_Photo by W. A. Rouch and Co._]
]
The day may dawn, as I have suggested before, when breeders of
blood-stock may consider it worth their while to breed specially for
National Hunt racing, but at present there is not a great deal of
encouragement to do so. It is interesting, nevertheless, to see how the
best steeplechase winners each season are bred, and breeders of hunter
stock can always learn something from a study of the pedigrees of
prominent performers under National Hunt Rules. They know by this time,
for example, that if you want to breed a jumper you are tolerably safe
in using a suitable stallion with plenty of Newminster blood in his
veins. They know, too, that the descendants of Birdcatcher, particularly
through the Stockwell and Sterling channels, can get valuable
steeplechasing stock; while the Blacklock blood, so powerful nowadays on
the flat, has also claimed its share of cross-country successes, though
we have yet to see a stallion of the Galopin tribe sire a Grand National
winner. In this connection, it is worthy of note, the Birdcatcher line
has claimed a Grand National winner four times during the last decade,
namely, Manifesto (twice), Drogheda, and Ambush II., while the
Touchstone line has had only two successes, Drumcree and Ascetic’s
Silver. But while the Ascetics continue to show such remarkable form in
the steeplechases calling for the best qualities of stamina and courage,
and the Hacklers keep on winning many races every season, the Newminster
line or Touchstone must still be regarded as the best for producing
jumping stock.
On May 11th I drew out a list of the first twenty-four winning
steeplechase stallions as they stood at that date, the lead being taken
by Ascetic and Hackler, and this is how they came out in the male line:—
TOUCHSTONE.—Hackler, Ascetic, Marciòn, Bushey Park, Royal Meath, and
Speed (through Newminster); Noble Chieftain (through Scottish Chief);
and Victor Wild (through Marsyas); total, 8.
BIRDCATCHER.—Red Prince II., Juggler, and Laveno (through Stockwell);
Isinglass, Enthusiast, Ravensbury, and Common (through Sterling); total,
7.
BLACKLOCK.—St. Frusquin, Buckingham, Florizel II., St. Simonmimi, St.
Serf, Childwick, and Donovan (all through Galopin); total, 7.
MELBOURNE.—Marco and Wolfs Crag (through Barcaldine); total, 2.
Tracing these two dozen stallions still further back in male line, one
perceives that the descendants of Eclipse are no less successful in
steeplechasing than in flat-racing. There is not a single Herod among
the twenty-four, Eclipse claiming all save two, these exceptions
belonging to the Matchem tribe, through Melbourne. The cry for Herod
blood is often repeated nowadays, but the majority of our breeders of
blood-stock are scarcely likely to desert the Eclipse line in the face
of this and much other evidence of its pre-eminence.
When is the last word on Ascetic as a sire of jumpers to be written? For
years the praises of the old horse have been sounded in regard to new
and repeated triumphs. As far back as August, 1897, the son of Hermit
died at the advanced age of twenty-six, yet nine years later we find him
still among the most successful steeplechase sires, and represented,
moreover, in the Grand National by the first and third horses, with
still another of his progeny among the select few who completed the
course.
The majority of the Ascetics now in training have won races, all adding
their quota in testimony to the marvellous capacity of the horse. During
the past season Ascetic claimed ten winners of sixteen races, value
£3,253, the chief contributors having been Ascetic’s Silver, Aunt May,
Hill of Bree, and Æsthetic Anne. The winner of the Grand National is
thoroughbred, and how the statement came to be made a few days ago that
he is not so is surprising, seeing that the horse is registered all
right in the “General Stud Book.” He has good jumping blood on both
sides of the house, being out of Silver Lady by Ben Battle (sire of
Ambush II., and grandsire of Manifesto), out of Lady Pitt by Plum
Pudding. The combination of Ascetic and Ben Battle is enormously strong,
and Mr. P. J. Dunne surely had his eyes on the highest honours of
steeplechasing when he put Silver Lady to Ascetic in three successive
years.
Unfortunately, Mr. Dunne did not live long enough to see his judicious
methods of breeding crowned with the best possible success, but it was
in his colours that Ascetic’s Silver won the Irish Grand National in
1904, thus foreshadowing his greater victory at Liverpool.
In the light of subsequent events, Prince Hatzfeldt got an extremely
cheap horse in Ascetic’s Silver at 850 guineas at the sale of Mr.
Dunne’s stud in October last. He was lucky, indeed, to secure him at
that price. I know one sportsman who went from England to the sale with
the fixed intention of buying the horse. He was prepared to go to 1,200
guineas for the son of Ascetic, and was so confident of getting him that
he took his groom with him to Ireland to bring the horse back. Alas! on
the morning of the sale my friend was unfortunate enough to listen to
the counsel of one who should have been in a position to know all about
the animal in question. “Don’t touch Ascetic’s Silver,” implored this
adviser, for reasons he gave. And so the would-be buyer, having got the
“straight tip,” would make no higher bid than 500 guineas. It is not
difficult to imagine his chagrin when Ascetic’s Silver cantered away
with the National; though it is only fair to mention that he had
experienced a corresponding feeling of delight on his “escape” when the
horse went somewhat amiss at Sandown Park early in February. It is
certain that Ascetic’s Silver would have started at a much shorter price
than 20 to 1 had it not been for this incident. But it is possible that
the mishap at Sandown Park was mainly due to lack of condition, because
when he was properly wound up the horse had no trouble in accomplishing
the immeasurably more difficult task.
I am not in possession of the complete figures relating to Ascetic’s
career at the stud, but the following table should prove interesting,
being a record of the doings of his progeny under National Hunt Rules
for ten seasons past:—
Season. No. of Winners. No. of Races Won. Value.
£
1896–7 6 12 966
1897–8 10 12 1,094
1896–9 12 25 2,381
1899–1900 18 33 6,099
1900–1 18 29 3,246
1901–2 13 26 4,686
1902–3 19 45 6,985
1903–4 21 45 4,894
1904–5 10 15 1,421
1905–6 10 16 3,253
——— ———————
Total 276 £35,025
——— ———————
Last year a photograph of Hackler was reproduced in these pages, and
this time Red Prince II. is presented as being one of the best sires of
steeplechase and hunter stock now standing in Ireland. This son of
Kendal is out of Empress, who won the Grand National in the hands of Mr.
T. Beasley twenty-six years ago, and that he is able to transmit to his
progeny much of his mother’s excellence across country is beyond
question. Red Prince II., a grand-looking horse himself, gets some
handsome stock, and his own important successes in the show-ring have
been frequently repeated by his youngsters. A stallion who can win the
Croker Challenge Cup at Dublin and sire the winner of the Irish Grand
National is one of whom his owner may justifiably be proud, and that Mr.
Pallin is proud of Red Prince II. goes without saying. Red Lad has
brought him into prominence on this side of the St. George’s Channel by
finishing second in the Grand National, and it is not a little curious
that the first and second horses for that race this season were both
former winners of the Irish Grand National.
Hackler, champion steeplechase stallion in several seasons, was at the
head of the list this year until Ascetic’s Silver’s success in the Grand
National, value £2,175, gave his sire the advantage. But Hackler has
many more of his stock now running than Ascetic, and was not long before
he regained the position of supremacy. Hackler claims nearly twice as
many winners as any other stallion, and during the past season fifty
races have been won by his get, which include Hack Watch, the promising
Old Fairyhouse, Wild Fox, Crautacaun (fourth in the Grand National),
Conari, Hackett, Armature, Loughmoe and Clonard. I have given some
figures showing Ascetic’s work as a successful steeplechase sire, and it
is entertaining to compare them with the following table of Hackler’s
winnings under National Hunt Rules. The son of Petrarch had his first
steeplechase winner in 1897–8, so that the list is shorter by one year
than that given of Ascetic:—
Season. No. of Winners. No. of Races Won. Value.
£
1897–8 5 7 900
1898–9 7 12 1,996
1899–1900 17 26 2,843
1900–1 10 24 3,587
1901–2 6 14½ 1,028
1902–3 16 29 2,436
1903–4 21 32 2,332
1904–5 23 45½ 2,863
1905–6 19 50 3,427
——— ———————
Total 240 £21,412
——— ———————
Isinglass, who was at the head of the stallions on the flat last year,
takes a leading place among the steeplechase sires, Leviathan having
been by a long way the best winner for this magnificent thoroughbred.
Marciòn, too, ranks high on the list by virtue of Theodocion’s success
in the valuable Lancashire Handicap Steeplechase. Enthusiast, for many
seasons well represented on the steeplechase list, comes close behind
Isinglass. Sleep, Dermot Asthore, Dathi, Agony, and Dependence have been
the Irish horse’s best representatives. Noble Chieftain, who stands now
in the south of Ireland, has been brought to the front by the smart work
of his son Sachem; whilst Marco, although lacking the assistance of Mark
Time, has done well with Amersham, Marcova and Black Mark.