Racing Recollections

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 546, 26 December 1928, Page 11

Racing Recollections

Former Owner Recalls Turf Experiences MR. G. L. STEAD, owTiex- of many good horses in his day, writes some of his recollections for readers of The Sun. in.

MULTIFORM Having ridden out to Yaldhurst one January afternoon on my pony, Mason asked me if I would like to see the yearlings my father had bought from the Wellington Park Stud Company in Auckland, which at that time was controlled by that fine old sportsman, Mr. Tom Morrin. To commence this episode I must mention that my father had bought, the previous year, a colt by Hotchkiss from Formo, afterwards named Uniform. Up till January of his two-year-old career Uniform could not gallop fast enough to keep himself warm. On reaching the paddock Mason pointed out a bay colt and said: “I don’t know what your father bought that colt for; he has a brother here not worth his oats.” The colt referred to was subsequently named Multiform, who in his first start ran a dead-heat with Sir Lancelot in the Welcome Stakes. What a kind disposition this colt had from the first to last! My next inspection of Multiform was after he had been broken in. He was so quiet that the smallest boy in the stable lwell-known now as Willie Holmes, a trainer at Riccarton) was standing on a candle box to reach over his loins to dress him. Multiform was never beaten, either as a two. three or four-year-old. except three times by his stable mate, Gold Medallist, and he also ran three dead-heats. THE TRACK RECORDS As the Auckland public made a demonstration (nearly as bad as the scene last October), when Gold Medallist finished first in the Foal Stakes, and Multiform second, I will give them a verbatim of some track trials on the Yaldhurst training track in my father’s handwriting: December 1, 1896: Gold Medallist, 7.7, shoes °n, grass, 1.51. December 3: Gold Medallist, 7.7, shoes on, plough, 1.51. December 5; Gold Medallist, 8.9, 1; Senior Wrangler, 7.2, 2; shoes on, plough reverse way, 131, 251, 381, 1.5; led by four lengths. December 7: Gold Medallist. 7.3. 1; Multiform, 6.7, 2; shoes on, plough; finished together, 1.6. December 9; Multiform. 6.7; Gold Medallist, 7.3; shoes on plough, reverse way, finished head and head, 1.5. December 11: Gold Medallist, 7.0, 1; Multiform, 7.0, 2. Shoes on, grass; Gold Medallist had the inside running and won by one and a-half clear lengths. Times: 13, 242. 362, 49, 1.152. February 13:’ Shoes on. grass, heavy rain on February 11; grass good order, but rather soft; Gold Medallist, 7.0, 1; Multiform, 7.0, 2; Gold Medallist had the inside running and won by half a length; Multiform was ridden out, Gold Medallist was not ridden out, but Was probably all out. On August 27, 1898, Multiform was tried out over an extraordinary distance for the present-day training. Multiform, 8.2; St. Cyr, 7.1; galloped 56*. 1.24 J, 1.51, 2.181, 2.301, 2.44, 2 -561, 3.9*. 3.37. Multiform led till three-quarter from home, when gt. Cyr joined, but had no chance* The various halves worked out: 561, 541. 53, 53. On October 24, 1898, Multiform trotted once round, then strode along once round, and finished the third time a s fast as Benzonian could take him. Hy this time there was no mention of Gold Medallist. I presume he was dead. A WONDERFUL GALLOP

Another gallop often referred to was done by Multiform on the Riccarton training tracks on November 5, 1898. Christchurch racecourse, grass training gallop. 5 a.m., Chadwick’s time. I arrived on course at the finish of the gallop. Multiform, 4yrs, 7.9, threequarter shoes on in front, ordinary shoes behind. 13, 51, 1.3 3-5, 1.17 1-5. 1 30 2-6. 1.43 4-5, 2.35 1-5. Led by Motto for six furlongs, Benzonian with Derrett up picked him up at the fiveJurlonu post, but Multiform won by

two lengths. Last round in 2.22 1-5; Cutts’s time, 2.22); Mason’s time. 2.22. Many a horse has tried to beat this time, and a few have succeeded, but not at 5 o'clock in the morning. As all students know, on most mornings gallops are up to two seconds faster after breakfast than at even 5.30 In the morning. From the above I think it is quite certain at Gold Medallist was the better, not only on the racecourse but on the track as well. Multiform had few equals on the race track, and has had few since. Much has been written about the best horse New Zealand or Australia has seen. Carbine, X will give way to, as he was before my time. Gloaming, I will give as Multiform's equal, and only that, inasmuch as he retained his racing years longer than Multiform; but when people say that horses such as Advance, Amythas, Sasanof, etc., put up better performances on the racecourse than Multiform, surely their memory is playing tricks with them. Multiform won races from half a mile to 21 miles, and what is more, as a three and four-year-old he was trained for the Canterbury Cup, 21 miles, in the spring of each year, and then came out in the autumn and won the Challenge Stakes, seven furlongs, each year, beating the best of the youngsters. THE VOYAGE TO ENGLAND Multiform was eventually sold to go to England. The day he was to sail my father went to Lyttelton to see him shipped, a thing he had never done with any horse before. When the horse-box was lifted on to the steamer with Multiform inside, it was found to be the wrong way round. In those days they could not turn the boxes as at present, so the box, with the horse inside, had to be lowered to the wharf again. When the box was about 20ft. from the wharf the rope broke, and it came down with a bang on the wharf. Nothing worried Multiform. He walked out of the box, turned round, and came in the other way, as though it was all in the day’s march. My father seemed quite upset the night Multiform sailed for England. On the voyage over Multiform became very ill and nearly died, with the result that when he was put into work In England he was found to be affected in the wind. My father was delighted when in reply to a cable, the purchasers of Multiform accepted a. horse called Screw Gun, in Multiform’s place. Screw Gun was afterwards known as Seringapatam in England, and won many races. THE KING’S CHARGER Multiform came back to New Zealand and was placed at the stud at Grasslea. One little Incident I well remember. When the Duke of York, now his Majesty the King, was visiting New Zealand, all centres had to provide him with a charger. Christchurch selected Multiform, and he was duly ridden every day through the streets of Christchurch, with guns and what-not hanging to him, in preparation for the Duke's arrival. As the Duke was preparing to mount Multiform he asked what horse it was, and when he was told an ex-racehorse, he said “No!” We all much regret the King's serious illness at the present time, but only hope he will be quite recovered to enjoy a pleasant Christmas. Multiform sired some great w.f.a. and handicap horses. Perhaps the best was Noctuiform. winner of the A.J.C. Derby in 1905, the ribbon for which hangs over my head while I write these n °Just prior to the Grasslea Stud dispersal sale, Franks, the stud groom, taught his five-year-old daughter to ride on Multiform, this being another instance of what a docile horse he was At the sale Multiform brought 4.500 guineas, and as he was previously purchased for 5,000 guineas to go to England, others besides ourselves thought something of him. G. L. STEAD. (To be continued.).