The Home of Pegasus.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 270, 12 November 1892, Page 3

The Home of Pegasus.

(By. Hipponi.)

With a couple of hours to spare on tbe afternoon of Monday last, and a presentiment that one of the progeny of the old race-course hero Nelson wouid prove triumphant! in the A.R.C. Welcome Stakes at Ellerslieonthe Princaof Wales' Birthday, I determined to take a run out to Wapiti and pay my respects to Nelson, the brocd mares, yearlings, and the racehorses in training, Nolson looks as fresh and well as when his brillianb performances on tbe turf were tho talk of the hour throughoub Aus. tralasia, and as the grand old champion strutted round his domain, whab memories of the past it brought) forbh. The many racecourse deeds of Nelson are too well known to weary my readers with them now, and they have frequently been recapitulated in these columns, suffice it to say that Major George's champion is in robust health, and I venture to say that if raced again he would make mince-meat of many horses whose ownora claim for them the title of a race-horse. There were many wise-alls who predictod that Nelson was going to prove a frost at the stud, but these croakers must have bidden their heads had they been at Ellerßlio on Wednesday last, and witnessed his two-year-old son Pegasus (lighting at the finish of the Welcome Stakes, and gallantly winning it too. It is no " after-game " for me to say that I have always predicted Pegasus would turn out a race-horse, and make Nelson's fame an a sire. • Tbab is recorded in black and white in past issues of the Star, when expatiabing on the Wapiti stud. I venture to say that there was no more pleased man in this wide world than Major Georgo, as he saw the " black and white hoops" swoop first pasb the judge's box on Pegasus, and he had every reason to feel proud, too. So much by way of prelude to my inspection of the Wapiti atud.

After a poep at the racehorses in training I was conducted by Major Georgo to the paddock containing tho five yearlings, four of which aro to be submitted for Rale by public auction on Saturday, 31st December. The first I looked over was a filly by Nordenfeldb—Sister Agnes, who ie a big muscular young lady with the wonderful quarters and lohib of the Musket tribe. Bearing in mind the splendid pedigree of this filly Major George has wisely determined not to sell her. Her dam is an Englishbred mare and is by Rosicrucian oub of Penanco, by The Flying Dutchman out of Rosary, by Touchstoneoutof Crucifix. Sister Agnes is tbe mother of Percussion, and Mr S. Hordern's Cannon, who won a good sprint race for his owner in Sydney tho other week. The other four yearlings in the paddock were sired by Nelson, and it is this quartette that will go up to public competition. They comprise fillies oub of Memphis (dam of Reprisal and iEgyptus), The Maid (dam of The Workman), Tenambra (dam of Pegasus and Raglan), and a colt by Nelson oub of Florence (dam of Coalscuttle). Tho last-named is a bib backward, bub he is a most symmetrical and strong colt with plenty of bis sire's etyle. He is a whole coloured chestnut; in fact it is something wonderful the striking likeness in colour and appearance all of Nelson's progeny, bear to their sire. The filly out of Memphis ia a beautifully topped young lady, with nicely turned quarters, good second thighs and splendid shoulders, and altogether a handsomer yearling ib would be bard to find.. Memphis, the dam of thin filly, is by Gang Forward from Palmyra, by South Australian from Zenobia (dam of Ada, who in turn was dam of the flying Newste'ad).' Another remarkable well-grown yearling is the filly out of The Maid. She has plenty of size, length and power, and should prove as good as she looks. Both The Maid and Memphis fillies should be well worth buying. The fact of The Maid filly being half-sister to The Workman will attracb attention to her, and she comes from a successful family, for her mother is by King of the Ring from Maid of All Work, by King Alfred from Mischief (dam of First King and Petrea). The other yearling in tho paddock was a filly oub of Tenambra. She is the smallest of the quintette, but a very strong filly, with a nice outline. However, she will not compare with Pegasus in looks, but her blood is very valuable, for Tenambra is a daughter of the Marquis.

Leaving the yearlings, I had a look ab the brood mares and their foala in another paddock. Nelson has sired some magnificent foals this season, and everything indicates that he will attain high honour at the stad. Sister Agnes was attended by a Nelson foal, born a little over two months ago, but it certainly looked as if it was six months old. Pointing with pride to a filly by Nelson onb of Tres Deuce (dam of Manton) Major George remarked to me : "If she is not a race-horse I'll stop breeding. If the foal was a colb I would nob take 1,000 guineas to-day for ib." Tbo foal would recommend herself to notice anywhere, and is big and powerful with the character, and style of old Nelson about her. Tenainbra had a shapely Nelson colb foal ab her side, therefore a full brother to Pegasus, and an aristocrat he is too to look at. The Maid and Memphis also had fine fillies, sired by Nelson, scampering at their heels, and they likewise do credib to their sire. Grazing with Major George's mares was Major Mair's matron Sweeb Alice (dam of The Dreamer), who is on a visit bo Nelson. She was attended by a very fine Nelson colt, full of style and quality, and who has had the name of Ben Bolt bestowed on him. The foal is as docile as a Newfoundland dog, and came over to where I was standing so that he might be admired. I hope bo see Ben Bolt turn out a good one for the sake of his straight going owner. All of the stock ab Wapiti looked in splendid health, and with such a collection of highlybred mares, and Nelson to mate them with, many racehorses should ba bred by Major George ab the home of Pogasus.