AROUND THE STUDS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 94, 12 May 1892, Page 3

AROUND THE STUDS.

|~By Traveller. J

No more anxious time for a studmaster than at weaning. Let my readers picture a young seven-year-old who hears the “ whinney ” of a youngster just taken from its mother. He at once imitates, and round each box he travels, giving the same cry, until he has the whole stable at the same game, when the shrill cry of the studmaster brings him smartly to book. What the devil are you after? Such is the scene I witnessed lately. “ Never mind,” quoth the proprietor of Wellington Park, ‘’‘come and see Crackshot’s sister.” Delighted I Wait a minute ; let me see if I can pick her out. My readers may think it an easy task, but I can assure them it is anything but so. Half-a- dozen foals in a corner, is no easy task. The mother is very easily depicted, at least, by anyone who saw her score her Dunedin Cup victory, which I was fortunate enough to. Well, what do you think of that whole brown filly, with a star and a snip. By Jove! what a beauty; a regular Musket eye, rich hazel, and what quarters ! Yes ; if that is not the best filly Punga has ever thrown well, there is nothing in make and shape. Punga is in foal this year to Hotchkiss. A beautiful brown stands close by, as handsome as a picture. This is the daughter of Formo and Nordenfeldt.. What better or more fashionable blood could be desired. Bianca’s daughter follows close behind. Those who remember the roan colt which fetched 600 guineas last year will hardly credit the symmetrical brown daughter of Nordenfeldt as being a full sister, as unlike in colour as chalk from cheese; but not so in contour, a gem of the first water from appearances. Bianca has also been stinted to Hotchkiss. Hard by is a grey filly with a blaze. This on enquiry I find to be a daughter of Maid of Athol. This mare has always thrown something that could travel, but I doubt if she has ever given us a better representative. Hotchkiss, has also been mated with Maid of Athol. The Radiant filly by Hotchkiss next comes up for inspection. This foal will take a lot of picking

to pieces. More than one good judge has decided that she is far away the best at the Park. Well. I for one am not going to join issue under that heading; “handsome is as handsome does I have my eye on one a jolly sight uglier but taihoa! What’s this? Strathmore’s sister. Hullo! why is this the last ? “Oh ! I always keep a nice plum in reserve,” quoth the proprietor. A nice plum— Strathmore’s sister. Well, if Payten, McDonald and other Australian trainers stated last year’s filly was the handsomest ever imported into Australia, all I can say is that for muscular development, combined with good looks, this full sister is quite her equal. In an adjoining box I interviewasymmetricalbrown filly, withtwo white fetlocks. On enquiry I. find this to be a full sister to Stepniak and She. I well remember Mr. Tom Stevens, when in charge of Sylvia Park, saying that the Steppe filly could beat everything in the Park. Why this filly should not be equal to her I know not, Judging by the conformation and size. Necklace—aye 1 that’s a good name, and one associated with one of our best sportsmen ; all quality, perfect as a picture and handsome, this is the first of Castor’s stock. May they all be like it! A whole chestnut, with a blaze and near hind stocking. If this is to be taken as a sample of the mating Castor with the stout bred daughters of Musket —well, nothing more can be desired. The big brown colt. “ What’s that ?” I ask. “ Can’t you tell,” replies Mr. Morrin, “ why that’s Nordenfeldt’s half-brother.” Well, well, he is a whopper. He stands high, but has any amount of length. One might almost say he was slack ribbed untilyoulookedclosely into him. A rich brown ofthethe true Musket colour ; off fore and hind white fetlocks, with a small star, he certainly is a great colt. Truly Hotchkiss has in Onyx a matron that should nick with him to a nicety. If this is not a racehorse in every sense of the word he ought to be. A grandson of old Punga’s, by Brigadier from Katipo, is the next colt, and a rare one to look at. Brigadier seems to get them all short and cobby, and why I cannot tell. The dam is a big roomy mare, and the sire is not devoid of good points. Why all the offsprings are peculiarly short to me is a puzzle. This youngster put me greatly in mind of Impulse at the same age.

( To be continued.')