THE TE MAHANGA YEARLINGS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 709, 8 October 1903, Page 9

THE TE MAHANGA YEARLINGS.

(By our Hawke’s Bay Correspondent.)

This breeding establishment never looked better than it did the other day, when I looked the quarters up. The excellent Spring weather we have experienced of late in this district, has brought the feed along in great style, and naturally the young-uns were tucking into it in no half-hearted manner when I, in company with the obliging studgroom, D. 0. Meara, made our appearance amongst them, or to be more correct, amongst the filly portion of them. “This is a nice sort,” I remarked, as a brown with a white star craned her neck over one of her companions. “She is by Mahaki out of Maude,” replied my guide and instructor, “and a specially racy, stretchy parcel she is, too, with legs of the finest brand. A relative of Mutinys followed on, the young lady is by Mahaki out of Ladysmith, the latter being a half-sister by Torpedo by the renowned chaser; the Juvenile has a lot of the characteristics of Torpedo, strong, sturdy set, with big bone, and a bold, determined head. A bay filly with a great splash of white on her face, owes her existence to the union of Waipuratu with Mahaki. Waipuratu is one of the Cascade family, and naturally her daughter notwithstanding that she is somewhat disfigured through havin'*such a peculiar blaze, has a speedy look about her.

A black filly by Quilt —Waiau, is a good sort with a beautiful head, good bone, and is not built on the big carty lines of her brother Culcita, who, although he was awkward to gaze upon, was a hummer on the racing path, and his relative gives the idea that she will prove no slouch when her i time arrives. The half-sister by Mahaki to Comfort and Valance, has much to recommend her, for she is very evenly constructed, and suggests the probability that she will be an early debutant, for she has a readv-made look about her even now.

A brown filly by Mahaki out of Waikaha, by comparison does not fill the bill as an attractive one, but it must be allowed that she is not at iher test, being somewhat low in condition. One of the big, loose-built tribe, it seems feasible to prophecy that time will be required of her before she toes the mark.

Secret’s bay daughter by Torpedo, is the best sample that has so ,far been produced by her dam, evenly constructed, with good ribs, strong back, and quarters of the strong propelling description. Ballistite’s half-sister by Mahaki, has a racy, sprightly look from head to heel, and if appearances are suggestive of capabilities she ought to have a particularly good time of it in the racing arena. Well-balanced shoulders devoid cf loading, strong defined hind quarters, and legs of adamantine nature, are to be found in this well-knit parcel. Whaitiri’s brown pledge of affection To Torpedo, who, by the way, has a double strain of the Musket blood coursi

through her veins, is a well-growr. sturdy parcel, with a deal of quality in her construction.

The last'of the fair sex was a big bay. full-sister to Mater oa, The Shannon, The Brook, Brooklet, and Co., with all the rest of her relative’s size, good bone, sweep and reach, while courage and pace are stamped all over her in the biggest of type. A short ride landed me amongst the colts. The first to claim attention being the full-brother to Creusot and Sada (Torpedo—Aegyptilla). His outlook leads to the idea that he will not be so big as Creusot, but his level build and good length suggests that he will be able to step it out with the best of them. The Brook’s son, like herself, has plenty of size, and on that account does not favour his sire. Mahaki, whose get, as a rule, are not endowed with any massiveness, for early racing,.l do not incline to the prospects of this big chap, but given the opportunity to get set, he will most assuredly prove a remove from the ordinary. Kissmary’s first addition to the Stud Book is a brown by Mahaki ; he is a loose-built fellow, with steel-like understandings, nice sloping shoulders. The bay colt by Mahaki out of Young Vira, favours his dad, as he is a neat, natty-built colt, with truly turned hocks, ahd serviceable-looking pins. A good sample throughout is Hinewai’s half-brother by Torpedo, a typical son of his sire, which remark implies all that is good, his ma, Maori Belle, is one of the old-fashioned bred ones, and as she claims relationship to that good brood-matron Primrose, one and all

of whose progeny have raced well, it seems a reasonable contention (considering how nicely he is moulded, allied with his strong breeding) to prognosticate a useful career for him. A sturdy solid brown colt claims H.M.s. Pinafore and Torpedo as 'his dam and sire. Like Kis-smary’s son he is a first

foal, but that fact does not appear to have been detrimental to him for he is outlined on the most approved racingpattern. and he will belie his looks greatly if he does not gallop fast and determinedly.

The smallest of the pack is Bonny Blink’s brown son by Torpedo. Albeit he has been cast in the pony mould, he is) a neat graceful young ’un. A nice little horse is Javeline’s son by Mahaki, a sweet dispositioned chap, with bone of the best type, good quarters and well sprung ribs. Armstice’s full brother, a brown in Colour, is a big- customer, who favours his sire Mahaki in contour, while he takes after his dam Melinite in length. He. is much more solid looking- than his sister was at his age, and strikes the eye asi a good stamp of the embryo racehorse. He stands over a lot of ground, but is not long on top, his back being, particularly strong and his ribs sprung in the oak cask pattern.

A regular picture, horse was the next, and as I feasted my eyes on the dark brown son of Torpedo and Nymph I could not help but remark what a beauty. Standing as true as a die on four of the best set legs it would be possible to find, hocks clean as a freshly minted sovereign, quarters and second thighs well developed, oblique shoulders set at the properangle, short back, plenty of heart room, a head full of strength and grace, and a beautiful intelligent eye totality of the points in this colt are in the proper proportion, and consequently he will be hard to beat either in the show ring or on the racing path. 'The next to follow is built on different lines to Nymph’s son : this is Parlor Maid’s production to Torpedo. He is a powerful, massive colt, with strength and power well defined throughout his anatomy.

This finished the Te Mahanga-bred juveniles, but there were still more to see, the extra ones being two colts and a filly' by Pilgrim's Progress that were purchased last April along with their dams by Mr Douglas’ representative in Victoria. ’lhe first of the Australians to view was the full brother to Rapid Progress (Pilgrim’s Progress —Lady Beryl), a bay in colour, of the wiry 'class, legs clean and hard, good open feet and a hard wear and tear look about him that augurs well for his lasting properties ; he certainly is nor very large, but no doubt the scarcity of feed in the land of his birth has had a good deal to do with his rather stunted appearance. He is now, however, in the light pla.ee to satisfy the cravings of nature and on that account will doubtless

improve. A black colt by Tilgrim's Progress out of Espinola, anct consequently half-brother to McDonovan, who like Rapid lilgrim has been successful on the racing path in the other colonies, is one of the lean kind with plenty of length and freedom, legs of the best stamp, and endowed with all the necessary attributes that students of the racehorse are ever on the look out for. A weedy full sister to Primrose (Pilgrim’s Progress —Lady Heart) completes the Victorian-bred lot. She is no size, but is a nimble lively looking damsel, with a nice head and neck, and legs- that give the idea that they will wear for ever and a day.

Of course I looked up San Fran and Torpedo. Both are in the best of bloom, the former appearing- much more, attractive than when I saw him last ; it would, indeed, be hard to find fault with Gozo’s son now, who is in perfect stallion condition. He is producing some good specimens of foals both as regards quality and size, one of his daughters out of Maudebeing a sweet quality possessed young lady, while The Brook’s son is a monster, and although a big one is not at all on the coarse side. Torpedo carries his 22 years well, and it is no stretch of imagination to sav that Musket’s son would easily pass for a horse quite half-a-dozen: years younger than he really is ; his appearance betokens that he has still a lot of usefulness left in him. The good manners that are predominant in all of the youngsters and also in the stallions speaks well for the care and attention that O’Meara bestows upon the education of his charges, and I personally have to thank him for his kindness and courtesy to me upon the occasion of my visit last week, and which tended to make the outing a most pleasurable and profitable one.