ROUND THE STABLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8020, 6 August 1887, Page 6

ROUND THE STABLES.

[by phakton.]

Having a few hours' leisuro on Thursday last, I decidod on a ramble to Ellerelie, and after a stroll round the raceconree, which, by the way, wore quite a deserted appearance so far as horses wero concerned, I wended my way to the quiet retreat where the veteran Chaafe holds away. One invariably receives suoh a warm-hearted welcome on putting in an appearanoe there that a task resolvoa itself into a pleasure-, and my reception on Thursday last wae no exception to the rule In this respect. I found my old friend at home, and I need soarcely aay that it wae not loi>g before we wero engaged in fighting over tho hiatory of past equine battles, and alto those in prospective during the coming season. Aβ we stand merrily chatting on these matters by the fenco, Dorringor, who is cutting up pranks in the most lively manner in a paddock close by, claims our attention, and Chaafe inritxs me over to have a look at him. "There he is," quoth the veteran, and a more genuine little fellow I nover had through my hands." If ho really accomplished alt in private his trainer credits him with, then, indcoil, has hiu party been most unfortunate. Prior to tho Derby won by Foal Shot, Chaafe eays the little fellow ran tho mile and a half for him on a course topdressed nearly three parts round in 2.43, and after cleaning out three horses in a trial over the Cup journey last summer in tho dark, he yot home in 44. Well do I remember Chasfe telling me, as the saddling bell rang out its chime for the horsea to go to the poet for tho last-mentioned race, not to leave the "little black fellow " out of my calculations, but we all know how badly he cut up in that race. Whether he will ever stand another preparation is extremely doubtful, for the euspunfory ligament is gone in one lei*, and the back tendon in the other. Ho has grown into a very handsome little horse, and should make a capital sire for a oountry district. Coming back to the stables we found Howitzer also enjoying his otium cum dig. This colt is one of the shapeliest little fellows that one could \Vish to look over, and, considering the blue blood coursing in hie veins, it does seem strange that he was :aot endowed with a greater daeh of foot. He, too, has been wrong in one of his fore legs, but Chaafe has every hope of him standing another preparation. Wo now betake ourselves to the stablee, and the first I am called on to pay my respects to is good old Necklace. After going amiee prior to the Auckland Cup last year, the daughter of Musket was sent to King Cole, to whom it was thought, up to a fortnight back, she had missed, but, I am gl&d to state, there now seems a reasonable hope of her proving in foal. While running loose at Meadow Bank & few months baok the mare mot with a curious miah&p, which to this day remains unexplained. She had been seen to all right the night previous, but on one of tho attendants proceeding to the paddock next morning, he found tho mare with a gaping wound on her off hind quarter fully twelve inches in length and three inches deep. Various havo been thn surmises as to how she came by the injury, but tho matter Is still shrouded in mystery. Should the ware not prove in foal, it in Chaafe's intention to again make an effort to get her to the poet, and as she is an easy one to train he may prove Buccesaful, though ib eeeine almost a forlorn hope. Rataplan, the twoyearold half-brother to Nelson, I found in the next box, and from the eatin-like look of his rich chestnut coat, it was not hard to discover that Chaafe has not allowed him to eat the bread of idleness. The gets of Leolinua are never very taking looking animals, and this youug gentleman with his great lop ears and slablike appearance does not certainly create a very favourable impression. Still,, age will, I opine, do a lot for him, and with a good sen of legs to recommend him the money spent in his purchase may not havo been thrown away. The Musket—Stbppe colt Tartan was the subject of our next interview. He, too, Chaafe has evidently been most busy with, and his brown coat neatly besprinkled with grey hairs betokened a forward state. He has scarcely furnished so much as I should have liked, but, taking him altogether, he is one of the most promising youngsters about this season. Turquoise, looking as lively as a kitten, was the occupant of the next box. The old eon of Tubal Cain looked remarkably well, and from what Chaate let drop hin figuring amongst the acceptors tor the New Zealand Cup may, I think, be regarded aa a certainty. Tho eplit hoof whioh ho suffered from last soation has healed up nicely, and in a month or so will have grown completely out. Bangle is another that Chaafo has been very industrious with, and she looked the very pioture of health. To look at her, and then at her mater Nocklaoe, one oould never take them for sisters, aa in no part of their conformation do they resemble each other. Bangle takes somewhat after her brother Thunderbolt, and gives one the opinion of being quite an slippery, but whether she will dovolop into the stayer Necklace was is as yet a matter of oonjeotare. Gannon was comfortably quartered in his box ; but the grey fraud has never been a fanny of mine, and therefore I was not sorry when the short interview between Uβ was brought to aolose. A quiot ohat with " Old John" in the cosy parlour at tho Ellerelie Hotel, brings my visit to a close; and, aa the "Government screamer" rushes into the station to transport me back to town, I feel that my sojourn at Ellerslio has been all too short.