DEATH OF GREAT SIRE

Southland Times, Issue 25550, 19 December 1944, Page 7

DEATH OF GREAT SIRE

Salmagundi Has To Be Destroyed

1 HAMPTON.

By

Southland lost one of its finest thoroughbred stallions when the imported horse Salmagundi had to be destroyed at the Otautau Stud on Sunday. Salmagundi was kicked by a mare and suffered a broken leg. During the five seasons that his stock have raced in New Zealand they have met with phenomenal success, winning 140 races and being placed 200 times, for £40,000 in stake money. Salmagundi was imported from Australia to New Zealand by Mr A. Chisholm, of Otautau, in 1937, and his stock in New Zealand at the present time are considered the equal of any in the country. He was extensively bred from in Southland, mares being sent from all parts of New Zealand to the Phalaris horse, and in the first season they raced his stock attracted attention. As a sire of both sprinters and stayers Salmagundi earned wide recognition, while his stock not only showed early speed, but caried on with it. His fillies proved outstanding winners, while his colts also won as stayers and sprinters. Stallions capable of leaving champions of both sexes are few and far between, but Salmagundi achieved this. EARLY SUCCESS

The first year his stock appeared was in the 1940-41 season, when as three-year-olds they won five races and were nine times placed for £1726 in stakes. The following season they won 24 races and earned 29 places for £7095/10/-; in the 1942-43 season 36 races and 52 places for £7547 and last season 56 wins and 78 places for £18,655/10/-. Last season Salmagundi was third on the winning sires’ list for the Dominion, this being the first occasion that a Southland sire has been so highly placed. Salmagundi was foaled in 1924 and was in his twentieth year. In Australia Salmagundi left some high class winners, including Hamurah (A.J.C. Doncaster Handicap, Newmarket Handicap and other good races), Sire (V.R.C. Oaks, Wakeful Stakes and Manifold Stakes), Sal Volatile (A.J.C. Adrian Knox Stakes), Salamander (City Tattersail’s Club Cup), Princess Pam (V.R.C. Ottawa Stakes), Mince Pie, Irving, Progress and numerous others. Salmagundi’s best winner in New Zealand so far was Macedoine, who won £5645 in stakes before being purchased at a high price by an Indian owner. Macedoine was one of the best staying mares ever bred in Southland and her successes included the Invercargill Cup, Wellington Racing Club Handicap, and second Wellington Cup. Other Salmagundi winners have been Psalm, champion South Island two-year-old this season, Signal Officer, Sal, Salmi, Sal’s Pal, Sally Lunn, Sir Saladin, Sister Sal, Miss Medley, who won the New Zealand Oaks at this year’s New Zealand Cup meeting, Aurora Australis (James Hazlett Gold Cup) and numerous other winners. MANY YET TO RACE Not only are there many of Salmagundi’s stock yet to race, but he has just completed an active stud season. His death is a great loss to Mr A. Chisholm, who had many mares booked to him in the next few seasons. Salmagundi’s name is likely to be well to the forefront for some seasons to come. . . Salmagundi’s fillies are highly prized by breeders, and their introduction to Southland studs should further enhance the name of their sire. Salmagundi was a royally bred horse. He was a half-brother to Salmon Trout, winner of the English St. Leger and £15,836 in stakes. By the Polymelus horse Phalaris, he was a member of one of the best male lines in England. Phalaris was head of the sires list in 1925 and 1928, and won world fame as the sire of Fairway, besides Pharos, Colorado, Manna, Phaleron Bay, Paladin and others. Salamandra, the dam of Salmagundi, was sold as a brood mare for £16,000. She produced Salmon Trout, winner of the St. Leger and £15,836 in stakes. Salamandra was by the St. Simon horse, St. Frusquin from Electra, who was the dam of four winners of £15,014. Salmagundi was a member of one of the finest winning families in both sire line and female descent the English turf has produced. His death will be disappointing to many breeders who were anxious to use his services, but Mr Chisholm is fortunate in that he has two sires of the calibre of Siegfried and Lo Zingaro doing service at Otautau. GOLDSPUR NOW IN FORM RACE IN CHAMPAGNE STAKES (Special) DUNEDIN, December 18. There was no fast work at Wingatui this morning. The weather was fine and the course proper is drying out. A few days of favourable weather will make a great improveinent in the going. , , . , j • Goldspur has thrived on racing and is in excellent order to take his place in the Dunedin Champagne Stakes, in which he will be ridden by L. Hare. Safe Light is now being trained by W. McEwan. The Mainlight gelding looks big and healthy in condition at present, and will be tried out in hurdle events at the Dunedin meetings. Ater being off the scene for about a year Silver Mask has again been recommissioned by McEwan. Mr D. H. Blackie has transferred Night Lancer to J. McLean’s care for a period in the hope that a change in form might result. Standby, also owned by Mr Blackie, which was previously trained at Riccarton, is now in F. Shaw’s stable. After the first day at Wingatui N. A. Crombie might do the rest of his holiday riding on the West Coast, where there are three days. TRIUMPHAL IN TRAINING J. White has Triumphal, a four-year-old half-brother by Irish Lancer to High Glee, Norseman and Georgia, in training for the holiday meetings. Smile Along is also being worked by this trainer and their New Year racing will be done at Waikouaiti. An additional flight of hurdles has been erected in the straight on the schooling course. There will now be four jumps on the circuit. The Oamaru trainer, N. J. Dwyer, will probably have a big team racing at holiday meetings, as he has ordered accommodation at Wingatui for 14 horses. Gold Lance was among those worked this morning. He is trained by his owner, Mr A. Harrington, who has him looking in good shape. A. E. Didham expects his eldest son, Arthur, who is now 12 years of age, to receive his apprentice licence in about three months. His weight is approximately 5.4 and he has been riding Amorlad and several others on the track.