SALE OF THE COBHAM STUD.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1790, 15 November 1879, Page 4

SALE OF THE COBHAM STUD.

Owing to tlio failure of the Cobham Stud Company, the whole valuable racing stock has been brought to the hammer. Respecting the result of the sale, the “ Daily News tella us that there were forty-eight brood mares in the list, and they realised 15,820g5, this being equivalent to an average of 320 gs ; while there were twenty-four foals sold for 7215g5, or rather more than 300 gs each. These are figures which may well make the older generation of sportsmen open their eyes, for the average of the foals is almost equal to that obtained by the yearlings at Cobham s’nce the foundation of the stud, while it is considerably in excess of the average obtained last June. Experienced judges could scarcely believe the evidence of their senses when a chesnut colt by Scottish Chief out of Masquerade (the dam of Highland Fling and Strathfieet) was knocked down to the Duke of Westminster’s studgroom far 1100 guineas. The twenty-four colts sold on the first day did very well, averaging 244 gs each, and, putting the results of the two days together, it will be found that ninety-nine mares were sold for 34,255g5, or an average of 346 gs each ; forty - eight foals for IS.OCOga. or an average of 272 gs each ; and four stallions for 7430g5, or an average of 1857Jgs, making a grand tota. of 54,714 gs for 151 lots, and a general average of 3G3gs all round. Three of the forty-eight mares sold on the second day travelled into four figures, the Poitou Stud Company, which again made several purchases, giving 1200 gs for Queen of the Chase, a beautifully bred mare by Blair Athol out of Nutbush, who has youth as well as looks and pedigree upon her side. When the last of the 150 mares and foals had been knocked down for 300 gs, there remained only to sell the four stallions, two of whom Cadet and Caterer, wore disposed of for 130 and 300 gs, the last named, who had been winning prizes this season at the horse shows, being now twenty years old, and having failed to make such a name for himself as so grandly bred a horse might have been expected to do. Still he looks strong and well, and with the certificates which he has fained as a sire suitable for getting hunters, e may yet do good service in the midlands The two last lots were Wild Oats and Blair Athol, and the stock of the first named, who is the son of Wild Dayrell and Golden Horn, have been running so well that some people thought that ho would make more money than Blair Athol himself. There was not, however, much anxiety to secure him, perhaps because of the “leg,” which prevented him from carrying the oeriso and French grey of the Buko of Hamilton in the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby of 18G9, and at 2500 gs he became the property of Mr Wolfe, and will of course remain at Cobham. There was a subdued murmur of admiration and no little excitement when the illustrious Blair Athol, carrying himself as proudly as upon that memorable Friday when Mr Tatteraall sold him for 12,500 gs to the new-born Stud (Company, was led into the ring, and time had dealt gently with the bald-faced chesnut, whose progeny; as was mentioned in these columns some two days ago, have won something like 620 races and £160,000 since the first of them ran in 18G8. The sire of the winner of the Derby, of two St. Leger winners, of Prince Charlie, the winner of the Two Thousand Guineas, and the fastest horse which ever trod the 1 urf, and of a winner of the One Thousand, such are some of Blair Athol’s claims to equine immortality, and though in all probability his career is drawing towards its close, he seems full of life and vigour. Many were the wagers which had been made as to the price which he would fetch, the lowest estimate being three and the highest estimate eight thousand guineas. There were not, however, many people present in want of a sire, and as the foreigners did not make any sign, Mr Wolfe, after putting him in at three thousand, was eventually enabled to bny him—a cheap horse, to all seeming—at 45C0gs.