AMONG THE THOROUGHBREDS.

NZ Truth, Issue 130, 14 December 1907, Page 2

AMONG THE THOROUGHBREDS.

The Manawatu Stud Co.'s Farm. After hearing all ;the very nice things visitors have said about the Manawatu Stud Farm it was ' only natural that I should be curious arid want to have a look for myself, "so on the way home from the Woodvillc meeting I called upon Mr P. E. Baldwin, at Palmerston North, and he expressed *his readiness to show me over the stud. A nice, pleasant drive along the .main road through Terrace End and Stoney Creek and "finally up an avenue of trees and we arrive at the farm. The first thing that strikes the visitor is the abundance of grass available for the mares and youngsters. The place is well watered, but each paddock has a trough of its own, and the horses are not allowed access to the creeks, as the stud groom prepares the spring water for them by first adding to it some mixture which contains iron. F. Chapman is the name of the stud groom, and he has been connected With horses all his lifetime, mostly m England and France. A brother of his is a very successful jockey m the land of frog-eaters, and his father was for many years stud groom to Lord Dunraven, and this son was m charge of Mrs Langtry's stud, which sheltered Aurum and Merman. He was also m charge el Kilcheran before Mr Duncan purchased that horse at Newmarket. All the animals at the Company's stud bear a. very healthy appearance, -and apparently every attention is shown them. This season there were eighteen foalings at this (farm without a single mishap. The first paddock contained the. mares with foals, and the first to come under my notice was Soultina with her foal by San Remo. Now served by Sir Ladtlo. The English bred maxe, Certificate, who is a fullsister to Button Park, an Ascot Stakes winner, has a very goodlooking foal by Kilcheran. Melusina, the half-sister to Cynisca, a treble Wellington Cup winner, with her foal by Sir La.ddo, Mr J. Cotter's mares, Victorine and Tuhirangi, both with Sir Laddo foals, and the ancient I mare Jessie, dam of Man jess, who has a fine-looking colt foal by the English horse. Mr R. Knox s P.oney

has a big colt by Knight Errant, and has been served by Sir Laddo. The Australian bred Rufine has a dark chestnut foal by Sir Laddo, as has Ponaturi,: the dam of Aorangi. The chestnut mare Wepener, who had a very bad accident just after visiting Sir Laddo when her side was torn open, has made, a wonderful recovery and is now herself again, tftiough she still • exhibits an : ugly looking scar. The last to be noticed was Purity, by • The Officer,— ■ Aenid. This mare was about the first of The Officer's stock to win a race m New Zealand, and that was m a Juvenile race at Wanganui, when she unexpectedly defeated Multifid through the latter running out at the home bend. She is now the mother of a very nice-looking brown colt by Sir Laddo. A feature of all the Sir Laddo stock is their splendid legs, but after all there is nothing wonderful m this as the horse himself has a very sound set of legs still, although he raced for four seasons m England. Then we visited the loose boxes and made a minute survey of the pride of the farm, Sir Laddo. This was my first introduction to the imported horse and I must say that I was greatly taken with him. In color he is a nice brown, and all quality. He stands 16 hands and has a nice crest and a Very big shoulder and forearm, with ' a solid back. He has very powerful hips and. his hocks are right down , on. the . ' ground. Although he had a big season, he looked m perfect condition. This is his second season at the stud, and so far he has been most prolific. ' On an. average the yearlings to be submitted to auction next month are a good-looking lot with plenty of breeding to recommend them to buyers, and anyone m search of a good yearling could not do better than attend this sale. The first one I saw was a nice stylish-looking -filly by Pilgrim's 'Progress from Stepaway. The dam of; this filly was a successful performer amongst the liluputians at -Auckland. Then came a chestnut filly by the same sire from Aello, the dam of Bloodshot, who ran second 1 to. Newhaven m the Melbourne Cup. This is a well-grown filly and has a very \ long reach. She is sure to be marketable. The Soult— Cecile filly has a good set of legs and is very big. She looks a galloper and shows a _lot of quality. One of the most distinguishing features of this filly is her back, which is a very solid one. This is a winner of many races if looks go for anything. The next box contained a fine big chestnut filly by Formosan, from Wepener. Considering that this filly has been hand-reared she is wonderfully well-grown. The Kilcheran— Purity filly is a beautiful 'specimen of a yearling that' will most likely attract keen competition m the sale ring, but the ton price of the day should.be the "colt by Multiform from Rumor. He is as big as the side of a house and the only drawback to him might be that he is a trifle leggy, but ,with a bit more age that will disappear. He has a fine back, and for a yearling has very big gaskins with a nice long neck and a firm crest. My time was limited and I was compelled to return to town without seeing the dry mares on the place. These include the .full-sisters, Stcpina and Jemima, Miss Terina, Aello, Cecile; Rumor, Betsy, the unnamed mare by Mahaki— Basilisk, a fullsister to Pawa and a Gold Reef— Ua mare, half-sister to Waihuka.