THE BIRD CATCHER BLOOD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2286, 5 March 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE BIRD CATCHER BLOOD.

In England daring the year ISB6, 470 yearliugs the progeny of 125 sires, were sold by auction for 100,205 gs., making a general average of 2!3;V gs., which, notwithstanding the recent great drop in prices leaves breeders of the thoroughbred stock a fair margin of profit. A writer in The Field goes on to say, 'the first tiling 1 that will strike breeder is the astounding fact that the descendants of Touchstone and Birdcateher dominate the British stud of the present day, for no fewer than thirty-seven of the l'io stallions spring from Touchstone, and thirty-eight from Birdcateher, making together seventy-five, leaving among the above only fifty representatives of the several remaining strains of blood which have come down to our time In this list of sires the Birdcatcher's are in a majority of one ; and Stirling, the best of the grandsons of ■Birdcateher now living, holds this year a proud precedence of all contemporary stallions, fifteen of his progeny realised the large sum of 15,308g5., making the splendid average of 1025:Vgs. That this should be so is, however, not surprising when a brother to Paradox, for whom Mr John Porter gave SlOOgs., and brother to Beaudesert, purchased by Mr John Dawson for 2350g5., were included amongst the yearlings sold this season. The splendidly-bred Isonomy, by far the best of Stirling's sons on the racecourse, has yet to make a name for himself at the stud owing to the slender patronage hitherto accorded to .him. Beaudesert has in that respect fared much better, as he is credited with four colts and two fillies, who have made the respectable average of 27ggs. On the other hand, Discount, Fernandez, Geologist, and Privilege, the four remaining sons of Sterling, appear to be left almost entirely out in the cold. The unhappily deported Doncaster is represented with two colts, who average oOlgs. ; and his son Bend Or has four representatives, a colt and three fillies, who made the excellent average of 410gs. The almost unprecedented performances of Bend Or's famous son Ormonde further redounds to the credit of his great progenitor Birdcatcher; for, though■ .some doubt still attaches to the paternity of Bend Or's dam, there is no question that he is a son of Doncaster. The great opponent of Bend Or, Robert the Devil, is also afforded an excellent chance of perpetuating the fame of Birdcatcher, as he is this year represented by five colts and four fillies, who made the excellent average of 37ogs. ; and then Springfield, another of Birdcatcher's most distinguished descendants, is likely to further perpetuate his good name, as eight of his progeny this year realised 3975g5, making the handsome average of 474;}gs.