TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2370, 3 August 1899, Page 34

TALK OF THE DAY.

By MAZEPPA.

THE LOCAL. STABLES. The dirty weather recently experienced put a stop to regular training not only in Otago, but everywhere else, and of the horses that compete at the forthcoming Grand National meeting those that have been raced into condition must have the best chance. This is a tip worth following. Tlie tracks at the Taieri have been very muddy. Speaking on Monday to Harry Ellis, he told me that, though very anxious to eend Jupiter and Edelweiss along, he could only get about a quarter of a mile of going on whioh it was safe to let the horse gallop at anything like top speed. These are the pair with which the stable is having a cut at the National flat races, and in hope of finding better going at Riccarton the trainer proposes to take them, up on Tuesday, that is to gay, the day before yesterday. By that ■ arrangement, which I presume was carried out, the horses named are now at Riccarton. Decoy, just brought in, and Abercrombie, who will not be wanted till about September or October, are the others that Ellis has at work; but he also has in hand the St. Clair —Lady Florence two-year-old filly, being broken in. The brother to Edelweiss was led in a couple of weeks ago, but he lacks size, and it was deemed wise to turn him out again. George Smith is doing what he oan do to bring St. Hiko and Red Banner into condition at the Taieri. Bob Ellis finds Tiger Lily a trouble. This stylish, and iipstanding horse is thought to have strained himself in one of his gallops at the back end of the season; anyway, he cannot be persevered with just at present, and Bob is turning his attention to a four-year-old by St. Clair —Hippona that until now has never felt saddlery. Harry Goodman would have gone away a week or more ago if the weather had been at all fine; but, as he says, he was as well off sitting at home as sitting- • in another man's house at Riccarton, antj consequently he put off his departure with Cherrystone, Mountebank, and Pitch and Toss. These three were, however, to be taken up yesterday, and at the latest they will be there by the end of the week. Others of Mr Goodman's team will follow shortly, unless a change in the present position of affairs should bring about the re-opening of the Forbury, in which case not only Goodman, but Bishop, and several other trainers would rejojee. I understand, by the way, that each of the parties to the dispute over the Forbury has appointed its arbitrator, Mr Simpson being one and Mr Wright another; but these two have not yet appointed a thirdThat, I believe, was the position at the early part of the week. As to the Dunedin stables, I have to announce that Mr L. C. Hazlett has bought Benzon altogether, and that Sid Bishop has taken charge of Mr B. Curtis's horses, though this last is not exactly a news item, since the transference took place some weeks ago.