Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Saturday 26 April 1884, page 6


THE ENGLISH STALLION LIST OF 1864.

The list which is furnished annually by the English sporting paper par excellence, Bell's Life in London, should possess some considerable interest to colonial breeders, as showing what strains of blood are at the present time most successful, and consequently most fashionable, in the old country. The importance to which breeding thoroughbred stock in England has attained may be in some degree estimated by the fact that the list of stallions for the present year numbers no less than 166, besides which there are twenty one sires of high pedigree to be found in the Emerald Isle. It may also be mentioned that the total return of brood mares (thoroughbred) for the year is, according to the same authority, 3255, of which number 700 were barren, 200 were not covered the previous year, 100 were sent abroad before foaling, the living produce being about 1900, while there is of course the usual percentage of losses, fee. The added money at the annual race meetings of Great Britain and Ireland for the year 1883 amounted to £208,577-ao that the prices paid for covering fees, even to the most fashion's e stallions, do not on consideration appear so enormous as at first sight might be supposed. The famous Height of course heads the list, rotting in solitary grandeur, at the price of 200 guineas, and the word full after his name shows that his owner, Mr. Chaplin, of Blankney, was well justified in raising his figure from the 150 guineas of previous years Hermit is, as is well known, by Newminster out of Seclusion, by Tadmor, and it is curious to note that though there are four other Newminster sues on the list namely, Cardinal York, by New-minster out of License, by Gameboy, Dr. Temple, by Newminster out of Men by Wing byBudcatehci E\mmstei,by Newminster out of Stockings, by Stockwell, and Victor lots, by Nownimatci out of a Jeremy Dddlcrmarc, by Voltaire they are all of them quite at the bottom of the tree, Canhniil York and Vic Honour standing at 10 guineas, while the owner of Dr. Temple and the highly bred Evimiiatci (formerly one of the sires at Middle Park, Eltham) estimate the value of these sizes at 5 guineas respectively. Then are, however, several stations by Hermit who promise to continue the direct Newminster line, and of these the two that show the boldest front are the until Peters brilliant, but owing to temper a rather uncertain, per former on the tin whose price is fixed at 50 guineas, and Retreat, by Hermit out of Quick March, by Rataplan, who is advertised at 20 guineas less. The famous Stockwell has but three immediate representatives -namely, the high pi iced Doncaster and the Duke at 50 guineas, and Circus at £40 while his most famous descendant, Blair Athol, line day looks like keeping up the honour of the family, as his sons do not seem able to rise above the level 10 and 15 guineas, whilst his relative Doncaster has the Derby winner BendOi at 50 guineas, and Aluucnstci with a full subscription of 20 guineas to represent him. liar king back, however, to the order in which they are placed as their value as sires, we find Hermit, as before mentioned, first on the list at 200 guineas Sterling, by Oxford, by Irish Birdcatcher, comes next at 150 guineas; then follow George Frederick, by Marsias, grandson of Touchstone and Rosiciucan, by Beadsman (the representative of the great Weatherbit familiar 100 guineas At oO guineas, we come kerosene the representative ea of the most famous strains of blood, and the names of Barcaldine, Benucleic, Bond'Or, Doncaster, The Duke, Hampton, Isonomy, Kisber, Lowlander, Macaroni, Peter, Petrarch See Saw, Speculum, Springfield and Wenlock, bring to mind the exploits on the racecourse which proved the excellence of their pedigree Of this number, Balcaldine and Peter have yet to earn their spins at the stud. The former, Barcaldine, is by Solon out of Ballyroe, by Belladium, by Stock-well; Solos being by West Australian, by Melbourne, and his dam being by Budcatcher out of a man c by Freeman Plate of In his pedigree will be found two strains of Touchstone and two of Sn Her cries, while Molboumo Stockwell, and Laneieoat each have had one share in producing the best horse in modern times. On the turf Barcaldine held an un-beaten certificate, having run twelve times without suffering defeat, and in two of these

races he beat the celebrated Tustan, by Hermit He also won the Orange Cup at Ascot, and the Northumberland Plate under 1st 1916 He was then purchased by the Countess of Stamford for 2000 sovs and now presides over the stud at the Park paddocks, Newmarket In appearance he is said to be a very big horse standing nearly 16 hands 2in , a good hard bay in co our with black legs, with a much finer and more intelligent head than might have been expected by his Melbourne descent Altogether he is described as being about the most pow- ci ful racehorse that ever was by ed, and it is said that his quarters are wide enough to fit him for a waggon horse, and long enough to please the most exacting m race horse confer nation His hocks are of cone sponding pow era in order and his flat legs, so big in bone are all in proportion Judging from his description, Bal chime should possess all the points required to produce racehorses of speed and power and in this case will prove worthy of the high price paid for him Peter, by Hermit out of Lady Masham, by Brother to Stiaffoid, was remarkable on the time for great speed combined with great second city of temper, and provided he is able to transmit to his progeny the last of these two qualities without the second he will be likely to take a still higher place in the list of succeeding seasons Of the other oO guinea candidates, Doncaster, the Duke, Bond or and Spi infield represent the direct Stockwell lines, while Beauclerc, a son of Rosicrusim (who is one of the 100 guinea select few), rep resents that of Weathcibu Hampton, by Lord Clifden out of Lady Langdon, by Kotfcledi uni (a son of Rataplan), i representative family of New minster and 1 oin listone, ¡indthpsaineniay be said of the inbred Peti much, by Lord Clifden out of Laura, by Orlando, uni Wenlock, by Lord Clifden out of Mineral, by Rataplan, Isonomy, a son of Stelling, by Oxford, through whom we obtain the best characteristics of 1 Birdcatcher, running from him in du cent line through So He enes Whalebone, Waxy, and Potatos, while the dam of Oxford, Honey dear, is by Plenipotentiary, a ton of Lniilius, and consequently a grandson of Oiulle Kisber Emil See Saw represent the expected Buccaneer the both epic cscntnUi c of a lid Daj i nil, Speculum, by a odette, represents the line of Black lock, and Macaroni that of Venison , while Lowlands a son of Dalesman, in soUtuij duett re

presentative of the stout blood of Rataplan. Next on the list, and only one step removed, comes Albert Victor, by Mnrsyaa out of Princess of Wales, by Stockwell, at 40 guineas, and then come several at 10 guineas, perhaps the most prominent being Dutch Skater, by the Flying Dutchman, almost the solo du cent representative of of the Bay Middleton line and the American bud Pox hall, by King Alfonso out of Jamaica, by Lexington, with full subscription list at that figure. Among the 25 guinea division may be noticed Berti and, the sire of Robert the Devil, who is evidently in the opinion of bl credits worth on!) half the fee asked for his father as his subscription list is put down as full There are also here to be found the handsome Bruce, that failed in the Derby of 1882, but somewhat redeemed his character by winning the Grand Pi ix de Paris and John Davis, the best of the Voltigeurs at the stud, who also promises to be a worthy companion to Speculum in continuing the Blacklock line Numerous are the candidates for turf honours whose services are valued at 20 guineas, 10 guineas, 5 guineas, and even 20 guineas , while several offer their services to Thoroughbred mares fee, and among this latter class may be seen the names of Cymbal, by Kettledrum, Cypress, by Lord Clifden out of Idalia, Julius Cesar, by St Alban's out of July, by Orlando; Maiden by Hermit, Sportsman by Adven in on, all of them having the bluest blood in their veins, but apparently needing the same opportunity for distinguishing themselves which has been afForded their more fortunate relatives in Ireland extravagance in fees is evidently

not countenanced, as II) guineas is the highest figure at which arbitrator, by Solon, Hollywood by Guest, and The Rake, by Wild Days eli, offer their services to the public. Of the others, there are ten sires who ask 10 guineas, while seven are content with the modest fee of 'i guineas only It cannot therefore be considered, taking all the stallions in the United Kingdom together, that breeders have any reason to complain either as to the quality or quantity of sires which are available, for, though the services of the high priced fathers of the stud, such as Hermit and others, are fixed at a price that is almost prohibitory to breeders of moderate means, yet even the most fastidious would be hard to satisfy if they would be content to ignore fashion and choose from the ranks of those at 50 guineas and under sues well bred enough to assist them in breeding annuals which might be capable of attaining to the highest honours on the turf, and prove a mine of wealth at the stud in years

to come.