THE HOME OF ST. PAUL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 160, 8 July 1899, Page 3

THE HOME OF ST. PAUL.

A VISIT TO J. CHAAFE'S TRAINING

ESTABLISHMENT

Among Auckland trainers none is more popular than John Chaafe, and in the winter season it is always with pleasure that I pay a visit to his training establishment. Father Time has been kind to the veteran, and to my eyes he looks no older than he did when I saw him lead in Trenton, the winner of the A.R.C. Welcome Stakes at Ellerslie, sixteen years ago. It is pleasing to be able to record that Chaafe has his old love St. Pail.aud a decent string under his care just now, and one of his patrons is that straight going owner Mr John Marshall, whose colours may long be sported on our racecourse. When I looked Chaafe up on Thursday afternoon he gave me a hearty welcome, and we first looked over in i paddock Mr Marshall's brood mare Coalscuttle. She is looking a picture }f health, and this year she is in foal to Soult. In producing Auld Reekie, the mare has shown that she can get winners, and it will be interesting to see the result of her mating with Mr fV. Walter's St. Simon horse. Running in the same paddock for tier afternoon spell was a coming two-year-old pretty filly named Baloiruie, got by St. Leger *r m Coalscuttle. She is chestnut in colour and is marked with a blaze on her forebiead and one white hind foot. This fitly dees not stand high from the ground, but nevertheless she is wellauilt, and all over she possesses racing points. I should say she will come to tiand early. The disappointing gelding Cannon-g-ate was also enjoying himself in a paddock. He has been troubled with influenza of late, but he is pretty well aver it now. A short time ago he was popped over some hurdles and he negotiated them so well, that when he becomes thoroughly convalescent he will be given a trial at the illegitimate frame. Cannongate has not won a race since he brought off the surprise in. the spring of last year, when he annexed the Ellerslie Handicap, and paid a dividend of £81 4/. He is not - good horse at the starting ..ost, and several times during the past season when he was thought to have excellent prospects of winning he got charge of the boys and ran through the tapes. At the stable the first box I entered was that of St. Peter. This colt has been unfortunate since the time he was first put in training, and he has really not had a chance yet to prove bis real worth. Last season, first he commenced growing, too fast, and: then he was attacked with cold, but' lespite all this he managed to pick up ■ a race in the summer, when he won the Sylvia Handicap. He then showed that his heart is in the right place." During the recent influenza epidemic ' it Ellerslie, St. Peter again fell a vie-. Tim to its effects, and he is really only | now getting over it. Of course with this handicap he is looking light on ■ it just now, but when he gets built up ! again I think he will be found capable ot doing something worthy of his parentage. "What do you think of him?" said ' .haafe with a merry twinkle in his rye when we entered the box of St I r-aul. The popular little racehorse is .'igorous and healthy in appearance, I md just in nice condition to enter on ; lis preparation. He has grown up a little in the wither, aud he is ear- : fying a good barrel, but otherwise I ! see little alteration in the compact .on of St. Leger since he was last seen 3Ut in public. One of his forelegs is - bit thick, but his two hiud legs which were unsound look quite callous. Whether he will, stand up to a strong two mile preparation is for time to prove, but one thing can be said—it will not be the fault of his faithful mentor if he does not get him to the post. St. Paul commenced his preparation in earnest this week on the racecourse, and he looked in appearance as active and light hearted is ever he was. Of course during his retirement he got a lot of exercise iaily, for in the paddock he always took full advantage of his liberty. St. Paul has won the Avondale Cup two years in suecessiou, cantering in with 10/8 last spring, and perhaps we may see him out again in the next contest. St. Ursula, who claims engagement at the Wellington Winter Meeting, has been kept going since the National Meeting at Ellerslie. She looks in tip top trim, and bears the mark _f having had a first class preparation. During the season St. Ursula has run well, and I expect to see her yet win some important handicaps. What a big fine mare Auld Reekie has grown into. Her conformation is a, credit to her sire Cuirassier, and her dam Coalscuttle. -The Musket blood in her veins comes out in the shape '■ of bone and substance, and if she goes on improving as she has done of late she will be a very handsome specimen of the eqine. Her trainer has kept her in work all through the winter period. Next I was introduced to the coming two-year-old filly St. Olga, a full sister to St. Paul, who was being indulged'in her afternoon run. A sweet and smart-looking filly she is too, showing plenty of length and quality. She too had a slight touch of influenza. When this young lady has a bit of age on her she should develop into a big mare. It1 is only lately she has been broken in and ridden, but she now handles herself like an old stager. The useful Partan Jeannie also occupies a box at Chaafe's, and it can be safely said that nothing in the stable is wintering better. She is hardy and weil. . Another coming two-year-old m tne stable is a big unstanding bay gelding got by Seaton Delaval from Leocant by Leolinus out of Cantimere, by Musket, and he is certainly a credit to his sire. He is a fine strong fellow, possessing great substance and magnificent quarters. Chaafe is oreatly in love with him and he says that he is not only good tempered, but that Qic moves like an old horse m his work. Mr Marshall secured this colt at Messrs Nathan's last, yearling sac for lOOgs., and since being in his hands he very sensibly got him gelded. He should mature into a very fine specimen of the-thoroughbred. This concluded my inspection, and af+er a cfeat about old times when Chaafe trained the great TTenton, Krupp, Woodnymph, and Co., I made my way to the racecourse, which. Mr Hill has got in capital trim. The grass has been closely cut in the enclpure, and it looked quite a -picture despite the frown of a cloudy sky.