A COLONIAL'S OPINION OF SOME ENGLISH THOROUGHBREDS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 25

A COLONIAL'S OPINION OF SOME ENGLISH THOROUGHBREDS.

The following letter, from the pen of Mr J, O. Hayward, of Feathorslon (who took the Musket horse Derringer to England in December last), will lie read with interest by lovers of the thoroughbred:— London, March Hi. j Dear “Ti: Wiiiti,” —When I last wrote, I think I told you 1 had the day before paid a visit to the Childwick stud, tho properly of Sir J. Blundell Maple, M.P., where are located the triple crown winner, Common (by Isonomy—Thistle), Childwick (by St. Simon —Plaisanlerio), Royal Hampton (by Hampton—Princess), Prince Hampton (by Royal Hampton —Pibroch), Sting (by Muncaster —Satire), and Saraband (by Muncastor Highland Fling). Quito a very at is toe rat ic lot. Owing to my arriving somewhat late in the afternoon, and Common just having been finished up after exercise, he was not led out for my inspection. lie is a whole brown in colour, standing over 1(3 hands, with a good. expr>"' .vo head, well put -o.•> >■ i imtk and -u- oJ.'.era. mih**'!' light in lie- ;:rm~. which Inp.-r eel: a wav t • ;'o"d knees, ami race. flea*), lb • i .mu-u-b am! fairly. ;p .-i met; he u lie is decidedly fiat-sided; nice short back, good loins, tail well set on, with line power over tho (crupper and down through his

stifles. But, with all these good points in his favour, I was not altogether favourably impressed with him. Tho next to como under notice was Royal Hampton, sire of a number of good winners, but as he was foaled back in ISS2, and having met with an accident to one of his legs, lio is beginning to look somewhat out of shape. Ho is a good-coloured bay, and, when in his prime and the zenith of his fame, must have been a very commanding - looking horse, with lris beautiful quality and lino substance. The next to view was Saraband, also a good performer and sire of a number of winners, lie was foaled in ISS7, and in general outline somewhat resembles the St. Leger horse Clauranald, but has more substance. It will bo noticed that they are closely related on the sire’s side, both being got by sons of Doncaster. This horse was led out into the yard, and it was then ho was seen to advantage. With his lovely coat shining like bronze in the sun and his muscle standing out like a trained racehorse, he looked, in my opinion, the hcau-idco.l of a thoroughbred stallion. In tho next box stands Childwick (by tho unbeaten and champion sire, St. Simon, out of that equally great race mare, Plaisanterie), winner of the Limekiln Stakes, a great big three-cornered, angular, brown horse, that, when galloping, I should think, requires all the courso to himself. Well, to sum him up in short, I cannot do better than compare him to tho Old Drummer. This ought to convey to most people an idea of what sort of liorso he is. Now comes what 1 think the gentleman of the party, Prince Hampton, a beautiful, evenmade bay, with black points—as handsome as a. picture and as docile as a sheep, and, if well mated, lie must prove himself a

worthy son of a worthy siro. As the day was fast waning, I had to (though very reluctantly) take myself away from these lords of the harem to look over the mares’ quarters and other parts of tho establishment. 'There arc over 20(1 loose boxes, in size about 15ft x 20ft, all numbered, corresponding with tho mares’ numbers upon the list. Water is laid on all over the buildings, which are also lit up with electric light, every box having a separate light. There are alarm hells erected at different places and a lire engine and all necessary appliances kept ready in ease of fire. A watchman goes his regular rounds, and in the room which ho occupies there is a (•dl-talo erected, which will certainly tell tales upon him in the morning if he has been neglecting his duties during the night. The first employee to give notice to the head of the department that a mare is m use gets a shilling, and the first to givo notice of a mare having foaled gets half-a-crown. This is done by way of giving them extra encouragement to look after and give the mares proper attention. 'The farm itself comprises some 130 acres of undulating land, divided into convenientsized paddocks, each having a plentiful supply of water. Thero are also several large yards adjacent to tho stables for mares near foaling to exereiso themselves in during tho day, in fact there is every possible convenience that brains could devise and money procure. The stallions’ quarters are more like well-kept parlours than loose-boxes. But there, 1 cannotpossibly do it justice in any description I can give of it, especially to those who have never been outside of New Zealand. It requires to bo seen to be understood. Tho employees have a billiard and reading room in which to enjoy their evenings, and after looking into their comfortable quarters we adjourned to the manager’s sanctum, where, after drinking success to Common and Co., and the stud in general, in a bumper of ten-year-old whisky, kept, so I was told, for special occasions, 1 took my leave of the genial manager, Mr T. Castle, and was driven back to the station more than pleased with what J had seen—tho finest stud in the world. There have been great and wonderful sights to be seen here during the last three weeks. First, there were four days of the Shire Horse Society’s Show of stallions, mares and geldings (February 25, 2d, 27 and 23), on March 3,1, 5 and b the London Hackney Show, and on March 10, II and 12 thoroughbreds, bunlcrsi-lid chargers, the entries in the two former and in the hunters and chargers comprising the pick of England and Ireland. The like could not possibly be seen in any other part ol the globe. To anyone, like myself, fond of a horse, and who had not s en the like before, il was imbu'd a glorious sighl, and one that I shall always remember with groat pleasure.