THE WAIKANAE STUD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1032, 23 January 1911, Page 7

THE WAIKANAE STUD.

YEABLING SALE ON TUESDAY. ] In view of the annual c-als of Waikanao i yearlings to-morrow afternoon, the fol* 1 lowing from the pen of "Pctronel" in the . "lleferea" should be interesting:— , < One can always spend a honpy day in i tho company of young.thoroughbreds, and i the day may bo all tho happier if the : country surrounding the stud farm one is i visiting has those ehariniug _ attributes < which Nature so bouutifully dispenses in ( New Zealand. Wellington Park has its ! ineffaceable memories, Eldcrslio in natural beauty and liictoric rccolleetiou-j, i Burnside alreadv has its beauteous rose i garden to fix it in the memory, apart i from being the homo of several honour* i ed members of the Stud Book, and one of ] our newest ctuds, Waikanae, has' charms , peculiarly iu> own. Sheltorcd on threes i sides by thickly wooded hili.i, it comprises 1 somo three hundred and fifty acrcs of i good laud that will grow anything. There . is always an abundance of excellent feed, 1 and every paddock has ; a < capital supply i of ruuniug water. From tho scenic point 1 of view, Mr. Lan Duncan's Stud Fami is delightfully situated. In tho background is tho lovely bush, and tho 'well-grasegd paddocks away to tho boundless blue of tho ocean. Kapiti Island, the sanctuary , of. native birds, w immediately in tho forefront, and on a clear day the lulls ot j the South Island rise up out of tho mists of the , sea. very often one cau see the snow-capped J'ount Egmont, and away to ■ the right of the sea frontage Ruapehu is , frequently visible.. And. last, but- not least, there is the pretty river, which affords some of the best fly-fishing in tho country. . , Mr. Duncan has had throe tales of yearlings bred at Waikanae. " At the first sale , his average price was, in round figures, 120 , guineas, at the second 130 < guineas, and last January tho average price of tho youngsters was 220 guineas. That is progress if you liko; but I feel pretty confident that i with ordinary luck between tho present ! time and the day of tho next sale, tho 1 average of the present yearlings will again show a rise. slr. Duncan's policy has been ,to procure the beg-t young mares, available, and he has had a hand in importing . some of the best bred, stallions that ever • oame to . Australasia. Kilcheran, by the St. Leger winner Kilwarlin from tho Galopin maro Emita,-was a really good horse, and it was a loss to New Zealand when # he was accidentally killed before h? had time to prove hie real worth. St. Ambrose, by St. Simon, wan another well-bred siro, aud I in Bezonian the stild has a hor-e whoso 1 pedigree literally - flows' over with classic ' winners, and is one that Uruee Lowo. enthusiasts positively enthuse about. And with reason, for tho sixty-three sires represented in th'» first six removes of his pedigree includo seventeen sire number horEes, nineteen racing number horses, while the sire and Tacing family of first : cxccllencc —Number 3—figures no fewer than I fourteen times. And in the remainder, tho 1 thirteen "outside" numbers, are such horse 3 in Donovan, Hampton, Sweetmeat, Beadsman, -Blair" Athol', Pantaloon, vedette, and The Baron. Bezonian is a Number 1. horse, and is half-brothsr to Cicero, winner of. the Derby, and his dam, Gas-half-sister to Ladas and Chclandry, dam of Neil Gow, this year's Two Thourand winner—is th* grand-daughter of Paraffin, whose female descendants havo been, and arc, in such great demand in England. Then,, in addition to hia'family credentials, Bezonian was a really good racehorfo. Ho was second in tho Two Thousand to Slievo Galleon, third in several highly-important raccc, and was.fourth in tho Derby. Wh?n • he- won ho- beat some of tho best cf his year, including the'notable Galvani, and with ono or two out of tho way would have been enrolled among tho great winners of tho past. Of Achillea, I am bound to speak with great respect. As I havo written before, so I say again, all New Zcalanders know Achilles by heart. They know...what a . great racehorso ho was, and ; L dar-o say ' there arc few breeders iu tho country" win") would not select him on his finality, his conformation, and his strength,, aud for his supremo-intelligence afka'-mdst.ilikcly i prqgenitor of first-clara racehorses. I ussd .words much like these long,-long ago, before ever an Achillas foal was: born. I admired , his first and yccond crops, and having seen bis-third season-foals, I feel sure Achilles is destined to fill a nieho of famo in New Zealand stud history. So far Peirene is tho only Achilles to raco in New Zealand. 'Sho has won twice, and has been third in her two other essays, carrying tho 101b. penalty into that position in the Canterbury Wclcomc Stakes. At tho time of writing Peirene's prospects in -the .Great Autumn Foal Stakes are much. discussed, and if she should win that race, tho famo of her sire will be more enhanced. i The marcs at Waikanae have been gathored together regardless of expenno and trouble, and to-day Mr. Duncan undoubtedly has a very fine clioicc collection. Hero is a !!ct, of' names that* will show the prospect of tho- future:—Blu?water 3," by St.* Leger from Sapphire. Blucwater' is. half-sister to Blucfirc, Hasinlicher, and Phaeton, r.nd has already given..us Submarine and Peirene. Lady Helen is by St. Leger from Ouida,' and is therefore halfsister to Artillery, Hilda,' Strathmore, and Novelette 11. Sho ha-: produced winners in llcriwa and Lady Itcina. Stppina 24\ by Stspniak from Glorvina. is a young maro whose first produce will be sold next month. This in a colt by Achilles, of whom I shall have something to say later ou. Another young mare is Prelude, by Merrie England from Prologue, a descendant of tho great Rosebud family. Prelude is the dam of Killaloo,'who won a couplo of raccs at Wairarapa last season : in good style. Strathspey 5, by Gipsy Grand from Keel, by Medallion from Menschikoff's dam,. Pibroch, is a mare from whom much is expected. Success, by The Officer from Content, is the dam of the Great Northern Derby winner Kilwinning. Bulbul 2, by Sir Lancelot from Orientale.. is a three-auarter cister to Daunt ' and Dauntless, and her dam come-; from a family of stayers. Ngaio if? a full-sister to Tortulla, and Marseillaise 2 is a full-stater to that fast horse Lord Soult. Snowstell 14 is by Clauranald' from Safoguard. and is. therefore, own sister to these brilliant horses, Fleetfoot, Broadsword, and Stronghold. Bellicent 17, by Maxim from Enid, is well known as the dam of that great filly Isolt, and Miss Phyllis 21, by Multiform from Malster'e half-sister Barley Brce, is a-young mare belonging to an illustrious family. Rumour, by Eiridspord from Elcusis, is the dam of that, first-class colt Polymorphous, and her daughter. Chinwa-g, by Finland, is-also at Waikanae. Happy Land, the dam of Hova, is well represented at this stud, for Eden, by Stcpniak—Far Away, her full-sister Two Step—her yearling prico was 520 guineac—and Angole, by Multiform from Happy Valley, by Wallace from Far Away, arc among tho marcs roaming the grajsy slopes. Mr. Duncan hao several young Birkenhead mares, among them Bcrceusc from Lullaby, by Apromont from Hammock, the dam of Siosta, Somnus, Sommeil, and Reverie, and ancestress of such modern celebrities as Day. Dream, Dreamland, Cono.ueror, Dundas, Welbeck, Buccleuch, Elytian, and Kilwinning; Vicc-Rcine, half-sister to Roselle from Roie, tho own sieter to St. Hippo, the only horse who so far has wou tlio New Zealand and Auckland Cups in one reason: and Aideen from Mount Ida, own sister to Enid, and dam of Ideal. Curfew Bell, by Bill of Portland from Wild Rose, by Newminster from Primrose—sister in blood to Frailty—by Goldsbrough, has two of her daughters by Multiform at Waikanao in Sweet Angelus and Vesper Bell. Another nice young mare is Lace Collar, by Menschikofif from Armilla's sister Cr.etorlace. This descendant of the great Locket is. therefore, a cifcter in blood to Armlet. Tortulla, dam of Diabolo, winner of the Canterbury Cup, is an. honoured member of tho stud, which also contains Purity, by The Officer from Enid, whose daughter, Masonic, and son, True Knight, have won several races; Ismene, by Dreadnought from Marion, and winner of tho Canterbury Oaks; nnd Faux Pa?, by Stcpniak from Mist. Mist is a full-sister to Pampero, and Faux Pas is a sister to that wellknown performer Vladimir. The foalings for the pref-ent season may be of interest, and. therefore. £ m'jy say here that Lady, Helen, Report, . Stepina, ' Strathspey, Marseillaise, and Kitchenmaid havo colts by Achilles; Ekatorinl Passeropoulo. and Mayhan. colts by Vasco: Rumour, a colt by Sir Laddo: and Miss Phyllis, a colt by Bezonian. Prelude, Chinwag, Bulbul, and Tortulla have fillie:? by Achilles; Faux Pas, a filly by Martian: Angele, a filly by Charlemagne II; and Chainstitcli and Blucwater have fillies by Bezonian. At the time of my visit to the , stud last week. Bellicer.t had yet to foal * to Aebillns. Both Achillea nnd Bezonian } have had good patronuro froni ( outside • owners this t>ca«on. With Achilles My. , Duncan has' mated tho following of hi:i own mares:—Chinwag, Sutisfaire, Purity, . Rumour, Ladv Helen, Berceuse. Tortulla, Marseillaise, Bluewnter, Sweet Angclu.i.ht. » Ambrose—Success filly, Chainstiteh. .Mar--1 inct, Bulbul, Kitchenmaid, r::d Papbn. Bezonian has been mntcd with Rcnort, Stepina, Prelude, Faux Pa?. Lady Principal. Strnthspey, and Miss Phyllis, whs!'; Mr. Duncan hay mmU mare;; to other stallions as under:—To Martian. Success, Two Step. Snowstell. nnd Vesper Bell. To Vasco; Ekatcrini Passeropoulo, and May- , hap. To Varco: Verve, Pieretle. nnd Ncaio. 2 To Signor: Ismene. To Downshiro: Angele. To Charlemagne II: Snun Gold. Eden. Vicc-Rcine, Lace Collar, Aideen, and Monirdo. Walking round tho paddocks on Wedn nesday lart with Andrew Cochran, we fell to wondering how many yearling.? wo had » looked over together. Thovo were many years at Wellington Park, some s*ason3_

Nt Gra-sslea, when Cochran was ctud groom for Mr. Stead, and in cach of the years tlio WaiUanao Stud has been established Coch.ran ha? bwn my uilot at- sonic time or another. Generally my visits to waikanae have not been so near the pale time; but first impressions have not oiteu been falsified by subsequent events., A foal of promise, I believe, invariably stamps itself in one's memory, and with all tho luck so necessary in rearing a ff-ai to yearling stago, the first impression will but seldom prove to be absolutely incorrect-. I first saw the present yearlings eight months ago, and 1 say boldly thai their promise has been abundantly borua out, and that Mr. Duncan should be woll tatisfied when his youngsters arc icq into the riug on January 24., The Achillea-* Chainstitch filly was the first to have tho lead on. She is one of the youngest o A the lot, having been foaled on December 2, but though sho may not have all the sizo of some of her .mates, she is .a nicelyturned filly, showing plenty of strength and substance, and she has heaps of quality. She walks well and covers lot of ground. This filly's relative#, Tea Tahi and Pytchley. have won man.v r&ces, and her own promise will-certainly tend to attract buyers. Prcludo'u daughter by Achilles is a charming filly, showing a. lot of power and substance. She has a fine shoulder, and her Quarters should eatisfy the most exacting claimant for "pronell. ing power behind." Like all AehilJea's stock, tho filly walks grandly, and she can stretch* out with the best in the pad-, dock. Prolude- was a very smart per- 1 former herself, and her son, Killaloo. by Kilcheran. proved that he inherited hi* dam's .brilliance. Tho Soult mare Marseillaise is represented by a vorv taking filly by Achilles. She is a bay, with star and snip, with some white oil her near forefoot and off hindfoot. . nor quality is excellent, and in size and apparent strength, and make and shape she holds, tho eye a long time. I have never yet wen au Achilles but with very sound legs and feet, and this filly is good from head to heel. Her dam's family is noted for speed, and this filly promises to/keep up the tradition. The Charlemagne ll—Miss PhylliG filly is a very well-turned youngster, but sho docs not show quite the same amount of power and substance as some of the other Charlcmasnes I have 80311., She is a first.foal, and as her dam is half-sister •to - the all-conquering Malr.ter, she must be viluiblc for stud purposes when her fay are done. One sweetest fillies at tho stud is the daughter of MultificU and Snowstell—full sister to those brilliant ones Fleetfoot, Broadsword, and Stronghold. She is a, blood bay, with black points, and all over, is a model for size. Mrongth, and beauty .of conformation. I did not see this filly galloping, but Cochran told me she was one of the fastest in the 'paddock, and I do not think anyone will doubt this statement when they see her walking in the sale-ring. Altogether, this is a beautiful filly. The Kilcheran—Success filly is the biggest of the lot. This sister to Kilwinning has .a big blaze and three white stockings. She is powerful all over, and her legs are strong enough and to snare to bear their' substantial burden. This filly is one that may not come to hand .quickly, but she has size and scope enough to develop into a really flno three-year-old.. Peirene's full sister i 3 a- beautiful'filly, and, as I imagined she would wheu'l-saw licr in April,'she has grown into a much handsomer filly than her sister was as a yearling. She is slightly darker in colour-than Peircne, but has', the same marking*. Peircne was a trifle calf-kneed as a yearliug, but this filly's legs are as straight as you like, and she is a better bodied filly than Mr. Greenwood's two-year-old.- • As. a yearling- Peircne sold for 1 <00 guineas. would- not be surprised if her. sister realises nearly twice as much. Another very nice fi!!y is the brown daughter of Kilcheran and 1 Moreze. She has plenty of rubstancc and power, and is big enough for anything. Like all the others, she is a very attrnc- : tivc mover,. . . '

The Achilles—Strathspey colt is now a very handsome colt of first-class rizc. 110 is very powerfully built, and has lots of liberty. He taked a very'low: stride when walking, and. though occasionally z lazy mover in the paddock tamper!;, ihorc are times when he'takes it into hi.s head to go. and then he leads the band. He in certainly a. Rood' advertisement for liin sire and dam. and he looks as if he should turn out a good stayer. On family line 3 lie certainly ought to stay. The Achilles— Stepina colt: is-a bay. with a blazo and three white* socks.' Jfe is-built' 011 most. 1 admirable lines, is full -of duality,-.is cspccially' strong 'in-loin and back. haa. 'great quarters, and i« truly one of the most attractive yearlings of the season. He walks' well, and in his faster caccn moves liko. a racehorse. lie is a model of symmetry, and if there is .money about at the-time of the-sale, it will take a lot ..to buy, him.. A fine, powerful, chestnut colt is; the son of S.vlvia Park and Nijaio— 'the own sister to Tortulla. In make and shape he is very good and his lees and feet arc. capital. Sylvia, Park has trot a udrgcnnumber -of winners, and as Neaio herself won races, the outlook for this colt is decidedly, hopeful.. The Charlemagne ll—Lady , Helen colt has much of his sires substance and quality, no h very - shapely.' and is one of tho 'fastest yearlings in tho paddock. His dam is half, sister .'to Artillery.-Hilda, Strathmore. and Novelette 11. . Cochran sees in; this colt an extraordinary resemblance to Strathmore, but claims that the yearling is 1 much better bodiod youngster, lie mitrht easily turn out a. great racfcr. The lost of the yearlings'l-saw wasVthe colt by Achilles from Bellicent. • This half-brother to Isolt is as neatly made as you can get them, but though he has Quality,* strength, t and galloping ability, he is lacking in size. . He may excced pony height, or ho may not, but I am sure he will be able'-to gallop.