AUSTRALIAN STUD STROLLS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2244, 11 June 1881, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN STUD STROLLS.

[specially weitten fob tub (t wkeexy PEESS.”] [By Sib Ladncelot.] No. lll.— Flemikgton and NeighbourHOOD. Subsequent to my trip to St. Albans I had just time to avail myself of the invitation tendered me by Mr F. F. Dakin to pay a flying visit to his stable at Ascot vale, near the Flemington racecourse, principally with a view to seeing Lurline’s son, Darebin, of whom I had heard such glowing accounts. Mr F. Dakin, who is a brother of Mr W. E, Dakin, who trained Le Loup when the son of Mermaid visited Australia, formed very high opinions of our New Zealand horses when on a visit to our colony some five or six years ago—an opinion which was strengthened by what ho saw of Lo Loup and Trump Card when under his brother’s charge subsequently, and it was pleasant to sit and chat with him on the racing in Maori-land preparatory to seeing the small stud of horses over which ho has control, and which I regret the time at my disposal did not enable me to form a better acquaintance with. In tho first box was Beadsman, a three-year-old son of Bethnal Green out of Mambonrine, dam of Bolladrnm (a son of King of Clubs, who ran second to Suwarrow for the V.E.O, Derby of 1879). Bethnal Green, who was imported from England, but died a season after his arrival in Victoria, was by tho English Derby winner Beadsman out of Arapeile (by Beadsman—Salamanca). The colt under notice, who has nothing particularly striking about him, as a two-year-old per.ormed very well over sprint courses, but I should doubt his ever being a stayer, which latter remark applies to 1 the occupant of the next box, a small two-year-old ohesnut filly by Proto Martyr out of Gwendoline (the dam of that good horse Tho Diver), who has not yet appeared on the tnrf, nor has the next animal I saw, a brown two-year-old filly by Hawthorndon (winner of the English Leger of 1870, who is now at the stud in Now South Woles) out of Sunshine. In the adjoining box was Billilla, by Fireworks (winner of the V.E.O. Derby of 1867, and Leger of 1868), out of Tbyra by Boiardo. This filly, who -is a neatly built lady on the small side, won the principal two-year-old stake at the Victoria Amateur Turf Club's meeting at Caulfield, the week before my arrival. The lost animal I saw was the object of my visit, Darebin, by The Peer, out of Lnrlino, He is now two years old, and is a dark brown, standing fully sixteen heads, with the “ Traducer blaze,” and white near hind foot. His head is rather plain, but is sot on to a very muscular neck, his shoulders are very strong, he has splendid logs and magnificent deep ribs, and his quarters are as good as his mother’s. Though not showing much quality, he is a grand upstanding colt, and with age will develope into one of the finest animals in Australia. He has only appeared in public twice, viz., at the recent V.E.O. Autumn Meeting, when he ran a splendid second to Boyal Maid for tho Ascot Vale Stakes, and occupied the same position with Bst 121 b on his back in the Nursery Handicap, won by Oooreena, who was carrying a feather weight. He has been already backed for a good sum to win the V.E.O. Derby.

From Mr Dakin’s I walked to Flemington, about half a mile distant, for the purpose of viewing the great Y.E.O. racecourse, of which I had heard so much. I found the caretaker at home, who showed me over the place, though I am sorry to say that, owing to my huny, I was not able to see one quarter of the eights, and therefore my description of the convincing ground of the V. 8.0, must not be taken as an enumeration of everything to be seen on what nature and art have combined to make one of the finest racecourses in the world. The Grand Stand, which was built seven yean back, I have always heard described as “ a cow-shed,” and I found it I o bo quite unworthy of such a club as the Victorian Racing Olub. The smallness of the stand, however, which has no top to it, and a very low roof, is due to the fact of " the Hill ” being behind it, and to enlarge and raise it would involve doing away with “ the Hill,” which to the of polloi is the most popular place of resort, the charge being only 2s. There is a branch railway to the course from the Geelong main line, and I should say the railway arrangements, from what little opportunity I had of judging of them, are perfection. The course proper is pear-shaped, and IJmiles Iflchains Slinks in circumference. Running alongside it is a tan ' gallop of Imile and Slinks. Entirely separate from those twotraoksare a ploughed gallop of 1 mile and 4 chains, a sand gallop of li miles 10 chains 8 links, and a cinder gallop of 77 chains 96 links. Closely adjoining these latter gallops are the scraping sheds, which are of the most commodious description, while a hurdle racecourse is laid out inside the course proper, including a stone wall directly opposite the stand. The space in the middle of the course is known as “ the flat,” and is open to the general public free of charge. In front of the stand Is the lawn,' and on the right hand is the saddling paddock, planted r i trees, and in which are more scraping be Directly facing the stand is the judge’s) and in front of the saddling paddock r stands—one for the committee and the other for jockeys and trainers ; close to these being the semaphore (on which the numbers of the horses are hoisted) and the gong to announce the starting, and which is connected with the different storting posts by electricity. Underneath the semaphore is the committee room, weighing room, and scratching office, which is connected by telegraph with “ the hill,” the occupants of which place consequently know as soon as those in the stand what horses are non-starters. Abutting to the Grand Stand on the right-hand are the Press room, lavatories and telegraph officer, of which latter there are two, one for receiving telegrams and one for delivery. I bad almost omitted to mention that under the Grand Stand, and on "the hill” also, are roomy bars and refreshment rooms, and I cannot close my very meagre description of Fiemington without regretting the loss which the Victorian Racing Olub hos sustained by the untimely and sudden death of Mr R. 0. Bagot, the secretary of the club, whoso loss will, I am sure, be severely felt, not only by those who know him personally, but by those who were only acquainted with him in his official capacity, and who are indebted to him for the many conveniences and adjuncts to the enjoyment of racing which the wealthiest club in the colonies offers to its patrons. As it was getting late in the afternoon I could not stay longer, so after a glance at the fine fernery (which Mr Brown, the caretaker, who has a most comfortable residence close to and overlooking the course, takes a great ptide in) and at the team of seven horses kept constantly in work carting tan, &0., for the course, I retraced my stops, with thanks to my guide for his courtesy, towards the Racecourse Hotel, at the stables of which hostelry are located the team owned by Mr Whittingham, one of the most popular sportsmen in Australia, and whose colors are black and gold, the same as those of that New Zealand sportsman whose victories were, always, as are Mr Whittingham's, hailed with hearty cheers—l allude to the late Mr Mallook. It was almost dark when I arrived at the hotel, and my inspection was therefore a very short one. The team comprises Morning Star, a six-year-old son of Fireworks ; Aspen (by Askin out of Talkative), who has won the Newmarket Handicap for the last two years ; Cora, a three-year-old daughter of Clansman, who has never yet run ; Nautilus, by Piscator out of Coquette (the dam of Progress), to whom I referred in my article on Bundoora ; Chatterer, a very handsome threo-year-old, by Tim Whifller (E.) out of Talkative, who won two races at the last Y.E.O, Champion Meeting ; Prince Imperial, a two-year-old, by Napoleon, out of Princess Royal; and Prattle, a four-year-old daughter of Talk of the Hill and Majesty, who has, on several occasions, shown a big turn of foot over a short course. The only one of the team I had time to devote any inspection to was Nautilus, who is a big, strong, powerful bay, with black points, showing a lot of quality, and with plenty of size and good bone, and, looking at the performances of Progress, it is little wonder that Nautilus has been backed so heavily for the V.R.O. Derby of IBSI.