THE GAMBRIA PARK STUD.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 977, 26 November 1908, Page 6

THE GAMBRIA PARK STUD.

A FINE LOT OF YEARLINGS.

“ Come out and have a look at the yearlings,” said Mr. Price, the managing director of the Cambria Park Stud, to me the other day, and, nothing loth, I promptly accepted the invitation. Accompanied by a friend from Fiji, a keen lover of a good horse, by the way, we drove out. In the shafts of the dogcart was a Brigadier gelding, who rattled off the fifteen miles’ journey as though it was nothing. A particularly pleasant trip it was, too, for the country, refreshed by the recent rain, was looking at its best, while all the way out the scent from the myriads of roses in the gardens and the may of the hedgerows followed one everywhere. Once at Cambria Park some little time was spent inspecting the homestead and grounds, the bright sunshine and the wealth of flowers everywhere combining to make one wish to linger. Next came a ramble round the home paddocks, for the most part nearly knee-deep in grass. Here were found the ladies of the harem and their foals, and some particularly promising specimens of the young thoroughbred were to be found among the latter. Curious, too, as babies generally are, for one and all crowded round to investigate the contents of my notebook, each seemingly endeavouring to draw attention to himself for a word of commendation. One was loth to leave them, but as an inspection of the yearlings was the real object of our visit, we had to tear ourselves away and proceed to the loose boxes, where the colts were to be found.

The first to come under notice was a big, powerful bay, with a white star and two white fetlocks, who, on enquiry, was found to be a half-brother to the speedy Rarata, being by Obligado from Peace, by The Officer — Content, by Dreadnought. Content, it will be remembered was the dam of Contender, Contendent, and Satisfaire, and the youngster certainly looks like making one of the galloping tribe.

In the next box was a chestnut with a white star, who took my fancy very much. He is a son of Obligado from Crecy, by Hotchkiss —Crescent, by Castor, and is a particularly wellgrown customer, perhaps the biggest yearling at the stud. Mr. Price tells me that his action is perfect, and 1 can well believe it, as he is a colt it is hard to find fault with. Crecy is own sister to that good horse Starshoot, and her son should make one of the “ get there” contingent. The next to come up for inspection was a son of Obligado and Rapid (by Flintlock from Pikau, by Anteros). His dam, it will be noted, is a sister t > two more than useful ones in Haria and Picklock, while that fine jumper Loch Fyne, winner of the Great Northern Steeplechase, is a half-brother. The youngster is a dark chestnut with a white star and two white stockings', and is a remarkably docile young gentleman, possessing the reputation of being a great galloper, and if he is not so later on then his looks belie him.

A very lengthy chestnut with a white blaze was in the next box, this youngster being a son of Obligado and Tournament (by Sir Lancelot —Maluri, by Malua). He is' closely related to two Melbourne Cup winners, coming, indeed, from a great running family. Being a long-striding youngster with a splendid set of legs, he

-'ks like staying out any race over a distance with the best of them. _ Lute (by Sir Lancelot —Lyrebird, by St. Leger) is represented by a bright chestnut with a white star and near white fetlock. Considering that he was foaled very late, being the youngest of the whole collection, he is well grown, and later on is bound to make a fine handicap horse. Blood will tell, and when it is remembered that Lute is a three-quarter sister to that great horse Renown, who won ten races of the value of £4030, it certainly seems reasonable to suppose that her youngster should be able to pace it with the best. Next, came a very neat bay colt, with a white star, who, I learned, is a son of Obilgado and Kiteroa, by Cyrenian—Hinemoa, by Gang Forward — Primula, by Merry Hampton. He is therefore bred on aristocratic lines, and possesses perfect action, it being a treat to see him galloping. He has a strong back, good barrel; sound legs and plenty of propelling power, and should go fast when the time comes’ for him to face the barrier.

Next came a slashing fine colt by Soult from Harpist, by Hotchkiss— Lyrelinus, by Leolinus. This young fellow took my fancy greatly, and I shall be surprised if he doesn’t go to a big figure at the annual sale on January 4. He is a very dark bay, almost black, in fact, who stands over a lot of ground, and is one with which I could find no flaw, whichever way one faced him, and he is as sound as a bell. In his veins there is the famous St. Simon-cum-Musket cross, which has produced so many winners. He will add to the number, or I am no prophet. A useful-looking customer is a bay son of Eton and Cyrenienne, by Cyrenian from Kilmorey, by Kilwarlin. Cyrenienne was never raced, but was reserved for the stud. She is a full sister to the Avondale Guineas winner Kilderkin, and a three-quarter sister to Kilmarnock, winner of the Musket Stakes. Her youngster, although not quite so aristocratic-look-ing as some of his companions, has a wear-and-tear appearance that denotes a useful one.

That particularly slippery mare Gweniad (Brigadier—Gwendoline, by Soult) is represented by a first foal, a big, lengthy bay, standing over a lot of ground. He claims Obligado as his sire, and, I judge, will not unworthily uphold the reputation of his dam, who, if only she could have been properly trained, was one of the fastest mares we ever had in Auckland.

A very nice youngster is the one by Obligado from Dreamland, by Cadogan from Siesta, by Traducer. Dreamland, who won fifteen races herself, is the dam of Landlock, winner of twenty-one races of the value of £3040, and that good colt Elysian, who has shown himself to be Auckland’s champion two-year-old. The yearling is built on very similar lines to Elysian, and that means, of course, that he looks like proving a daisy cutter of the first order. This conceded the list of colts, ten in number, so we rambled across the paddock in search of the six filles, who were found in a bunch sheltering from the sun under the spreading branches of a tree. Being feminine their curiosity was instantly aroused, and they were soon nosing round us. The first to attract attention was a bay daughter of Obligado from Cytherea, by Cyrenian—lrma, by Neckersgat.’ Cytherea was never raced, and the young lady is her first foal. A close relative of Cygnet Lock, Wharekura and Etna, she handles herself with freedom, and is built on very nice lines indeed. I was, of course, anxious to have Miss Annie’s'youngster by Soult pointed out but could have guessed who she was without the introduction. She is a bright bay with black points and a tiny white star. She is a long, raking filly, and is, I should think, perhaps “the plum of the whole pudding,” being beautifully put together, with faultless action when galloping. The filly is a full sister to Annette (winner of the Great Northern Guineas, and one of the best mares that ever looked through a bridle), Lady Annie, Cambrian, and Hierarch. When full grown I take it she will be bigger than her sisters, and there is certain to be sharp bidding in the sale-ring for her possession. Another filly who seemed anxious' to attract attention to herself was a brown by Eton from Cyrense, by Cyrenian—Lady Agnes, by Neckersgat. She is a first foal, and possesses a splendid pedigree, as she descends from Manganese, the grand-dam of Apo’ogy, Kisbar, and Wenlock. She looks a smart one, who ought to gallop well. The Dell (by The Officer —Faun, by Dreadnought—Dryad, by St. Leger) also has a first foal to represent her, the youngster claiming Eton as her sire. She is a dark brown, very lengthy, and is fast in the paddock. Furthermore, she comes from the same family as Martini-Henry and Gold Crest.

Senga (by Hotchkiss —Agnes) contributes a remarkably well-grown and racy filly by Obligado. Belonging, as she does, to Bruce Lowe’s No. 1 family, and possessing a fine pedigree, she should have great value as a brood mare when her racing days are over. She is a chestnut with a white blaze and two white hind stockings, and is a very even-tempered young lady, who was most anxious to make friends with our party. The list was' completed by a bay filly by Obligado from Te Huinga, a daughter of Hotchkiss and the Hampton mare Sunningdale. She is a nice filly, with a knack of galloping in the paddock that speaks well for her future.

Our inspection over, and after a look at the stallions Obligado, Eton, and Hierarch, a vacuum in the interior denoted that lunch time had arrived,

and ample justice was done to the good things provided. A few minutes later it was a case of “ speed the parting guest,” and after thanking our host for a very pleasant morning, we were soon bowling along in the dogcart bound for the Papatoetoe station. On the way to Auckland, after some discussion, it was carried unanimously that the Cambria Park yearlings are a wonderfully fine, even lot, who, on appearances, should do even better than any which have previously been turned out from that well-known stud farm.