AROUND THE ELLERSLIE STABLES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 409, 26 May 1898, Page 12

AROUND THE ELLERSLIE STABLES.

MR A. C. CAULTON’S"The heavy weather of the past week prevented an extended ramble round the Ellerslie Stables, bpt in the course of our wanderings we called, upon Mr Alick Caulton, whose boxes afford shelter to that sterling bit of horseflesh, Porangi. Potae. The usual chetry greeting awaited us, and going at once to business, we found the young trainer hard at work upon a big raking brown mare, known to the public as Katoomba. This - < mare is an aged daughter of Tetford (Musket — Pungawerewere) and a Kingfisher mare. Katoomba is destined for the jumping business, and is a fine, lengthy, upstanding animal, though perhaps not as well ribbed up as we like to see in jumping classes. In show ground contests we find that Katoomba has a first-class record. That the mare-can stand hard work is proved by her splendid set of legs, and as Caulton, junr., has had Katoomba schooling over Ellerslie fences in company with the Gisborne horse Charcoal, and got over in fine style, it is safe to predict that we shall hear of Tetford’s daughter in the near future. An old friend of the racing public comes next in The Sharper, a black gelding by Kalo (Yattendon —Gipsy Girl). The veteran black is just now in great heart, and we fancy we detect a smile of confidence upon the face of his trainer as he speaks of coming events. The Sharper is not one of the handsomest horses in the land, but handsome is as handsome does. With plenty of pace and great jumping abilities, he should pay his oat bill before long, though the chances are against his owner ever getting such a big dividend chance (£200) as upon a former occasion, when •- S; he was beaten by a neck. ' ' , The queen of the establishment comes next in Porangi Potae, the well-known bay daughter of Castor and Madcap. Not a big one by any means this Porangi, but every bit of her is useful. With a good constitution, a good set of legs, and no lumber to carry, Madcap’s honest daughter causes her trainer but little trouble. . We unfortunately saw the little mare at a bad time, as she had not v." recovered from the effects of a slight chill incurred at Takapuna on Saturday last; but still there could not have been much amiss, as she was full of life, and inclined to be very playful with her hind feet, but as her mentor said, “ it

wks all play,” Madcap, the dam of Porangi Potae, was bred at the Glasgow Stud Farm in 1873, and was purchased by the late Sir Hercules Robinson for the Auckland Stud Company at the late Mr Blenkiron’s sale in 1880. She was by Trumpeter (Orlando—Cavatina) from a daughter of Young Melbourne (son of Clarissa) and Maid of Masham, by Don John from Miss Lydia, by Belshazzer. This breeding is hard to beat, and when her racing career is over Porangi should earn fame as a stud matron. Being sound in wind and limb, there is lots of racing in front of Castor’s honest daughter, and it may be that we shall have the pleasure of recording a good win for the owner of the “ all rose pink” before many weeks pass by. Such a win would be decidedly popular, for both Caulton, senr., and Caulton, junr., are favorites. These are the only animals in training in the Caulton stables just now, and after a look around, and an inspection of some horsey pictures, we journeyed on to the establishment presided over by MR ROBERT HALL. ■ At present Mr Hall, who, by the way, is a capable cross-country horseman, has but two horses in full work, and three others doing the free-and-easy business. The first animal to come under notice was the well-known mare Korowai, by Hotchkiss from Mantilla, by Anteros from Matana, by Goldsbrough from Seabreeze, by The Barb from Mermaid, by Fisherman (imp.) from Sweetheart, by Red Hart. On the score of breeding, Korowai stands second to no animal in New Zealand, as on the dam’s side she runs back to some of the most famous and most valued lines in Australia, while the Hotchkiss and Anteros blood needs no praise at our hands. That Korowai can “ gallop some” is proved by her three wins over the Avondale course. Just now her trainer has. her very well, and ere these lines appear, the public will have seen her at Takapima. At first glance Korowai appears to be on the small side, but this is not so, as she stands fully 15.1, and is a powerful mare when viewed from behind. Her legs are of the best, and being blessed with a nice even temper, she causes her trainer but little anxiety. After her racing career is over Korowai should make a valuable brood mare. The aptly-named jumper, Itch, comes next, and ho is a useful looking customer. By The Mute from Scratch is his breeding, and on the sire’s side it is 0.K., for The Mute was by Fireworks (son of Kelpie) from Fenella, who was a fullsister to the famous Maribyrnong. Itch is trained upon the same principle as the Gisborne horse Charcoal, viz., by having the run of the paddock during the day time. Itch may not be a brilliant animal, but he certainly looks like a cut and come again sort. Running in a paddock near the stables was a slashing chestnut yearling by Hotchkiss from Pandora. 'lbis youngster is highly thought of by both owner and trainer. A brown two-year-old by Blairgowrie from Pandora keeps the chestnut company, but the brown is not .in the same street as the chestnut in either shape or make. Like most of the Blairgowrie tribe, she is lightfleshed and narrow to follow; yet they race in all shapes, and it may be that this brown will show us some of the great pace of her sire. The last to come under notice is a brown gelding named Reaction, by Blairgowrie from Reproach, a mare who is a half-sister to St. Paul’s dam, Satanella. A twist in the off fore leg gives Reaction a most comical appearance when moving fast,, yet we are told he can gallop all right. As he is, well known to racegoers, nothing further need be said about Reaction. Although numerically Mr Hall’s string is not a strong one, he has some good stuff to work on, and we hope it will not be long ere he leads in a winner. Everything connected with the stable is kept in apple-pie order. Indeed, this seems (unlike many more pretentious places in the other colonies), seems to be the rule around Ellerslie.