NOTES BY PHAETON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14507, 22 October 1910, Page 9

NOTES BY PHAETON.

THE AUSTRALASIAN THOROUGHBRED. A WAIL is oft pu hoard tJiat eolonial-brcd horses havo deteriorated, and, with tho three-year-old form in Australia, this sett-;"on voted decidedly moderate. it was only to be expected that, something should lx> hoard at this stage 011 that much-debated subject. "Wo are gaining in pace through English importations, while tho good, hardy stayers of tho past arc disappearing," was tho summing up offered recently by a leading trainer in New South Wales, and that semis to tie the, general agreement in tho quarter of tho 'Commonwealth that is in the position to claim tl;o 'most extensive homes of tho thoroughbred tinder the Southern Cross. However much may bo written as to the wealth of high-class blood imported to Australasia during the past two decades, the fact cannot, be disputed that we do not now produce that hardy stamp that in tiroes past ■were found equal to undertaking' long-dis-tance racing season after season. To mention Carbino is, of course, to cite a horse that can only be expected once in a century—if then; but where are tho First Kings, Wellingtons, Commotions, Maluas, Mates, Nelsons( Abercorns, etc., in the present, day? Something can, no doubt, bo urged on the ground that the valuable prizes now offered for two-year-old races havo in many cases a disastrous effect, for owner'-, are thereby encouraged" to hurry youngsters into work, instead of allowing them to rest till three years old or over. But, even allowing for this unwise policy, we aro still confronted with the pointed fact that the number of true stayers annually produced is awfully small. There are years in the history of the thoroughbred that roach tho standard of greatness; others good, moderate, and bad. Tho first-named category will not, it would seem quite safe to , say, be applied to the Australasian turf this season ; and it may he that, when the season is through the summing up will be found as tho moderate standard. Australasia was never so richly placed in the matter of highclass blood as at the present time; and under such conditions it will bo passing strange if it. has to be. written that tho standard of the thoroughbred family raised in these climes deteriorated instead of improving. TIIE NEW ZEALAND CUP. A further payment in connection with tho New Zealand Cup fell due last night, and from the list appearing in another column it will be seen that 21 horses aro still engaged in the big Southern race. California having dropped out, Oiyoi is now left at the head of the list. Diabolo, who has throughout had a large number of admirers, was given a run on Wednesday in a mile race at Trentham, but ho failed to gain a situation. It would, of course, havo been more pleasing, in view of a New Zealand Cup engagement, had Diabolo put up a strong fight, hut possibly lie will be found a different horse when he lines up at tho post at Riccarton next Saturday week. At Wellington on Wednesday Bridge distinguished himself in the Wainui Handicap, which event was run over a mile. It was a decent, performance for which the son of Tho Possible was responsible, but it has to be remembered that Tribulation, who ran him to a neck, was conceding' his Napier rival a year in ago and 31b in weight. Still, 7st 101b is a nice weight for a horse of Bridge's stamp to have in tho New Zealand Cup. In th© decision of tho North Otago Cup on Thursday, Martist, the three-year-old son of Martian and Escopette, showed that thero was no fluke about the victory which ho achieved at Dunedin last week in tho Mospfiel Handicap, and his second winning achievement can be depended upon to brir<g him into further note, for by all accounts, ho is a very solid sort of colt. By reason of his two winning achievements, Martist is cast in a 71b penalty: but even with this addition the son of Martian has 51b under weight for age. Quality may not bo a strong factor in the New Zealand Cup this year, but the openness of the issue will count for a great deal in keeping up a strong interest, and it, is at this stage a matter of some difficulty to indicate which horse between half a dozen will rule favourite at tho post-