PRIVATE STUD

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 933, 28 March 1930, Page 12

PRIVATE STUD

MR. V. RIDDIFORDS PROPERTY COMPLETE AND UP-TO-DATE Charmingly situated and beautifully appointed, the racing stables and stud property of Mr. V. Riddiford, the wellknown "Wellington sportsman, at Trentham, furnished a Manawatu scribe with a wonderful illustration recently of the care and attention extended thoroughbred stock, both prior to and after they have entered upon an active career. Set in the midst of verdant pastures and with a background of native bush, which greatly enhances the beauty of the whole scene, the stables and paddocks furnish a fund of interest to the visitor, for within the confines of the stables are boused those who.are at present carrying the green and white chequered jacket of the Wellington sportsman on the Dominion turf with distinction, while contentedly browsing in the surrounding paddocks are the racehorses of tomorrow. The main stable, which consists of 10 loose-boxes, feed room and gear room, is built of brick with beautifully finished interiors where cleanliness is the aim of the staff members until it becomes almost^a fetish and

rivals the glossy coats of the thoroughbreds which are housed therein. Included in the active brigade were Historic, Lineage and Panther, who had ; just returned from their daily exercise and who were looking bright and well in preparation of their future engagements. Further afield and at the rear of the main stable and staff residences is another brick stable consisting of eight loose boxes where the yearlings are cared for, the majority of whom have been bred on the property. Well-Bred Yearlings In an enclosure near the main stable were seen two Limond colts, a Limond filly, a Chief Ruler colt and a Leighton I filly. A splendid batch, all bore very j handsome appearances, particularly j one of the Limond colts who, from the ] point of view of looks and breeding, J promises to enjoy' a splendid future i when his turn to race comes. They are ; nearly two years of age, and are to be J broken in shortly. Quietly feeding outside a loose-box | was the high-priced Zetes, a. brother- to Agrion, the New Zealand Derby win- [ ner, who is by Limond from Waterwings, the sister to Mermin. At the Trentham yearling sales, 12 months i ago, Mr. Riddiford was required to go to 2,400gns to effect the youngster’s j purchase. Unfortunately, the youngster j developed leg trouble after being* broken in, and having been gelded i lately .he is to be turned out on his j j owner’s station for a lengthy spell, j In paddocks adjoining the subsidiary j j stables are quartered the brood mares > ! -—several of whom hat e been imported ! I from England—With their offspring. A i

beautiful set of yearlings, they prove# a very tractable lot, being extremely jealous of any favour extended one of their number without their being similarly treated, which made it very apparent that they had been handled to advantage since birth. One particularly promising sort was a colt by Grand Knight, whose lines bore every evidence of the family to which he belongs. The whole establishment, as is generally known to followers of the turf, is under the charge of Mr. S. J. Reid, who was'a prominent horseman in earlier days. Associated with him in the role of foreman is Mr. Les Lambess.