SPORTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7436, 24 June 1902, Page 4

SPORTING.

4 A MATING COMPETITION. Some months ago a mating competition was suggested by the London " Sportsman," competitors to state what horse would probably prove the best to mate with Merry Gal. Mr Allison, in referring to the subject, says: — This has been one of the most difficult mating problems that we have yet had to tackle, and some portion of the difficulty is undoubtedly attributable .to the fact that the committee (being a world-wide one) has been difficult to reach. There were thirteen members of the committee, representing respectively America, Australasia, Austria -Hungary, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Japan, Ireland, Italy, Russia 1 , South Africa, and South America, and of these all the members have voted with the exception of the representative of the last-named country, whose whereabouts "it has been impossible to trace. Of course, it is easily understood that, among such a diversity of opinions, a great number of horses were selected which could not hold their position in the final selection. Thus : For America (Mr W. H. Rowe) — Ormonde, Kendal and Bona Vista ; for Australasia — Blairfmde or Galtee More and Ladas; for Russia (Count Girycki) — Galtee More, Ruler (a celebrated Isonomy stallion in that country), Onne and Sir Hugo ; for Ireland (Mr Peard, M.R.C.V.S.) — Blairfinde, Bona Vista and Ladas; for France — Simonian, Ladas and Bend Or; for Italy (Count Emelie Turaiti) — Orme; for Japan (M. Hayashi) — Aurum, Love Wisely, Patron and Queen's Birthday; fbr Germany (Mr Hermann Goos)—Common, Sperber« Bruder, Ladas and Galtee More ; for Belgium (Dr Eugene Cartice)— •

Bona Vista; for South Africa (Mr L. E. B. Homan)— Carbine, Trenton, Aurum and Nuntkorpe; for Austro-Hungary (Dr Rozner) — Aurum and Blairfinde ; and for England (Mr J. A. Doyle)— Orme, Isinglass, Aurum and Abercorn. To summarise the above, it will be sufficient to say that the most votes were given to Aurum and Ladas, and as they tied each with four votes, it was necessary to send a fresh circular to the members of the committee, asking them to sink their own opinions -with regard to the other horses, and elioos© between the two mentioned, viz., Aurum and Ladas. The replies in due course arrived, and it was then found that each horse had the same number of votes, bub that three of the countries represented had not replied. Cables were then sent to Belgium, Italy and America, and the final Tesult, when the answers were received, was a victory for . , LADAS i that is to say, Belgium and Italy voted for Ladas and America for Aurum. s Thus Ladas wins the competition by one vote. Mr J. A. Doyle, representing England, in sending his final selection, says: "Between Ladas and Aurum, I should declare unhesitatingly fox the latter. . . . With Ladas, where could the staying power oome from?" Mr H. C. White (Australasia), in choosing Ladas, adds: "The great strength of the Ladas — Merry Gal mating is in the figures (1), (2), 3, and 12, if a colt is the result; and of' (1),,(2), 3, if a filly comics. With Aurum you get only 2, 3, amd 11 for a colt, and 3 only if a filly results ; and, as Merry Gal is so strong in No. 12, it stamids to reason that the figure moist be nicked to produce a good result. But, even supposing that these two horses were about equal, as far as figures^are concerned, preference must be given to Ladas, wlho (has proved his ability to get high-class racehorses ; while Aurum, good horse as he "imdoiubtedly proved himself to be, has not yet won his spurs at the stud." Mr J. Peard, representing Ireland, in, giving his vote for Ladas, says : " I would say Ladas, as he is a .tried horse, and! the other is not." M. Haibronn (France), in giving (his final \ decision, says: "If obliged to retire fromi my own original selection, and if this time it were allowable to depart from the ordinary rules regulating inbreeding, I would) bs disposed to give to Merry Gal a. mate> belonging to the No. (1) family, such* as Ladas, or evm old Bend Or himself. ,'As Merry Qai possesses only one cross of No. (1) amongst her fourteen immediate ancestors, it is for that reason I should, seek for her alliance a stallion belonging to 'that excellent family, which has been so successful, both in England *nd in France. I, therefore, choose Ladas." Mr L. E. B. Hcmasn (South Africa) re-, marks : " I have come to. the conclusion) that, as Merry Gail is so full of Blacklock a.nd Birdeatcher blood, she wants more Touchstone than, anything. This leads me to choose between several, such as Trenton, Aurum, Nunth'orpe, and Carbine, amd, as the last-named has given, us some very good colts this year, I shall plump for him. But, ais it is a matter of committee work, I yrovild allow a,ny of them to fit in with other people's ideas. Couat Schomberg 19 is also very suitable, and most probably that horse .will eventually be chosen." (By the next mail we shall probably be supplied with the names of the winning competitors.)