A VISIT TO YALDHURST.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 438, 15 December 1898, Page 13

A VISIT TO YALDHURST.

[By

Petronel.]

Yaldhurst is a magical name. The mere mention of the famous stable from which so many notable performers have gone forth to cover themselves with glory, is sufficient to make the ordinary man’s blood course a little quicker, but if one has anything approaching a regard for •thoroughbreds the sound of Yaldhurstoccasions something very much akin to emotion. At the present time Yaldhurst is in possession of probablyone of the best horses the New Zealand turf has known, besides numerous others of most aristocratic breeding; therefore, lam sure a brief account of a visit to Mr G. G. Stead’s training quarters will be of interest to readers of the Review. At Cup time “ Spectator” had promised to run me out to see Mr Mason and his charges, and on my return from the South I was not slow to avail myself of his offer. We rode behind a good old chestnut mare, a winner “ once upon a time,” and a great favorite with her master. ’Tis a pretty drive from Christchurch to Yaldhurst, though everlasting levelness of country may prove a trifle insipid to those hailing from the more lofty parts of the colony. All the same, there is a very English look about the district, and to one from the Old Land it is especially attractive. The willow-lined Avon is now lookzing at its best, and oaks and planes and other English trees, which border on either side of the Hospital road and ornament the Lagley Park, provide a sense of coolness which is more apparent than real to ourselves. Here and there we halt to get a glimpse of the river, with its lively little stretches beautifully shaded, and then again for a peep at the only native bush in Christchurch, round which a belt of English trees has been

planted as a necessary protection. Soon we are bowling along the straight and level Riccarton

road, and with just one stop at Mr Franks’ hos- - telry at our destination. We are sorry to find Mr Mason is confined to his room, but “Spectator” explains our mission, and after the horses return from work the head lad shows us round the stables. While “ Spectator” is talking o Mr Mason upstairs, I look at the portrait of

Spade Guinea, who won the New Zealand Cup of ’B6 for the owner of Yaldhurst; of Victoria, a workmanlike-looking grey; and of the late Mr Vallance, Mr Mason’s partner, who was drowned in a shipwreck upon the New Zealand coast. In the first box we visit is a three-year-old chestnut son of Blairgowrie out of Abydos, by old Nelson. He is a hardy-looking sort, with a strong set of legs. Mr Wilfred Stead has had a lot of work out of him in one week, having ridden him 300 miles.

Sant Ilario is in the next box, and the St. Leger —Cissy colt has grown into an immense fellow. Long, level, and very powerful, the bay must have rosy prospects before him. Ido not suppose he will be raced until the autumn, as owing to youthful ardor he scratched one of his hind feet jumping the water-race and fence. The accident will only delay his advent on the turf, upon which Sant Ilario should prove a shining light, and quickly gain the 900 guineas paid for him at the last Wellington Park sale. Nantes, a brown filly by Stepniak out of Huguenot, purchased by Mr Stead for 50 guineas as a yearling, is a pretty looking filly. She is entered in several races at the coming Auckland summer meeting. If ? istoi does not make the journey north, she wfil play a good second to Screw Gun. The filly looks a racer, and is bred well enough to win. Screw Gun, by Hotchkiss —Rose of Wellington, is the next one of note. The chestnut colt has made improvement since the metropolitan meeting, and I fancy Dan McLeod’s gallant little filly, Miss Delaval, will have her work cut out to take down the number of Mr Stead’s colt. Still we all known how well Seaton Delaval’s youngster finishes, and I hope a gallant struggle will be seen when they meet. The two-year-old gelding, Courtier, by St. Leger out of Adulation, is in the next box. A very powerful fellow this, showing a tremendous amount of bone. He is a fine specimen of the thoroughbred, and like all inmates of Yaldhurst possesses a very taking manner. “.Here’s the crack,” says the boy, and as the door of his box opens Multiform turns a lazy, enquiring eye in our direction. The son of Hotchkiss and Formo is not looking so big as when he won the Canterbury Cup, and hie appearance is all the better for being a little finer in condition. Aucklanders will see a great horse in the Auckland Plate, and will be able to judge for themselves as to whether I err when I say I have never seen a more intelligent looking animal. His head is simply beautiful, and he has his sire’s full mane. He has superb shoulders, almost as wide as that of a fatted bullock, and perfect quarters. Some judges do not like Multiform’s forelegs, but they have never interfered with his galloping power, and handsome is as handsome does.

After Multiform we interviewee Albiir, the Canterbury Derby winner. He has almost completely i ecovered from the accident which prevented him starting in the >ew Zealand Cup, and by the lime he reaches Auckland to try conclusions with Bluejacket, Explosion, and Co , I should say he will be in good trim. Part of his foot was cut clean away, and it speaks well for the gameness of Dajstar’s full-brother when we, remember how bravely he accomplished his task in the Derby. Now for Conqueror. It will be remembered how the Medallion —Siesta colt broke down in the Champagne Stakes at the Canterbury Autumn Meeting Conqueror has been out in a paddock until quite recently. He is now in gentle work, and it is to be hoped that his recovery is permanent, for a finer looking three-year-old it would be difficult to find. He has developed wonderfully, and is now an immensely powerful horse with grand shape and splendid carriage. His legs and feet appear to be as sound as a bell, and beyond vissble signs of firing there is nothing in appearance to lead me to suppose that a resurrected cripple was being inspected. Of course he has been training himself in a paddock, and I hope sincerely that all will continue well with him.

Motto, by Medallion out of Marion, we now pay our respects to. The chestnut victrix in the Canterbury Oaks is in blooming health and condition, She will make the journey to Dunedin, and I expect she will make a bold bid for victory in the Otago Cup. She has only 7.7 to carry, and as she has shown ability she should make an excellent fight with Fulmen and Dundas. It is rather curious that Motto was to have been sold last autumn when Mr Stead had his usual weeding out sale. The filly had no shoes on at the time, and that fact caused her to remain at Yaldhurst. Such is the luck of the squire. A nice cut of a colt is Skobeloff, by Stepniak, and St. Lucia, by St. Leger out of Hilda, is a pretty filly. Tolstoi, by Stepniak—Fairy Maid, Screw Gun’s conqueror at the metropolitan meeting, was enjoying himself in a paddock, and Benzoin, by Friar’s Balsam from a Bendigo Lady Paramount mare, was also taking the air. He is a lop-eared brown of small size, but he showed pace in the Stewards’ Handicap. Mr Mason’s place is a charming one. He has a beautifnl little garden, with heaps of roses and a pretty lawn, where I suppose the cracks have paraded atfdifferent times before admiring critics. Going home we drove through Fendalton, one of the choicest suburbs in Christchurch. It was a delightful drive, and a fit ending to a splendid afternoon.