THE AUCKLAND STUD COMPANY.

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 34, 7 May 1881, Page 368

THE AUCKLAND STUD COMPANY.

SITUATION OF THE FARM— SHEDS FOR YOUNG STOCK — MUSKET — HIS PERFORMANCES— CAP-A-PIE— ANTEROS— GENERAL REMARKS. The Auckland Stud Company's Farm is situated at Glen Orchard, ahout nine miles from Aucldand, on the shores of the Waiternata. The locale is not one that I should have chosen for a stud farm. The paddocks, though Avell sheltered, are, in my opinion, too broken ; and from the nature of the soil, it would poach a good deal in Avet Aveather. This must be detrinieutal to young stock galloping about, and accidents are likely to occur. A stud farm farm should he as nearly level as possible, with secure fences, and only enough trees to afford shelter. The trees ought also to be as near the boundary as possible. This I have noticed is the case m all the principal breeding establishments in England. Another obvious omission is the want of sheds for the young ones to go into at night or during wet Aveather. Many persons argue that in this climate mares and foals do not require being stabled at night, hut I consider this a great mistake. They require as much shelter here as in the old country. The horse hy nature is an inhabitant of a .varni dry climate. Auckland is warm, hut the dews

are heavy at night. A foal for some months after he has heen dropped has a Ayooly coat, which, when once Avet, takes a long time to dry. Who is there that after camping out all night in NeAV Zealand — never mind lioav line the weather is — does not Avake up at daylight stiff and cold, and remains so till the sun rises ? My argument, after having had thirty years experience in breeding, is that horses should be treated as human beings, especially blood stock. The land, hoAvever, is only leasehold ; therefore it would not pay to do much to it. If the Company goes ahead, which it is almost sure to do, they Avill most likely purchase a more suitable place. The stallion boxes are exceedingly Avell planned, being roomy and Avell ventilated. I believe they Avere designed by the popular manager, ! Captain AValmsley. If so he deserves great credit. The only fault, in my opinion, is that in case of fire there are too many valuable horses under one roof, especially as the stables are not isolated. Musket (hy Toxopholite, dam by AVest Australian, out of Brown Bess by Camel) is the Lord of the Harem. Musket i.s a brown horse, standing ahout 16 hands 2 inches, Avith great power, and shoAving a lot of quality. He has a line intelligent head Avith great length of rein, powerful shoulders Avell let back, good depth of girth, and a strong back slightly roached, Avhich denotes strength. The horse has rather ragged hips, whicli at first glance makes him appear mean behind, but he is wonderfully let doAvn, Avith clean hocks close to the ground, poAverful thighs, and great length from his round hone to his hocks. He has also good arms and knees Avith plenty of bone. Take him all through, I doubt if there is a finer specimen of the thoroughbred in the Colony. Musket's performances on the English Turf were of a very high order. He could both go fast and stay, a rare thing no .v-a-days. This he proved as a three year old by winning the Flying Dutchman's Handicap (IJ miles) at York Spring Meeting, and, later on, tlie Ascot Stakes (2J miles) Avith Sst. 121hs. This performance has never been excelled, and feAV who saAv it Avill forget the the Avay he came up the trying hill at the finish. The following year Musket (Sst. 121b5.) ran that grand horse Rosicrucian to a head for the Alexandra Plate at Ascot (3 miles), Avhich is tlie severest course in the world ; and the next year he Avon it Avith 9st. 6lbs., heating such horses as FaA'onius (Avinner of the Epsom Derby), Albert Victor, and Agility. These performances stamp him as a horse of the highest quality. Musket, if properly mated, is sure to get racehorses, but he must be matched Avith staying blood, as though he Avas a thorough stayer himself and as game as possible, you cannot get aAvay from the fact that he comes of non-staying blood, especially on his sire's side. Toxopholite Avas only a miler. He Avas by Longbow, a Aery fast horse, but a non-stayer. Longbow, again, Avas by Ithuriel. Toxopholite dam Avas out of Legerdemain by Pantaloon — another speedy one. On the dam's side Musket is harder bred. She Avas by AVest Australian, by Melbourne, out of MoAverina, by Touchstone. Musket has therefore on the dam's side tAvo strains of Camel, by AVhalehone ; Avhile on the sire's side only one. Whalebone is acknowledged tlie best hard blood in the stud book. Those avlio study the stud book Avill learn that the best staying horses are out of mares that have hard blood in their A-cins. The best I know of in these colonies likely to suit Musket are those that have lon or AVeatherbit blood in them. These can be got through Kelpie (son of AVeatherbit) or Tregeagle (son of AVild Dayreli), by lon. Mares by Yattendon ought also to nick, as he has a deal of Sir Hercules blood in him. I haA'c no doubt if I had access to the only stud book in Auckland that I could point out others that Avould suit ; but as I am compelled to Avrite a good deal from memory I do not like going too far. Eor tlie foregoing reasons I should prefer not putting Traducer mares to Musket, as he Avas by the Libel, out of Arethusa. Libel, by Pantaloon, therefore going back to two strains of non-staying blood. The next stallion I saAv Avas Cap-a-pie, a bay horse Avith black j> oints, by Maribynong, out of Miss Magus, her dam Gorgiana (imp), by Cap-a-pie. Maribynong, by Fisherman, out of Rose de Florence, by the Flying Dutchman, out of Boardingschool Miss, by Plenipotentiary. Fisherman, by Heron, out of Mainbrace, by Sheet Anchor. This is staying blood all through. Cap-a-pie stands about 15 hands 3 inches ; he is quality all over, covering a great deal of ground, but at the sametimo he is a compact horse. Cap-a-pie's greatest blemish is his feet, but I think this is in a great measure oAving to neglect. His performances in Australia were first rate. In most years he would have carried all before him, but unfortunately he Avas foaled at the same time as that grand horse Chester. Taking Cap-a-pie's breeding, he is the most likely horse to nick with Traducer mares ; and as they are the most numerous in NeAV Zealand he is bound to prove a success at the stud, especially if fine roomy mares are put to him. Though I knoAv my opinion is at variance Avith most persons, I would sooner put a mare to him than Musket, unless I could get one with thorough staying blood in her veins. The last stallion I saAV Avas Anteros, by Loiterer, out of Adrasta, by Orlando, out of Torment by Alarm. Loiterer, hy Stockwell, out of Enuni, hy Bay Middleton. This horse Avas purchased at the late sale of Mr. RedAvood's horses. I must confess that Ido not like him. He is a chesnut, standing on short legs, and may he briefly described as a horse Avith t\vo good ends and no middle ; his breeding is also not to my fancy. Loiterer, though he managed to Avin the Northhamptonshire Stakes, Avas only a second-class horse, Avhile Adrasta Avas a sprinter. At the same time it must he borne in mind that Saunterer is the only one of that family that has done any good at the stud. He may suit some half-bred mares, but I doubt his ever getting a racehorse. Lillipee, I think, Avould have suited this province much better. I have a theory which has heen largely ventilated hy well-knoAvn breeders that stallions are never a success at the stud unless they are descended from first-class mares. This question .vill he dealt Avith next week, Avhen I also intend giving a description of the Stud Company's mares.'

Picador, Jun,