FIRST SIGHT’S DEMISE

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1931, Page 4

FIRST SIGHT’S DEMISE

interesting career ended. As a result o-f the fatal injury sustained by First Sight when doing his final Dunedin Cup trial at Wingatur recently the Dominion Turf is poorer by one of the most . promising middle distance horses that it has, had for several years. First Sight was'never one of Fortune’s favourites, for unsoundness prevented his 'being raced overmuch, but whenever his trainer (r. D. Jones) produced him he always finished in or very near the money. His record illustrates his consistency, for in four seasons’ racing he started on 32 occasions, and on only seven times did he finish out of a place, writes “Rangatira,” in the Evening Post. The loss is particularly unfortunate for his owner (Mrs. G. H. Griggs), for he was one of the first favourites for the Dunedin Cup, and had he not met with the accident he might well have gained what would have been his most notable;..success to date. First Sight was in the pink of condition, and it was freely anticipated that he would score some important victories before the season closed. Last season he went very near winning the Great Easter, in which only Great Charter finished ahead of him, and he was already being mentioned this season as one likely to emulate Grand Knight’s double Easter and Autumn success at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting. First Sight did not begin racing till well into his three-year-old days, and at hie first two starts he ran second in events at the Manawatu Racing Club’s 1927 summer meeting. He went on from there and notched his first success at Marton. Before the season closed he had won his way out of hack class with stake earnings amounting to £660. The next season was his most successful, including two important wins at the New Zealand Cup meeting, and he amassed £lll9 in stakes. As a five-year-old last season he raced only on three occasions for three seconds, worth £305. This season he accompanied Limerick and other members of Jones’ team to New South Wales, and, after a brilliant victory in the Camellia Stakes (seven furlongs) at Rosehill in September,'he became one of the topliners for the Epsom, in which, however, he ran unplaced. Returning to the Dominion, he was taken to Ellerslie for Christmas, but did not approach his best form till the recent Wellington meeting, at which he ran into places. His record reads as follows: Ist. 2nd. 3rd. Unp. At 3 years: 3511 At 4 years: 5 I—3 At 5 years: — 3 — — At 6 years 113 3

Totals: 9 12 4 7 In all, First Sight amassed £2556 in take money. So far this season lie had earned £472, of which £332 was the result of his win and two thirds in Australia. First Sight would probably have developed. into a true stayer, for his lines indicate stamina. He was by the ima ported horse Gay Lad, who ruled a very hot favourite for the New Zealand Cup in Vagabond’s year, and was immedi- =■•■ &tely retired to the stud after a most

dismal failure, from Snapshot, who was bred in 1917 by Mr. J. C. N. Grigg, the breeder also of First Sight.

Gay Lad, a member of the number 4 family, is an Irish-bred horse by Cellini from the Oberon mare Gayoome. Cellini was by Cyllene from Sirenia, by Gallinule (son of Isonomy) from Concussion (dam of Hammerkop, who left the Derby winner Spion•'Kop), by Reverberation. There was thus plenty of staying blood in the paternal pedigree.

Snapshot is a member of the Number 22 family, being by Calibye from the imported Irish mare First Glance (winner of the 1914 D.J.C. Publicans’ Handicap), by Kosmos Bey, son of Gallinule from a mare tracing back to Arbitrator, a son of Solon, sire of Barcaldine. Solon was by West Australian, Derby and Leger winner. True Heart, dam of Arbitrator, was by the Derby winner, Musjid. He was by Light Artillery, who was by Trenton (Musket — Frailty) from Bengal Light (imp.), by Beauclerc from Bluelight, by Stockwell’s brother, Rataplan. The dam of Calibre was imported Sunningdale, by Hampton from Sallyport, by Theobold (son of Stockwell) from Fortress, by Knight of Kars) a half-brother to Stockwell and Rataplan, his sire being Nutwith, by Tomboy from a mare by Cornua. Other horses produced, by Snapshot have been Setting Sun, Tourist and the two-year-old Chance Bird, but First Sight has been easily the best of the progeny so far left. Had he not met with the mishap, he would probably have taken a place among the dozen best horses in the Dominion at the close of the season, and his destruction will be keenly regretted by all lovers of a really first-class thoroughbred and racehorse.