THE ANNUAL SALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2558, 25 March 1903, Page 48

THE ANNUAL SALES.

The sale of yearlings held in Melbourne last Wednesday was very disappointing. Over 100 lots were submitted, Mr Archie Yuille, the auctioneer, thus having a heavy day. He got through the catalogue in about four hours. Tho majority of the lot* were offered without reserve, but Mr James Wilson only parted with »pc of his yearlings. There was a reserve of 1000gB on. the beautiful sister to Abundance, and the best offer -was 600gs. The highest price of the sale was 370gs, which Mr A. Taylor (pro- - tably acting for a client) gave for a- handsome chestnut colt by Pilgrim's Progress from Lady Belle, by Sir Bevys. Another of Mr M'Culloch's, a filly by Pilgrim's Progress from Penitence, excited some competition, and eventually she -was knocked down to Dr Ewan Fraser, the owner of Duke of Grafton, for - 270gs. The sistei to F.J.A., by Wallace from . . Ia Tosca, realised the second highest price— | viz, 350gs— and she will join hei brother in Mr Tames Scobie'a stable. She will probably carry the colours of Sir Rupert ClaTke, owner of F.J.A. The best of Mr S. G. Cook's lot was a full-sister to the Melbourne Cup winner, The Victory, which Mi Harold Army tage secured at a cost of 275g5. The yearlings by the untried ■ires — Eminence, Destiny, Bobadil, and Auric — trought fairly good prices, Auric* s stock especially creating a favourable impression. Mr J. V. Smith was rather disgusted with the sale, j and expressed his intention of breeding no more yearlings. For a half-sister to Cadenas, j by Bill of Portland, Mr Smith got 195gs, the purchaser being Mr E. Kelly, ownei of the V.R.C. Bourke Handicap winner, M»irp, and, as far as could be ascertained, none of the lots were secured foi New Zealand. On Friday last the famous Woodlands stud, the property of the Hon. William M'Culloch, Was submitted. It was only a small stud, but very select, the lord of the harem being Pil-* trim's Progress, sire of Abundance, Lieutenant Bill, etc. Pilgrim's Progress was looking well .When led into the ring, dvl< he is not an iinffressive 'looking horse, though very handsomely put together. He has not much masculine character about him, but all the same he gets wonderfully game stock, and most of them stayers. The bidding for him started at 500gs, - and the price quickly leached 1500gs, but Mr Archie Yuille failed to get a furthei offer, and the chestnut son of Isonomy was passed in. The highest bidder was the New South Wales jjtudmaster, Mr John M'Donald. Subsequently % higher private offer was received from Sydney, but it was not up to the reserve of 2000gs. Mr M'Culloch's mares brought fair prices, a number oMhe principal lots going out of the State. Mr De Beer purchased several mares on behalf of the New Zealand studmaster, Hr Priedlander; Mr Evans, on behalf of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company; and Mr T. Payten, oi behalf of Mr J. Thompson, of the Olinda stud, New South Wales. Another inter-State buyer was Mr Goode. of South Australia. The beautifullybred English mare Penitence, a half-sister to Raven sbury, was Fold 1o Mr F. S. Grimwade owner of Bobadil, for 300gs. Portia, » full ■ister to United States, was sold for New Zealand cheaplj at lOSgs. Subsequently several

horses were offered on behalf of various owners, and inter-State buyers igain secured a number of leading lots. Mr C. Baldwin, of the Durham Court stud, New South Wales, gave 425gs for the St. Simon mare Elsie, dam of Independence.' A Wallace filly from the same mare went to Mr W. R. Morgan for 160gs. This filly' ia a full sister to Independence, and she will be trained by W. Hickenbotham. The following were the sales made to New Zealand buyers: —