HIGH-PRICED YEARLINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2842, 2 September 1908, Page 54

HIGH-PRICED YEARLINGS.

There is a certain fascination in yearling buying, and many men who would scarcely ba tempted to give a thousand Jot a proved racehorse possessing an almost certain chance of returning some of their outlay, will pay a high price for -a youngster principally on- account of its being a brother or sister to some successful performer, whose deeds happen to be fresh in the minds of racing men. Of course, .with the rich two and three-year-old stakes to be won, the possibilities are much, greater than where an older horse is concerned; but, it is almost unnecessary to add, there is also an even greater risk of never getting a return of a, shilling of the purchasemoney. The two-year-olds Perle dOr, Nauniform, and Fonroeden, realised, v-ery hi^h prices at Taldhurst, and though, for the sake of their buyers, it is to be hoped they will prove worth all that wae paid for them, one cannot help calling to mind (says "Pilot" of the Sydney Referee) the number of costly youngsters who have been disappointments in Australia during the past few years. Only running the Randwick sales back five years, it is astonishing what a proportion of failures the high-priced youngsters sold during that period have included. Koopan, who. headed the list at 800gs in 1903, did turn' out well, but the Haut Brion — Novelette H colt Haut Nbve, for whom Mr "W. Bailey gave 750gs the same year, only won a £10 race for that gentleman, and is now performing over the jumps in West Australia. The following year Charteg Stuart headed the list at llOOgs, but though he was a great performer as a two-year-old, he proved a tremendous disappointment -subsequently. Before he raced as a three-year-old I have no doubt he could have found a buyer at £5000, but he did not win a race at that age, and only one afterwards, changing hands for 6tud purposes last year at 210g&. Still, as he won some good races at two years, he could not -be considered altogether a failure. Blaaven (Haut Brion — Barley), bought at the same time for 650gs, wae a costly purchase, ,as he did not win a race for "Mr M'Leod," who sold him last year for 27£gs. Lord Grafton (Grafton— Lady Trenton), oOOgs, was another of that season's bad bargains, while Jargoon (500g«) only won one race for Dr Frazer before he parted with him. Kaffirpan (600g«), too, only scored once on behalf of Mr A. Wynne. The lucky purchases of the 1905 sales were: Poseidon, 500gs; Collarit, 145gs; Ebullition, 300gs; and Melodrama, 400gs. lolaire has shown there was reason in giving 1420g« for him; but Orel (500gs) only won one small race for his purchaser, and Arcturua (1250g5) did not do even that for Mr Williamson, who got rid of the eon of Wallace last year. Taunton (Haut Brion — Meridian), 950g«, is another of the 1905 lot who has not yet got to the front; while Cashmore (Amberite— Krangi), 390gs, is now racing over hurdles. Sudbury (Grafton— Lady Trenton), 1750p, died without a win to his credit, only starting in three races altogether. In 1906 the highest price paid was 2000gs, for Lady Joan, who has only won a couple of Bmall races up to the present; while, though the 1600gs Master Foote did pull off the Gaulfield Guineas, he was resold in March last for 310gs. SteoWe (Haut Brion— Trieste), has xun well on a few occasions, though without winning. Black Mark (Grafton— Disgrace), 850gs, has only one to *° f3" ow for two season's racing. Achilles s brother, Achillean, 525g5, is etill a maidon, end at 500gs Nuoifera did not prove a profitable purchase. Odin (Oml-Betsy), 501« i. i» now racing unsuccessfully in events of the Park Stakes order up Newcastle way. Peru 280gs, and Currandoolcy, 35pfs, were that year'B prizes. However, it is perhaps too oarly to condemn any of tho?e told in 1906, as the? are now only four-year-olds,

| and there is time yet fox some of them to make names for themselves. It is the same with those disposed of in 1907, but i it is worthy of mention that in five starts

during the season just closed Kilbride

(1300gs) did nothing towards recouping his owner. Noonday {Hautboy — Meridian). 725g5, had three resultless runs, and Adriatic (700gs) was seen out eight times without winning. Lovelock (4-lOgs) scored' a few places, but did not win, and though Wai-ila (820gs) won a race at Flemington, he was beaten on three other occasions

when greatly fancied by the stable. Grcus

(3050g5) has yet to get a place, while others who have not as yet got to the front, though they have acquitted themselves respectably, are Azurine (*7ogs), Silene l*10es), and San Jose (450gs). Sinderby (4Gogs) has not yet shown any form, while Periceo

(420gs), the highest-priced of the Maltster's «old that year, has not yet started*. It is the same with, the Positano — Etra-weenie

filly Nahrani (700gs). Sardon (*oogs) has run twice unsuccessfully, and the 600gs filly Nushka started , seven times that season without winning. Though not profitable co far, there is plenty of time for any one of this lot mentioned to prove a champion. Poseidon was generally accounted little more than a third-rater at the conclusion, of his two-year-old career, and «• second and a nowhere was the two-year-old record of Mountain King, last season's three-year-old" champion.