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In The Blue Grass By Joe Thomas White Skies Passing Great Loss to Breeding Plans to -Enter Stud in Spring Changed Was Hoping War Flower Would Foal Filly LEXINGTON, Ky., May 5. — The tragic accident which befell White Skies resulted not only in a serious loss to the current racing scene, but also to the thor oughbred breeding industry as well. The handsome, well-conformed son of Sun Again was looked upon as one of the most promising sire prospects to come along in many years. An attempt was made late last fall to syndicate the 1954 sprint champion, but due to a late start it moved rather slowly. The fleet racers owner, William M. Wick-ham, then early in December changed his mind, cancelled the syndication plans, ancL. decided to race the horse another year. It originally had been planned to stand the horse at the Nuckols Brothers Hurstland Farm, his foaling place. He was the second good horse that failed to enter stud at the Nuckols Midway farm this year because an owner changed his mind. Late last summer Andrew J. Crevolin announced that Imbros would be syndicated and stand at Hurstland in 1955. However, he later changed his mind, and continued to race the horse. - Hardesty Buys Two Spy Song Yearlings Don Hardesty, who shifted from show horses to thoroughbreds about a year ago with the establishment of a farm on the Kearney road, this week purchased two promising daughters of Spy Song for his broodmare band; From Miss Mary Fisher, he obtained Fulgent, a four-year-old sister of the speedy stakes winner Fulvous, and from Dixiana, Blitz Kuchen, a three-year-old half-sister of Shy Guy. He then booked both to Spendthrift stallions, mating Fulgent with Bernborough and Blitz Kuchen . with the French import Cortil, whose first foals arrived last year. The first foals of Cortu by the way, already have many predicting sire success for the young importation because of their uniform good looks. It isnt often that a commercial breeder wishes for fillies, but Miss Mildred Woodwine was kind of disappointed when her grand mare War Flower recently foaled a nice chestnut colt by Royal Charger. The owner of White Oaks Farm was hoping that the 17-year-old daughter of Man o War would have a future replacement for herself in the White Oaks broodmare ranks. War Flower Wont Be Bred This Year War Flower wont be bred this year. Miss Woolwine plans to rest her both because of the mares age and also because she feels that an occasional year off benefits a mares future foals. War Flowers two most famous offspring, the full brothers Helioscope and Ace Admiral, now have earned more than a half million dollars between them. Ace Admiral went to stud with earnings of 72,815 and Heloscopes Valley Forge Handicap victory boosted his winnings to 32,525. Chantress, Miss Woolwines other prominent mare — her three foals of racing age are the stakes winner Sea O Erin, Saggy and Gainsboro Girl — has been examined and believed in foal to Royal Charger. Although 16 years old, the daughter of Hyperion has only four foals. The fourth is a yearling brother to Sea O Erin which Miss Woolwine will sell this summer at the Keeneland sales. v Blades of Blue Grass. On a recent day 22 mares were bred to Spendthrift stallions — a record for a single day. . . . Melvin Cinnamon has completed foaling operations at Coldstream Farm while Warren Gabby has six to go at Almahurst. When the season ends, the new foal population at the two farms of Henry.Knight will number close to 1000. . . The Breeders Sales Withdrawals may be made without penalty until June 1. . . . Three of the four highest priced yearlings sold in 1954 are in training in California, including the record-breaking 6,000 colt by Nasrullah. . . . White Skies was a ,500 yearling.
