WHEN CARBINE WAS A COLT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 192, 12 February 1914, Page 7

WHEN CARBINE WAS A COLT.

TUBE STORIES UETOU). HICKENBOTHAM'S SCRAP-BOOK Carbine's greatest performance, the winning of the Melbourne Cup with an impost of lOst 51b., is still fresh in the memory of turf lovers, and a feat equal to it may never be witnessed again, but other deeds of the racehorse, recorded in a scrap-book which is one of Hi? valued possessions of llickenbotham, will lie news to many. The scrap-book received its first entry in the early days of Ilickeiibotham'-: wonderfully successfully training career, and lie has kept it up to date. Covering the long interval from Swiveller and Nightmare (two of the first good horses he had to deal with) up to Trafalgar (one of his latest champions) the book is full of interest. The record contains a great deal of the racing history of Carbine, Mentor, Newhaven, Blue Spec, Megaphone, and other turf celebrities, which have helped the master of "Corcena" to fame and fortim«. LEFT AT TIIK POST, BUT WON.

If the book contained only references to the racing days of Carbine it would be worth a place in any sportsman's library. There is a story told of the great horse's youth which now that hJ is on his last legs is worth repeating. Mr. Dan O'Brien, who then owned him, did not see Carbine open his turf career. The head lad of the stable was entrusted with the management of the colt, and the telegram sent by him to the owner regarding Carbine's first public eliort was, "Colt left at the post. Won by a head." A few days later the youngster ran again, and the tdewam this time was, "Colt left again. Won easily." Thus started the career ot perhaps the greatest racehorse the world lias ever seen. CHAMPION WAS LAZY YOUNCSTEK. It is Mr. Spencer Gollan who writes in the scrap-book of (jollan's early days, and Mr. (tollan knew his subject well, for he was racing in New Zealand about that time, lie describes C-.irbiri'J as an "abnormally lazy juvenile." The colt was not flustered at all by the breaking-in process He just took it all as a matter of course. Carbine eeenied to lack ambition, and had no initial dash; hence his getting o"' badly in his first two races, lie could not be galvanised into life at the barrier in those early days. But what a dilMrcncc once he did jump off, and recognised, the fact that something was expected from him in the way of galloping! Then the lethargy was thrown off, mid Carbine was himself. In later days the champion became much more "nippy" at the post, but all through he was of a quiet disposition. TACKLED BY DREADNOUGHT.

Carbine did not always defeat the position pointless, though most of his victories were gained in convincing style. In one Autumn Stakes at Randwick Carbine was opposed by bis oH ■rival Melos, Dreadnought, and others. From the half-distance the three came on in a magnificent struggle, which ended in favor of Carbine by a nose from Mclor and Dreadnought, who ran a dead ■heat for second. Two days later Car.bine (Mr. O'Brien), started at 7 to 4, made short work of the opposition in the Sydney Cup. die vanquished inelud-' ing Melos", in receipt of 5Jh from Carbine". ■> ■•'■>'«wmi Another close thing in which Carhine ; took part was in the Loch Plate at Flemington, in which 'he gained the -verdict over Loehiel by half a head, but in this case he probably won rather . fleverly, if not with something in hand. ] XOKTH AND SOITII RIVALRY. When Megaphone, fresh from his Queensland triumphs, went out to oppose Carhine in the Craven Plate, at j Itandwick, the Northern division was confident that its champion would win the day. But the Southerners, while recognising that "Old Jack" had a stil i task in hand, were not dismayed. They laid 7 to 4 on their choice, while Megaphone, stood at (i to 4 against. Megaphone made brisk running, but Carbine, joined him three furlongs from home and then the battle started in real earnest. Megaphone stuck to his work, hut Carhine eventually won by a length in Siiiin. 7sec. for the ten furlongs. The south had defeated the north. Soon afterwards Carbine and Megaphone, became stable mates, so that the rivalry turned into friendship. When the great mile runner Marvel defeated Carbine over the brilliant black's favorite course at Randwick the Victorians were for a moment bewildered. But Carbine soon "got even" with his eonqucrer. A few hours later the pair came out again, over two miles this time, and Carbine easily turned the tables. They never met again over a mile, so that Carbine bad no opportunity of squaring matters with Marvel at tWs distanie.