The Thoroughbred Breeding Industry.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 284, 1 December 1898, Page 21 (Supplement)

The Thoroughbred Breeding Industry.

/T^s MONG Auckland inthis province can boast of, and our fame in this respect has reached England, for during the past few years sportsmen in the Old Country have entered into open rivalry for the purchase of our best racehorses. The world-famous Carbine (by Musket—Mersey), who first saw 'the light in Auckland, was a few years ago, bought by the Duke of Portland for 13,000 guineas to go to England. Carbine's record on the turf is quite unique, and few horses have been tested as he was. His performance in the Melbourne Cup of IS9O, when he carried lOst 51b, and ran two miles m Smin 28} see, is probably the best ever

accomplished by a racehoise. It is only once in a lifetime that such a, performer as Carbine is seen. 4 Auckland can also lay claim to breeding Trenton (by Musket—Frailty), now in England", .Martini-Henry, Maxim, Nordenfeldt. Strathmore, Waiuku, St. Hippo, Multiform, Uniform,. Zalinski, Havoc, and a three-fourths brother to Carbine in Carnage, lately sold in "London for the German Imperial Stud for 10,000 guineas. Auckland first came under prominent out:.;ide notice as a breeding centre when MartiniHenry won the V.R.C Derby and Melbourne Cup at Flemington in the colours of the late Hon. James White, of Sydney. The gentleman named was on a visit to Auckland in the year 1880, and while at Glen Orchard (nowknown as St. Helier's Bay), where the since defunct New Zealand Stud Company carried on breeding operations, he took a fancy to Martini-Henry, then a foal, and bought him for something like 1,250 guineas. Mr White did not race Martini-Henry until he was a three-year-old, and then he won four races with him.

At the present time the Musket blood continues to take most of the best prizes in the colonies, and it is "difficult to* estimate the influence which the importation of this great

stallionfefrom England to Auckland in the year IS7S had upon the turf in Australia and New Zealand. The Grafter, this year's Melbourne (hip winner, and Tirant d'Eau, who annexed the coveted New Zealand Cup, both have, the Musket blood in their veins. Industry, mother ot The Grafter, was taken from Auckland lo Sydney when a yearling, where she was sold. After racing with success, she was retirud to stud duties. The New Zealand Stud Company, while it lasted, did a lot to raise the standard of the thoroughbred, and with the mighty Musket and a collection of brood mares, whose pedigrees contained the bluest of blue racing blood, their success was considerable. The. famous mares Sylvia and Onyx were the first 'corner stones' of the stud. The late Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor of New Zealand, selected and purchased in England for the Company seven brood mares as follows: — Clytemnestra, by Blair Athol; Bergee, by Saunterer; Sister, Agnes, by Rosicrncian; Mersey (dam of Carbine), by Ivnowlesley; Madcap, by Trumpeter; Atlantis, by Thormanby (dam of St. Leger); and Rosette, by Lord Lyon. The company also later bought a choice selection of mares which Mr 0. ti. Stead spe-

dally selected in England and brought to New Zealand. It is the defunct company that takes the honour of breeding Carbine. At the sale of the stud Mersey, his dam, was bought by Mr W. R." Wilson, of Victoria, for 2,:i00 guineas, and the stallions Nordenfeldt (by Musket—Onyx) fell to Mr Samuel Hordern, ot Sydney, for 5,000 guineas. THE WELLINGTON PARK STUD. After the New Zealand Stud Company was dispersed in January, 185)1, Mr Thomas Morrin secured Wellington Park, and with the stallions St. Leger, Hotehkiss, and Castor, and the famous brood mare Frailly, he commenced operations on an extended scale. Wellington Park is a pretty spot, and is reached by an hour's drive through Renmera, or by way of Panmure Road. From the homestead is a beautiful panoramic view of sea and mountain, and everything about the whole place is kept neat and trim. The house is situated on the side of Mount Wellington, where terraces marking the fortifications of the troublous times of the Maori war are to be seen. The property is some five hundred acres in extent, and is subdivided into paddocks, all fenced

with well built scoria wgJJs.7E.very paddock is supplied with water, and there is plenty of shelter for the thoroughbred in all weather. The hilly nature of the property makes it a grand country for horse-breeding, and the paddocks are so well kept, and attentively looked after season after season that natural feed ii. plentiful throughout the year, and the stock never become 'horse sick.' There is no doubt that the country is a most important factor in the rearing of horses,. and in this respect Mr Morrin's place cannot be excelled. As an attractive ground for buyers of yearlings Wellington Park has a name throughout Australasia.. In 1800 a colt by Nordenfeldt—Frailty brought 2,025 guineas, while other good prices obtained at Wellington Park sales which may be mentioned are 1,050 for a Castor —Necklace colt, 2,200 guineas for a colt by Nordenfeldt —Frailty, and, as late as last year, 1.000 guineas for a Hotehkiss —Frailty colt. A lot of the Wellington Park success is due to sticking to winning families. Most of the mares in the stud have produced racecourse winners, and it is estimated that the aggregate value of stakes won by their progeny amounts to £126,000." The stallions, St. Leger and Hotehkiss,

stand at the head of the list- of win ning sires in the colony. St. Leger' progeny have won the considerabl sum of £33.199 in stakes in six yean Hotehkiss (by Musket—Petroleuse) i perhaps the best Musket sire left i Australasia, and Uniform (now i England) and Multiform are two 0 his progeny. An English-bred hors in Castor (by Zealot—Lady Yard ley a half-brother to Disraeli* the Tw Thousand Guineas winner, also ten ants a box at Wellington Park, am has sired his fair share of winner? Among- celebrated brood mares in th stud are Frailty (by GoldsboroughFlora Mclvor), For'mo (by Sterling worth—Pulchra), Ouida (byYattendoi —Gulnare). Necklace (by MusketLocket), Cissy (by Musket—Frailty) and Rose of Wellington (by St. Lege —Fleurette). Frailty has produeec no less than fourteen foals, and amonj the number are Trenton. Niagara Havoc, Zalinski and Cuirassier. For mo is the mother of Multiform an< Uniform, and Ouida produced Strath more, who won the Caulfield Guineas Victorian Derby, Leger and Champioi Stakes. Necklace is another famou: matron. Her son Cravat Avon tin A.J.C. Metropolitan Stakes at. Rand wick (N.S.W.) in September last Wellington Park is the home of severa other valuable thoroughbreds, and tin stud is acknowledged to be one of tin most complete in Australasia. MESSRS. NATHAN'S STUD. Messrs L. D. and N. Alfred Nathar devote some of their time and monej towards the improvement of tht thoroughbred. They carry on operations at Whitford Park, 24 miles from Auckland, and at Sylvia) Park. Messrs Nathan lease 175 acres of the Sylvia Park property, and located there as

i- chief stallion is the imported horse 7 s Seaton Delaval, by Melton, from.Rose- 7 c dale, specially purchased in !.Lon- i ?. don by Mr L. D. Nathan. Among the * s many brood mares in the stud is n Stepfeldt. by Nordenfeldt from Steppe, n a full sister to She, the dam of Bo.badil. ■f Roie (by St. Leger—Hippona) is a very c fine mare, and so is Mi:s Le.tty. by St. ) Leger from Necklace. -Messrs Nathan 0 have bred that good horse . Fabulist, 1- Explosion,. -. ..Hylas v^^Jtiss-^*y a-om-%. " d Woodstock, st. "s^^asra^d 7-;- . others. During the preseht" season c Hastings and Miss Delaval. two of the - progeny of the imported Seaton'Dela- - val, have won races, and his stud sucn cess seems pretty well assured. Up - to the present Messrs Nathan have not , met with much success at breeding r yearlings for sale, but if the stock of 1 Seaton Delaval continue to turn out ? well on the racecourse they should be , rewarded for sticking to the industry. \ OTHER STUDS. Messrs Alison Bros., who own the . I 1 Motnkorea stud, also breed for sale, s their chief stallion being a St. Leo-er J horse named Kegel. Several winners - have, been bred at this stud, includino- ■ the speedy Rex and Miss Nelson ° 1 At Papakura Mr W. 'Walters has a * select stud, and he boasts of owning -. a St. Simon stallion named Soult. im- ; ported from England. Mr Walter"' ' during the last fifteen years has bred a number of winners, including Sword--1 fish, Ivingfish. Matchlock, Piscatori- 1 ' ous, Foul Shot, Doris, Libeller,'and ? others.. ...--...-; - Major George does not breed for i sale, but he has a select little stud at 5 Wapiti, Epsom, where is also located 1 Nelson, who won so many races while i on the turf. „«____„__„_