NEW SIRES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20603, 2 May 1935, Page 12

NEW SIRES.

London Expert on Leighon and Foxbridge. THEIR CHOICE PRAISED. In “London Sporting Life ” on March 9. “ Ithuriel ” had something to say about the stallions Foxbridge and Leighon, recently imported to New Zealand from England. During the years 1931 and 1932, he wrote, only eight thoroughbred horses (colts and fillies) were exported to Australia, for a reason which is well Last October a reaction set in. It was obvious that sooner or later there was bound to be a big increase of imported young stallions, so necessary to maintain the standard of racehorses bred in Australia. Towards the end of the year, among the animals exported from England to Australia were Medieval Knight, Manitoba, Lo Zingaro, Sans Peine, Harinero, Madagascar and Portofino. New Zealand breeders have begun once more to consider the importation of promising young sires, and last year Beau Pere, Bulandshar and Myosotis were exported to Wellington and Auckland.

These have now been supplemented by a couple of horses whose names are familiar to racegoers in this country, for during the week that good-looking horse Foxbridge left for Wellington by the Rangitata from the London docks. Atlantic Cup Winner.

Mr J. V. Rank purchased Foxbridge in the December sales of 1933 for 2500 guineas. The colt had won the Atlantic Cup, £2520, at Liverpool, and finished third in the Eclipse Stakes to Loaningdale and Firdaussi. He was an unlucky horse for Mr Rank. He finished third in the Great Cheshire Handicap, second in the Summer Cup at Newbury, and third to the dead-heaters Estate Duty and Norman Herald in the Bibury Cup.

A good-looking bay, Foxbridge stands 16 hands, with about Bin of bone below the knee. Deep girthed, with straight action, and not at all leggy for a horse who is a grandson of Son-in-Law, of which line Foxbridge is typical. He is by the Ascot Gold Cup winner Foxlaw out of Bridgemount, dam of the One Thousand Guineas winner Cresta Run, whose victories amounted to £14,500. She was by Bridge of Earn from Mountain Mint, by Spearmint from Adula, a sister to Pretty Polly. Having regard to the great staying blood in Foxbridge through his sire, as well as in Bridge of Earn and Spearmint, and taking into account his own racing merit, his. importer, Mr L. H. Otway, may be congratulated upon having taken to New Zealand a colt likely to maintain the best traditions of the British Turf. Bred by Mr W. M. G. Singer. A week or so earlier another wellknown horse left for Wellington. This was Leighon, acquired from the executors of the late Mr W. M. G. Singer, who bred him, and for whom Leighon won the Esher Cup, the Spring Cup at Liverpool, and the Great Cheshire Handicap. He also dead-heated in the Rosebery Stakes, and finished second in the Liverpool Autumn Cup. These successes were woTth about £3600.

Leighon is a bay horse, foaled in 1929 by Gainsborough out of that good mare Leighon Tor, who won eight races and £5687. Her produce included Fur Tor, second in the One Thousand Guineas and third in the Oaks, as well as Lucky Tor, who won the Jubilee and the City and Suburban. Leighon Tor was by Torloisk out of Laomedia, winner of the Bibury Cup and second in the Oaks.

There are few sons of Gainsborough at the stud in Australasia, so that the importation of Leighon will be welcomed as a distinct acquisition to the list of young stallions in the Dominion. He was consigned to Mr D. J. M’Grath.

LATE RESULTS. Reefton Meeting. ALEXANDER HACK HANDICAP, of 70 sovs. One mile. 3 QUEBEC, 7.S (Messervy) 1 2—ROSE VAL, 8.8 (1.. J. Ellis) .... 2 9 PAWKY, 7.0 (Moore) 3 7 Zetes 8.12, 4 Gold Arrow 8.10, 8 Rothen 8.6, 1 Sisterina 8.5, 5 Latitude 7.5 and 6 Imasurvey 7.3 also started. PROGRESS TROT HANDICAP, of 65 sovs. Class 2.27. One mile. 12—BOBBY BOY, scr (Lynch) 1 1— TOMMY BOY scr (Pascoe) 2 3—ERIN’S BEAUTY, scr (Kennedy) 3 Alice de Oro scr, Brian Boru scr, Solario scr, Nonnie Wrack scr, Royal Time scr. Taxi Wrack scr, Broughshane 24yds bhd. Great Seaman 24vds, Beverley King 24yds and Treasure Bond 4Syds also started. Won by two lengths, with twelve lengths between second and third. Time—2min 35sec. IRVING MEMORIAL HANDICAP, of 95 sovs. One mile and a quarter. 2 ROYAL GALLANT. 7.0 (Messervy) l I—KORERO, 8.6 (Ridgway) 2 4 COOMASSIE, 7.12 (Finn) 3 5 Haere Tonu 9.1. 4 Giggleswick 8.0 and? 3 Earthquake 7.8 also started. STEWARDS’ HANDICAP, of 05 sovs. Six furlongs and a half. 3 FREE ROSE, 8.2 (L. J. Ellis) .. 1 4 ROYAL SCEPTRE, 9.9 (Harding) 2 I—ELGINDALE, 7.6 (Messervy) .. 3 2 Animated 8.11 and 5 Gold Arrow 8.10 also started. HIGH-WEIGHT HANDICAP, of 65 sovs. Seven furlongs. 1— GOLDEN DART, 8.1 (L. J. Ellis) 3 2 QUEBEC, 5.6 (Messervy) 2 4—PHARAOH, 8.1 (Drinkwater) .. 3 - 3 Revision 8.6 and 5 Rhea S.O also started. REEFTON TROT HANDICAP, of 65 sovs. Class 3.4. One mile and a quar--2 TREASURE BOND, 4Syds blit* (Yeatman) 1 10— ALICE DE ORO, ser (Bennett) 2 9—GREAT SEAMAN, 24yds bhd (Lynskey) 3 Awa Dillon 4Syds, Nonnie Wrack scr, Royal Time scr, Solario scr, Tommy Boy scr and Eastern Queen 36yds bhd also started. Won by three lengths, with a length between second and third. Time—3min 12sec. FAREWELL HANDICAP, of 70 sovs. Seven furlongs. I—ROYAL GALLANT, 7.11 (Messervy) 3 4—COOMMASSIE, 8.8 (Drinkwater) 2 3 HEATHER GLOW, 8.10 (M’Carthy) ; 3 2 Colossian also started.