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SIRES AND DAMS *y NELS0N unstan NEW YORK, N. Y., June 11.— On Monday, July 25th, the yearling sales at Keeneland will open and then, with only a one-week "lapse, the Saratoga sales will get under way. At those vendues, some 850 colts and fillies will be offered by the breeders in the various states and, as in former years, the question now is how will the market compare in individual sales, and in averages, with those of former years." Recently, we read in Judge Hattons column that the veteran breeder, Arthur B. Hancock, stated that he did not expect any skyrocketing of prices, but rather imagined that the market would not be much above or below that of last season. It is our belief that the vast majority of breeders will be satisfied if this years averages are substantially the same as last season, for, with the stock market in the doldrums and general business conditions showing a decline, there is no reason why higher averages should be expected at either sales center in the coming months. One factor in favor of the breeders is that the daily distribution of purses at our major tracks have been reduced very little, even though some of the stake events of the 0,000 to 00,000 group have been cut. As in every year, there will be charges in the yearling market. Older stallions will have small crops and the younger stallions coming up will send colts and fillies into the ring who will be keenly inspected by prospective buyers. As the catalogs for either the Keeneland or Saratoga sales have yet to be released, this writer must confine his remarks, for the present, to the consignments whose lists we have at hand. "What we do know, however, is that the only Sir Gallahad m. yearling to be sold at Keeneland this year is in the small, but quality, consignment from the Marchmont Farm of Charlton Clay, at Paris, Ky. This youngster is a bay colt out of Cohorts daughter, Hard to. Take. This is the second foal of this mare offered by Marchmont, her first being Tiger Trap, which won three races and more than his purchase price as a two-year-old last season, and has continued his winning ways this year. Sir Breeders Preparing for Yearlings Sales Only One Sir Gallahad III. Colt Offered Some Young Sires Attracting Attention Mereworth Farm Featuring Ocean Wove Gallahad III. is now 29-years-old and it may be that this colt will be one of the last of his youngsters to be sent into a salesring. In this writers opinion, he is the greatest sire ever imported and he has richly endowed our breeding structure with sons and daughters to carry on for him. AAA The year 1949 is an outstanding one in the initial crops of young sires who made good on the race course. To name just a few of these sires, there were Devil Diver, Apache, War Jeep, Shut Out, Ocean Wave, Hoop Jr., and just in the year before, Requested and Alsab, both of whom came through to score in a big way. Devil Diver has a real nice youngster in The Diver, winner of the National Stallion Stakes, while Quiz Show now gives indication of being one of the best two-year-olds of the current season, and he is by Apache. We daresay that quite a few breeders will have youngsters by these two sires in the sales. Arthur B. Hancock will offer one colt and one filly by Devil Diver, and also two fillies by Apache. One of these fillies is out of Ripples by Sir Gallahad III. and in his notes to us, Humphrey Finney said "this is a very fine filly and should be one of those sought after by buyers seeking misses with stud value, as well as racing promise." Saratoga consignors will also offer youngsters by the sires mentioned, for the Nydrie Stud will sell a black filly by Devil Diver — Navy Nurse, by War Admiral, Morven Stud will consign a bay filly by Apache — Springbok, by Pompey, and the Blenheim Farm will sell a bay filly by Shut Out — Gigglet, by Sir Gallahad HI. AAA Devil Diver and Shut Out will also be prominent in the consignments from Elmendorf Farm and the Mere- worth Farm. In the Elmendorf consignment, there is a colt by Devil Diver — On Delivery, by Bull Dog, and also a colt by Shut Out— Stepwisely, by Wise Counsellor. In their filly group, there is a miss by War Jeep — Durability, by Unbreakable, and another by Free For All— Long Grass, by Sickle. From Walter J. Salmons Mereworth Stud, is listed one colt and one filly by Devil Diver and two fillies by Shut Out. Of the younger stallions, however, Mereworth is featuring six colts and two fillies by Ocean Wave, who is by Blenheim II. out of Columbiana, by Petee-Wrack. This is one of th° most attractively bred young horses at stud today, for not only did his dam, Columbiana win the Widener Challenge Cup, but his second dam produced two stake winners, while his third dam produced two stake winners and four dams of stake winners. Of his colts, Humphrey Finney reported that the one out of Glacial by Hourless was one of the most attractive he had seen at this farm. Ocean Waves two fillies in this consignment are out of Haifli by Hairan, and Pollys Folly by Polymelian. AAA We have received the advance catalog of yearlings from the Elmendorf Farm and, once again, they are offering a consignment of 11 colts and nine fillies, which is of the same high quality that has been the hallmark of this famous nursery down through the years. From the last 23 crops of racing age, this farm has sent forth 77 stake winners and has a record of 29 stake winners in the last three years, and five more to date this season. The Elmendorf consignment is made up of colts and fillies by Roman, Unbreakable, Some Chance, Questionnaire, Easton, Eight Thirty, Chance Shot, Shut Out, Bolinbroke, Haltal, War Jeep, Princequillo and Free For All. Finney reports "this is a very fine group, but in my opinion, the top colt is the one by Some Chance — Destiny II., by Asterus. Another very fine colt is by Eight Thirty out of Never Again II., by Pharos, while of the fillies, my choice would be the miss by Roman— Basrelief, by Donatello H." This writer is expecting more reports on the Elmendorf group and will report in more detail at a later date.
