GLENORA PARK GRAFT.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 230, 20 December 1894, Page 5

GLENORA PARK GRAFT.

I renewed acquaintance last week with the inmates of Glenora Park, one of the oldest stud establishments of New Zealand. My visit had three aims—to inspect the five yearlings which Mr Walters intends submitting at Sylvia Park on the 31st inst.; to form an opinion of Blairgowrie’s powers as a producer of racing stock; and to steal .a look at Norina, Doris, Armour, and Co., in view of the Xmas racing season. And after a day spent at the Park, in the company of Mr W. Walters, I became convinced of three things, viz., that the yearling stock will worthily represent Giienora Park when in the fullness of time it reaches the race track; that Blairgowrie is getting as promising a class of stock as any sire at present in New Zealand ; and that Doris, Norina, and Armour are in a racing trim that will shake the stake tree to some purpose during the forthcoming campaign at Ellerslie. The day selected for my visit opened well, and. the drive along the Papakura road, with a clear sky overhead and a fresh country breeze blowing; was sufficient to put one in a healthy condition of mind; but when fifteen miles had been traversed apd the clear sky and bracing country breeze changed to a steady drenching rainfall, and the. horse entrusted with the carriage of my buggy developed a mysterious pain inside and refused to pull another yard, the inspiriting surroundings of my trip faded miserably. A son of the soil whom I called into service addressed arguments of a pointed nature to my unwilling steed, but at length he had to agree that the horse would have to be stabled for 24 hours and light-heartedly remarked it was “only six miles to Papakura.” But those six miles of the road to Glenora Park are mighty long when one has to pace it to the accompaniment of a steady downpour and a summer suit. However, 1 at length reached the Park, and after discussing some acceptable refreshment with Mr Walters, I was introduced to the yearlings, and here at the outset I may "say they are all well bred, excellently built, and on plain merit should attract the attention of that gambler par excellence of the turf, the buyer of . yearling stock, when they are offered at Sylvia Park on the 31st inst. The Glenora ■draft will this year be limited to five youngsters, four colts and one filly, and though, the “ sterner sex” has a big advantage in the matter of numbers, the opppsTte sex is worthily represented"in the Cuirassier—Rosarina, filly to? be of-

fered. This youngster is the pick of the basket and will cause spirited bidding when the auctioneer points out the favourable lines on which she is bred. The filly is brown iu colour, and though she may be a shade shorter in height than the big guns of rival studs she gives promise of growing into a fine lengthy mare of excellent proportions. She is of very even build, speaks strength in every limb, and take her as you will, she fills the eve handsomely. Out of Norina s dam, by a sire like Cuirassier, she should certainly be a racer, and as far as future racing may be detected in.yearling stock she promises to fulfil t<» the letter the advantages foreshadowed by her breeding. The dam (by Traducer, from the Yattendon mare Yatterina) has already given Rosebud, Carronade, Vieux Rose, Rose and White, and Norina, and though put to the stud early she was tried and found to be a fast mare. With Nordenfeldt’s aid she gave us Norina, as fast a bit of horseflesh for her inches that has graced the local turf for a long time past, and with the assistance of a horse like Cuirassier, she should certainly produce something much above the “ fair to middling” stamp? On early looks her present yearling is as neat an equine parcel as I have seen this season, and whoever purchases her at the end of the month may rely upon getting a future racer. The Hotchkiss—Fishgirl colt is a \vell-grown brown with good solid quarters, . a nicely shaped shoulder, and a head that bespeaks an honest disposition. The Hippocampus —Empress colt has a determined look about him. and his decided character, coupled with as neat a turned body and set of legs as one could wish for, should render him attractive to buyers. This fellow has a look that makes one fancy he will be a strong determined racer if treated properly, and, on the other hand, if he be messed about” —to use a vulgar but expressive phrase —he may turn out a rank rogue, ilisdam (by Maribyrnong from Peeress) is full sister to Marion, dam of Strowan,; a proved galloper. .. On breeding this son of Empress is good and onlooks heis better. This is a good useful stamp of a colt if treated properly. The Hippocampus —Cressina colt is a plain youngster of the strong, compact order. He will grow into a powerful horse, and though not pretty he is what is a good deal more to the point —shaped like a future weight carrier. His bone is excellent, he stands up to the eye like a game, honest youngster, and with a clean set of limbs and fine pdwerful loins, he will prove a racer if Fate be kind to him. The St. Leger—Muskerina colt is on the small side like most descendants of his dam, but considering the late date of his foaling he is very well built indeed. Short, nuggety, and determined sizes him up Put to Nelson, Muskerina gave Bellona, and with St. Leger’s help she should throw stock well worth racing. That finishes the yearlings, all of whom are in excellent condition, well bred, and shaped in the cast that gives the racer. A good quintette without doubt, and the leader (the Rosarina filly) may be claimed one of the best yearlings in this year’s Northern market.

The other object of my visit —the young Blairgowrie’s—were then looked over, and I must confess that I was astonished. It was doubtless blind prejudice that made me fancy Blairgowrie would. not prove a success, but there lay the fact. 1 doubted him, but a walk amongst his children wiped away the cobwebs of distrust and showed me the truth, viz., that Blairgowrie will be one of the leading sires of this country, and that Mr .Walter’s horse,,will..become more sought after every succeeding season. As for his condition, he has had a big season, having served 43 mares, and yet looks fit to enter upon another. He has improved greatly since he was landed and now stands up to you as a. model of powerful grace and symmetry. The foals bear a wonderful resemblance to him, and are as evenly built and sturdy a lot as are raised by any stud in this country. Hipporina, Rosarina, Fishgirl, and .Helen McGregor have produced fillies to him, while Cressina, Leorina, Lady Emmeline, Abydos, and Cobweb have presented colts, and the last-named has a youngster at foot that would successfully hold his own with any foal in the Island. The Abydos youngster, too, is a clipper, and Leorina and Cressina have a pair of chestnut colts that are models of youthful promise. Fishgirl’s daughter is like her mother iri colour, and) though is as cleanly

cut and active a foal as ever capered around a paddock. But theyoungonesare all splendidly constructed, as they take after their sire to such a marked extent they will undoubtedly grow into very handsome racers. That visit of last week satisfied me about Blairgowrie, and 1 can congratulate those owners who have this season availed themselves of his services. He will give them racehorses. While walking around the training track at Papakura I notice that my host has erected a starting machine for Doris, Norina, and Co., and I learn the Park racers are now quite at home with the “ gate.” Respecting the pair mentioned, thev are in the best of health, and if they do not gain brackets at the coming meeting I am no prophet. Bluefire is of course a big battle to fight, but the Ophelia filly will not disgrace herself, believe me.