DEATH OF GALOPIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2370, 3 August 1899, Page 35

DEATH OF GALOPIN.

This great English sire, the father of St. Simon, died in June, at the age of 27 years. By Vedette— Flying Duchess, Galopin was foaled at Mr Simpson's stud at Diss in 1872, and came up for sale as a yearling at Mr Blenkiron's sale at Middle Park in 1873, when he was purchased by Prince Batthyany for 520gs. Into the vexed question of his paternity it is needless to enter here, says the Sportsman, save to mention that Mr Taylor Sharpe conclusively proved some years back that Galopin was certainly sirod by Vedette, and not, as some people imagined, by Delight. Their only ground for this idea was that Mr Simpson's stud was badly managed, the service records being irregularly kept. In colour Galopin was a dark bay of fair substance, and he stood about 15hds 3in. A somewhat plain -head and neck (when in training) were made up for by his good back and loins and his capital shoulders. He had very muscular arms and thighs, and strong flat legs. As to his performances, when a two-year-old Galopin. ran second to the speedy Cachmere for the Hyde Park Plate at Epsom, but was awarded the race owing to the disqualification of the winner for cannoning against him. Later he won the Fern Hill and New Stakes at Ascot, ran third to Plebeian for the Middle Park Plate, and afterwards secured two other events (one being a walk over). In 1875 he won all the five events in which he took part, starting by beating Stray Shot in a canter in a match over the liowley Mile. He then won the Derby from Claremont, the Repentance oolt, an-d fifteen others, starting favourite at 2 to 1 against, and at Ascot he simply played with Bella and three other two-year-olds. Bella (afterwards the dam of Heaume) was very fust, and won nine of her twelve races that season, yet Galopin gave her 291b and made a hack of her. His other victories were in the celebrated match with Lowlander over the Rowley Mile for £1000 aside, which he Avon by a length, receiving 121b from the five-year-old. His farewell effort was made in the Newmarket Derby, for which he defeated the Leger winner, Craig Millar, by four lengths, thus conclusively proving his right to the title of best of his year. At the stud his success was marvellous. Among his chief sons and daughters mention may be made of, in addition lo St. Simon, who was never beaten on the racecourse, Galliard and Disraeli (Two Thousand Guineas), Galeotta (One Thousand Guineas), Donovan (Derby and Ijeger), rare old Corrie Roy, and a long list of others, including two sons who are stud successes in America — viz., King Galop and Galore. On the death of Prince Batthyany Galopin was sold with the rest of the Prince's stud on July 3, 1883, Mr Henry Chaplin becoming his possessor for 8000 guineas. St. Simon on that occasion — then a two-year-old — was purchased by the late Mathew Dawson for the Duke of Portland, and a wonderful bargain he proved at 1600 guineas, as his stud record in classic events shows.