OTAGO.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9817, 28 August 1897, Page 4

OTAGO.

Dunkdik, August 23. Though Euvoc'ydon was not from the first and is not now one of my picks for the New Zealand Cup, many backers are selecting him all over the colony, and I recognise it therefore as a duty to report prelty frequently as to how he is getting on. Remembering this, I called in at Goodman's while taking my constitutional yesterday, and hail a look at the big horse while Albert Goodman was doing him up for the afternoon- -A- glance showed that Kuroelydon was vovy well, and I learned on inquiry what I might have guessed from appearances, that the horse was in regular exorcise, taking his gallop as often as the state of the course permits. He does not lighten very (juickly ; but on the other hand he is not fine-drawn when at his best, and I can say with safety that lie is as far forward as his heaviest backer could desire. A gooil sign about him, also, was the anxiety he displfiYesl for the arrival oE the sieve, and it was more assuring than a doctor's certificate to see the big fellow nmke his eager dip into the manger.

Goodman's other three horses are also in the primest health. Pitch and Toss is building up' famously. The Miss Webster gelding lias stopped bleeding at the nose, and now is in regular work, and Mountebank is developing into a really haudsonie colt. The cured splint on the inside of his off foreleg will leave its mark for many a year, bub save this Mountebank hew not a •blemish, and if- he g«t9 to the post for the New Zealand Cttp lie Avill make a lot of his opponents look homely by comparison. To my mind he is the moat improved horse in or about Duuedin, and, unless ajDpearances are altogether deceitful, he should be class enough for anything. I have not yet seen him galloping, and until I do my advice as to hie chances for the big race shall ba withheld ; but I can with confidence say that his whole conformation is that of a racer of a hi>»htype, and that hie work evidently agrees with him. A rather umwual caso of self sacrifice is reported from Gore. Mr W. F. Ward declined the vice-presidentship of his club on the ground that the hsnour should be the reward of active service on the committee, and he had not so qualified. Ifc would be a good thing if this spirit of conscientiousness were more often displayed. The sum of £405 will be given in stakes at the Gore Club's Spring Meeting. Cromwell Tradesmen's Club's races are to be hold oa the 13th of October, when £75 is to be given in stakes. I hear from two s-jilrces, and therefore presume it is correct, though particulars are not to hand, that the Tasmanian mare Venus has been lauded from Hobart, and sent to Riverton to be trained for the New Zealand Cup. If this is so, backers will stand off her for the present. They like to wait in such a case for news from the metropolitan tracks. Anyway, however, I have no doubt her party can easily back her for a thousand of two if they want it. A. MeKenaie, of Southland, has given up owning and training, and taken service with J. Laweon, of Winton, who, by the way, has recently added to his team a five-year-old mare by Artillery from Shadow. Mr G. G. Glassford, son of Mr fit. Glassford, who used to be a leading light amongst goldfield owners iv. the early days of Otago