HISTORIC STUD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22161, 15 July 1935, Page 7

HISTORIC STUD

PANMURE ESTABLISHMENT FAME OF WELLINGTON PARK A NURSERY OF CHAMPIONS BY SPEARMINT Musing on Musket and the sad state of dereliction into which his oncepowerful clan has fallen in New Zealand in recent times, inevitably recalled tho faded glories of the' Auckland district as the nursery of New Zealand bloodstock, and particularly Wellington Park, on the slopes of Mount Wellington at Panmure, where year after year were bred and reared the champions who carried everything before them from one end of the colony to the other. A generation ago the annual sale at Wellington Park occupied the same position in the breeding world as the Trentham sales of today, and even then visitors thronged from the other side of the Tasman and took from us many of the gems of our bloodstock. At the present day, it is difficult* to realise that at. one time were located, within a stone's throw of the city, two of the greatest breeding establishments ever seen in tho Southern Hemisphere. At Sylvia Park, now Westfield, at tho date of the dispersal sale in 1891, were collected what was undoubtedly the greatest collection of sires and brood mares ever cot together in one stud south of the lino up to that time. At the sale, many of the best of tho mares were acquired for Wellington Park. Sale of Strathmore Wellington Park was founded in the eighties by Messrs. T. and S. Morrin, and the first sale .took place in 1886. The foundation mares were Pungaweremere, Maid of Athol, Frailty, Ouida. Albatross, Vivandiere and Yattacy. Of these, all but Pungawerewere and Vivandiere were Australian-bred, and all 1 wore brilliantly successful. From the commencement Mr. Morrin shared with Major Walmslcy an unbounded faith in Musket, whose alliance with these mares produced Trenton, Cuirassier, Cissy, Artillery, Hilda, Krupp, Tetford, Brigadier and Teksum in the very earliest days of the establishment. In 1889 Trenton had carried the fame o.f Wellington Park to Australia. ITen yearlings were offered, who had mimes destowed on them in advance. Bandolier, by Nordenicldt l*railty, and Halbert, by Nordenfeldt—Ouida, both fell to the bid of Mr. W. .'ft. Wilson, of Victoria, the pricas being 950 guineas and .335 guineas respectively. ' Re-named Zalinski, the former won good races and subsequently became a successful sire, while under' the name of Strathmore the latter proved himself one of the greatest horses in Australia, winning the V.R.C. Derby, St. Leger and Champion Stakes. The reputation of Wellington Park was now firmly established. Record Yearling Prices By this time Aida, Necklace, Branca and many other mares had been added to the establishment, and in 1891 14 jnares-were acquired, including I 1 ornio. Onyx, "-Patch, Radiant, Steppe and Sylvia from Sylvia Park. After the death of Musket his son Nordenfeldt had been freely used until, lie was sold at the Sylvia Park dispersal to Mr. S. Hordern for 5600 guineas, but at the same sale Mr. Morrin socured :Hotchkiss for 355 guineas, a wonderful 'bargain. Castor was imported in 1890, and these two, together with Cuirassier and St. Leger, were the mainstays of the establishment for many years. Later came Phoebus Apollo, • ati imported son of St. Simon, Menschikofl and Seaton Delaval, the last-named acquired from Messrs. Nathan for the last year only. Tho 1890 sale was marked by a spirited contest between Messrs. D. O'Brien and S. H. Gollan for a colt by Nordenfeldt from Frailty. Mr. O'Brien bid 2000 guineas, and after a pause the auctioneer remarked: " Remember, Mr. O'Brien, I once sold you a colt called Carbine." Mr. O'Brien, however, was not to be drawn, and Mr. Golian became the purchaser at 2025 guineas, a record price for a yearling south of the line. Subsequently named Mousquetaire,. ho proved a great disappointment. The followiug year Mr.. Gollan was engaged in another classic duel, this time with MV. J. Richards, of Victoria, acting for Mr. W. R. Wilson. This was for the yearling brother to Mousqitetaire, and this time Mr. Gollan had to givo way and Mr. Wilson became the purchaser of tho voungster, subsequently known as Havoc, for 2200 guineas, another record. A Great. Day's Work Havoc won the Australian Cup and was fairly successful at the stud, ihese prices were never attained again, but in 1894 Astronomer (Castor—l' r,ailty) brought 1575 guineas and Cravat (Castor' .Necklace) 1050 guineas. Cravat won the A.J.C. Metropolitan Stakes. In 1898 Lancaster (Hotchkiss —Frailty) reached 1000 guineas, and a' year later 50 guineas fnore was paid for Hengist (St. Leger—'Hilda), the purchaser being Mr. H. H. Hayr. In 1900 Mr. G. G. Stead gave 1400 guineas for the beautiful colt Royal Artillery (Hotchkiss— Rose of Wellington), and at the same sale ho secured Cruciform for 325 guineas and Siege Gun for 660 guineas, the greatest day's buying in the history of the New Zealand turf. In 1903 Monoform topped tho poll at .1200 guineas, and ho was the last of the thousand-pounders, "the stud being wound up two years later. To give a comprehensive list of the great racehorses bred there is impossible, but, in addition to those already mentioned, the names most readily coming to mind are Crackshot, Impulse, Merganser, Niagara, Three Star, Armilla, True Blue, Uniform, Multiform, l)ay star, Antarcs, Coronet, Eton,, Uhlan, l'ulman, Hcrmosa, Screw Gun, Battleaxe, Field Battery, Blue Jacket, Scotfcy. Canteen, St. Ilnrio, Formula and Count Witte. Every prize worth having in Now Zealand and mast of those in Australia havo been won by the produce of Wellington Park, and the list could bo extended almost indefinitely. Wind-Up and Dispersal

Over ho loiifi ft period there v oro naturally some great bargains piekotl up at tho sales, amoug these being Multiform at 215 guineas, uhlan iiJ guineas, Canteen 10-5 guineas, Eve o.j guineas, Tauhei 75 guineas, Merganser 50 guineas, and Merry Maid H 4 guineas. The greatest of all, however, was probably the Hotehkiss—Queen Colo colt Battleaxo, who was bought for 2*) guineas. Battle«ixe won innumerable races over all distances, including tho C.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap, the Hawko's Buy aud the Tnranaki Cup twice.' •, Circumstances necessitated the wum-jng-MP of this historic oatabl'shm.ont and the dispersal salo took place on December .*SO, IS.'OS. The result of the salo was disappointing, but the glory of the old stud had to a great extent passed away. The stallions, mares and Yearling? wtre scattered far ailci wid6« many of the beat of them going to Australia. It was a somewhat pathetic ending to a noble enterprise.