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life * 1 In The Blue Grass By Hugh J. McGuire Compliment for Syndicate of Tudor Minstrel Combs Going to England to Arrange Shipping Americans Now Own Sire and Dam of Tomy Lee LEXINGTON, Ky., May 6. — Tomy Lees smashing victory in the Kentucky Derby, coupled with his previous racing record, has earned him any degree of greatness any observer wishes to t place on him. His Derby success also sparked interest in the breeding fraternity. Members of the syndicate who will import his daddy, Tudor Minstrel, can be permitted to compliment themselves on their foresight in acquiring the stallion whose stock received a tremendous boost at Churchill Downs on May 2. Previous races by such as Ole Fols, Poona II. and Tomy Lee had been enough to convince Leslie Combs II. and the other syndicate members interested in Tudor Minstrel that their investment was a wise one. Tomy Lees Derby came in the nature of a bonus. Mr. and Mrs. Combs plan to leave this week for England to complete arrangements for the importation of Tudor Minstrel. Traveling with Admiral and Mrs. Gene Markey of Calumet, who are syndicate members, the Combs will extend their visit to Paris, Rome and Eire. Although Combs has long been a leader in the importation of outstanding European stallions and other bloodstock, this will be his first trip abroad. Members of the Tudor Minstrel syndicate in addition to Combs and Calumet Farm are Dr. Eslie Asbury, C. M. Baxter, Max Bell, C. J. Devine, John W. Galbreath, Mrs. George Greenhalgh, Greentree Stud, Inc., John W. Hanes, Harbor View Farm, George M. Humphrey, Paul Mellon, Pin Oak Farm, William Haggin Perry, Mrs. Parker B. Poe, Joseph M. Roebling, Mrs. Marion duPont Scott, Walmac Farm, Neil S. McCarthy, and George D. Widener. Guarantee Top Book of Mares Such an impressive list of shareholders guarantees that Tudor Minstrel will have choice books of mares. It is a little unusual, perhaps, that Californians, who claim Tomy Lee as their own although he was bred in England and is owned by Texans, and saw most of the races of the Derby winner, Ole Fols, and Poona II., are represented in the syndicate only by Neil S. McCarthy. The Combs trip to Italy will include a look at Ribot. With Mrs. John Olin, Combs owns the mare French Polish, a half sister to Mossborough, who had a colt foal by Never Say Die and who is being mated with Ribot. With John W. Hanes he owns Cottesmore, dam of Kelly, who had a filly by Alycidon and has an en-gamement with Ribot. Kelly, by the way, was brought to this country by Alie Reuben and will be sent back for stud duty. Tomy Lees Derby tally also focussed interest on his dam, Auld Alliance, who is at the Normandy Farm here of Mr. and Mrs. E. Barry Ryan. Auld Alliance was purchased at Newmarket last December by Mrs. E. H. Augustus of Cleveland. She was barren and her price of 2,340 now looks like a definite bargain. Auld Alliance has been sent to the court of the nations leading stallion in 1957 and 1958, Princequillo. She is a half sister to the Ryans good distance mare Skye who is in production at Normandy Farm. Whether or not Auld Alliance will ever be sent to Tudor Minstrel in search of an image of Tomy Lee rests with the future. In training now with John Nerud is Tudor Minstrels son Tudor Melody, crack sprinter of England last year. It is probable that Tudor Melody will join the stallion ranks at Spendthrift Farm when he finishes racing. Combs owns a part of him. It will be, we sincerely hope, a long time before a decision must be made as to where Tomy Lee will stand at stud. He appears to have a long, colorful and successful career ahead of him on the race track. Derby Boosts Sunglows Stock With this years Derby finish as close as it was, there will be many who believe that Sword Dancer might have been best. The narrow margin of victory at the end demands that Sunglow, sire of Sword Dancer, be credited with an assist in a brilliant performance. The young Sunglow, by Sun Again — Rosern, had already been accepted by mare owners long before the Derby. Sunglow s book was full for 1959 early in December and the performance of Sword Dancer last Saturday virtually guarantees his continued popularity. He stands at the Mereworth Farm of Mrs. F. Warrington Gillet and Walter J. Salmon Jr. Blades of Blue Grass: The Derby score appears to be even internationally. Two American-breds, Iroquois in 1881 and Never Say Die in 1954, won the Epsom Derby to match the scores of Omar Khayyam and Tomy Lee in the Kentucky version. Three American owners won the Epsom Derby with European-bred horses. The imported winners of the Kentucky classic were owned by Americans which puts our side in a slight lead. ... It was good news to us and many others that veteran docker Bill Cunningham, who broke his hip about three years ago, occasionally is able to drive his car to Churchill Downs. . . . Lewis K. Haggin, of War Horse Place, has been discharged from hospital where he underwent treatment for severe injuries caused when he was kicked by a horse. . . . Lou Pondfield tells us that while Pimlico still maintains its famous Alibi Table in the clubhuse. it has removed cause for the short stretch to be used as an excuse.
