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LEADING ANTIPODEAN SIRES Absurd Again Leads Stallions in NevrZealand Valais at Top of List in Australia. By E. E. COUSSELL. For the third year in succession Absurd is at tho head of the list of winning stallions in New Zealand for the season of 1923-1924. During that period his offspring won forty-two races of a value of 48,450. During the past four seasons Absurd has sired the winners of 89,105, which is a remarkable sum for a small dominion. Absurd, which won the Middle Park Plate, was a speedy race horse. He is a big, well-made, good-looking son of Sundridge. His full sister, Jest, won the Oaks and produced Humorist, which so tragically died a few weeks after he won the Derby for J. B. Joel in 1921. Black Jester, the St Leger winner of 1914, is by Polymelus from the dam of Absurd and Jest. .We .cannot say that his stud success in any way equals his achievements on the raco course. The leading stallion in Australia for the past season is Valais, whose famous son, Heroic, has just won the Derby at Sydney, which success he followed up by taking the Caulfield Guineas. After a stern struggle with Woorack, which finished ,000 behind the leader, Valais was on top with fifteen winners of twenty-nine races and stakes valued at 16,S95. Heroic, which was considered one of the best two-year-olds ever bred in Australia, was a big contributor to his sires total. Valais a short time ago was sold for tho record Australian price of 0,000, about 5,-000 more than Carbine cost After one or two most moderate seasons in England, Valais was sold for less than ,000 to go to Australia, where he has quickly made a mark. Foaled in 1913, Valais is a chestnut son of Cicero, by Cyllene, from Lily of the Valley, by Martagon, from Hamptonia, dam of Sem-pronius, by Hampton, from Feronia, the dam of St Serf and granddam of Ayrshire. This is the same family as Light Brigade. Heroic, by the Avay, is related to St James on his dams side, as both descend from Che-landry. The former is from Bobolink, by Willonyx, by William the Third. The dam of Heroic is Chersonese, by Cylgad, son of Cyllene.
