MR. JAMES KEAN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 21, 20 December 1890, Page 1

MR. JAMES KEAN.

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW. As most of our readers are doubtless aware, Mr. James Kean, the well-known and popular trainer, returned from Australia by the last Sydney steamer. Such a good sportsman’s opinions on racing matters in general on the other side are bound to be of interest, so, with a view of laying them before the public, a representative of this paper waited upon Mr. Kean at his residence in Upper Symonds Street, and was most courteously received. Mr. Kean expressed his willingness to give us as much information as lay in his power, and was very pleased to have such an opportunity of relating his experiences on “ the other side.” Before getting to the real gist of the interview,

Mr. Kean expressed pleasure at finding a sporting paper in Auckland on his return here. Such a paper was much needed here, as previously the only' sporting news in our city was that which arrived from the South and Australia. A representative sporting paper for the North of New Zealand had always been much required. When asked to inform us about the horses he took to Australia with him. “Jimmy,” as he is familiarly called, said: — “ Cuirassieur is now in Kelly’s hands, but Jack Kean is still with the horse. The horse showed us some excellent work in Sydney, until the change of climate settled him. To win a race like the Melbourne Cup a horse must go through a most severe course of uninterupted preparation, and Cuirassieur was not over in Australia sufficiently long for that. The big races are run from end to end, and none but those in the most perfect condition can .last out the terrible pace. Cuirassieur ran as well as his best friends could wish for more than threequarters of the journey for the Melbourne Cup, but then his want of condition stopped him. The handicapper evidently thought his performance a meritorious one, for the horse was handicapped at gst. 81b., the top-weight, in a mile and a half handicap on the following day. For this event Cuirassieur started, but did not run prominently. When thoroughly well, Cuirassieur will yet prove himself to be a great racehorse. Everyone pronounced Leopold to be in perfect condition when he went to the post for the Caulfield Cup, in fact, I think the horse was fitter than he had ever been before in his life. But the eight stone on the little horse crushed him in such company. Leopold stood the climate well, and gave us very little trouble, but you must not forget that he was there two months earlier than Cuirasseur. If I had taken over Cuirassieur when 1 took Leopold, I confidently believe that he would have won the Melbourne Cup. Leopold has been bought by MrM. Loughlin, the owner of Whakawai, but he will have to be spelled for a time. Dolosa has grown into a beautiful mare, and I have still great expectations from her. She won one race for us at Warwick Farm, and ran second in another to Teddy Yuille. Teddy, by the way, is a much improved horse of late, and is galloping very well just now. My brother Joe is training Dolosa now, but I have not parted with my interest in the mare, who will yet win us a good race. Montrose, the other horse I took over with me, I sold for a stud sire. I want you particularly to understand and point out that if a New Zealand owner wishes to win a race on the other side he must land his horse at the post in perfect condition. To do this, the horse must be very forward in his preparation before being shipped over. I believe that the reason Stead’s horses have been successful in Australia is because he has carried out these precautions. Again, if taken over some time before the race, unless they have time to get acclimatized, the change of climate settles them. As proof of this, I would mention the case of when Hilda and Antelope were taken over last Autumn. No horses could have looked better to the eye, but the climate settled them. Hilda was quite good enough to win the race in which she was entered, but as a matter of fact she was nearly last. They do train their horses over there, too I Why, a Cup horse receives double the amount of work we should give them in New

Zealand. All the year round they are kept in strong work, winter and summer alike. In the winter their exercise is as severe as the New Zealand training. The tracks in Sydney are simply perfect, but those in Victoria are not so good, and the best is undoubtedly that at Caulfield.” Asked what he thought of the horses he saw over there Mr. Kean said “ Carbine is the best horse in the world without a doubt. He is a galloping machine. The three-year-olds this year are a remarkably good lot. Without hesitation I should say the Queensland horse, Megaphone, is the best of them. I couldn t find a fault with the colt, and it is a treat to see him galloping. Correze I should take to be the next best, and I certainly think that, when really well, he is a better colt than The Admiral. I don’t like Gatling, the beast isn’t honest, but Whimberel is a really good colt, and will yet prove so. He went off after the A.J.C. Meeting, and was not seen at anything like his best at Flemington. Gibraltar is a fine big colt, with great power, but has very bad legs. King William, who has recently been purchased by Mr. Wilson, who was over here last summer, is a beautiful horse but a bit on the small side. Of the two-year-Olds, Lord Hopetoun is by far the best. Why, I saw him carry gst. ylb. and beat a field of twenty-nine horses in a walk. He ran the four furlongs in 49 seconds and won anyhow. Take my word for it, he’s the coming horse. I liked Wilson’s New Zealand bred two-year-olds very much. Lady Carbine is a magnificent filly, but a bit on the small side. With a light weight she will go as fast as the best of them. I was somewhat disappointed with Steadfast. He has not improved as he should have done, and although bigger than Corruna was, he is much coarser, and does not show’the same quality. It was bad luck, by the way, for the owners of Corunna when that colt died, as few besides myself and they had anv idea what a real gentleman he was. She, the Steppe filly, is a rare good ’un, and won her races very easily. I did not see Zalinski, but I was to id that he has improved wonderfully, and grown into a great horse. He is hot to be raced until he is a three-year-old. Astor;the colt that won the Maribyrnong Plate, is one of the most promising two-year-olds seen out this season, and should make a good Derby colt. The jumping horses in Sydney are a very poor lot. If I had taken over Silvio and Magnesia years ago I could have made a fortune. I should recommend anyone with a good jumper to take him over to Sydney, and he could win a lot of money. In Victoria, jumpers are much better, and they have some real good ones. Some of the ponies in Sydney are wonders. I have seen them run a mile in im. 445. several times. Signess is a real racehorse of the first water. I saw my old friend Jack Chaafc over in Sydney. He and I were boys together. He is looking very well, and I think ' he will settle down in Sydney. I don’t believe there'is any truth in the rumour that he,intends returning to New Zealand, at any rate he said nothing to me about it. He has two sons who both ride remarkably well. Jack Rae is coming back to Auckland for good. The climate in Victoria did not agree with his wife or family, in fact, he has lost one of his children since leaving here. There is no better cross-country horseman in Australia than Jack Rae, he can hold his own with the very best of them.” As most of our readers are probably aware, Mr. Kean has lately been in very bad health, but we are pleased to be able to state that he is now fast recovering. He does not intend to follow his profession as trainer just at present, but will enjoy a well-earned rest for some time. When sufficiently recovered he will again get some horses to train, and hopes to have another “go”. over in Australia, but, as he remarks, under more favourable conditions. He has learnt now exactly what is required. He can hardly expect, he says, to get another such horse as Cuirasseur to work upon, as he considers him the best horse he ever trained, or ever will train. But his ambition is to make another Australian trip before long. In any case, before settling down, he will have to visit Australia again, on business. Asked what he thought about the coming racing carnival, Mr. Kean said “ I think we shall have the best meeting that was ever held in Auckland. If you ask me what I think will win the Auckland Cup, I should say either Dudu or Cissy.”