A Visit to Sylvia Park. PICKING THE YEARLINGS. [By Hippona.]

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 423, 27 November 1889, Page 6

A Visit to Sylvia Park. PICKING THE YEARLINGS. [By Hippona.]

A BETTJiit day than last Saturday for looking over .yearlings and stroking through stud paddocks could not possibly have been selected. The weather was warm and bright, and this co-mingled with a delightful spring atmosphere mado ono feel that it was a pleasure to live. Our party compi iced the owner of Cuiraesier ; the former owner of Necklet and Pearl Shell ; the owner of Cambria ; a couple of gentlemen whose knowledge of the thoroughbred is eecond to none; and my conjrtrt "Phaeton." Soon after entering the portals of Sylvia Park, we were met by Mr George Cutbs, and his che,ery grip of the hand at once ' . convinced us all that a pleasant day was in store. ' ' ' We were first conducted to a paddock containing thirteen colts, when one of the party picked out fiotn the crowd the brown by Nordenfeldt — Crinoline, whom he had not seen since a foal last April. What a gentleman he is too ! He has size and bone, and all the essential points of a promising racehorse, while hia pedigree should plsuse the most captious judge. The Nelly Moore colt will sot many heads nodding when led round, the ring. He is a handsonje dark jbrown, the only mark he possesses being a faint white star on the forehead. The colt has a beautiful shapely head and racing-like neck, good arms, thighs, and quarters, wit Ira first-class set of legs. At the present time he stands about aa high as Corunna, and I shall be a false prophet if he does not top the list of prices at the sale. Another fine colt is a brown by Nordenfeldt out of Clytemnestra, who is quickly recognised by his white face. The colt is a strongly-built cut-and-come-again customer, and one of the be&t-looking at the Park. A colt by Albany out of ■ Speargrass does credit to his sire and dam, and is made on very even lines ; and I liked greatly the colt by Nordenfeldt — Pulchra, who is a brown in colour, ticked with grey hairs. He is a full brother to King William, who shaped well at the late V.R.C. Spring Meeting The colt has a blaze down his face and two white hind feet, and one cannot fail to be struck with the well-turned proportions, strong loins, good timber, and evenness that his site lias stamped on him. The colt by St. Leger — Naiad is a good-looking racing sorb, but the Sword Danee — Elfin colt is spoiled by the bad hocks he possesses. A bay by Captivator — Maid of Honour (full brother to Mr D. O'Brien's Freedom) is well-grown, has plenty of propelling power, and an ex oellent set of legs ; while a colt by Leolinus' out of Titania is full of promise. Hi 3 dam has produced Puck, brother to the colt to be offered, and who was no dufler at the racing game ; also, the well-known mare Fusee. A chestnut by Leolinus from Jenny Lind has no end of good points to recommend him, and should furnish intoaslashing big horse, while a dark chestnut by St. Leger— Atalanta( half brother to Paddy) will catch the eye of buyers. The July — Spinnaker colt is a mere pony in size, and the smallest yearling at the Park. As the party turn to wend bheir way from the paddock, strange to say, the colts out of Nelly Moore, Clytemnestra, and Crinoline' single themselves out from their companions, and, to our intense delight, strike out for a short "flutter.' ' . In another enclosure were located 14 fillies, and among the number are several gems, including half-sisters to euch celebrities as Carbine, Maxim, Manton, Tirailleur, Nelson, Pearl Shell, and Mitrailleuse. The Nordenfeldt — Realisation filly takes the eye at once. She is very evenly built, with a good set of legs under her, and is one mass of quality and, symmetry. Another real beauty is the filly by Nordenfeldt — Tres Deuce, the same colour as Manton, who has plenty of size, and one for whom I shall expect to see some great competition. The merits of the pair are discussed, and the outcome is a friendly wager of a new hab between Mr Cutts and "Phaeton 5 ' (with certain conditions), the former gentleman favouring the Realisation tilly. Mersey's daughter, by Nordenfeldt, is eeltain to cause spirited bidding, from the fact that tho mother is also the dam of the mighty Carbine. The filly is on the small side, but she has a wiry look about her, in fact just the kind that would win a Maribyrnong Plate. A really good-looking one is then'lly by Norden'feldt outof Erycina. She is compactly made .and has the great quarters of Mitrailleuse. The blly by Nordenfeldt —Steppe is a light browu in "colour, with a coarse head, but she is one that ought to earn her oats and a little to spare. I took a great fancy to the Nordenfeldt — My Idea filly, who is, a fine big bay. Her head isplain, but otherwise she is power and quality all over. Wood nymph s filly, by Sword Dance, has several srood points. There are six of the progeny of tho defunct sire to come under the hammer, and I take this filly to be the be&t. The Nordenfeldb —Florence McCarthy filly is a thick-set young lady with a white patch on her forehead exactly the same shape as a heart. She is well-grown and has quality and strength combined, while the. fillies by Nordenfeldb — Radiance, and St. Leger — Kaupo, are both built on racing lines. In all, there are 43 yearlings to come under the hammer on the 3rd of January next, and taken altogether they possess more size than any previous batch raised at Sylvia Park, while with a few exceptions the youngsters are healthy and sound, I bake bhe pick of the colts to be those out of, Nelly Moore, Clytemnestra, and Crinoline, and of the fillies I favour most the young ladies out of Realisation, 'Tres Deuce, My Idea, Mersey, Erycina, and Florence Macarthy, each one of whom will no doubt realise good pricefe. Subsequenbly we had a look aver the stallions, and a stroll among the brood mares and foals. Nordenfeldt was in splendid health, and I never remember Cap-a-pie being so well. The paddocks containing the mares were luxuriant in grass. Steppe, Erycina, Florence Macarthy, Crinoline, and Nelly Moore each had fine ; and hardy colts by Noidenfeldb scampering ab their heels, and Tres Deuce a filly by the same sire. Carbine's dam, Mersey,' missed last season, and has gone to Nordenfeldb. A couple of days previous to our visit, My Idea (dam of Nelson) produced a fine colt to Nordenfeldb. This concluded our stroll and after accepting of Mr Cutts's hospitality we reburned, bo bown jas merry as schoolboys, thoroughly.pleasod ,with our visit to the farfamed Sylvia Park.

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