STABLE VISITS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 212, 12 October 1914, Page 5

STABLE VISITS.

THE YALDHURST ESTABLISHMENT.

No racing stable in New Zealand has attained a higher reputation as the liome of high-class racehorses than "Yaldhurst." The famous establishment where, till a few years ago, "Dick" Mason trained for the late Mr G. G-. Stead, is now owned by Mr Gerald Stead, and is presided over by "Dick" O'Donnell. That the mana of Yaldhurst has survived its change of owners-hip admits of no doubt, and there seems every prospect of its playing just as prominent a part in future turf affairs as in years gone by. ' The "ialdhur?t stables are situated some two miles beyond the Riccarton racecourse, on the road of similar name, and comprise twenty-five loose boxes, all roomy ar-d well-ventilated. Three small .pad-:' i docks adjoin the where the horses can be turned out for a run. ( About hsli" a-mile further on is the training giound, which includes a yrass trackj a plough, and a walking track, together with a schooling barrier anl scribing shed. At the present time i moit of O'Donnell's charges consist of untaied juveniles, the majority of whom are by that .successful stallion, Boni- ■ form. . , ' BRED FOR SPUED. The first, to come under review on the o< casioii of my recent visit was the bay ; fi ily Bonny Dreani; an.oWn sister to Bon ' Reve. She :.is particularly well-grown \ and exhibits a lot of quality. Built on generous proportions"/ she has 7 a ~clean ( .set'Of-legs, and good fore arm; denot' , ing,galloping ability of no mean order, j Though Bonny Dream has not as yet , sported silk, if appearances go for any- '. thing she should take a high place ■ amongst the season's Eyidently she has done a fan* amount of .work, and on the few occasions when gailoped at Riecarton she created a very favourable impression by the manner in. which she handled herself. The occupant of the next box was the English-bred filly Bonny Rig, by Catty Rig. She is .by no means a beauty,' being of the plain, angular order, but her frame denotes the possession of great strengths As yet, she has, - not done any too well, but when she is , thoroughly acclimatised I have no d/nibt , that she will show to more advantages < O'Donnell informed me that she is just commencing to settle down to her new surroundings, and it will" probably be some months before she-is ready to race. A BONIFORM JUVENILE. The two-year-old colt Wishful, by Boniform from Drought, is a neat little fellow, though a trifle on the narrow side. ' He hias an intelligent head and fine sloping shoulders, with good legs and ample bone. He also has yet to make this public debut, but, like the other members of the establishment, has evidently done a fair amount of work. Wishful.is just the sort that will improve with racing, and it may be autumn before he is.ready to do his best. In the adjoining box, was Sauci, the four-year-old son of Charlemagne 11. and. Hope Diamond. He is a big upstanding sort, and looks in the pink.of condition; indeed, in this respect he does his mentor the greatest credit. Sauci has a clean set of legs and feet, ■, which support a well-coupled body with plenty of driving power. He has: already demonstrated his ability to go fast, and I have no doubt that the best of him is yet to be seen. OF ENGLISH DESCENT. The next stripped for inspection was the three-year-old Moulu, a son of Boniform and the English-bred mare Orniulu, by Ormonde from Hey Presto. This «ommanding-looking> gelding shows a lot of quality and has many good points in his favour. He is well put together, with powerful quarters and well-sprung ribs. So far this season Moulu has not raced up to expectations, but he is looking.'in excellent trim, and can hardly fail to make good in his future essays. There is nothing very attractive about Rino, the four-year-old son of Boniform and Rhine Gold, and it will surprise the writer if he ever "sets the Thames on fire." There is not much of him, but he is a wiry-looking customer who should stand any amount of hard work. His hocks are not of the best, but so far they have caused his trainer no anxiety. In the next compartment was discovered the English-bred mare Shebeen, a recently imported daughter of Veles and Ballyhut. There is nothing prepossessing about „her appearance, for. she is one of the loosely-made, leggy sort. It is doubtful if she will be asked to race, and may instead be mated with Boniform. FILLIES OF PROMISE. This finished the stable inspection, and we wended our way across a couple of paddocks, one of which was occupied by a pair of two-year-old fillies. The first stripped was Mountain Dream, an Australian-bred daughter of Mountain King and Moorooroo. Standing well over sixteen hands, she is a thorough aristocrat, having a very intelligent head, with lengthy rein, powerful shoulders, and plenty of breathing space. Her quarters are well let down, and her disposition is so kindly that the smallest lad in the stable can manage her. So far, Mountain Dream has not done a great deal of work, her trainer wisely having given her every opportunity to mature. It will probably be autumn before she is asked to sport silk, and, taking the recent achievements of Mountain King's progeny in Australia as a criterion, she should be capable of showing something pretty good. Her companion, knowai as Recorder, is a neat-looking daughter of Varco and Pedometer. Though on the small side, this filly shows a lot of quality, and when thoroughly developed can hardly fail to gallop fast. In the next paddock, enjoying the afternoon sun, was Dinner Gong, the chestnut daughter of Boniform and Curfew Bell. She is a low-set filly with massive loins and rare hind-quarters. ' No fault can be found, with her legs, and, judging by her condition, she is evidently a good doer. O'Donnell informed me that she has done a fair amount of work on which she evidently thrives. This concluded my inspection. Though Yaldhurst may not include any established champions, there seems every prospect of the young stock being qiaite capable of maintaining the past traditions of the place. Certain it is that the juveniles will laek nothing in the matter of judicious treatment and fareful handling. TEMPLAR.