who finished second in the Derby, and subsequently beat Le Var in the All-aged Stakes. Aqua is a chestnut gelding by Niagara from Esperance, and was bred at Hobartville.