The Stud

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 475, 31 August 1899, Page 13

The Stud

TE MAHANGA STUD.

[By Oub Napieb Cobbespondent.]

This well-known establishment was the scene of my labors the other day. Labor is rather a hard word to use, for my short stay was made so pleasant by Mr J. Douglas, who now reigns as director and controller of the estate, that it was more like pleasure than work to ramble through fine, roomy, well-watered, and richly-grassed paddocks, viewing the thoroughbgeds that are congregated there. Some rare good performers—not only on the turf in this fair land, but in other colonies —first saw the light at Te Mahanga, and though the originator of the stud has passed the great divide, his son will evidently follow in hi

footsteps and spare no expense, care, or trouble in maintaining the high prestige that has been won by the horses bred on this estate. Passing through the stables on my way to the paddocks, I renewed my acquaintance with Mutiny, Penrose, Nectar, Fortrose, and Chris. The quintette are now engaged in the useful though lowly calling of hacks, and the whole bunch look as hardy as a packet of tacks. The first named is exalted over his companions, for one of the Misses Douglas rides him. “ None but the brave deserve the fair ” is an apt quotation, and I am sure that Mutiny has proved that his bravery and pluck is of no mean order, and therefore he is entitled to the honor that has been conferred upon him. Jeuzail, in foal to Mahaki, with Christina and Honeysuckle, who show sij?ns that their consorting with Torpedo will shortly prove productive, are the three first brood mares that I have to bow acknowledgment to. Judging from their looks and contented manner, they have been well done by. Keeeping them company was a three-year-old half sister to Mutiny by Torpedo. She is a rare nice filly, though somewhat undersized, with a bide full of good looks. She has been broken in, but I was informed that racing would not be her vocation, as it is intended to keep her for breeding only. Eleven yearling fillies were disporting themselves in an adjoining enclosure, where the feed was of the beet and the shelter of the finest. A racy-looking brown, with a white star and white stockings on her hind legs, came forward as we entered the paddock. She looked a perfect lady, and I was not at all surprised’at that when I was told that her dam was the Wellington Park bred mare, Maud (St. Leger —Hilda), and her sire Robinson Crusoe’s shapely son, Q.uilt. Truly, the Robinson Crusoe and St. Leger blends have produced an harmonious picture, and one whose appearance denotes that she can gallop. A good, honest, well-knit filly by Waterfall from Parlor Maid (by Mute —Maid of All Work, by Walton) is a bay in color, and is blessed with fine, sweeping, well let down hind-quarters, and lots of range. The chestnut filly by Quilt from Waikaha (by Torpedo—Cascade) does not present such pleasant features as some of her associates, but ’tis well and truly said at times that beauty is only skin deep, and perchance this rather plain youngster will be able to foot it as merrily as some of those whose attractions are more marked than hers. Rivulet, the half sister to her dam, gave the turf a pair of hummers in Ihe Brook and Brooklet, and the Musket-cum-Robinson Crusoe infusion has heaps of points in its favor. A thick-set, good-limbed, bay juvenile is the Torpedo—Rivulet damsel. She is, therefore, a full sister to The Brook, Brooklet, and The Shannon, and though her :stature is not of the most massive description, she is endowed with a lot of high-class attributes, her back and quarters especially standing out well. Another representative of the Cascade family in Waipurata’s (Torpedo— Cascade) daughter by Quilt strolls up. A brown with two white hind feet and a star, she is a rare legged young ’un, with well-rounded ribs, and back like a hoard

A bay daughtrr by Waterfall from Javeline (Javelin —Maid of All Work) is a tasty specimen with good sloping shoulders, massive quarters, and legs of the very best. Maori Belle’s (Pi-catorius —Black Belle) offspring, by Waterfall, is one of the big sort, and towers over her companion as regards size. She was an early foal, aid evidently made a good start, and has kept going well ever since. Though massive, she is not ungainly, as ofttimes a lot of these larges ones are. Her understandings are in keeping with her body, and her general outlook is of the best.

The brown - coated daughter of Quilt and Young Uira (Torpedo —Lira) is a comely, good proportioned sort, with a nice rein and even rounded quarters. Hei’ dam is a full sister to Uila, <he black mare that won a double at the last Napier Park meeting; ard the Robinson Crusoe blending on that strain surely ought to be productive of something smart and serviceable.

The Brook’s first production is a neat lined filly, by Quilt, who is not so far advanced as her comrades, and therefore does not present so attractive an appearance.

A brown filly by Torpedo — Lady’s Maid (Mute - Maid of All Work) is anoiher first foal, and is a wee body ; but though a diminutive sort, she has got a heap of good points, for she is well coupled and endowed with good quarters fore and aft The bay filly by Quilt —Jeuzail (Musket — Hannah, by Traducer) is, outside of the Maud filly, the pick of the company, according to my idea. There is not a faulty line in her construction, and look at her from whichever point you may the verdict is just the same —perfection. Her aristocratic and blood like appearance should make her a much sought after parcel at the annual sale next March, and her breeding is of such a class that on that score no cavilling should be found, for have not those corner stones of the turf in the colonies Musket, Traducer, and Robinson Crusoe all played a part in her production. That this strain can gallop is shown by the performances of her full sinter Undine, who has often been returned a winner in good company. Jeuzail’s full sister Discard produced Arihi, a Maribyrnong Plate winner, and the Harbour Light is also a son of Discard, so that successful running blood is well represented in Jeuzail’s progeny.

The masculine yearlings, ten in number, were located in close proximity to the fillies, and I speedily got going amongst them. A good gaited brown, by Quilt from Basilisk (1 orpedo—Bonny Blink, by Cadogan), first offered himself for inspection, and the way he moved in a short spin showed that he is facile princeps in the art of galloping. He evidently enjoyed it, and looked as if it did him good, for at the conclusion of his sprint he appeared to brighten up greatly. He is a good sort, nice to follow, with a deep chest, and fine propelling hind-quarters.

There is a lot of daylight under the Quilt — Waiua (Torpedo — Cascade) youngster, but he is built just the way that suggests that he will furnish into a useful sort. Despite his stilty appearance, he is not a slab-sided chap, as a lot of these leggy fellows generally are, and this makes me hope for improvement on his behalf. The bay white-starred son of Quilt and la is put together in an even, true way, and has a lot of splendid features to recommend him, his back, quarters and barrel leaving nothing to be desired. His head is cast in a very effeminate mould, and at the first glance he would easily pass muster for one of the gentler sex. Primrose, the prolific, and not one of whose progeny has turned out bad, has a bay colt by Waterfall here representing her. He did not look over gay or joyous, and perhaps I caught him on a bad day for him. Like all of this mare’s throwing he is a great barrelled customer, with those strong active quarters that are to be found in Pinrose, Bush Rose, Penrose, Primula and Co. In conformation he greatly resembles his relative Pinrose, and those who remember this still constituted fellow know what sort of a pearl he was at his best, his connection’s deeds should certainly attract attention to him when he is led in for disposal. A brown who claims Quilt and Vista (Torpedo —Bonny Blink) as his parents, is a good boned, well-formed edition, with a freedom about his movements that betokens a possession of that desirable commodity, pace. An exceptionally fine colt is the Torpedo—--ZEgyptilla (by Ingomar—Onyx) youngster, and a regular chip of the old block in appearance. A back like a castle, quarters like a draught horse, with nothing cumbersome about them, splendid legs, and great rounded ribs like a barrel, are the cardinal points in his structure. His full brother, Sarda, was, so his trainer said, one of the best colts that ever he handled, and a few good ones have passed through his hands. Unfortunately he died when undergoing his preparation for the New Zealand Cup three seasons ago, and his private reputation could never bs gaueed in public, which was bad luck for this stud. The half brother to this lot, Waterstone, is a fine-sooking horse, and one who has proved that he is an all-right one at the galloping industry. A bright bay, with white blaze, by Quilt from Aio (Mute —Waitiri) is a condensed parcel of the racehorse. In spite of his pony build, he is, however, a good likely sort, well linked and evenly quartered. The Quilt—-Waingogoro juvenile has plenty of size on his side. A dark brown in colour, he is a good one to follow, with rare thighs, plenty of reach, well sprung ribs, and firm, determined head.

A washy bay, with a star, is the offspring of Quilt —Waitiri : an even proportioned sort of a customer, with a good set of pins, and nice intelligent head. The full brother to Indian Shot and Tortulla (Torpedo — Honeysuckle) is a white starred brown, possessed of good qualities, his principal recommendations being his strong well-formed back and banging quarters. The way he moves gives favourable impression, for his movements are machine hke, and ex' cuted with perfect ease, and without any apparent effort. In appearance and colour he greatly resembles his relative, Indian Shot.

Every one of the juveniles show that they have been well and carefully handled, and reflect great credit on their guardian (Hoggard), who has been connected with the establishment for over twenty years. They evidently appreciate his efforts on their behalf, for on his entrance to the paddocks they flock round him and dispute with one another in their efforts to monopolise his attentions.

Further afield were quartered twenty - seven brood mares, and their location was most favourable, as they have good feed, plenty of water, and excellent shelter. The contingent consists of Javeline, Streamlet, Mystery, Primrose, Bonny Blink, Rivulet, Secret (all in foal to Torpedo), Melinite, Vista, la, Waikaha, Waigurata, Maud, Waina (all in foal to Mahaki), Nymph, Black Belle (in foal to Quilt), and Waitiri, Aio, Basilisk, Ihe Brook, Waingongoro (missed to Mahaki), Lady Maxwell, Lady’s Maid, Beligeuse (missed to Torpedo), Young Uira (doubtful to Mahaki), Brooklet (served by Gold Reef last season, not certain whether in foal or not), and Parlour Maid and her colt by Torpedo—the first to make its appearance this season.

Torpedo was having his fling in a paddock overlooking the yearlings, and he seemed quite interested in their frolics. The Musket stallion looked in the best of health, and there is no gainsaying the fact that the life in the open that the stud horses here enjoy for the major portion of their time has a lot to do with their heartiness and quiet manners. Quilt (who has filled out into a beau ideal of a stallion) and Mahaki (whose new mode of life has improved him out of all recognition) also have the run of separate paddocks. In the late Mr Douglas’ lifetime he allowed all the stallions to run together, and no harm ever befell them through this mode of treatment, which shows that the highest blooded animals only require to be treated in a natural way to make them amenable to the dictates of man. Nothing can be more galling and irritating, to a thoroughbred than to be confined and cramped in a box and losing the rattling and galloping part of the more favoured of his race, who are enjoying themselves in their natural element. And the outdoor life has, I am sure, the most beneficial effect on stud horses —an argument which is well asserted by the affable manner of the stallions at Te Mahanga. The proverbial hospitality of the members of the Douglas family was in evidence during my visit, and I wended my way to the train imbued with the most pleasant recollections of my visit to the birthplace of Mutiny, Dummy, Bosefeldt, Waitiri, Waterstone, Penrose, Bush Rose, and hundreds of others who have attained fame on the race tracks of the colonies.