SPORTING ITEMS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9278, 2 December 1895, Page 2

SPORTING ITEMS.

"Weekly Preee and Referee."

(The Artist protest case, the particulars of which have been fully detailed by us, was settled by the Canterbury Jockey Club disallowing the objection lodged by the owner of Skirmisher. In the face of certain sworn declarations there was no alternative, no matter what individual opinions might be, but to dismiss the protest. However, the case will serve to act as a warning to those who " dabble" in racehorse ownership and, we hope, have a good effect. Clubs have a duty to the public to perform in these matters, and the <?anterbury Jockey Club in their efforts to do justice to all have no doubt come to the conclusion they only reasonably could under the circumstances. Mam' supporters of Skirmisher felt confident that The Artist could not get the stake, but they will, wehave no doubt, now feelsatisfiedthnt, though it may appeav hard to them that the claim of the owner of the former horse could not be substantiated, the case was gone into thoroughly and dealt with on its merits by a body of gentlemen who " know what's what."

Whilb it may be paid, and with much argumentative force, that a country ran become Haturated with thoroughbred blood of a particular and favourite kind, Traducer and Musket only having to be named so far as New Zealand is concerned, there can be no doubt that the successful strains are highly prized. Traducer's value was not properly assessed till too late, and most of hie best sons were allowed to leave the colony. Some of the best of Musket's sons have gone to other lands simply becauee our leading stud-masters have been outbid for their possession, or been tempted by the high prices to sell. When Nordenfeldt was sold at the breaking-up of the Sylvia Park Stud for 5600g5, that price was by many considered large, and it certainly was the largest ever offered or realised at auction in the colonies. At the sale of horses on behalf of winners in the St. Albans lottery, the big sum of 7000gs was offered for Trenton, by Musket—Frailty, and refused, which goes to show that there are etill men of heavy metal who greatly prize successful blood, and others again who value it more highly than gold—filthy lucre if you will. What changes do a few years bring forth. Musket, condemned to be shot but saved through the intervention of his trainer ; raced with success, and then leased for life for an insignificant lump sum of £500, and to turn out one of the greatest stud successes over known I Frailty, picked up almost by accident by her present owner, the Wellington Stud master, Mr Morrin, for somewhere in the region of lOOgs, and the pair to be mated and leave such high-class horses as Trenton, Cuirassier &c. ! What mines of wealth both those great equine individuals have proved ! Musket improved whatever he touched, all kinds of mares leaving good performers by him, while Frailty was not only successful when mated to Musket but when tried with his son Nordenfeldt and with Anteroa, the latter being the sire of Niagara, who is also leaving winners.

Apropos of the above we are reminded that the annual Bale of the Wellington Park yearlings is approaching, and that the catalogue will be one of the most attractive that has ever been presented to the racing public of this colony. The advertisement which appears in this issue sets forth that there are this year thirty-five lots to be sold, and, according to Mr Motrin's usual practice, without reserve. There are ten of the gets of Trenton's Ml brother, Cuirassier, tea lots by the great St. Leger, nine by the imported Castor; five by Hotchkiss, and one by Brigadier. We find plenty of the best of Musket blood intermingled either through the sires, Cuirassier, Hotchkisa and Brigadier, or through dams which were mated with St. Leger and Castor, and, though there is always a cry in thie oolony of lack of money for the purchase of thoroughbred stock, we fully expect that the Wellington Park sale of yearlings for 1896 will rank amongst the successful ones/of the post. Winner-producing sires and dome, full sisters and full brothers, and others closely related to the best of performers will command attention, and there are more racing men than ever to absorb the whole of Mr Motrin's choicest lots, if not at "boom prices, at least at such values, as phould amply repay their breeder. We look forward at any rate to a successful sale.