Patea Annual Stud Horse Show.

Patea Mail, 21 September 1880, Page 2

Patea Annual Stud Horse Show.

(Bv our Sporting Contributor.)

The most successful horse parade which has cyer been held on this coast came offon Saturday last in the paddock lately leased by the Palea Agricultural and Pastoral Association from Mr 11. I. Davis. The committee of management were Messrs Pearce, Gibson, Chapman, Syrnes, and Mr T. Eyton, secretary, and it is needless to add that their duties were well carried out. A ring was marked out by small flags, round which the horses were led in single file. The name of each horse was written on a board placed in the centre of the ground, and as each horse had a ticket attached to it with its number corresponding with the one on the board, strangers had no difficulty in finding out the names of the different animals which attracted their attention most. Exactly the same number of horses appeared on the ground as on the last occasion in 1879, and there were probably quite as many spectators, many hailing from Hawera and Wavcrley. Two hundred would be a fair estimate of the assemblage, many known good judges of stud horses being amongst the number. In the thoroughbred class there were no less than eight entries, and in the coaching class there was, like last year, but one. Two ponies and five fine draught animals made up the total of sixteen ; but there are many good animals in the district which were not on the ground. In the blood class we missed Eedeemer and his sire Gladiator. The latter would have been on the ground bad his owner not sent him to Auckland with a view of

selling him.'. However, as he was not [ sold, the reserve price not being obtained, he will be at the service of breeders here again. Redeemer has been put in training, and on that account was not shown. Dalesman, a fine upstanding Tradncer owned by Messrs Morton and Lupton, and shown as a coaching sire at the last parade, was also an absentee, Mr Morton being away in Auckland. Both the ponies, Robin Hood and Black Prince, shown last year, and still in the vicinity of Carlyle, were not entered, but their places were filled by capital substitutes. In the draught class, five horses' of rare merit put in an appearance ; and I question very much whether any other country district can boast of such an array of heavy horses as are at present in this district. Messrs Hearn and Kennedy did not have Scotchman on the ground, owing, it was said, to his having met with an accident a few days before. Sir Walter Scott and Duke of Athol, two old friends, were also away, the latter having gone to the Auckland market. Prince Arthur, owned by Mr Ballam, of Wavcrley, and advertised in these columns, was conspicuous by his absence ; as also a promising young horse of Mr Coutts’s called Glencoe. Indeed, Mr Johnstone’s Prince of Canterbury was the only horse in his class which was on the ground last year, and Puriri and Hailstorm were the only thoroughbred representatives which have attended two seasons running; in fact, out of sixteen horses shown this year only three were on parade in 1879, and therefore it will be seen that we have quite a number of new aspirants for stud honors. Below will be found a list of the names of the horses and their owners : TIIOUCUGHDUEDS. Puriri by Towton, dam Waimea, owned by Mr R. E. Mcßae, Kakaramfea. Patriarch by Yattendon, dam Days of Old, owned by Messrs Hearn and Kennedy, Kakaramca, Cocksure by Towton, dam Certainty, owned by Mr Alex. Dickie, Waverley. Hailstorm by Pacific, dam Discretion, owned by Mr J. D. Powdrell, Kakaramea. Tally-ho by Papapa, dam Discretion, owned by Mr J. D. Powdrell, .Kakaramca. St. Albans by Malton, dam Montrose, owned by Mr H. Hughes, Manutahi. Menelik by Papapa, dam Queen of Sheba, owned by Mr F. M. Chapman, Clover* dale, Patea. Papawai by Sator, dam Maid of the Mist, owned by Mr A. Owen, Hawcra. COACHING IIORSK. Hawthorn by Opawa, dam —, owned by Mr J. Thain. TONIES. Mcrrylegs by Trotting Jock, dam Creeping Jenny, owned by Mr J. Hamilton, Wanganui. Tom Thumb, pedigree not given, owned by Mr J, Hawken, Kakaramca. mtAUGHT STALLIONS. Knockdon by Knockdon, dam Princess) owned by Messrs Chalmers and Donald, Hawcra. Conqueror by Emperor, dam Duchess, owned by Mr A. Chalmers, Hawera. Prince of Canterbury, by Scotch Jock, dam Tasmanian Maid, owned by Mr J. Thurston, Waverley, Sir William Wallace by Sir William Wallace, dam Champion, owned by Wilson Bros., Hawera. President by Lord Clyde, dam Blossom* owned by Mr K. E. Mcßae, Kakaramca.

The first horse to catcli my eye on entering the ground was Puriri, who drew a large circle of admirers around him. His blood-like form and racing proportions could not escape the notice of even the least experienced horse fanciers, and many a mark of appreciation was paid him as Gardiner led him around the ring and about the paddock. If anything he looks much improved on last year’s form, and does credit to the groom who has charge of him. Puriri, it will be remembered, was brought here by Mr Mcßae in September 1879 to replace Dead Shot, who unfortunately for his enterprising owner and the horse-producing community, died just before the season of 1878 commenced. Dead Shot was a success as a stud horse, and if the fine son of Towton and Waimea docs not ably fill his place I shall bo very much mistaken. The recent importation, Patriarch by Yattendon, from Days of Old, is a handsome rich bay, and a finer topped horse it would be hard to find. He shows any amount of quality, and his breeding is unsurpassed. His stock in Australia) where he stood before being purchased fo l ' Maori laud, is turning out well. Opinions differed as to the relative merits of Patriarch

and the horse just noticed, each having a fair, share of public favor, aud all I can say is that if such animals are not well patronised by the breeders in the different localities in which they are to travel, horse breeding must be on the decline. Cocksure was in the prime of condition, and in him we have the same blood through his sire as Puriri, but he is not built on the same lines as either of the first mentioned . animals, being in a much smaller compass; He is both neat and handsome, and at the figure lie is .to stand at, a very cheap horse He will run in a paddock at Waverley, and will no doubt draw a large number of mares to his harem. His breeding is unquestionably good, and for those who believe that good things are packed in small parcels he will have special charms. As Hailstorm is not going to stand, I can say very little about him, but there is no doubt a horse showing such fine qualities, so evenly made, and with a reputation as a race-horse, must find awaiting him a large circle of friends whenever be enters upon the real business of his life—a stud borso. Tally-ho I cannot say I like so well, but he is not in such condition as bis \ half-brother, and being only a fierce year old must develop into ,a serviceable animal. St. Albans is not such a taking animal as some of his compeers, but there is no getting away from the fact that bis stock is amongst the best in the district. Ho is essentially a former*’ horse, and standing at a moderate fee, his list has filled well hitherto. I have seen no racehorses by him yet, but evidences of his worth as a sire for producing good hacks are not wanting on this coast, quite a number of fine youngsters on tho Whenuaknra block having before to-day come under ni}' notice. Menelik comes before the public with bis appearance and breeding alone to recommend him, and he cannot boast of having done anything of note on the turf from the more fact that he has not been raced. As a yearling and two-year-old be took first prizes at the Patea Agricultural Show, and better things may await him in the business he has been put to ; but he lias yet to prove himself. Papawai, by Sator, from Maid of the Mist, looked just as well ns be could be made to look, but I must leave the public to judge as to bis qualifications ; and I really cannot saj T that I fancy Hawthorn in the class in which he was placed. In the pony class Menylegs attracted attention, and there is no doubt amongst a certain class of mares he will be of great service, having the right kind of bone and muscular power. Mr Hawkins’s Tom Thumb is a Jiliputian compared to him, let alone such horses as were seen in tho draught class. He is by Lord Nelson from a prize pony marc, and as there are numbers of ponies in the district he should bq patronised.

The draught stallions deserve more than passing notice, as they are undoubtedly high class. Conqueror, a fine rich bay, probably commanded more attention than any other horse on the ground ; and he certainly is a powerful, intelligent-looking specimen of the class, showing fine hair, muscle, and bone, and his appearance could not be found fault with unless on the score of being rather gross, a feature which I also noticed in Knockdon, who carried more flesh than anything on the ground. This animal is a bright bay of docile temper, and is most noticed for his fine top and quarters. He is one of the finest four-year-olds I have yet seen, and he has improved greatly since last season. His bone is good, and he lias plenty hair of the finest quality, and a chest of wonderful size. In Conqueror and Knockon Messrs Chalmers and Donald have two animals which would be hard to beat on any show ground in the colony. Sir William Wallace was not in very good order, although very healthy, hut a little of the beef carried by Knockdon would have much improved his appearance. Sir William is a very taking horse, and came with a great reputation from Timam and Wanganui some three years ago. Like the horses I have mentioned he is a prize taker, and if I recollect right when last shown in Wanganui carried off the champion prize in his class. He has plenty of bone, good arms and thighs, and is an acquisition to the Hawera district. Prince of Canterbury has furnished wonderfully since he was here last, and lie now shows great substance and power, and his symmetrical proportions and other good qualities did not pass unnoticed. President looked better than I remember to have seen him, not too beefy, and in appearance very healthy. This horse is a good stock getter, and will always receive attention from the farmers. None of the A animals in this class showed the slightest 1 sign of unsoundness, which too often can be seen in our draught horses.