MR GOLLAN'S HORSES IN ENGLAND.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9361, 10 March 1896, Page 3

MR GOLLAN'S HORSES IN ENGLAND.

Our London correspondent writes with reference to the form of Norton and Ebor :— Both ran well enough to give them a chance of paying their way. Most people were surprised to see the game clean way in which Norton took his fences in the New Year's Handicap Steeplechase, over two miles. Both horse and rider appeared to be quite at home. Norton will, I think from this performance, win a good race, but I doubt whether he will be well enough to win a Grand National. Mr Gollan deserves the best of luck for his enterprise in bringing over these horses, and I shall certainly have a trifle on Norton at Liverpool as he is such a good fencer.

The following references to the opening eesays of Norton and Ebor in the Old Country, fully reported in our last issue, are by the various writers in the London Sportsman :—The most interesting feature of Lingfield was the running of the two Australasian horses, Norton and Ebor, and seeing that they were most properly given big weigh tspending such time as their form can be gauged, they ran very respectably, and were, at any rate, by no means disgraced. It is not easy to believe, however, that aged horses who have been accustomed to the po3t and rails and other unyielding obstacles of Australian courses will readily fall into the style of jumping that is needed here, and one would almost wish that the enterprising owner had brought with him some younger samples of colonial bloodstock so as to give Swatton a chance to school them earlier and develop their best qualities with a special view to our courses. It may be, of course, that the old horses will adapt themselves to the changed circumstances, but it is obvious that with younger ones a trainer would have a better chance.

More than passing interest attached to the New Year Handicap Steeplechase, in consequence of a party of nine, including Norton, who was bred in New Zealand and joined the Alresford stable last autumn. Although not a horse of much power he is a splendid fencer and ran well into the bargain considering the lump of weight he had to give away For the Yuletide Hurdle Handicap, of the joint topwcights, Gfimpo and Ebor, the latter, bred in Australia, had been sent to England, together with Norton. He is a horse of size and quality, and cannot hs said to have disgraced, himself, although finishing a step farther from the winner than did his fellow traveller just referred to A feature of the successful gathering at Lingfield Park was the first appearance of the New Zealand jumpers, Norton and Ebor. So soon after their long journey from the opposite side of the globe, they could hardly be expected to be at their best. They are both fine jumpers, and will surely win races later. James Hickey, who rode them, has won many races in. the Antipodes, amongst others the New Zealand Grand National, four miles. Noticing his name, it occurred to mc he might possibly be an Irishman, and inquiry elicited that he is a native of Belfast. He seemed much pleased with his first experiences of riding in England.

" Range? , ," in the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic Neict, says : —The handicappers having apparently, in the opinion of the owner, taken too exalted- a view of the capabilities of Mr Gollan's New Zealanders, the following notification has appeared this weet under the heading of official scratchings : —Norton and-Eborout of all handicaps for which weights have appeared." Both animals ran last Friday at JL.ingfi.eld, being in each case allotted top v/eight, as is customary wnere horses make their first appearance under N.H. rales in a handicap. Norton ran into third place in the Ivew Year's Handicap Steeplechase. He is. a,very fine jumper, and when he meets a field on easier terms than he did here, as he will do next time he performs in public, may very likely go up hisfher, especially if the race is run over a longer distance. Ebor, who performed over hurdles, being just beaten out of a place in the Yuletide Handicap, is a crack Australian hurdle racer, and a better looking animal than the average run of Walers. He is a big bay nine-year-old gelding. He ran well, and when he gets a better,chance will no doubt do better still."

The Field says:—Additional interest was lent to the racing by the appearance of Ebor and Norton, two Austoalian horses, the former of whom holds most respectable credentials over hurdles, while Norton lias successfully carried big weights over fences in New Zealand. Arriving in England only a few weeks ago, it was scarcely, to be expected thafc they would show" to much advantage, but, after all, the visitors acquitted themselves creditably. . .... . After Norton had done a satisfactory preliminary, a few investments were made for the Maorilander down to 3 to 1.

Referring to the prospects of the Liverpool Grand National "Magnet," a wellknown writer in the Sporting and Dramatic Neu>s, said:—An exceedingly important element is introduced into the competition for the highest cross-country honours this time by reason of the presence of the imported Australian champion steeplechaser, Norton, who has been located for some months at Swatton's establishment, at Alresford, which is under the personal supervision of that experienced gentleman in all matters associated with cross-country racing, Mr Arthur Yates. Norton made an exceedingly creditable first appearance as a steeplechaser in this country last week at the Lingfield Meeting, highest impost, he finished third to Witch of Endor and Skipper for the New Year's Handicap Steeplechase, conceding the pair a lot of weight. Norton, who was bred in. New Zealand, is a fine upstanding chestnut horse, and fully sustained his Antipodean reputation as being a real good chaser, for a finer fencer never looked through a bridle, and when he is thoroughly wound up, he will indeed be worthy to rank with the very best who have ever competed for the crosscountry Blue Riband over the famous Aintree course, near Liverpool. It will be interesting to see how the handicapper will deal with Norton, but I sincerely hope he will not be crushed out. of it by having an overwhelming burden allotted to him, as his owner, Mr S. H. Gollan, who has made himself extremely popular and is a rare good all-round sportsman, deserves every credit for his pluck,and enterprise in bringing his great horse such an immense dutanee to tackle irtu on our owa.

ground. Another exceedingly smart jumper also accompanied Norton from the other side Of the globe, or I am very much mistaken. I refer to Ebor, a son of the Australian sire Robert the Devil, who took part in the Yuletide Hurdle Handicap at Lingtield last Friday, and both of our friendly invaders will, I feel convinced, render a good account of themselves, but Ebor is not entered for the Grand National. When the weights are published, which will probably be in about a fortnight, the great cross-country race will quickly become a subject of increased controversy, but in the meantime it is gratifying to record the fact that horses in training, of all degrees, have never been known to be. in such splendid health and forward condition at this particular period of the year. Such a gratifying circumstance in itself is sufficient to justify mc in saying that the year on which we have just entered will be one of the most memorable in the annals of racing of the

century. Man of the World says in referring to Grand National prospects :—The New Zealander, Norton, ran fairly well last week, but is hardly fast enough for "this side."

TUFTS OF TURF.

[Bt the Editobial Scissors.]

" A Breeder," a well-known London writer on " The Turf and the Stud " says:— I see from Hone and Hound that Trenton, who is advertised as being the most successful Musket stallion in the world is to stand next year at the Cobham Stud at a fee of 100 guineas. . . . The prestige of a stud, however, is everything, as the smaller breeders have been made to feel to their cost, and buyers will readily give the Duke of Portland 200 guineas for what- they could get elsewhere, and better, for 100 guineas or less. There must, however, be something in the first place to create prestige, and the law of supply and demand prevails here the same as in other tilings. A noted house can always get more for its goods than one that is not noted, though the goods may perhaps be the . same. Fortnum and Mason and Morel, for instance, can charge what they like for their things, and we pay it. We grumble perhaps at the price, but we content ourselves by saying that we know that the articles are good. It is because the Duke of Portland has bred so many winners that people are ready to give an exorbitant price for his sires and their stock. When equal success has been obtained by the Cobham Stud a big premium will be paid there also. Trenton, it is true, enjoys the reputation of being the crack sire of Australia, only a few of the stock of Carbine having been seen when that celebrity was secured by the Duke of Portland and sent to England. Much as I may admire Carbine and his blood, I am not certain that if I had a mare that the blood suited, and his Grace were to offer mc a free jump, which I am afraid he is not likely to do, to Carbine or St. Serf, making my own choice, I should not take St. Serf, though he covers at the lower fee. . . Trenton is certainly the most stoutly bred horse at the stud. Coming from Musket on his sire's side and Fisherman on his dam's, we have at once two of the best long-distance runners ever seen in this country—Fisherman especially so.

We (London Sportsman) hear that an Australian-bred filly, by name Pet Girl, is on its way to this country from Melbourne, by the steamship Wooloomooloo. Her destination ia Welbeck.

Writing of a visit to the Linwood Grange stud farm, " Terlinga," in the Australasian has this to say in regard to some of the animals he saw :—Enfilade, by Musket from Onyx, and consequently full brother to Nordenfeldt, is young at the stud, and at first his prospects were not of the brightest, but each year sees an improvement in his foals, and some of the yearlings to be sent up by Mr Smith next month will be a revelation. They are great fine colts, with any amount of bone, and look fit for anything. Enfilade is gradually filling out into a very fine horse, but there is more of the Fisherman than the Musket style about him. A dark brown or black, standing over 16 hands, he possesses great length, good bone, a capital middle piece, and is a very bloodlike horse, but behind the saddle he is not a Musket. He does not possess that extraordinary development in the quarters and thighs which marks the average Musket. On the other hand, his stock should be much more durable than those of most Musket hoi'ses. ... Perhaps the nicest yearling of all is the chestnut colt out of Cypriote, by St. George from Idalia, by Cambuscan. A splendidly bred mare is Cypriote, and her colt is a gentleman from head to heel. Hβ is 'quite as well grown as Coil was, and standing over a lot of ground, is a sound wear-and-tear sort, just built to gallop. I should not wonder if he tops Mr Smith's sale, although he certainly is not the biggest of the lot." ■

The following are references made by the "Special Commissioner" of the London Sportsman to American-New Zealand horses in England:—Beyond all question, in my humble opinion, the horses now in Morton's charge comprise not a few high-class ones, and when Santa Anita is seen in public I shall ,be surprised if 'the critics have any fault to find with him. He is a powerful, deep-girthed, squarely-built bay, with white over his near hind fetlock. Sis back and quarters are models of muscular symmetry and strength, and with it all he shows abundant quality, and stands on excellent limbs. ■ What his form will turn out to be as Compared with our best horses no dne can at present foi'etell, but that he is a wholly superior clase of horse to any of last season's American contingent must be obvious to anyone with pretensions to form an opinion onthe subject. An American Derby winner, Santa Anita is a son of Cheviot (brother to Sir Modred), who was by Traducer, son" of The Libgl, so bslievers in Herod blood may, after all, have reason to congratulate themselves when the coming year's racing results —possibly even the Ascot Cup—have been recorded. Sir Excess, by Sir Modred out of Dixiana, i 3 a five-year-old who came over with Santa Anita. He is.a horse of perfect quality, a bay remarkable for his grand shoulders, length, and generally racing-like character. If this is not a good horse I shall be indeed surprised.

Saintly (by St. Simon out of Lonely), who won ,£7OIO in stakes in 1894, has arrived at the Cobhara Stud to be mated wi.'h Carnage —so says a London exchange to hand by the 'Frisco mail.

Says a London paper: —The Pioneer's "tipping " article on the Viceroy's Cup reminds us of a story told of Dr Shorthouse. Says the Pioneer : —" If Sprightly and Colleen Juna run themselvesout, then Blarney Stone and Fortunatriis may have a look in, provided always Sea View and Miss Mary are not near." The Shorthouse story is as follows : —In the early days of the Sporting Time* there was a considerable number of amateur prophets who wrote for the paper. One race was disastrous to the lot, and a Carshalton man, wishing to take a rise out of the doctor said : " Now, Doctor, I have got you. There, are six prophets on your paper, and here "is a race for which each gave a different tip, and not one of them named the winner, though there were only seven runners. What have you tosay to that?" The Doctor, rubbing his hands with glee, replied : '• It shows there's room for another propnet."

The " Special Commissioner" of the London Sportsman says:—The cry is still they come, and yet there is room for more. This observation refers to Musket horses, and I am able to state that one of them, named Derringer, reached England safely Irom New Zealand on January 23rd. I have not yet seen Derringer, but am told by a good judge, who went to meet him, that he is a really nice horse. He is twelve years old, by Musket, a good winner, and the sire of good winners; the restriction on his Australian season is attested by affidavit, and he is said to have landed in the very best of health.

In the early fifties Admiral—then Captain — -Rous wrote :—" With nine horses out of ten the whip and spurs are detrimental in a ' race. It may be considered a bad compli- ; ment to a jockey to ask him to ride without | them, because they are naturally considered ] an essential part of hie costume, and he is supposed to possess sufficient discretion not to make an unwise use of them. But a featherweight ought never to be allowed spurs; when the boy gets tired he hangs on by them. He should not have a whip unless ihe horse is a notorious slug, because when i his horse is in difficulties he is thrown off his , balance by using it, and he abandons his reins when, to use the common expression. *he ought to keep him fat bj the fe«*4,.'" ~J