N.Z. HORSES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 174, 16 March 1932, Page 2

N.Z. HORSES

SIR JOSRPH ROBINSON BUYS THREE SPRINTERS. PURCBfASE OF YEARLINGS. i . "What I wanted in buying in New Zealand, and what I think I have got, were sprinters," said Sir Joseph Robinsori, Bart., of Cape Town, in diseussing his purchases of thoroughbred stock, while on a hurried tour of the Dominion. - Sir Joseph- visited Awapuni reeently and acquired a bay yearling filly * by Ghief Ruler put pf Pebble II, to add to his earlier bag of two yearling colts, Paper Money — Philomela and Lord Quex— Dominant. - The two colts were shipped hy the Marama for Sydney and will embark on the Nestor at Melhourne for South Africa. The filly sails from Auckland and will join her compatriqts at Melbourne. She will be named Eureka II after a successful mare raced by Sir Joseph. The colts Will be given Maori names, possibly Rotorua- and Wakatipu. Asked why he came all the way to New Zealand. for Woodstock, Sir Joseph said that.primarily he was on a health and pleasure trip, but his South African trainer suggested he might as : well "buy some New Zealand horses and see what happened." It was suggested to Sir Joseph that he had not bought in Australia, and he ' hastened to say that was because Australian thoroughbreds were not so much esteemed in South Africa. "On the other hand," he added, "the New Zealand thoroughbred has quite a good and a widening reputation. Actually, although we have had Australian horses in South Africa, I understand my trio will be the first imported from New Zealand. Naturally there is some interest in what is an I experiment. It may turn out a succpss; maybe a, frost. That ,is all in , the gamg., . But if a success,; then others will he interested and will buy.'? : , ,When in Christchurch ten days ago Sip ..Joseph saw Phar Lap's brqther with a- view to. purchase; "But to me it seemed they wanted too much — 600 guineas — for the colt. He is only a'baby, not even a yearling, and no one can say hpw he will develop. His ; breeders pressed the matter and I telegraphed from Wellington: 'Napoleon was a great general, but his brothers were not. The same may apply to Phar Lap's brothers.' So we were not able to deal," he concluded. Sir Joseph explained that why he looked for sprinters in New Zealand was because he had plenty of staying blood in his strng in South Africa. He had acquired some of the finest blood from the Irish National Stud, descendants of famous sires.