THE VALUE OP OPPORTUNITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2735, 15 August 1906, Page 49

THE VALUE OP OPPORTUNITY.

Opportunity counts high in this workaday -worW, and without opportunity among, his own kind a thoroughbred stallion becomes a mere cypher «tmong his fellows. Horses and mea we have known (say* "Milroy") in plenty who began the world ' with everything in their favour, but quite ! failed to attract notice. Then there have i been many horses that may have equalled the stud records of Stockweu" had the same opportunity been offered instead of working out their salvation, among halfbrede Though Musket was an excellent stayer, and a horse, of good reputation among the nothirur-surceeds-like-succese sportsmen «uid breeders of England, he failed to establish himself in his own country as a stud horse, f or notwithstanding the fact of having sired a winner of the Two Thousand Guineas, he had quite- outlived his racecourse reputation, and was looked upon as hardly secondrelass before he was sold into New Zealand. His opportunity came by a fluke amoiuj- flukes- For hia magnificent muscular development and extraordinary bone- lie was purchased to beget carriage horses li* New Zealand. Had ifc not been for the efforts of Mr Joseph Bennett and Mr Thomas Morrin this great son of Toxophilrte may have ended; his days in the carriage ' horse Ewe, and Wsr name lost to f-he present generation. Thoroughbred mates were provided for him. and evidently the journey' from England and .the more generous climate of Auckland bi ought to the t-urface-dormant powers, for he sired letter hjprses than himself in Carbine, Trenton, Nordonfeldt, aiwi Martini-Henry. How many horses HLe Musket have there been in our time lrj»fc to the world on back stations siring stock horsea? Neekersgat wa« cue famous stallion at least who narrowly escaped banishment to one of Sir 1 homas Elder's stations, but it was Mr Mworthy, I T,hivk, who brought about his recall and establishment in the once famrus Morpfaetville fetud, and he lived t& nrake a great name for .himself as «t sire. Who .'mony the many that knew St. Swithin in .N^w Zealand ever expected biro to rise ligher than a 30-shilling country stallion? As few, no doubt, ever dreamt that Trauucor would rise from a 5s fee to 250gs a mare. . There is not enough room for all. Oniy a «,n*all percentage of thoroughhr.-^d sUillichis are needed with the first-class etuds. and the others ninst, perforce, earn their living in humbler spheres, but as no man can tea good from barf until they are tried c &ny brilliant geuis, no doubt, are yearly catt out in favour of mere paste.