WANGANUI LETTER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 46, 11 June 1891, Page 4

WANGANUI LETTER.

(from our own correspondent.)

A visit paid to that well-known establishment of Donald Fraser’s, of Rangitikei, shows that Mr. D. Campion, the popular trainer, has been very busy with his various charges. The first one to come under notice was Cruiser (by Robinson Crusoe —Radiance) who is looking very well at present; he would have competed at the late steeplechase meeting of the W.J.C. only for having the mishap to strike one of his legs while being schooled over the jumps. The next was the speedy Ascot—Speculation filly, Fortune, who showed such good form at the Autumn meeting of the Wanganui J.C. This filly is wintering well, and should give a good account of herself next season. A well-known sport has offered the sum of 200 guineas for her on behalf of Mr. F. Paneti, the owner of Wairua. Fortune is engaged in the Hawkes Bay Guineas and New Zealand Cup. After Fortune came a beautiful bay filly (by Tim Whiffler out of the well-known racing mare Laurel, by Gowsman out of Bay-leaf, full sister to the dam of Fishook—Dan O’Brien’s old favourite, who won the Dunedin Cup). This filly shows lots of quality, having a beautiful head, grand rein, splendid neck and shoulders, and any amount of power behind, also

splendid - gaskins. She is engaged in the Wanganui Derby of 1892, and also the Hawkes Bay Guineas, and has never started as a two-year-old. Having passed this filly I came to a nice looking colt, coming two-year-old (by Nordenfeldt —Patch), who has thickened out and come on since he has been under Campion’s care. Then came a colt (by King Cole —Wainui by .Ravensworth — Waimea ; Waimea dam of those well-known sires Manuka and Puriri). This colt shows great quality, and stands close on 16hds, looking every inch a galloper, and should make one of the best Derby colts in the colony, as weight, I should think, will make no difference to him. Mr. Campion would sell this colt as he finds that owing to the number of young stock coming on he will be pressed “for room. The next one to inspect was that well-known hack-hurdler Ridge (by Bulls-Eye -—Peter Flat mare ; Bulls-Eye by Dead Shot out of Bay-leaf, by Peter Flat—Sharkie, by Riddlesworth out of a mare imp. from Sydney). Ridge is a first-class jumper, and has won a few. hack hurdle races, he is also a first-class 'ladies’hack. Mr. Campion imforms me that •he 'is for sale, the price wanted being £4 5, which I consider to be a cheap figure. The brood mares Speculation and Laurel are both ; stinted to Cruiser. Flora McDonald, dam of Titokowaru and Donald) is stinted to Flintlock. Matilda, by Traducer, has a foal at foot by Ascot, and stinted to The Mute. Reserve (by Traducer), dam of Oaklands, is also stinted to The Mute, and a mare by Kapapo to the same sire. Josephine (by St. George—Fleurange) is running in the paddock, and will be put to the stud next season. This concludes this establishment, which is kept in capital order by D. Campion, who has a good assistant in G. Read, who is head lad, and well known in Auckland, where he was in the employ of Major George. After leaving the last-mentioned place I dropped in on those well-known cross-country riders (Camerons) stable. They have in hand a bay horse Memorial (by Somnus—Don Juan mare, dam of Mr. J. Munn’s well-known • steeplechaser Volcano). Memorial is looking a little backward at present, but shows any amount of quality, and no doubt he will be • heard of next season, as he is a splendid jumper. Another charge in their hands is Medallion (by Gladiator), who is a nice cut of a horse, and should give a good account of himself later on.

Dr. Bennett, of Bulls, has in hand a brown filly by The Premier—Evergreen, dam of Emerald. She shows good form, but is very backward in .condition. The same owner has also a bay filly Priscilla (by The Premier— Matilda); she won the three-year-old handicap at Marton last March. He has also got the brood mare Revoke, by Premier—Gossip, with filly foal at foot to Torpedo, and is stinted to Puriri. He also has a\few other well-bred mares from which he breeds for the Indian market. This owner spares no pains with his stock, and I would like to see him meet with success.

Mr. J. Stevens, of Rangitikei, has in work Petroleum, who is in charge of the English trainer, Hildren. This horse performed at the last Wanganui meeting, but was very backi ward, looking more like a show horse. Mr. D. Thurston, the popular host of the Marton Hotel, has in hand the steeplechaser Dangerous, runner-up at the Egmont and Wanganui Steeplechases; also Fib (byKorai). These horses are in charge of that clever cross- <; country horseman J. Cameron, who I am glad to see is able to train them as well as ride. Mr. R. Thurston has taken stables near the racecourse at Marton, and has in hand Niobe (by Natator—Sunshine), full sister to Waterbury. He also has Doncaster (by St. Leger— Norma), who is the makings of a good crosscountry horse. If breeding goes for anything this horse should make one of the best crosscountry horses in the Colony, as his dam Norma is,by Ravensworth, her dam Dunsinade being by Riddlesworth out of Elthea, making her own sister to Dainty Ariel. During the week I paid a visit to Mr. J. . Paul’s paddock, where I saw a lot of young stock now coming forward. They consist of a two-year > old colt (by Ascot—Leonessa) own brother to Cretonne; he shows good quality and plenty of bone. The next was a chestnut filly (by Natator—Last Chance, dam of Fleta). She is a beautiful mover in the paddock, and

should give a good account of herself in her two-year-old engagements. The next was a brown colt (by Escutcheon —Lecnessa) who is a splendid-looking colt, reflecting great credit to his sire. There is also a two-year-old filly (by Ascot—Last Chance) running in the paddock; this filly has been on the sick list, J>ut lam glad to say is now recovering. If all owners treated their young stock like Mr. Paul does, they would get a better run for their money when the horses were asked to race. Mr. Nugent has a chestnut mare (by Natator —Rangitara) in the paddock, which should turn out a good one. as her dam was one of the best steeplechasers on the coast, having often annexed both steeplechases and hurdle events, being ridden by that well-known cross-country rider Koss Heaton.

Attache, by Governor —Ngata’s dam has been placed in Mr. B. Coyle’s hands, in view of the Final Steeplechase and Ladies’ Bracelet at Napier. With this horse and Cable, Mr. Nugent should be heard of in the Hunt Club races during this season. Mr. B. Coyle has purchased on behalf of Dr. Cahill of Wellington, a handsome brown horse (by Endymion—Ravensworth mare) with a view of hunting him at the Hunt Club meets at Wellington. He is a first-class jumper, and looks to be able to gallop ; if given a fair trial he should win a race or two later on for his popular owner. Kimberley, by Armourer, has been sold to Mr, S. H. Gollan, of Hawkes Bay, with a view of the Ladies Bracelet at the forthcoming H.B. meeting. The price paid for him was £lOO. Montrose, by Vasco di Gama —Primrose, has been purchased by Mr. Douglas, of Napier, for the sum of £225. He left for Palmerston on Monday night, in charge of his late owner, where he will join D. Munn with his other horses, en route for Australia. Montrose should have a good show in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race, as he is a good jumper and possessed of a lot of pace. Natator has been purchased by Mr. R. Ross, of the Rutland stables, Wanganui, and will be at the service of breeders this season. Mr. Ross leaves for Auckland this week to bring him down to Wanganui. Camomile’s half-brother, Norton, by Ascot, was enquired after by Mr. Douglas, of Napier, with a view of purchasing, but no bargain was struck, his owner asking £3OO for him.

Mr. Ash win—former owner of Jupiter —has bought from Mr. Douglas, Swivel’s full.two-year-old brother for £3O, and a yearling by Hiko Phoenix for £25.

The light-weight jockey F. Price has gone to Napier to D. Munn’s stable ; he rides a good race, and will doubtless be heard of in his new quarters. H. Hickey, brother of J. Hickey, has also gone into the same stable, while H. Moore has gone into Mr. S. H. Gollan’s establishment.