MR S. H. GOLLAN'S ESTABLISHMENT AT MANGAT ARATA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 412, 16 June 1898, Page 11

MR S. H. GOLLAN'S ESTABLISHMENT AT MANGAT ARATA.

[By Our Napier Correspondent.]

Knowing that the above gentleman had a large collection of nice brood mares with several stallions and numerous young stock located upon his property, I made arrangements with Mr De Pelichet, the manager of the estate, to review them, and on arriving at the Waipukurau Railway Station the other morning I found that a buggy was in waiting to convey me to Mangataratu, which is situated about five miles distant. During the course of our drive I found that my guide, Mr George Smith, was a perfect encyclopedia as regards all mutters connected with sport, and he gave me lots of information regarding the doings of bygone heroes

and heroines in the world of sport away back in the early times of the game in New Zealand. ’Tis said “ a rolling stone gathers no moss,” but there is a good old proverb, just as trite and true, which says that the same stone gets a lot of polish. As regards Smi’h, this I consider very applicable, as he has roamed over the land from north and south, and he is a perfect storehouse of stories anent. turfy doings in the great old days. Reaching the homestead I was soon introduced to Fountain Lunn, a Christchurch bred man, who is in charge of the thoroughbreds, and his genial, courteous manner to me soon put the pair of us on a very g‘ od understanding. That I found him a pleasant companion through my afternoon’s wandering amongst his charges goes without saying, and 1 hope that he may long continue to direct and guide the large number of animals entrusted to his care.

“ As we have got a tidy afternoon’s task before us, we will look over the stallions before lunch,” is how my guide opened up the subject, and he led the way to their boxes. Do you know this fellow,” he said, as the door of the box opened, showing a beautiful looking chestnut. Just at the moment I did rot recognise Jet d’Eau, who has furnished into a lordly looking sire. How well 1 remember him carrying his owner to victory in a welter race at Wellington some years back. The circumstance is impressed upon my mind because upon that occasion I backed his stable comrade, Kimberly, who was ridden by Mr E. O’Rourke, and who got second money, Norton being third. Little things like these impress themselves upon the unfortunate punter’s mind as a rule. I know they do upon my mind, anyhow. Cadogan’s golden-coated son looks in great heart, and in Tirant d’Kau he has proved his ability to produce something that can gallop. Captain Webb is stationed in the next box, and what a massive muscular horse he is since his letirement from active participation in the arena. He seems to have grown all over —the beau ideal of a stud horse from the top ot his well-formed, intelligent head to his tail. His coming cr< p of youngsters should prove something removed from the ordinary, the running blood that chases through his veins being of the best blend, and one has only got to recall the performances of that sterling mare Dudu (his half sister by a Traducer sire), Eclat, Prestige, and his full sister, Famous, to be convinced that galloping is one of the strong points of the family. The aristocratically formed Bonnie Scotland is the remaining sire quartered here, and in appearance he quite demonstrates thathe has been born in the purple. The choice amalgamation of blood that one finds in bis pedigree should surely ensure successful results if properly picked, and though it is oft times a long, patient task to discover what mating is the most suitable, there is not the slightest doubt that at Mangatarata St. George’s handsome son will have the best of opportunities. After discussing lunch, which the keen country air had given one an excellent appetite for, I was introduced to Ballinger, the rising five-year-old full-brother to Wakelyn. Standing quite seventeen hands high and well formed in proportion, he looks thd model of a hurdler. He did duty during the afternoon as Lunn’s hack, and his springy, sweeping strides impressed me most favorably. It will doubtless be remembered by my readers that when in training in Victoria as a two-year-old that he went slightly wrong, but the long spell has removed all traces of his infirmity, and I expect that in the future we shall again see him taking his place under the starter’s direction. My companion says there is no doubt about his ability to jump, and should he triumphantly cope with the ordeal entailed by training tasks, he ought to give his defunct sire, Dreadnought, a fillip in the winning sire list. Ival, an old-time hurdle exponent, I saw standing in a stall. He is now used as a station hack, and seems to wear well upon the treatment.

A shift was now made to where the foals were running in a well-protected grass paddock, adjoining which is a splendid lot of roomy and lofty boxes for their housing at night-time. Robert McCarthy (by Robinson Crusoe —Florence McCarthy) stands out head and shoulders above his companions as regards quality and good looks, and he is decidedly the show item of this paddock. In color a bay with a white blaze, two white hind feet, and a similar colored off fore foot, and a couple of white markings on his

flanks, he ie a colt who excites admiration by hie < splendid conformation and noble appearance, looking as he does every inch a king. If he does not gallop then I am no judge, as he possesses all essential features that point to galloping proclivities. Locbiel’s half-sister, Princess Helen, is rep- • sented by a compact little black colt, with a white star, by Captain Webb: He is a nervous, fidgety • customer, but time will probably efface this fail ing. He is endowed with good quarters and a nice back, and should prove a worthy scion of such illustrious parentage A massive-built, well- ■■ formed young-’un is the dark brown son of Captain Webb from Tally-ho’s dam. That bold, intelligent head that forms one of the Captain’s most prominent features is here found in his son. Unfortunately, he got into a wire fence at an early period of his existence, which has blemished one of his hind legs. Still, though not nice to look at, I do not think it will interfere with his • means of progression in the display of pace. Nelson’s half-sister, Miss Dargon’s (Marquis — My Idea), bay, black-pointed filly by Captain Webb is adorned with a faint white star. She is a bonny little damsel, brimful of good looks and quality, and the Yattendon, Marquis, Painter, and Traducer combination surely should be productivo of good results. The half-brother to that good mare, Daphne, by Captain Webb from Violet, who is by Vasco-de-Gama from Primrose, whose sons and daughters (Pinroee, Penrose, Primula, and Bush Rose) have earned good credentials at the racing game, is a brown with a well defined blaze, his near fore coronet being also white. A big, good-looking chap, with lots of power, he ought to develop into a good one. The masculine head of his sire is wanting from his anatomy, its place being taken up by a very small effeminate head. Still, they do not gallop with their heads, therefore this failing can be easily passed over. The dark brown, big-starred colt from Lady Florin by Captain Webb is an exceptionally well constructed specimen, and gives promise of growing into a big horse like his relation, Ballinger. One standing over a lot of. ground is the well-formed, chestnut son of tbe Nordenfeldt mare Cartouche. He is plentifully sprinkled with white, his near fore and two hind feet being of that color, and he has also a big blaze. His granddam pn the mother’s side produced to Musket that brilliant horse Manton, who annexed tbe “ triple crown” at Riccarton in 1888, and as Cartouche is a more than halfsister to that celebrity, the coupling of the Traducer and Painter strains with such good running blood should be conducive to excellent results. Jet d’Eau’s dark brown son from Bonny Idee, another of Nelson’s half sisters, she being by Nordenfeldt from My Idea, is an excellent ‘ formed, good boned colt, with a hard wear andtear look about him. As Tirant d’Eau is from

a Nordenfeldt mare by the same sire, it is only natural to conclude that the union of somewhat similar strains in this instance will be responsible for another such good one as the pony Tirant d’Eau has proved himself to be. Leoni’s contribution to the contingent is a brown filly, with a faint white star, by Captain Webb She is. a looce-built, well-proportioned yonng lady, and as her dam is a full-sister to Tigredia, dam of the

speedy I'igress, it will be seen that her connections are endowed with courage and pace. The careful and kind method in which all these youngs sters are done by is evinced by the manner in which they roll up at the command of their pre-/ ceptor, who experienced no difficulty whatever in getting them to pair off and enter the different boxes for inspection. Get the youngsters to have confidence in you, seems to be the key-note of this establishment.

Having got through with the foals, a short ride brought us to where Florence McCarthy and her daughter Bessie McCarthy were running. The: old lady appears a trifle dotty, as she is twenty years of age this may be looked for. Her daughter has developed into a fine, roomy, handsome matron. Both of these mares visited Apremont this season, and appearances denote that their errand has been successful. Another daughter of Florence McCarthy, Athole, produced Dunkeld to the French bred sire, and-he had the reputation of being very fast, so that the results of Bessie McCarthy’s union with Apremont will be looked for with interest. Some three miles or so distant were located another batch of brood mares, and we were soon under weigh to inspect them. Arriving at their feeding ground they came round us like a lot of pets each one anxious to receive the caresses of their guardian, who fondled them in a most fatherly manner. The mares quartered in this spot consist of Lady Florin, Leoni, Bonny Idee, Cartouche, Miss Dargon, Violet, and Princess Helen, all of whom are in foal to Captain Webb, who, it will be observed, has been given a firstrate opportunity. Tiraillerie and Freda are also rnnning here, and look as if their visit to St. Leger will prove fruitful. What a rare strain of aristocratic, fashionable blood the offspring of these two beautifully-bred mares will possess. Accompanying the mares are a couple of rising four-year-old geldings. The chestnut Mousqueton (by Mousquetaire—Mies Dargon), who is oma- . mented with four white feet and a star, shows a lot of power and quality, being well ribbed up and nicely quartered. Mangatarata, the black son of Mousquetaire and Princess Helen, is a sturdy, compact, level-constructed chap, who one would pick as a weight carrier. The rising two-year-olds were next paid a visit to. They consist of seven fine, well-grown samples, my choice being the, chestnut filly by Mousquetaire from Florence McCarthy, who is an exceptionally good looking, well formed filly, and presents the appearance of a galloper. Some time back she got badly cut about in the wire fences, and it was thought at the time that she would not survive, but happily she-eame through all right, and though still bearing marks of the encounter her accident has had no otherwise detrimental effect upon her. Mangatarata’s full brother is very like him, and though of smaller build than the Florence McCarthy filly, is beautifully put together. Not a fault is to be found with his construction, and Lunn informed me

that he he heads off all his mates when they indulge in a scamper round the paddock. Nelson s sister, I ady Hamilton, is represented by a dark bay gelding by Mousquetaire. He is a stylish level-built fellow, and his appearance is suggestive of pace. A hardy-looking one is the dark brown filly by Mousquetaire from Kie Kie, by Lord of the Isles from Toi, who never threw a bad one, and this youngster is full of promise. The halfbrother to Daphne by Mousquetaire is a nice bay, with a white off hind foot and blaze. Built on powerful lines, he should turn out useful. Forlorn Hope’s (by Artillery or St. George from Escalade, who claims Vanguard as a halfbrother), brown, black-pointed son by Jet d’Eau is an upstanding, strong, powerful looking colt, and presents the appearance of wearing well as his feet and legs look of the best. Tirant d’Eau was the outcome of Jet d’Eau’s consorting with a daughter of one of Musket’s sons and if we take Artillery as the sire of Escalade, the extra blend of good blood that she possesses should tend to make the colt under criticism an extra good one' The final one of this bunch is the daughter of Miss Dargon by Mousquetaire, a bay 'in colour. She is very nicely constructed, showing heaps of quality, and fills the eye as one who is blessed with all the attributes which mark the possessors of pace. Another ride of about four miles landed us amongst another bevy of stud matrons, the first to come under notice being Fair Nell, who is in foal to Captain Webb, her coat and general appearance denoting the best of health. The good looking Forlorn Hope, who is browsing near by, has also been associated with Natator’s son this season, and she shows unmistakeable gigns of being in foal. Not far away is the handsome Iphimede, who looked as queenly as she did when engaged at the racing game. She is in foal to Bonnie Scotland. The pet of the paddock Tireuee, with her aristocrat ie appearance and affable manner, is the next to be seen. She formed one of Captain Whbb’s harem this year, and is undoubtedly in foal. Escalade, who, since she slipped twin foals to Medallion three years ago, has never bred since, appears as if her mating with Strephon will prove successful. Lady Hamilton’s appearance is also suggestive that her visit to. Bonnie Scotland will turn out profitable. Martini-Enfield’s half-sister, Julia, by Ingomar, availed herself of Captain Webb’s services this season, but it is doubtful if she is in.foal. Kie Kie and Tally-Ho’s dam (a Puriri mare) are both in foal to Captain Webb. These pair of mares are of the useful stamp, and should produce something favorable. Namoa, by hordenfeldt from Tres Deuce, is attended by a chestnut yearling filly by Jet d’Eau. She is one of- twins, the other having died at birth, and this youngster had the misfortune to get badly mangled in a wire fence, which has, judging by ■ appearances, completely destroyed all chance of her ever making a name for herself upon the racing path. Another daughter of F amoa’s is the four-year-old brown filly by Chester’s son, Oarlyon. What a picture she is to look at, and what a pity it is that she broke down. The near foreleg, which was the cause of her downfall, looks very thick and bulkv, I am afraid that her connections with the Turf in the future will be confined to breeding pursuits. As she was bred to a real good one, her retirement is to be deplored. Running together with these mares was a yearling bay gelding by Bonnie Scotland from a hack mare, who should develop into a serviceable hack or harness horse, taking his present favorable appearances as a criterion, aud a yearling filly by Jet d’Eau from a Forerunner mare. The latter of these two is a grand advertisement for her sire, showing as she does a power of good looks, and her movements about the paddock lead one to think that; she will be able to use her legs to advantage. In a distant paddock were located Tiraliment, the three year old son of Mousquetaire and Florence McCarthy, and Mousquet,., a similaraged son of Mousquetaire from Fair Nell. Both of these horses have not been long gelded, and it is, only a question, of time as regards their taking up the active pursuits of the game again. Their cessation of labor was caused by their both going slightly amiss while in training at Hastings. Time Would not, pejagait me paying my respects toithem, nor did I see Overture (by Forerunner —Forest Queen), who is in foal to Captain Webb, for the same reason.

On my way back to the homestead I fell in with three old-timers, viz., Silence, The Mute— Marie Antoinette gelding; Kimberley, Armourer’s dun-coated son, and Satyr, the Leolinus—Naiad horse who formed one of George Wright’s team some years ago, when Satyr was engaged at the jumping business. Hickey, who is at present in England with Mr Gollan’s horses, owns the Leolinus chap. The trio are being hacked about, and in their new sphere of life acquit themselves admirably. In conclusion, I must tender many thanks to Messrs Smith and Lunn for the interesting information that they gave me, and sincerely hope that during the coming season their labors will bear good fruit.