STABLE VISITS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 198, 25 September 1914, Page 5

STABLE VISITS.

SANTA ROSA STUD FARM, B. McMELLAN'S ESTABLISHMENT. When he landed in New Zealand some eighteen years ago, Robert McMillan brought with him credentials from some of the foremost American horsemen, together with a large amount of experience and skill of no mean order. That he should have made good in his profession was only to be expected, and whether as trainer or as reinsman he has few equals in the Dominion. Born in Canada, McMillan, even as a youth, acquired an inordinate love of the light-harness horse. Journeying to Boston, he took service with the well-known mentor, "Jock" Bone, in whose stable the young Canuck had every opportunity to learn his business in all its details. Subsequently he migrated to the sunny clime of California, where for many years he followed his calling on the Western circuit with no small measure of success.

The possibilities of Tfew Zealand as a rising trotting centre eventually induced McMillan to make yet another, change, and'though .he subsequently has had several trips to the States in search of horses, the Dominion is ever likely to remain his homeland. Some years ago "Mac." acquired a splendid property at Halswell, now known as Santa Rosa Stud Farm. On this, he laid .out a half-mile track, and built a splendid range of stables, as well as a modern homestead. A more convenient establishment for the rearing and training of light-harness horses, does not exist in New Zealand, and how well it serves its purpose is attested by the success that has fallen to the lot of its inmates. Just at present McMillan has every box occupied, mainly with Ameri-can-bred horses, which he has imported for himself and.the patrons of his stable. A better collection would be hard to locate outside America, for every one of -the importations is bred on such fashionable lines as to ensure a lasting benefit to the trotting stock of the Dominion.

AMERICAN-BRED STALLIONS. The first that was led out for inspection on the occasion of my recent yisit to the Santa Rosa Farm was Petereta, evidently the pride of the establishment. This handsome son of Peter the Great and Recoletta can boast of a pedigree that is rich in both racing and producing strains, and though he has never raced, there is no reason why he should not emulate the deeds of his immediate" ancestors. He is one of those levelmade horses that measure well all over, though if he has an outstanding charac-, teristic.it is his fore-end that pleases most. Bred as he is, it comes as no surprise to learn that he knows no gait but that of trotting, a trait that he invariably transmits to his progeny. The next box was tenanted by another recent importation from America, Brent Locanda, a four-year-old son of Locanda and Affie.. Though not!showing the same development as Petereta, this young sire has a lot in his favour. He is bred for speed, and moves,like a piece of machinery, so that when his time for racing comes the. handsome scion of a family that has given America many of its most notable performers can hardly fail to take a particularly fast record. After doing a light stud season, Brent Locanda will be put into work, and may be seen under silk next autumn. AN OLD FAVOURITE.

Pew imported sires have had such a successful stud career as Harold Dillon has had since his arrival in this colony some nine years ago. As a speed-trans-mitter he is unexcelled. He is rather on the small side, but that is not a characteristic of his progeny. When seen last week, the Dillon representative looked somewhat in the rough, he having been allowed the run of his owner's paddocks at Akaroa. Not having been pampered, he is in good" trim to take up another stud season, and to add further to the list of twenty-one winners that already own' him as their sire.

The two-year-old colt Nelson claims that wofldrfamed producer of speed, Bingen, as his paternal ancestor, while his dam, Suzette Baron, is a representative of the equally famous Wilkes tribes. He is a splendidly-pro-portioned colt, with ample substance and a set of legs that look like standing any amount of hard work. Bingen's son was only broken in last February, and he has just recently been put into work. He is a finely-actioned trotter, and when his time for racing comes there ; should certainly be a. career iii front of him. A three-year-old -son of Harold Dillon and Gratanette is built on entirely different lines from those of his full brother, the speedy Huia Dillon. He favours his dam's side of the" family tree, being well-grown, and showing ample substance; Such an easy-going customer may take time to develop, and he should certainly be quite at home over lengthy courses. Miss Spear, like so many of her stable companions, hails from the

States, being by Peter the Great from Widow Lola. She favours the trotting gait, and shows the typical shoulder and fore-end of her sire, besides which she has a most serviceable set of understandings. Miss Spear has but recently been put into work, and already handles herself with all confidence. MORE AMERICAN PURCHASES. Peter the Great has yet another representative in McMillan's stable in Great Audubon, a handsome stallion who shows all the quality that one could expect from such high lineage. He has very powerful shoulders and' a staunch back, while his legs are of the best. As the result of being out for most of the winter, he is at present somewhat in the rough, but even so it will require very little work to get him into racing trim. He is a cleanly-ac-tioned trotter, and may be seen under silk about Christmas time. Elkton Hall, another American-bred stallion, is built on very substantial lines, and has more than a fair share of«good looks. His powerful shoulders and muscular quarters are symbolical of strength, and, being by Walnut Hall, who earned undying fame by siring The Harvester and' Ella Belmont, he lacks nothing on either the score of breeding or appearance. Unfortunately, his feet have been causing his trainer a good deal of trouble; otherwise he would in all probability have shown his worth on the local tracks ere''this..

Another of McMillan's American purchases is Berthabel, a daughter of Peter the Great and Corinna Mac. Before leaving the States, she had a foal to Bingen, and on the eve of her departure was mated with The Harvester. A foal bred on these lines would have been invaluable, but unluckily she slipped it some months after her arrival. Berthabel is now in work, and everything points to her taking a fast record j when thoroughly seasoned. In the land of her birth she knew no gait but that of trotting, but since being put into training at Santa Rosa .Farm she has acquired the pacing habit. A TRIO. The two full-sisters,, Salix and Yura Dillon, have already been seen on the local tracks, though so far neither has lost hSr maiden status. The former is decidedly on the small side, and gives the impression of speed rather than of stamina. Yura Dillion is built on muchmore generous lines, and though as yet she has not done a great deal of work it is safe to j>redict a prosperous future for her. *

The brilliant but unlucky Lord Dillon was discovered looking in robust health, evidently having had a rather easy time of it since last being seen in public. Despite his trainer's best efforts, the handsome son of Harold Dillon and Queen Mab cannot be got to run out a solid two miles, and I understand that his future efforts will be confined to shorter journeys. Everything about Santa Rosa Farm is suggestive of the completeness associated with the American establish; ments where its owner learnt.his business and that its fame will be added to by its present lot of high-class horses •admits of little doubt. . TEMPLAR.