THE KING'S HORSES.

Timaru Herald, Volume C, Issue 15290, 6 March 1914, Page 4

THE KING'S HORSES.

PROMISE QF FUTURE SUCCESS. EGERTON HOUSE CANDIDATES Ri'-ght from the commencement of 'urf history the Kings of England have demonstrated a fondness for pacing, the benefit of which can clearly be traced in the national characteristics of the English-speaking people of today. Even William the Fourth, the Sailor King, kept a stud of racehorses, though he hardly knew one end of a thoroughbred from the other. Of him it is %c ported that on one occasion when asked by the royad trainer which of the batch of two-year-olds was he goino- to start in a certain race, replied with characteristic biuffness: "Start the whole damned- fleet." A, SPLENDID STUD. . There was no keener follower of racing than the late King Edward, who made a bigger success of it personally than any oi h:s predecessors, and left a splendid stud as an inheritance to the reigning monarch. Unfortunately •he could not leave a. continuation- of his own success with the legacy, and it must be admitted that so far Kin" George's efiorts on the turf have not been rewarded with the amount of prosperity lus subjects would Pike to see. During his three seasons of ownership his Majesty has only annexed a little over £IO,OOO in stake money, but from present indications it would seem that the "lean time" of the royal stud is surely at an end. Already Twelfth Lancer, who will carry the Royal purple in the Liverpool Grand National, is amongst the fancied candidates for the cross country blue ribbon, and it would come as a pleasing coincidence if that young 'chaser followed the example of Ambush 11. who credited Jung Edward with his first big race. Twelfth Lancer is a comparatively young horse to gain distinction over the big Aintree country, probabJy the severest course in the world to cest a horse's jumping capabilities. Stiil it is reassuring to know that those who have seen, him racing, thr.nk high of his capabilities. Mr Whitteker, ■ who has charge of the King's small steeplechasing.stud, credits the gelding with having a more than an outside chance of following Ambush's example. TEAM OF TWENTY.FIYE V Hfe Majesty will' start thifc present flat racing . season with a team of twenty-five hoirses, which shows a bioadvance both as to capability and size on last season's string. .Amongst these are quite a number of promising juveniles, m place of many old timers who had practically outlived their usefulness as racing propositions. In a recent visit to Egerton _ Houso training stables, '•vigilant" has a good word to say lor the three-yea r-o'd division. Of them he writes:—"Sunny Lake is a nice upstanding coit, with much of the Sundndgo character about him, but rather long in his pasterns. It is hardly fair to judge him. by his past record, as, after having split one of his hind .pasterns, he had to be hurried to make his debut in the Buckingham stakes at the First October Meeting, when he showed creditably, though beaten by Honevwood and First Spear, while at his next attempt, in receipt of 91b from each, he split Sarhelion and Lbngtown for the Bretby Stakes, and finally was" fourth for the Moulton therefore, he has the gift of going well' being now quite sound and docng well should at least pav his way with "ordinary luck. Brakespear and La ..Marquise are both wintering most satisfactorily. The former, appreciably grown, is a very fine colt, with all the power of his aire Spearmint, exceptionally strong over his back and loins, and of beautiful quality, but per. j haps a little light below the knee. In short, a good-looking colt in spite of a-j suspicious-looking eye. If a bit long in the back and a bit short in her ribs La Marquise is nevertheless a charming ■ bloodlike filly, with the best of legs and feet, that will be unlucky should ' she fail to win some of her engagements next year, while Sunni is a great fine colt, standing fully 16 hands 2in! too big to do himself justice as a two year-old, and still wanting ;plenty of time." . The same authority appears to be equally impressed with the two-vear-olds, of whom he expects several to win races for their Royal master before tho close of the present season..—Templar i-i the Chrastohurch "Sun."