SPRING CREEK.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1985, 5 July 1880, Page 3

SPRING CREEK.

[By Sinbad.] It is now three years since I paid my last visit to Spring Creek, and though through the kindness of several correspondents who have occasionally visited the place, I have from time to time been enabled to give your readers a few items of stud news from there, it is, if possible, always more satisfactory to go and look for yourself. Thus it was that I was only too well pleased to accept Mr Redwood's oft-repeated invitation to go and see his young stock, and renew my acquaintance with oertain other dames of the Spring Creek stud whose names, the performances of their progeny, are already aa household words amongst racing men. The oft-quoted expreßsion of the greatest of Roman orators as to the times being changed, &c, does apply to Spring Creek, its inhabitants, or surroundings. From the walls of the snug parlor, of which many visitors have such pleasant recollections, some lifelike paintings of some old racing cracks still hang in their old places. Mies Rowe, tho speedy 10, the graceful Zoe, the English Beeswing (" the best mare that ever looked through a bridle "), the aristocratio Zingara, and the game Strop, call up reminiscences of old times, while Peeress and Manuka remind one of more recent victories of the black jacket and crimson cap. The armoury of Chokebores still keeps its place over the fire, and its record is still a good one, albeit gamo gets scarcer daily.

" The humming wave that swam Thro' quiet waterslronnd the mill, The sleepy pool above the dam, The pool beneath it never still, The meal Backs on the whitened floor The dark round of the dripping wheel The very air about the door, Made misty with tho floating meal." All look as they did three years ago, and, in short, Spring Creek is a pleasant place, of which its inhabitants are perhaps its most pleasant feature. As we were leaving to drive down on equine visiting intent, Mr Kodwood informed me that tho trout he hud recently turned out in the mill creek were doing excellently well, and propagating successfully, which is not to be surprised at, as a stream better fitted for the home of the speckled beauties could scarcely be found. Driving through the well

known paddocks, we came first to that usually set apart for the use of the brood mares. Here, revelling in English _ grass, were Wainui, Pair Puritan, Puriki, and the well named Pair Agnes. All these are in foal to Caasivelaunus, but I was sorry to hear that Wainui had lost her Traducer foal a few honrs after its birth. The youngster, it appears, was an exceptionally good one, and the death of the old horse makes the loss additionally hard. In a sheltered bit of manuka dose by, were Toi Toi (not in foal), Constance (slipped to Ca«sivelaunus), Waieti, who looks sound and well enough to be put into work again (not in foal), Shrovetide (in foal to Oaosiyelaunus), Spritsail (stinted. to Albany), and last but not least, Mata's dam, Raupo, the very ideal of a brood mare. In another paddock were a group of yearlings, evidently on the look out for 'their mid-day oats. They were five in number, and comprised a filly out Wainui, another out of Toi Toi, and a third from Constance—all by Maroro, A gelding by Korari, out of Eglantine, and another by Lillipee out of Pair Puritan, made up the quintotte. I rather preferred the daughters of Toi Toi and Constance, but the whole five looked the very picturo of health, and judging from what I saw then and later on, it would seem that Maroro gets capital legged;stock. A little further down the paddock a very racing looking yearling colt by Totara from Puriki was keeping the venerable Skybird company. The colt, who is wonderfully let down, pleased me as much as any of the lot, but old Skybird is not by any means so young as she was. She shows it the more as she has been ailing from a wound in her leg, which has pulled her down sadly. A brown filly by Albany out of Moss Rose, and far from a bad looking one, was close by. She is in foal to Cassivelaunus.

In front of the " baby house," which is situated in a paddock close to the stables, were six rooently weaned foals. Of these five are fillies, those out of Countess, Shrovetide, and Constance being, as well as a chesnut colt out of Skybird, by Puriri, and it must bo confessed do credit to their sire, all possessing a lot of stoutness as well as symmetry. The other two are fillies by Traducer out of Toi Toi and Waieti, and if these should never raoe a yard they will, from their breeding alone, be most valuable. They are both very aristocratic looking young ladies, but for make and shape I like the Constance filly nearly, if not quite, as well. In the " baby house" before alluded to is ample accommodation for a number of foals, but Mr Redwood is just about erecting a fresh nursery, in addition to a number of loose boxes for the use of horses in work. Probably no breeder in New Zealand has ever done his youngsters better than the owner of Spring Creek, but he tells me that he thinks it quite possible to overdo this. He, in fact, pleads guilty to the charge of having brought his youngsters in far too gross condition into the hands of the trainer. He tells me also that he has lessened the amount of hard food for his yearlings, and is entirely satisfied with the result. In the present stable I was introduced to what must certainly be considered the pride of the Spring Creek young stock. This is Raupo's son, Mataku, by Maroro. Ho is a chesnut colt, rising two, and one of the grandest and most symmetrical youngsters ever bred in New Zealand. He is wonderfully well let down, with short cannon bones, rare quarters and hocks, and a bold intelligent head. He has rather the appearance of Papapa, while some say that he bears a close resemblance to the English Blair Athol. I am informed by judges who have Been both that bis half-brother by Traducer excels him in matter of good looks. The latter is at present at Ohokebore Lodge, where he was recently brought by Outts, who purohased him from Mr Redwood. As he only arrived just prior to my departure for Marlborough, I have not yet had an opportunity of seeing him,, but hope to do so shortly. In the next box to Mataku was a two-year-old filly by Daniel O'Rourke out of Constance. She has just gone into work, and I dare say is a very nioo filly, but, after seeing Mataku firat, I did not probably admire her as much as she deserved. We next visited the stables, where we interviewed Anteros, Ramarama and Lillipee. Tho first named, who seemed none tho worse for his voyage, will, I feel sure, prove a most suitable Sultan for the Spring Creek harem, and much more unlikely things have happened than that a scion of his should win the next Canterbury Derby. The symmetrical little Rama Rama looked well, and is a .great favorite with his owner, who always says he was one of the speediest and best stayers he ever saddled. Further along is the Dauphin, the Traducer—Maria Theresa oolt, recently purohased by Mr Redwood at Middle Pork. Prom his appearance I can see nothing to stop his making a racehorse, and though his sister has not so far distinguished herself where the company has been good, I still think that she will do so. In any case, the colt's breeding is so high olass that there can be no doubt he will be a profitable investment to Mr Redwood at the paddock, if not at the post. Running loose in an adjacent yard was Norseman, who has been enjoying a short spell. He will, however, soon go into regular work again, and it is to be hoped that the career of this undoubtedly handsome son of old Waterwitoh will be a more fortunate one in the coming season than the past. In the stable there are at present three youngsters in constant work. Twp of these are Derby candidates. The first is the aptly named Miss Domett, a brown filly by Castaway from Amohia. She stands over a lot of ground, and from appearanoes I should say that weight woulsl not stop her. She has beautiful action, and so far the stable are perfectly satisfied with her. Her neighbour is Amy,_ a big upstanding chesnut filly, by Daniel O'Rourke out of Toi Toi. Though, as might be expected from her breeding, she shows a lot of quality, I prefer her companion, especially where long journeys and weight for age are in question. Falcon is a great big brown colt rising three, by Castaway out of old Deception. He was recently purchased at Wanganui by Mr Redwood, and is a big lengthy horse standing nearly sixteen hands on a rare set of legs, with racing looking quarters, and I fancy when their astute examiner puts the final question to his various candidates on the Spring Creek gallop, where bo many successful examinations have been satisfactorily passed, the flight of the Falcon will be found to be by no means slow, and I should not be surprised to hear of his securing, during the coming season, that moat gratifying degree to an owner—a double first.

Daring my stay at Spring Creek I called at Mr Murphy's, who kindly showed me over his stook. The little stud owned by this gentleman, who has a nice homestead near Mr Redwood's, are all descended from the old Sir Hercules mare Polly, formerly known as Plover. This anoient dame, who is now twenty-fivo years old, is still alive, and though a venerable looking duchess, is still hearty and well. Her eldest living daughter, so far as I am aware, is Malvina, by Diomedes, at present at Mr Nosworthy's. Malvina was a rattling good animal in hor time, and those who saw her make the running for Papapa in Lurline's Canterbury Cup year could have no two opinions about her paoe. Hercules, by Eavensworth, was another of old Polly's foals, and but for his uncertain temper would have made his name on the turf. Nora, by Towton, was her next foal. She was in training under tho auspices of Mr Eedwood, but went amiss, and never raced. She showed a good turn of foot, and is a very nice-looking maro. She visited Cas. sivelaunus last season, but I should question her being in foal. Grazing close to her was her sister Amanda, also by Towton. This mare also was for some time in work, but had to be eased off from fever in the feet. It is probable she may be taken up again. Araminta, by Diomedes, is the next daughter. She also showed galloping powers, and won the Sapling Stake at Blenheim, after which, from the effeot of injuries received, she had to be turned out. Running with these mares was a two-year-old filly, by Maroro from Polly, and another young lady of the same age by the same Bire out of Nora. In the stables, by the house, aro two descendants of the _ old Sir Hercules mare, one of them rising five, being by Totara. This is a big powerful animal, standing quite sixteen hands. He would, I should think, make a good chaser, and having the double cross of the famed Sir Hercules blood, his breeding is not to be despised. His neighbor is also out of old Polly by Daniel O'Eourke, and shows a lot of quality. Mr Murphy intends putting both the list named into regular work before the season commences, and if well placed they should pay their expenses. Of a very pleasant holiday, not the least pleasurable reminiscence is the day spent among the equine patricians of the Spring Creek paddocks, and I can but look forward to the time when I hope to revisit them again, and to be able to congratulate the veteran owner on the successes of some of tho stock I havo briefly attempted to describe above.

Mr H. Redwood has christened the oolt by Traducer out of Maria Theresa, purchased by him at the Middle Park sale—The Dauphin,