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Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5224, 15 October 1885, Page 3

The death of the famous old horse Musket, which occurred this morning in Auckland, is not only.*.heavy loss to the New Zealand Stud Company, but also to tne whole of the colonies, as we owe to Musket and his progeny the prominent position which Auckland now holds in the racing world, and in the breeding of thoroughbreds. Musket was 22 years old, and has been about 6 years in the colony, having been leased in the first instance for the Stud Company by Mr-Thomas Eussell, and afterwards purchased, we understand, but for what sum we cannot state. Some six years ago the Stud Company purchased the two mares, Sylvia and Onyx, for the sum of £3000, and at the time there were many, who thought they had launched out toe heavily, but events have shown how sound was their judgment. Martini-Henry, Sylvia's first foal by Musket, was bought by the Hon. James White for 1250 guineas when only seven months old, and at the very first time of asking, won the two greatest races of the Aus* tralasian turf—the V.RC. Derby and Melbourne Cup—victories which placed his sire, old Musket, in the foremost rank «s a begetter of racing stock. Mr White subsequently purchased Nordenfeldt for the sum of 1250 guineas, and from all appearances there is every prospect of his following in the footsteps of Martini* Henry. Musket is also the sire of the well known Thunderbolt, Necklace, Fusi* lade, Trenton, and Carbineer.