Finding in Prince Humphrey Case Challenged by Buyer

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 718, 18 July 1929, Page 12

Finding in Prince Humphrey Case Challenged by Buyer

Glaring inaccuracies in the catalogues at Sydney yearling sales are alleged by the Auckland sportsman. Mr. H. R. Mackenzie, who made an interesting statement yesterday following on the result of the New South Wales inquiry into the breeding of Prince Humphrey.

The inquiry was conducted by Mr. A. Yuille, who last year was appointed Keeper of the Australian J.C. Stud Book and Registrar of Racehorses, and his finding was that Prince Humphrey’s dam was Princess Hazel, and not Shepherd Princess, as has been registered. ‘'The horses bought by me in Sydney were delivered in the ring from the boxes,” said Mr. Mackenzie recently. “Cragsman, the first horse which I bought, was sold as a Princess Hazel colt, and Prince Humphrey was sold as a Shepherd Princess colt. Having seen the mares, I have not the slightest doubt that Prince Humphrey is out of Shepherd Princess. There was no mistake on my part. The catalogue was full of inaccuracies and omissions, but I have not the slightest doubt that the horses were sold in t.hei.r right breeding. The yearlings were delivered in Auckland by the first boat, with the sale numbers still on them.” Unreliable Catalogue So full of inaccuracies was the catalogue, added Mr. Mackenzie, that no one could rely upon it. The only thing one could rely upon was that Mr. R. Tate, manager of the Woodlands Stud, knew the horses sold on the day, and that they were put in their right boxes and sold on their true breeding. Mr. Yuille had since taken the line of least resistance, and now blamed the secretary of the New Zealand Conference and Mr. Mackenzie for Mr. Tate’s statement. The buyer of Shepherd Princess, Mr. Thomson, need have no regrets concerning his purchase, for there could be no doubt that she was the dam of Prince Humphrey. Anyone with breeding knowledge could

straight. At that point he had completed the subjection of Hunter’s Moon, the pair, as the pictures show, being out clear of the rest. As he galloped on in front no other assumed the shape of a serious challenger, and this would have been the case right to the end but for Walter Gay suddenly emerging out ot the ‘also rans’ to press forward and close the gap down to what became the winning margin of a length and ahalf. It was Lord Woolavington’s other candidate, Rattlin the Reefer,

lat could be seen not far from the leaders nearing the descent of Tattenliam Corner. Walter Gay was much farther back, as the pictures show. That being so, and bearing in mind the amount of ground he made up, I feel convinced that he would have won had he been able to take a place much closer to the front. That he could not do so may not have been due to faulty tactics on the part of his jockey. I attribute it to inability to act on the downhill slopes because of his indifferent joints. The knowledge that he had them and the risk 3 to be run from the hard ground must have been the reason for Lord Woolavington’s warning that his colt might not see the post. Later in the year, if not at Ascot next week, Walter Gay will show us that he is probably the best colt of his age. One says that because there is so much more of him to train than there is of Trigo, who may never be better in his life than he was on Derby day. Not in the Race! “There is little to add. Not even apologies for the failures will take the sting out of the demand notes whArh began to pour in last week-end. Of the ‘too bad to be true’ performers Mr. Jinks was the star turn. His jockey merely said that the colt was never racing at all. Why not, I wonder? Did he not realise that a race was on and that the paddock and parade ceremonials were not conducted for his exclusive benefit? It is all very well saying that this or that horse is the most handsome in the field, but what about living up to the beauty part in the race? Bearing in mind that he was the favourite, also the winner of the Two Thousand Guineas, and beater, only by inches for the Newmarket ; Stakes, the wretched show of Mr. j Jinks was not the least unsatisfactory ' feature of an unsatisfactory race. Kopi was brought down and the stewards ; said no one was to blame, but a horse ; does not as a rule bring himself down. A jockey of experience in the race said that the riding was rough and reckless. More of a Lottery “If we were to begin again with Derby history the Epsom course would never be chosen for it. I prefer a race to a lottery. If my horse, however capable, is prevented by circumstances from being in the first three or four at the foot of Tattenham Corner I know he has no chance. That cannot be right, but Derbies come and go. Enormous sweepstakes are built up on it. The world becomes more or less convulsed in every English-speaking part of it. Everyone has a bet or takes a chance in a sweepstakes. I find myself compelled to be writing about it for weeks and months before, and all about a race which is 75 per cent, a lottery. Allowing for all that 1 would hate to be lacking sincerity in offering congratulations to Mr. Barnett, for nothing can deprive him of the knowledge and satisfaction that, as the race was run, Trigo proved himself to be the champion colt of the Derby field l of 1929.”

easily discern the respective dams o Prince Humphrey and Cragsman. Injustice to Owner “I feel that an injustice is brin done to Mr. C. G. Macindoe in askin him to pay the costs of any inquiry as the breeding of his horse is cor rect. It was so stated on the day o the sale, and there is no reason for an; alteration.” Elaborating his reasons for defend ing the breeding of Prince Humphre> as stated since the purchase of th colt, Mr. Mackenzie said that he \voul« like Mr. Yuille to produce the stud re turns of the 'Woodlands £>tud in so fa as they affected the horses now know] as Prince Humphrey and Cragsmar When they were foals, he said, the; were so dissimilar in appearance tlia the description of both as bay colt could hardly pass as correct. No buye at the sale could have relied upon th catalogue. In fact, Prince Humphre; was the only yearling described will his numbered brands. Cragsman wa not numbered at all in the catalogue. Find the Colt! Mr. Mackenzie said that he was en titled to ask. if Mr. Yuille’s find in; was correct, that the Australian Jockey Club should find the Duke Humphrey— Shepherd Princess colt which he bought at the sale. If Mr. Yuille’s finding was correct ho had not yet received the colt, fo. it was certainly not Cragsman. Mr. Mackenzie described obvious in accuracies in the catalogue, which li himself had noted. For instance, ; filly had been described as a gelding A lot described as a bay was reall; chestnut. If such a horse had woi the A.J.C. Derby, what would hav happened had Mr. Tate said anything

Nukumai There is not much doubt now that Nukumai is the ideal and top-class hurdle horse, but it is doubtful if he will ever be a 'chaser. Whereas over hurdles he takes them in his stride with ease, he makes hard work of steeplechasing. He does not like the brush fences, and has not learned just how they should be treated like a natural ’chaser does.