STABLE VISITS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 216, 16 October 1914, Page 5

STABLE VISITS.

J. TASKER'S ESTABLISHMENT. THE HOME OP MICHAEL GALINDO. Situated in the Spreydon district, within about a mile of the Addington course, are the training stables presided over by James Tasker, one of the best-known mentors associated with light-harness racing in Canterbury. Like so many other members of his calling, Tasker learnt the rudiments of his business in the Ashburton district, and subsequently drifted to Christchurch, where he has achieved more than an average amount of success. Just on ten years ago, he paid a visit to the United States, and there acquired two high-class stallions, Peralta and Galindo, both of whom have already vindicated their owner's judgment by the success that i has attended the doings of their offspring At the time of my visit, I found Tas|ker still suffering slightly from the effects of the accident he met with early this year, through the horse he was driving, Michael Galindo, colliding with a draught horse, on the Addington track. For many months both Tasker and his champion were on the invalid list, and it was only a fortnight ago that the former was sufficiently recovered to have his first drive on the training track. Fortunately he has two very capable assistants in his sons, Clifford and Boy, who have kept, the members of the establishment going during their father's incapacity, and right Avell they fulfilled the undertaking imposed on them. AN'AMEBICAN SIBE. The first to come under review was the handsome American-bred stallion Galindo, than whom there are few better bred or shaped ones in the Dominion, He is by the great speed sire, MeKinney, from Elsie by Gen. Benton from Elaine, the latter being a daughter of Messenger Duroc and Green Mountain Maid. Better blood lines than these would be hard to get, for the fame of the MeKinney blood is world-wide, while on the dam's side he traces back to the same dam as Electioneer, probably the greatest sire ever bred in America. Despite his aristocratic apeparance and proud blood lines, Galindo did not at first receive a great deal of support from breeders, but the merits of his offspring forced him into prominence. Now his services are in great demand, and he is being appreciated at his true worth. A TROTTING CUP CANDIDATE. Though getting on in years, Aberfeldy is still deemed sufficiently useful to have an engagement kept good for him in the New Zealand Trotting Cup. There are few harder-worked trotting horses in New Zealand than this veteran son of Prince Imperial, who has survived ten years of campaigning almost without a let-up. Early this season his legs gave way, and he- was given a ed spell, from which he was only taken up again last August. At present he looks in robust health, but I am afraid his legs will never stand enough hard work to fit him for a New Zealand Cup contest If they do he will take a lot of catching in next month's big race. - GOOD, BUT UNLUCKY. A more perfeetly.-actioned trotter or finer bodied horse than Michael Galindo has never graced the local tracks; indeed, his superior in the former respect would be hard to name even in America. Like so many more of the good ones, however, misfortunes have attended him almost from the day of his birth, for when only a few days old he had one of his legs permanently injured. Despite this, he electrified the experts at Ad : dington last-November by taking a record of 4min 47 l-ssee in his fourth public appearance, and delighted them with tluj perfect action he displayed in doing so. As all who take the least interest in trotting affairs know, Michael Galindo was terribly knocked about on the'same course a few months subsequently, and .at the time there seemed little chance of his ever racing again. By dint of unceasing attention, Tasker and his two sons have again got the handsome son of Galindo into racing trim, but whether his misshapen legs will ever stand much work is extremely problematical. At pi'esent he looks the picture of good health, and unless anything unforseen happens in the interim, he will surely sport silk at next month's fixture. A natural trotter from birth, it is a remarkable fact that after his accident Michael Galindo would do nothing but pace, and it took his mentor three weeks before he could get the colt to resume his original gait. A PROMISING MAIDEN. The next to come under review was Bridget Galindo, a three-year-old sister to Michael of that ilk. A greater contrast between two .horses could not well be imagined, for whereas the colt is a fine, commanding animal, the filly, a Janu-ary-foal, is only "a handful." Still, she is sturdily built, and has the same perfect action that distinguished her brother's early career. As to her speed and length of stride, one- has only to see her move to be astounded at both. Trainers, as a rule, are an optimistic set, but if there is even a solid foundation for the opinion Tasker holds of this filly, racegoers are in for a treat when first she faces the music. The Auckland-owned Miss Dexter was discovered looking all the better for her short let up, and, like the other members of Tasker's team, she is in robust health TEMPLAR.