RE INGOMAR.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 15, 8 November 1890, Page 4

RE INGOMAR.

(To the Editor Sporting Review.) Sir, —In your issue of 18th October you wrote in disparaging terms of Ingomar, and call Major George to task for mating that sire with Sylvia Park mares. Ingomar, for getting racehorses, is perhaps not as good as Musket or Traducer, but quite as successful as other horses, and better than many for cross-country and other purposes. However, opinions differ. I may say it is a great mistake for sporting writers to underestimate any horse, whether racing or at the stud, until he has had a fair trial, which is often done in this colony. You seem to be prejudiced against Ingomar, or that is the opinion I drew from your paragraph. His stock have proved successful in England and Ireland, and also here. Mr. P. Campbell, who imported this fine horse, is not in New Zealand at present, or he would be able, I think, to convince you that he is the right horse in the right place. I may say that Vandal (Rubina’s first foal), had he lived, would have been a first-class racehorse as a four and five-year-old. Dan O’Brien would give you an opinion about the colt — a small one—if wanted. With reference to his stock from Coiyca, Ingomar got Alcinous (who ran third in a field of twenty-five in the Toorak Handicap, with Bst., at Caulfield the other day), who has shown himself quite as good as Bay King (Cadogan) is likely to be. From Hipporina Ingomar got Ingorina. Is he not as good as Muskerina (Musket —Hipporina) was on the turf ? Is Souvenir (Ingomar—Memento) not as good as Forest King, Memorandum and Beua (F eve) ? Fiesole (Ingomar—Florence) was looked upon as a “frost” before she had been given a fair trial, and last season her record was four wins out of seven starts—not a bad one. She is as good as Clive (Cap-a-pie) was, and perhaps as Coalscuttle (King Cole) will be. Then there is Strephon (Elfin’s first foal, and not a big one), who with yst. nib. ran a good second to Crackshot, 7st. 71b., in the Hawke’s Bay Spring Handicap, and at Napier Park ran second in. the Park Stakes and won the Railway and Racing Club Handicaps. Lochness (Ingomar—Albatross) is perhaps quite as good as Teksum (Musket) and better than. Gannet (Anteros). Hikutere (Ingomar—Bessemer) has not been a success so far, but the Ingomars want age. Montrose (Ingomar—Dundee Katie) is as good as Katie Fergusson and Katie (Musket) and Welcome Katie (Feve). The season before last Ingomar had three winners of 7 Bs.; last season he had ten winners of which shows that he is quickly working his way to the top, and had. Vandal not died when he did Ingomar would have been in a place. I think Major George’s taste was good in selecting Ingomar in preference to other sires. However, I must conclude. Thanking you in expectation, I remain, etc., Oileus. Wellington, October 27, 1890. [“ Oileus ” is evidently an Irishman, judging from the way he sticks up for Ingomar. . He is, however, a little out in his calculations when he states “ his stock have proved successful in England and Ireland.” Ingomar never got one at home within 3st. of a good one. As all breeders know, the most successful sires have been out of good mares. Now, Ingomar is well bred on his sire’s side, but his damand grand-dam (which we knew well) were moderate in the extreme. Ingomar himself.

was only good over sticks, and not having been successful at the stud, Mr. Campbell secured him at a very low figure for the Colonies. Space will not allow us to go fully into the performances, etc., of all the horses that “ Oileus ” has mentioned, but we can assure him that not one he has mentioned in his letter is within 4st. of a good one. We must confess that “ Oileus ” beats us when he says “ had Vandal not died when he did Ingomar would have been in a place ”as a winning sire. Talking about Musket as a great sire, we think all must confess that he got more bad than good ones, and these only out of mares with hard blood in their veins. In conclusion, when “ Oileus ” says, “I think Major George’s taste was good in selecting Ingomar in preference to other sires,” We must ask him this question—Why was Ingomar sold for an old song ? We might add that Australian writers and others are in unison with us as regards the great mistake made in putting the best mares at Sylvia Park to Ingomar instead of Nordenfeldt.—Ed. S. R.]