SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 2746, 18 February 1896, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES.

“ Delaware,” a writer in the Sydney Truth, has a great down on our ex-oham-pion sire,. Musket. He alludes in the last issue of his journal to “ tho hundreds of rotten-legged Muskets that are manuring New Zealand through. Brutes with big ungainly bodies too big for their weak soft pasterns to support. Musket got a few good horses, but he got them out of tho grandest lot of mares it was , possible to got togetlmr. With the exception of Carbine, all his good horses came from proved good Australian stock. It is noticed that his sons who have so far been successful at tho stud came from hardy old stock whoso ancestors made the Australian horse famous for stamina. Instead of improving I hold that Musket lias weakened them hy introducing bad feet, weak soft pasterns, and a general softness all round. Who over heard of a good (bar Carbine) Musket after ho was throe years old. Trenton raced on a bit, but he was all to pieces at four years. Tho time will come when tho Muskets will he dubbed rotten instead of incomparable.” Musket’s fame rests solely on Carbine and his sons and daughters whose dams descended from Vattondon or Fisherman, or Yattendon’s airo. Sir Hercules, and hardy old Traducor. Tho latter has done far more good for tho Now Zealand thoroughbred than ever Musket did. He laid tho foundation of a hardy, sound breed, but unfortunately Musket came along and poisoned it. Mantou was once thought to be bettor than Carbine, lie is out of a Traducor mare named Gitana, who was by Sir Hercules. Eaupo, a granddaughter of Sir Hercules, could throw a horso like Mata to Doadshot, hut 'I never hoard of her producing a winner to Musket in tho throe seasons she visited him. Atalanta threw winners to all sorts of sires, except Musket j and Atalantis throw King Ban, Happy-go-lucky, Pride of tho Ocean, Henry IT,, Bower of Bliss and St. Leger to different sires, hut her three visits to Musket only produced Happy Laud, who would never have been heard of had she not been mated with stout lugomar, and produced Hova.

The following is from the Melbourne Sportsman: —A rumour was freely circulated to the effect that Wallace is a very unlikely starter tor the Australian Cup. It is said that, besides being dissatisfied with the chestnut’s weight, Mr W. 11. Wilson would like'to keep Wallace fresh for the Champion Eace, so that ho will meet Auraria on equal terms in this respect. A gruelling race, in the Cup would probably effectually settle Wallace’s Champion pretensions. Whether there is any truth in the statement I (Special Commissioner) am unable to say, and simply give the report for what it is worth. One thing is certain, Mr Wilson is hardly likely to keep the public very long in suspense should he make up his mind to reserve Wallace for the Champion Eace. In the meantime a little patience on the part - of would-be backers of Wallace for the Australian Cup may not come amiss. On receipt of this intelligence a representative of the Sportman at once waited on Mr W. E. Wilson, by whom he was courteously received, pn mentioning that the object of his visit was to obtain information as to the truth, or otherwise, of the rumour in circulation regarding Wallace, Mr Wilson said—“ Wallace is not giving me the satisfaction I should like. He ia plainly suffering from growing pains. Still he is not nearly as bad as Carnage was before he won his Derby. As you, personally, know. Carnage was then suffering acutely from rheumatism. So that as that colt won, so may Wallace. Every attention wEI bo paid the latter, and I hope to see him at the post tor. the Australian Cup. You may- safely say that at present I have no intention of withdrawing him from that event."