BRITISH BLOOD

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 114, 4 August 1927, Page 15

BRITISH BLOOD

THOROUGHBREDS ARRIVE HORSES FOR MR. G. M. CURRIE ARRIVED BY PORT HUNTER TO-DAY After having achieved such great successes with his English horses, Absurd and Limond, at the famous Koatanui Stud, the Wanganui sportsman, Mr. Geo. M. Currie, secured more horses from the Old Country, and they arrived at Auckland this morning by the steamer Port Hunter. Mr. Currie arrived to-day to meet his horses, and was pleased with the selection that had been made on his behalf. From the Wanganui sportsman it was learned that Aspic’s colt, by the one-time brilliant two-year-old Sicyon, had contracted pneumonia just before embarking and had to remain in England. The youngster was described as a magnificent one. and it was therefore all the more unfortunate that the Dominion will not see him. It is Mr. Currie’s present intention to sell the colt at Home. A GOOD TRIP The horses arrived in the best of condition. The trip after the first week was splendid, and the stock appeared to have thrived. They certainly were happily boxed, being on the main deck aft. Principal interest centred upon Limond’s half-brother, Pombal, whom Mr. Currie secured in India. The horse was then shipped to England prior to being put aboard the Port Hunter. This horse is of the real good English type, and if he proves as great a success as Limond, or nearly so, then Mr. Currie will have no cause to regret his purchase. The horses will not be taken off at Auckland, but will remain on board and taken to Wellington, probably on Saturday next. They should be valuable additions to the Dominion’s bloodstock. INTERESTING PEDIGREES The stock comprises the stallion Pombal, who recently arrived in London from India. This horse is by Pommern, out of Lindal. Pommern, by the famous sire Polymelus, won the Substitute Derby in 1915, the 2,000 Guineas, and the Substitute St. Leger at Newmarket in the same year. Another is the chestnut mare, Joanfax, by Juggernaut, out of Ethel H. Joanfax won the ‘Elswick Selling Welter Handicap in 1925, was second in the Kiplin Selling Plate, and third in a number of other races. She has with her a filly foal by Royal Lancer, the National Stud stallion. This youngster was foaled on April 3, and is a well-grown little lady. She already ranks as a yearling here. Another mare is Aspic, by Mr. S. B. Joel’s famous Polymelus out of Jelly. Polymelus was foaled in 1902. He was bred by Lord Crewe and sold by him to Mr. David Fater for 4,500gn5. The horse was purchased at auction from Mr. Fater in 1906 by Mr. S. Joel for 4,200gn5. Among the races won by Polymelus as a two-year-old was the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket. As a four-year-old he won tfie Duke of York Stakes, the Champion Stakes and the Cambridgeshire. As a five-year-old he won the Princess of Wales’s Stakes. Altogether, he won in stake money £16,804. At the stud lie has sired Pommern, Humorist (who won the Derby), Fifmella (winner of the Substitute Derby and Oaks), Black Jester (who won the St. Leger), and Cinna (who won the 1,000 Guineas). Polymelus headed the list of winning sires in 1914, 1915, 1916 and in 1920. It will be seen, therefore, that both Pombal and Aspic have the best blood in their veins. There is yet another of the family of Polymelus. This is the horse Polazel, by the great sire out of Ardazel. He is consigned to Mr. John Macdonald, of Timaru. The horses are in the charge of Mr. Thomas Quinn, late of the Scots Guards, who is to settle in the Dominion.