FABULIST, DECEASED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2368, 20 July 1899, Page 36

FABULIST, DECEASED.

Fabulist, son of Fabulous and Innisthona, has died at Auckland, and the veterinary surgeon tells us that the cause was dropsy and heart disease. Such complaints take many forms, but a frequent symptom is shortness of breath in the early stage 3, and it may be that in this we have an explanation of why Fabulist in his maturity disappointed the promise of his early career. That he was at his best a good horse nobody can deny. It is proved by his three-year-old doings. He began that season unluckily. Davis weighed out to ride him at 7.6 in the Ascot Handicap at Auckland in September, but the horse broke loose, and the race went on without him. The same day, however, he won the Shorts, beating Linstock, Lady Marion, and a fairish field, paying £6 7s. Next he got homo in the Auckland Guineas. This was considered beforehand likely to be a match between Forma and Ngatuere, but Fabulist romped over them, winning from Forma by three lengths in decent time. I don't call it a strong lot that he beat, but he could or:ly win, and the opposition could not take his measure. On the following day he finished second to that fast mare St. Laura in the Flying Handicap at the same meeting. At Anita's Auckland Cup meeting Fabulist won the Christmas Handicap, for which Mauser was reckoned a certainty, and then came hi 3 success in the Great Northern Derby, which he won by two lengths from Armour, Mauser and the much-fancied Osculator finishing a dead heat for third place. Then he secured second place in the Royal Stakes, giving half a stone to Bloodshot, the winner, and having the pick of the northern sprinters as well as Musketry and St. Ouida behind him at the finish. In the Takapuna Cup, a month later, Fabulist won with 9.4 on his back, giving junks of weight to everything else. They weighted him out at Taranaki, and Waiiganui found him stale, but he ran second in the Easter Handicap at Auckland with 8.11, and won the Autumn Handicap next day \inder the steadier of 9.5. It was on the strength of this performance that Mr Henry gave Fabulist 8.12 in the New Zealand Cvp — the race won by Lady Zetland with 8.9. The northern sportsmen reckoned that if Euroclydon had a show with 9.5 Fabulist must be in it with half a stone less. Perhaps he would have been if as good in his four-year-old as in his three-year-old season; but he wasn't. Very likely the trouble which eventually carried him off was beginning to develop. It is quite within the bounds of possibility that many a brave horse gets the name of a coward in this way.