AMONG THE THOROBREDS.

NZ Truth, Issue 79, 22 December 1906, Page 2

AMONG THE THOROBREDS.

Waikanae Stud Farm. During the week I paid my annual lisit to Mr J. G. Duncan's stud farm at Waikanae. On arriving at mv destination I was met by Alex. Harper, one of the stud grooms, and driven to the property .where a splendid repast was ready for us. While ;iwaitina: the arrival of mv host, who was away trout fishing m the Wai- , kanae stream, I was escorted over "the agricultural side bf the place by Mr Watty, under whose care it looked really well. Largo improvements are noticeable everywhere, and' m

another year or two I do not think that it will be recognisable as; the bushy farm that the . Wellington owner purchased some two y^axs a£o. A large portion of the. land is under cultivation, and nearly everything that is needed . for the horses is Town on the. place. Strolling round the paddocks one crosses over fields of mangolds and carrots . grown specially for the valuable -thoroughbreds located at the farm.. Then came Mr Duncan across the fields, carrying a basket of trout, and after depositing his catch m the house he personally conducted me around the stables. A new set of boxes has recently been built and they are all well ventilated and roomy. Here we found "Andy" Cochrane attending to the wants of a rriare that had just foaled. 'Cochrane has only recently joined the staff at Waikanae, but he has lived a lifetime on stud farms, and for twenty-two years was connected with the biggest studs m Auckland. His colleague, Harper, has also been connected with horses for many years, and has been located at his present employment since the stud was instituted. The imported horse, Kilcheran, being the prido, of the stable, was, of course, the first sire led out for my inspection, and I confess to being delighted wiith his condition, which reflects the greatest credit on his grooms. His owner informed me that he has been an unqualified success at the stud, and this season his list was full. Then came Connueror, carrying himself as jauntily as ever. This season he beat Kilcheran m the Wanganu show being awarded first and champion prizes by the judges. He is, a great big horse, with a wonderful forepiece and tremendous bone, which fact prohablv influenced the judges considerably when they gave him the pride of position over his English companion. The handsome chestnut horse, Porirua, by Seaton Delaval from Waitemata, by Eridspord, completed the list of sires, and his condition was also perfect. The most prominent features of Porirua are [ his splendid crest and neck, and he I possesses cood quarters, too. In ith | adjoiinipp* naddcck at. the rear of the 1 boxer., and well sheltered from the

winds by native bush, were some of the brood mares. Miss Phyllis, the recent purchase Irom the Yaldhurst stables, was the "first to command out attention. She is by Multiform, from Barley Bree, whom Mr G-. Gv Stead purohased m Australia, and who is by Cardinal from Barley, dam of that e;ood horse, Malster. Miss. Phyllis is a nice trip; roomy filly, with a great depth of barrel. She should prove invaluable as a broad mare, and her first mating; is to be with Kilcheran. Her owner is very hopeful of the union, and surmises that it will result m somethin- above the ordinary. Asleria, the full sistet to Cuneiform is m good condiT.ion and seems to hava thrived well since taking on the duties of a matron. The locallyowned Sequin has a nice colt foal to Kilcheran, and has been stinted again to the same sire. The Winter Cun winner, Waiwhera, last year visited St. Ambrose and the result is a nice colt. The Puriri mare, Spun-sold, has also produced a nicelooking colt by Kilcheran. In another paddock were to be seen some fine youngsters disporting. themselves with their dams. Perhaps the best of the lot was an almost perfect little filly by Royal Artillery out of Bluefire. This natty lady carries her-, self with ease and has very srracefol action. I will be much surprised if slie does not turn out. a second Cuneiform, and next year's sale should see her brine a big price as a yearling. Next to her. I liked best a filly by Kilcheran from that queerly . named Eketerini Passerpoulo. This 'filly showed a lot of pace when careering round the .paddock, as also did a nice chestnut colt by Conqueror—- Berenice. The latter already shows that he knows how to gallop, .and. he hit out like a seasoned racer. In the same paddock was a colt by Merriwee from Olivette, a half sister to "the dual Stewards' winner Vanilla, and one by Kilcheran from Success. '-:'•■■ The Yaldhurst bred filly, Edna May. by Multiform— Helen Faucit, Was looking m good condition, and I also had a look at Mr J. Monk's recent purchase at the Elder slie sale, of vearlingjs, a filly by Stepniak— Belle Clair, and consequently .halfsister to Gvnsobel, She is a smartlooking youngster, very much resembiinr' Marguerite, and is, I think sure -to win races, if all goes well with her education. Mr Duncan is going to hold his first annual sale Qf yearlings m Wellington next January, 'and Mr W. H. Turnbull, the well-known auctioneer, will occupy the rostrum aM submit amengst others' three yearlings and a two-year-old. The latter is ' by Conqueror, out of Spungold, and the vearliiigs are a filly hy ConquerorSuccess, a filly by Finland— La Gloria, and a colt by Conciuefor— Moreze, therefore a full brother to that useful performer William. Amongst the visiting mares to Kilcheran this season are Sir William Russell's Corteone, the two halfsisters, Yellow Rose .and Spring Rose— both out of that good mare, Rosalind, who threw two C.J.C. Derby winners— the locally owned Sequin and May-hap, and -the imported mare Certificate, who is the property of the Hon. Walter Johnston.