NOTES BY MASTER M'GRATH.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 10 July 1890, Page 25

NOTES BY MASTER M'GRATH.

The particulars of the North Otago Champion Stake, to be run at Papakaio on the 31st inst., will be found elsewhere in this issue. Nominations [close on the 22nd, and aooept anoea on the 29th. A question having been raised as to the breeding of Mr Munro's Hard Times, I have inquired into the matter and find that the dog was purchased from Mr Martin Taylor as by Obstaole out of BideaWee (sister to Miranda), and so far as the owner knows there is no doubt that this breeding is correot. Ab the dog will probably run in the Braoelet, the point is of aome importanse. Mr Hunt, who the season before last brought Sailor Boy down, and won the Waterloo Oup, has arrived again from Auokland with Snowball and Vixen. Snowball is a bit fanoied for the Oup. He was put out in the seoond round last of year's Cup by Emm Bey, Vixen is to go for the Bracelet. The Victorian Waterloo Oup nominations appliedlfor fell 10 short of the required number (64)", and the committee decided to allow the stake to remain open. Mr Blackham's greyhound Blaok Fine, nominated for the Waterloo Oup, was attacked by another dog on Sunday and a mouthful of Bkin and muscle torn from the greyhound's ribs. Flora is in rattling condition, and I ezpeot to see her win this Waterloo. Snowball, Blaok Pine, and lona will alsp run well, and if there is an upset it will be with Jack Tar. As to the Bracelet dogs, I look on Vogel, Eau de Vie, Soud, Vixen, and Ivanhoe is about the best of the bunch, and Eau db Via may win. On the night of the draw the dogs most supported were Snowball, Watermark, Fugue, Presto, Irony, and lona. The price offered about Flora (5 to 1) did not lead to business. Watermark was really baoked for most money, his owner taking all he could get, viz., £200. This is about a tenth of the money that could be got about a dog the first year Ringwood won. "Oumloden" says cfMr Taylor's dogs:— "I scarcely ever remember seeing a greyhound with whioh I fell bo muoh in love at first sight as I did with Sans Mariner, a seoond season fawn dog, weighing 631b, by Horse Marine from Glenshee. He iB a remarkably handsome and well-knit greyhound, of a superior and singularly uncommon type, and at once imparts the impression of being a galloper. He has one of the most expressive and intelligent heads I have ever seen on a greyhound, and the blaok hairs 'whioh 1 cover his muzzle and forehead give him an appearance strongly suggestive of courage and determination. His beautifully-formed shoulders, and massive, lengthy quarters support a nicely-rounded barrel, while his back is broad and muscular, bound together by two parallel ridges of ' fibres,' resembling in substance the ousbions of a billiard table. A greyhound built on the same lines as Sana Mariner should show to advantage behind a hare, and, judging by his general conformation, no oourse should prove too long for him, for he looks all over a stayer, Mr Taylor fancies the Oval will be more to Sans Mariner's liking than Moonee Valley, and regrets thtt business obligations will prevent him extending his visit oyer the Waterloo Oup meeting. He, however, intends to Bell Sans Mariner after running him in the Champion Stakes, so that the New Zealand dog will in all probability be afforded an opportunity of testing the speed of the Oval bareß as well as those of Moonee Valley. Sans Mariner, I am given to understand, never ran as a puppy, and his only appearance in publio was in the Exhibition Oup, at Dunedin, early this season, whioh event be won, and his form on that oocasion was sufficiently good to cause Mr Taylor to purchase him for £80. Sanß Mariner's kennel companion, Her Ladyship, is a first season greyhound, of 541b weight, by Obßtaole from Kersage; she ran up for the Dunedin Puppy Stakes early in the season, this being her firat and only appearanoe in publio. Her Ladyship is a smart, racing-like bitob, but no matter how good Bhe may be she iB too young and inexperienced to be expeoted to compete successfully against the more matured performers of note to which she will be opposed in the Champion Stakes."