STUD NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20454, 4 January 1930, Page 7

STUD NOTES.

« MUSKET."

BY PHAETON

What a host of memories nro entwined in tho nam© of Musket, the deeds of whoso stock on the racecourse and their records as sires brought such lustre to this Dominion, and to Auckland in particular. As I slood this week at the A.R.C. office and handled one of the hoofs of tho famous aire presented by Sir Edwin Mitchelson, memory soared back to tho days of the Sylvia Park Stud, with tho son of Toxophilite as the outstanding sire.

Musket was bred by Lord Glasgow in 18G7, and how close ho was to having his career cut short at an early stage ia a sensational fact in his career. Musket did not como to hand tis an early two-year-old, and. as he showed no promise in the two races in which ho ran in hi 3 first season, he was sentenced to be shot by his eccentric owner. It is related that every year after tho Newmarket Houghton meeting, at the end of the season. Lord Glasgow had a shooting party, and all tho horses ho regarded aa useless were drafted into tho shooting party and shot. Musket having failed as a tiv vyear-old, he was included in the lot for i:no bullet. The studgroom, however, percuaded Lord' Glasgow to reprieve Musket, iitid that was how a great sire was saved. Musket won several races over two miles Mid left tho turf with a certificate as a starer. When Musket was '.secured in England in 1878 on account of the Auckland Agricultural Company for 1:60 guineas the purchase of tho horse was ostensibly fcr his uso as a sire of carriage stock, and he served his first season at tho stud in tho Waikato. The formation of the Auckland Stu-i Company was the stepping-stone for Mvsket to win a place with tho great sk-ea. And what a record attaches to hit!, name! His progeny won prize-money to the amount of over £135,000, and as the sire of Carbine and Trenton ho begat two of tho greatest horses that have graced the turf. Those two horses maintained the line to a pronounced degreo Carbine's sod Spearmint, like his sire, won marked fare: a both as a racehorse and as a sire, and (i like tribute can be applied to his Australian-bred son Wallace In considering Musket's record as a sire in Auckland the fact has to bo borne in mind that ho only Berved six seasons. Musket was a horse of most equable temperament, and it was wont to be said that a child might crawl crrer him without fear of being injured. " Great" under all headings could be applied to Musket. A horse of true masculino physique. Musket had only to come under observation once for a montal picturo to bo carried for all time.

HUNTING SO.'MG'S RECORD. Hunting Song having tho record of siring a Derby winner in hia first season, matters must bo accounted to shape promisingly for his figuring in si good placo on the sires' list. At the, done of the first three months of the present season in November tho progeny of tho ion of Hurry On had captured stakes to "ho amount of £3125, and this has now lieen increased to over £GBOO.

IMPORTED V. COLONIAL-BRED SIRES. In an interesting article on this much discussed question. Warrawee," writing in the Sydney Referee, remarks:—With a few exceptions tho who's of the champions of the past 20 years so have been by .imported sires. Tho whole of the high-class horses of tho day iiro by imported sires—induing Limerick, .iTightroarch. Pliar Lap, C'hido, Rapier, Star Stranger, Winalot, and High Syce. The best middle distances horses, such as Gothic. Amounis, Mollison, are also by imported sires. In a later period champion alter champion waa by imported sires—Spe?iri'elt, Heroic, Manfred, Windbag, Poitrel, Kennaquhair, Rivoli, Artilleryman, Strep Ho n. Wallace (the beat torso of hia day) was. like La Carbine,' Ily Carbine, but ho wa3 a grandson of imported Musket. On his dam's side, it has to be admitted, Wallace cumo of good Australian stock, as Melodious was by Goldsbroui;h from Melody by Tho Barb from Mermaid. One of the greatest stayers of a past generation was by an Australian sire, and this was out of an Australian-bred dain. This was Abercorn, who was held to ba very little, if anything, inferior to Carbini? over a distance. Of course. Australian-bred sires are not getting much opportunity these days. >lt is a case of nothing succeeding like success. Tho great succesti achieved by such imported horses as Sir Foote, Positano, Grafton, etc., served to create a fashionable demand for imported horses, and for years quite a number of those introduced here rendred a distinot disservice to the thoroughbred industry. Later camo Valais, who was such a sensational success at the stud that the demand for the services of imported horses became keener than ever.

ENGLISH-BRED VALKYRIAN

Included in the bargains of tho sale ring in this Dominion this year was the imported stallion Valkyrian, a highly-bred horse by William the Third (son of St. Simon), who was knocked down at 240 guineas. Valkyrian is now located in the South Island, and at tho recent show at Wuimate ho was awarded tho distinctive red ticket. Last season the progeny of Valkyrian won prize money / to tho amount of £O2OI, which waft a creditable record considering the limited opportunities he had when stationed ill the Waikato.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Anitea, who gave tho turf a good performer in Rapier, mado a further contribution to tho New s'ealand Stud Book recently in the shape of a colt by Shambles: On pedigree lines Anitea's youngster should provo a racehorse. Shambles is by Phalaris 'son of l'olymelus and grandson of Cylleue) from Fluff, a daughter of Eider and Trenton Queen, by Trenton (son of Musket). Anitea is by St. Ambrose (son of St. Simon) from Stcpka, by St. Leger (son of Doncaster.'. Three strains of St. Simon and two o f Musket, both of which are well up, should assist Anitea's produco to stay.

When A krion developed unsoundness in 1928 ho was taken out of training and served n term nt tho stud Inst season. Among tho mares mated with Agrion was Half-a-Brace, a daughter of Bachelor's Double, and sho has thrown a colt, whose physique thus early is made tho subject of much eulogy. Agrion was taken to Sydney Inst autumn in order to bo submitted to auction, and, though tho bidding for his possession only reached to 325 guineas, ho was sold by Mr. G. D. Greenwood. There is a great deal of tho thoroughbred racehorse nbout Agrion, and, given proper opportunity, ho may bo expected to play a good part in keeping up tho St. Simon lino.

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS

TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB.

Tho Takapuna Jockey Club's Summer Meeting is to bo held on January 29 Mid February 1. Nominations for all events and filial payment for tho Wynyard Plnte close nest Monday at 5 p.m. with tho secretary, Mr. F. D. McVay,

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB. The Wellington Racing Club's Summer Meeting is to bo held on January 18, 20 and 22 Nominations for all ovenls, also forfeit for tho Wellington Stakes (1930), closo nt 9 o'clock p.m. on Monday next with the secretary, Mr. J. M. Griffiths, at the office of tho club, "Woodward Street, Wellington,

NCARUAWAHIA RACING CLUB. Tho Ngaruawnhia Rncing Club's annual race meeting is to bo hold on Saturday, January IS. Nominations for all events closo to-night (Saturday) at eight o'clock with the secretary, Mr. A. B. Jones, Ngiiruawahin.