“TERLINGA” IN NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 407, 12 May 1898, Page 11

“TERLINGA” IN NEW ZEALAND.

{From The Australasian.) Mr Morrin lives about seven miles out of Auckland, and his place takes its name from Mount Wellington, the homestead being built on the side of the mountain, which, save for the terraces marking the Maori fortifications in the old fighting days, reminds one very much of Mt. Pisgah. On the way out to Mr Morrin showed me Sylvia Park away to the right, and to the left the property where in the days of the Stud Company, and before he secured his present place, Mr Morrin bred Trenton, Tetford, and Krupp. Mr Morrin had these three in training with John Chaafe, and when they were tried Trenton, who looked very backward,. was adjudged to be the worst of the three. With the colours up, however, it was quite a different matter. Trenton, with a stable boy up, beat his more fancied stable companions and won his race. Still the trainer could not believe that the home trial was wrong, and Krupp was his choice as against Trenton when the pair met again at the next meeting. This time Trenton won even more decisively, and then Mr Morrin sold him to Mr Stead for 300 guineas. Being a difficult horse to train, Mr Stead was deceived as to Trenton’s real merits, just as Chaafe was, and, after getting a race out of him, the future champion stallion was passed on to D. O’Brien for 900 guineas. When next he was sold Trenton realised 3,000 guineas, the buyer being Mr W. Cooper. After he finished racing, Trenton was sold to Messrs Long and Hill for about 1,000 guineas, and they, in turn, let Mr W. R. Wilson have him for 3,000 guineas. After a few brilliant years at St. Albans, Trenton was bought for 5,000 guineas by the Messrs Wilson, of Ercildoune, and sent to England. Probably Mi- W. R. Wilson has never let a horse slip through his hands he regrets more than Trenton. No more consistent begetter of high-class racehorses ever stood in Victoria. At the time he bred Trenton Mr Morrin was a director of the New Zealand Stud Combany, and only bred on a small scale himself. He secured Wellington Park in 1890, and it has only taken him eight years to bring the stud to the present pitch of perfection. The property consists of 500 acres, subdivided into 40 small paddocks, all fenced with those scoria walls which are seen all round Auckland. It is grand country for horse-breeding, well sheltered, free from frosts, and the weather is

mild even in the depth of winter. There is a reservoir at the back of the house, from which every paddock is supplied with water, and whenever you go the stock look in the best of health and condition. All these natural advantages would have never gained Wellington Park its world-wide reputation if the management had not been in the hands of a thoroughly practical man. Not only does Mr Morrin practice the maxim that “ if you want a thing well done do it yourself ” in paying close attention to the management of his horses, but he is an exceedingly shrewd man, with very common-sense ideas as to how a good horse should be bred. No “chance” bred horses or mares are allowed at Wellington Park. Nearly every mare on the place is a winner-producer herself, or is a close descendant of a mare that has bred good winners. Mr Morrin is thoroughly aware of the folly of breeding from cheap mares. A man who has only himself to please may experiment in this way, but Mr Morrin has to cater for the taste of buyers, and he must give them yearlings about which there is not much chance. That he has succeeded in doing this results show. Wellington Park bred ones have pretty well, farmed the stake races in New Zealand for the last few years and they have taken their shape of the good things in Australia At the present time no studmaster in Australia can command such prices as Mr Morrin. The 1,000 guineas given by Laac Foulsham for Frailtyls colt last January more than doubles the price given for any Australian youngster this autun n, and he looks worth every shilling of the money.

One thing surprised me at Wellington Park. It was the number of mares in the stud. I had no idea that Mr Morrin had as many as fifty—-forty-five were put to the horse last season. This seems rather an unwieldy number, but there is so much racing in New Zealand, and so few breeders for sale, that even the le-ser lights command a ready sale, and in a matter of this kind Mr Morrin may be backed to be the best judge of what pays him. However, as I have said before, no mare is countenanced at Wellington Park that is not bred in the purple, and it would never do for Mr Morrin to let the daughters of Frailty, Ouida, and Necklace leave the stud. In the first paddock we entered were several young mares in foal for the first time. The first pointed out was Forma, a sister to Multiform,-who won some good races during the two seasons she was on the turf. She is now in foal to St. leger. Edith Cureton, by Castor from Frailty, is not a mare to gush over from the appearance point of view, but what a bred one she is ! lam not an admirer of Castor as a sire of racehorses, but he may get brood mares just as Gang Forward did. He possesses the blood and the quality. All that is wanted with his mares is stoutness on the side of the sire, and Hotchkiss should supply this. Janet, by Castor from Cissy (daughter of Frailty), is another highly-bred mare, who has been to Hotchkiss, and so has St. Evelyn, a daughter of St. Leger and Lady Evelyn, the dam of Hermosa, the crack two-year-old of the North Island.

These are four beautifully-bred young mares. In the next paddock was Rose of Wellington, the dam of True Blue and Screw Gun. This mare is by St. Leger — Flenrette, by Robinson Crusoe —Rose of Denmark, by Stockwell- Marchioness, by Melbourne —Cinizelli, by Touchstone. It is a pretty pedigree, and her first foal was True Blue, while her third was Screw Gun, the 770guinea colt I saw at Mr Stead’s place. Like Tinfinder, The Fawn, Ada, and many other famous brood mares, Rose of Wellington is not a big mare, but she is thick set with rare quality, and having seen both, I can say that the yearling Screw Gun is wonderfully like her. In Rose of Wellington’s pedigree Touchstone occurs seven times, Stockwell three times, and grand old Fisherman three times. Hazel, a full sister to Strathmore, is a fine mare, and so is Bangle, a daughter of Locket, one of the most successful brood mares ever imported into New Zealand. Agnes, by St. Leger from Lovebird, by Maccaroni, is a young mare whose first foal, by Cuirassier, was sold at the last sale. Lady Wellington, by Musket from Rosalie, by Patriarch from Flying Doe, by The Premier, is a good-looking mare, who has not yet had much luck at the stud, but her last yearling was by St. Leger, and MrMorrin expects her to do well with this horse. Aida, by Leolinus from L’Orient, by Knight of the Crescent, is one of the oldest mares in the

stud, and she is beginning to dip. Aida is the dam of Impulse and a half-sister to L’Orientale, the dam of Daunt, who has thrice beaten Gold Medallist. I was rather anxious to see Bianca, as I have taken a fancy to her chestnut daughter which Foulsham bought in January. She is a blood-like mare, with length and room, going back to Ragpicker, by Fisherman from Juliet. This filly of Foulsham’s is Bianca’s first produce to St. Leger, and his Stockwell blood on Yattendon and Fisherman should just suit her. Brown Alice, by Nordenfeldt from Ouida, has hardly started her stud career. Yattaghan, by Nordenfeldt from Yattacy, by Yattendon, is a fine mare, and she was the last w>e saw in this paddock. Most of the" foals had been weaned about a week before my visit. They were all housed in the boxes adjoining the saleyard, and some of them had not yet reconciled themselves to the loss of their mothers. Apparently Mr Morrin has had a good season, many of his crack mares being represented, and there will be about twentyfive yearlings for the sale in January. Rose of Wellington’s filly, an all-chestnut sister to Screw/? Gun, promises to grow into a good likeness of her brother. The sister to Multiform is a very fine foal, and should be one of the cracks of the sale. The filly by St. Leger from Bangle was pointed out as Mr John Crozier’s piek. I doubt if she will be a big one, but she locks like being very fast. Sapphire, the dam of Bluefire, has a well-grown bay, with white heels, by St. Leger, and there is a big, raking chestnut colt by Hotchkiss from Weasel, whose great-grandam is Waimea, by Sir Hercules from Flora Me Ivor, by Rous Emigrant. The beautifully turned little chestnut by St. Leger from Lady Evelyn is full sister to the flying Hermosa, and there is a big, raking, blaze-faced chestnut by St. Leger from Hazel. A big black by Cuirassier from Valentinia comes from the sau.e iuimly ao Euroclydon, a very fine horse, and one of the best performers in New Zealand during the last few years. Turning to the colts, there was a smart-looking brown by St. Leger from Bianca. A chestnut, with a blaze and two hind stockings, by St. Leger from Lady Emily, by Castor from Lady Wellington, looks promising, but in the next box there was a better one. This was a bay, with a star and a half-stocking on the near hind leg, by St. Leger from Necklace. This is a very fine foal. A big chestnut by St. Leger from Forme should make a crack yearling, and another that took-my fancy was a brown by Hotchkiss from Queen Cole, by King Cule. Then came a true Cuirassier in a gigantic black colt, with great knees and hocks, out of Rubina, the dam of Florrie and Launceston. Leaving these foals, we made for the boxes where the stallions are housed, and on the way saw a remarkably nice young mare in Armilia, a sister to Cravat and very like him. Armilia’s character on the turf is better than Cravat’s. She begins stud life next season, and is very likely to-come to Australia on a visit, to Bill of Portland. The stallions are lodged in a substantial stonebuilding. The boxes are.very roomy, and tbbre - are windows back and front, so that the horse can see what is going on outside. The first led out w r as St. Leger, by Doncaster from Atla'ntis. St. Leger, who is now 16 years old, was bred by the late Lord Falmouth, and came out with his dam to the Stud Company. I had always pictured St.. Leger as a small horse, but he stands just on 16 hands, and covers a lot of ground. He is a dappled chestnut, with the Stockwell mark firmly printed on the near quarter. His head is of the Stockwell type, ond indeed there is’a deal of Stockwell character about him all through." For a horse of his age, St. Leger is more “ dipped” than one would expect. When you get behind him his quarters and thighs are very muscular, but he is rather narrow on top. Altogether a nice horse, and his deeds speak for themselves. If he had never done more than get St. Hippo -/ (who ought to succeed him some day) he would have been credited with one of the best horses New Zealand has known, but he has Waiuku, St. Paul, and a host of lesser lights to his credit. St. Leger is the joint property of Mr Morrin and Mr Nathan, who gave 400 guineas for him at the Stud Company’s sale. The next led out was the neat little Castor, a bay, with black points, and all quality. Directly I saw him I knew where Astronomer and Cravat got their beads from. Castor has been the subject of many a discussion among New Zealand sporting men, and he has more enemies than friends. Mr W. R. Wilson brought out Castor and Eiridepord at the same time, and Mr Morrin, who was in Australia looking for a sire when they arrived, liked Castor, and gave £9OO for him. Amongst his first crop of yearlings were Astronomer, who brought 1,500 guineas, and Cravat, 1,050-guineas. As Mr Morrin says, Castor haspaid him well enough. His stock have won any number of races, and I have an idea that his mares will do well at the stud, but there is no denying the fact that with his opportunities Castor should have done better. Then came Hotchkiss, a magnificent rich brown horse, standing 17 hands, and I think the most evenly made big horse I ever saw. He girths 7ft, measures 54in round the thigh (Bin more than Musket), and B£in under the knee. He has a splendid forehand, very short back, and rare quarters, and it was a treat to see him move round the yard. He is as light on his feet as a pony. A better-proportioned big one cannot be imagined. And with all his size Hotchkiss gets nice sizeable stock of the wear-and-tear sort. The history of Hotchkiss is worth relating. When Musket died the Stud Company wanted to keep one of his yearlings as a sire, and in their paddocks they had at that time Carbine, Manton, Chainshot, and Hotchkiss. The directors deputed the late Major Walmsley (how fond all Aucklanders seem to have been of Major Walmsley) ' and Mr Morrin to make a choice from among the four. The decision came to was that whichever of the colts failed to reach 600 guineas should be retained. Hotchkiss’s size frightened buyers, and he failed to reach 600 guineas. The company sent Hotchkiss to be trained, but he never : raced. The danger of such a big fellow injuring his. legs did not seem worth risking, and after (he

had been broken in he was brought home. Mr Morrin bought him against his will, as it were. At the sale he bid 4,000 guineas for Nordenfeldt, but, seeing that it was no use opposing Mr Hordern, he left off bidding, and then got Hotchkiss for 355 guineas! From that day Nordenfeldt /" got nothing in the same elass as Strathmore, Zalinski, Carnage, and Havoc, whilst Hotchkiss has already sired Multiform, Uniform, True Blue, and Osculator. Mr Morrin was in luck’s way when he missed Nordenfeldt and got Hotchkiss. In a paddock near the stallions were some choice mares, among them Frailty, who is as in New Zealand —and Australia —as even Mersey or Sylvia. Frailty has undoubtedly ? been the chief factor—as far as any horse has been a factor -in making the Wellington Park ' stud. I need not go through the list of her progenv. She began in 1881 with Trenton, and her last, foal was the 1,000-guina colt, by Hotch7/ kiss, now in Foulsham’s stable. Frailty is a nice sized brown mare, full of quality, and, although she is 20 years of age, she certainly might be taken for eight or ten. Of a verity, this grand old dame is beautifully preserved, and she looks as good as she has proved herself. Mr Morrin got ’ Frailty for 95 guineas. A friend was going to Sydney at the time of the sales, and Mr Morrin marked two of Mr Frank Reynold’s fillies, and asked him to go to a certain price for him. One of them went beiond the reserve, but Frailty was / a little lame, and racing men did not want her. ’ Frailty never raced, and was only four years old when she. foaled Trenton. Some people think 1,000 guineas was a stiff price to give for a colt out of such an old mare, but, after seeing the k’7' mare,.and taking the youth and reputation of the *2 sire into account, I think the risk Foulsham took > was justified. Lady Cureton, like Frailty, is by K;.'? Goldsbrough, whose mares have been wonderfully successful at the stud and she is out of Mmgera, by Yattendon from The Fly, by Fisherman from . 1:. Marchioness, by Melbourne from Cinizelli, by Touchstone. I think she is one of the most -i.t. highly-prized mares in the stud. Necklace, a deep, roomy, brown mare, with some white about her, is another of the gems, and her colt foal by St. Leger may be the pick of next year’s yearlings. Formo, the dam of Multiform, is a very bloodlike little chestnut mare. Bruce Lowe, in his book, states that the 12 family, above all ■ others, stands inbreeding to itself, and the mating of Hotchkiss and Formo has borne out this theory. Mr Morrin could not have read Bruce Lowe when he put Formo to Hotchkiss, but he calculated that the pair should be put together /■ for the sake of blending their Oxford blood, and Forma, Uniform, and Multiform have been the result. Lady Walmsley, a big plain sister to '•*- Carbine, bears-no likeness to any other member of the Mersey family, and, so far, she has not done much good. ♦ Then in a box with her foal, I saw another celebrity in Oirida, a deep shouldered blood like black mare, with a splendid four-months’ old colt J■ by St. Leger. Judging by his hocks and knees, this fellow is going to make up into a big one, and already the stud groom talks of his likeness . Strathmore, his half-brother. Hilda, a daughter of Ouida, by Musket, was in the next box I should judge her to be the biggest mare . ' in bvery way I saw, and small , wonder she won lip to 10.5. She has a colt by St. Leger that looks good ; and Cissy, another slashing great mare, was attended by a grand-looking bay filly by Castor. This was the biggest foal of the lot, i-"' and evidently takes after its dam. On our way back to the house, Mr Morrin pointed out : - Sapphire, Pungawerewere, and Lady Evelyn. A Sapphire and Pungawerewere look very old, especially “ Punga,” but both are believed to be in foal this year. I did not see Onyx, for the simple reason that she had died some little time before my visit. Mr Morrin has two invaluable stud grooms in Jerry Keneally and Andrew ■ Cochrane. One has been in his service 21 years, ' /•< and the other 18 years. Wellington Park is a very compact place, and it does not take long to see that it is Scrupulously managed.