THE DESPISED CASTOR BLOOD.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 993, 18 March 1909, Page 6

THE DESPISED CASTOR BLOOD.

Mr William S. Carroll writes to the “ Australasian ” as follows: —“ Now that Soultline has put up such a sequence of brilliant successes at Caulfield and Flemington, one ponders deeply why the Castor blood was so persistently condemned by all sorts and conditions of men throughout the Dominion of New Zealand, and it

would be interesting to know on what grounds their assumption was baseuSoultline has given the contemners of his maternal grandsire a direct slap in the face, and demonstrated beyond doubt the verity of the old adage, ‘Be not too hasty to condemn.’ Castor himself was undoubtedly stoutly bred, being by a son of Hermit (5) (grandson of Touchstone, 14) from a daughter of Sterling (12) (sire of Isonomy and grandsire of Isinglass). His grand dam was by Weatherbit (12) out of a Touchstone (14- mare. Castor performed well on the English turf, and won six races as a two-year-old, ten as a three, and the Liverpool Cup as a four-year-old. His half-brother, Disraeli, won the Two Thousand Guineas, and his own brother, Anxiety, won the Rous Plate and Eighth Biennial Stakes. Castor sired high-class horses in Cravat (winner of V.R.C. Place Handicap and A.J.C Metropolitan Stakes both mile and a half races, in the respective fast times of 2min--35%5. and 2min. 36%5ec.), Coronet, Canteen, Altair, Janet, Antares, Prata (W.A. Derby), Casket, Dayster, Fulmen, Record Reign, Orion’s Belt, etc-; and his daughters have thrown Collarit Armlet, Pink ’Un, Scotty, Nobility, and other horses, besides Soultline. His son, Antares sired Togo, the winner of the Queensland Derby, A.J.C. Doncaster Handicap, and Hawkesbury Handicap. Other arguments could be adduced in favour of Castor, but space will not allow- However, after all, the Castor line of blood cannot be so bad.”