THE HOME OF FABULIST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 206, 4 September 1897, Page 3

THE HOME OF FABULIST.

[By " Hippona."]

11l tlie salubrious district of Mangere is situated the three hundred acre farm of Mr and Mrs John Lennard. It is there that they carry on farming and dairy operations, the hard work of which is relieved by keeping- a few racehorses. Mr Lennard came to Auckland thirty-two years ago, and with the exception of a short period he was at the Thames in the days of the early gold rush, he has lived in this district ever since. Tor twentjr-nine years he has raced horses, so that I think he may be at least dubbed one of the Fathers of the turf in this province. The first equine he owned was a mare named Minnie Athol (by Potentate), with whom he won five races in one day at the Thames, and who subsequently was the mother of Rally, Sunbeam, Venus and Rifleman, all of whom won races. What reminiscences of oldtime racingl Mr Lennard can bring up, and while he was driving me to his homestead at Mang-ere on Saturday last he was quite enthusiastic in comparing racing in the old days at Epsom with its primitive surroundings and that of Ellerslie in the present day with its up-to-date appointments. Of course, Fabulist is the best horse that has ever tenanted a box owned bjr Mr Lennard, but he, indeed, waxes eloquent when I mention Shotover's name to him. To put his own words, " I never knew how good he was ; but he was too heavylegged and would not stand training," said the squire of Mangere. Then he recites the deeds of Shotover in various trials. The son of Dead Shot did win several races, and he was such a good stamp of animal that no doubt something important would have fallen to his lot had ! he not gone amiss. At the end of his, career I remember Shotover was used as a hack by a local bank manager, but where he has now found his way to is unknown. The Great Northern Derby is the most important race that has fallen to' the "maroon and gold hoops," but several bids have been made by the stable for the Auckland Cup, Kenilworth j (by Kelpie—Empress) running into third place in 1881, while in later years, Clogs (by Leolinus—Crinoline) Ida and Fabulist have each also been place-getters; Ida being only beaten a length at the hands of Pegasus in 1893. Among the many other horses that have carried Mr Lennard's colours to the front, may be mentioned Malvern (who broke a leg while racing at the old Ellerslie Gardens in the year 1SSO), the game Dewdrop (run-ner-up to Louie for the A.R.C. Easter Handicap of 1882), Falcon and Chandler. Well, Mr Lennard has had his ups and downs and rebuffs at the racing game, but withal he is just as light-hearted and enthusiastic as ever.

Mrs Lennard extends me a hearty and hospitable welcome at the homestead, and afterwards, in company with Mr Lennard, I saunter through a number of the rich paddocks, and once more look over the plough gallop, six furlong's in circumference, and also another fine paddock where the racehorses are daily exercised. A peep at the scrupulously clean dairy, and the equally fine shed where about 100 cows were in the process of being milked, was the next attraction, and then we sauntered to other paddocks where the brood mares were located. Vieux Rose (by Hippocampus—Eosarina) I quickly recognised. She has grown and developed into a fine, roomy matron, and her owner may well feel proud of her. She is heavily in foal to the imported stallion Seaton Delaval. Ida looked sound and well, and I learned that this season she has already been mated with St. Hippo. Dorothy, who is evidently in the best of health, has ended her turf career, and she also is to visit St. Hippo's harem. Margorie, got by the Feve horse Penrose from Miss Sly, is in foal to Fabulous. In another enclosure were two yearling1 fillies, one being1 by Orestes —Acacia and the other by Leolantis from Margorie. The last-named is shapely looking, but on the small side, while the Orestes filly is backward.

We then proceeded to another enclosure, where George Absolum, the faithful and steady trainer of the establishment, took me in hand. Vietorine, a speedy looking six-year-old mare ,by Castor, was the first to come under notice. She has been following the hounds this season, and has the reputation of being a splendid jumper. The horses in the stable were next interviewed.

On the door of the box being- thrown open which tenanted Fabulist, I was at once struck with the improved appearance of the horse. He has not grown upwards, but he has built up and furnished all over, particularly in the quarters. Absolum has evidently been busy with his charge, who carries no superfluous flesh, and the muscles stood out on his thighs like violin strings. His beautiful darkbrown coat, now almost black, shone with all the glow of health, and if looks go for anything, I should say Fabulist has never been in better condition than when 1 looked over him on Saturday last. This coming season, if the handicappers are only considerate, perhaps we will see Fabulist repeating some of his three-year-old deeds ; but so far as the New Zealand Cup is concerned, all who study figures must come to the conclusion that he has a few pounds too much weight. Some question the horse being a stayer, on last season's form, but he ran well enough in the last Auckland Cup to convince me that he can get to the end of a journey all right, and at Mangere there appears to be no doubt on the score of his staying. Taken altogether Fabulist can now be summed up a fine stylish specimen of the thoroughbred, whose conformation stands picking- to pieces, but race-goers will probably; have a chance of having a peep at him for themselves at the forthcoming Avondale Spring Meeting.

1 was then ushered into the box occupied by "Brilliant, a gelding by liegel — Mystery. Last season he proved a great disappointment, for out of half-a-dozen attempts he failed to catch the judge's eye. His great fault is declining- to join the starting barrier, and race-goers will remember his many pranks in this direction. It is put down to nervousness. Brilliant was last seen out in public in the Great Northern Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie, and since that period he has furnished a good deal. Perhaps he will redeem himself as a three-year-old, for in the box .he is now a very quiet customer. A great big-boned three-year-old named Favona, by Kegel—Friendship, next came under inspection. He stands something like 10 hands high, and is n colt of great length, with galloping quarters and big hocks. 1 looked over this fellow last year, but he has grown out of all recognition since then, and there are few" finer looking young : horsos in this district. He is the stamp to win a Derby, but so far he is an unknown quantity on the racecourse, not having been allowed to sport silk. This, of course, is due to the colt being overgrown as a two-year-old. It may be that he will win a race or two for his owner this next season, for I regard him as a colt full of promise. He is not so forward as Fabulist.

In two-year-olds the stable is not strong. They number two. onu being a brown filly by Cuirassier —Vieux Rose, and the other a brown colt by Fabulous —Loo. The pair were indulged in a short spurt in company, and afterwards I looked them over in their boxes. The pair are both late foals, so that they suiter in size, and in aristocratic company they are not likely to shine. The filly is shapely enough, and is of the thick-set and sturdy order. This completed my inspection of the equines at the home of Fabulist, and wishing Mr and Mrs Lennard and their trainer, AbsoluTn, g-ood luck during the 1597-98 racing season, I returned to town delighted with my outing.