A COUPLE OF STABLE VISITS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 50

A COUPLE OF STABLE VISITS.

Now that the existence of the racing season of 1905-6 has been unmistakably evidenced by the recently-held crosscountry carnival at Biccarton an idea of what material the Wingatui stables is likely to campaign with during the coming year may prove of interest; and with the object of garnering something concerning the matter the writer was one of a small party which recently paid a visit to the Hon. George M'Lean's stables. Here it was found that W. M'Donald has a team of 13 under his charge, and the horses comprising it were kindly strigned for our inspection whilst they were undergoing "a straightening-up during " 4 o'clock stable." The first box entered was that occupied by Ailsa, the upstanding daughter of Wallace and Faraway. Ailsa has always been a favourite of the writer's, and, consequently, it was pleasing to note that, although she has been treated to a judicious spell during the winter, whilst not altogether being allowed to eat the oats of idleness, she has furnished out and let down a good deal, with the result that, as viewed in her box. she appears to have io«t a lot of the legginess she formerly displayed. She has got rid of tho skin disease which marred her appearance when she sported silk at the Easter meeting, and is now in first-class order to commence the real business of the year. Up to date Ailsa has captured less than a thousand pounds in stakes, and has been unfortunate to finish prominently in several important races without gaining the judge's winning verdict. It is to be hoped better luck will attend her efforts during the present season, but if she never wins another oat such a beautifully-bred mare (by Wallace — Faraway, by Bill o' Portland — Happy Land, by Musket from Atlantis, the dam of St. Leger) should make a very valuable addition to the already strong band of matrons at the Elderslie stud when she leaves the post for the paddock. The New Zealand Cup candidate Notus, the three-year-old threequarter brother to the defunct Pampero (who was one of the best but most unlucky horses we have ever had), was next interviewed. Notus, who has not yet made his debut in public, is builh on massive linse ; and if he should miss his mark on the flat, on looks should make a fine 'chaser. At a guess he appears to stand close on 17 hands, and has a fine set of legs to carry a stoutly-built top-piece. He looks fairly forward in condition, and is at present comporting himself fairly well on the track ; but future developments will have to be awaited before his Cup chance can be seriously discussed. Apollodoris, the diminutive son of Phoebus Apollo and Brisa (the sister to Pampero), was the next to have his rugs removed. Since he was last seen in public the son of Brisa has not grown up noticeably, but he has thickened a trifle about the barrel and quarters. In his initial season Apollodoris scored twice and was beaten a neck by Glenowlet j on the other occasion which he carried silk. Although he has such excellent form credentials, he is j such a small 'un that one cannot hold j him. in tb.e mind's eye. as a Cup hor^o. ; Still, valuable goods frequently go in small parcels, and if he fails amongst the giant equines he should prove a Triton amongst the minnows in .'ilipuiian ranks. Another Cup candidate in Armamento, a stoutlybuilt and well-turned son of Lord Rosslyn and Esoopeta, was tha next, to arrest attention, and tlia first thought which cccurr-ed to tbe writer was that Lord Rosslyn appears to be stamping his stock with improving quality and substanoo with succeeding year he has 'been at the stud 1 . Armamento is about the best-looking of the Lord Rossiyns 'vhioh has come under th& ken of the writer, and the son of Escopeta shows sufficeut power and quality to have been sired by tho most fashionable sire- in the. laud He is stoutly bred enough to win high lurf honours, as his dam Escopeta is a daughter of Hotehkiss and the St. Lop^r a 1 are Agnes, who was out of the imported Macaroni mare Lovebird. On breeding lines Armamento's attractive individuality is well backed up, as he is jnbred to Mu<lwfe through two o fthe Toxophilito horse's best stud succnscs in Hotehkiss and St. Clair. whilst the presence of St. Leger in his grand-dam pedigree lends to create further confidence in the colt. Armamento sported silk once only last year, and that when lie ran unplaced in the Nursery Handicap won by Boomerang at the Wellington October meeting last spring-. Another nice out of a youngster is Erskine, a brother to Crowni Irr-psrial. He h built on lines similar to Armamento, and may do something to make a l.amo for Tiara as a brood mare. Riviera, a handsome daughter of Positano

. | and Wai'i.ig ilaid. -\vori admiration as =h<s - was led out of har box. Thoro U, no gaml saying thai '■he i* a handsome filly, and on s breeding and looks should wipe off the four ■ defeats which stand against her as a result • of her first season on the turf. A nicclyi turned and well-balanced chestnut filly j named Afar, who is a sister to the brilliant, s Vladimir, appears to be a shade taller and lengthier than the latter was at the same l age, and she also bears an appeara.nce s which is suggestive of the fact that she 'has I not been idle lately. Afar is the best of Mist's offspring the writer has met since I she threw Vladimir, as she has more size I than the unfortunate Tsa, and does not show i the stiltine^s of the disappointing Tramoni tana. At the same Unie sh° has a more i attractive-looking headpiece than- Vladimir : i and is better built about the knees. Altol gether, Afar is a very likely young lady, ■ ' and in the fulness of time it will be disappointing if she does not carry the Zet- ■■ land sports with credit. Cavatina has net filled out sines last year, and presents a. very genteel appearance, suggestive of a delicate appetite. She 's ass angular as any of ths Lochiek, and has displayed betterform in private than what she has ye£ I shown in public. The balance of the- team is composed of two-year-olds, of which the most forward appears to be Hamattan, a shapely bay daughter of Stepniak and Brisa, the clam of Apollodoris. Each member of the team looks healthy and well, and past experience proves that when their j engagements fall due they can be turned out fit and well by their mentor, who is to be congratulated on having such a promising lot of horses under his conti-01. We next wended our way acros3 the paddocks to the- stables where J. Ruttledgs houses his team, and, like his neighbour on the hill, be cheerfully allowed us to trespass on his good nature, and had his team stripped for our inspection. The chief interest of this visit naturally centred in having a look at Vladimir, the handsome son of Stepniak, who has demonstrated that elegance and utility can be found in tho possession of one individual. Vladimir has just; been taken up, and on his rugs being removed he was found to be carrying more* condition than the writer ever remembers him having previously shown. He looks remarkably healthy and in fine spirit, but the leg which caused what is to be hopsd only a temporary retirement still 'bears a slightly enlarged appearance as a result of a couple of blisterings to which the joint was trea-ted since ho lasc appeared in public. Vladimir has thiok«ned ou> considerably since the autumn, and bearing 1 in mind the short time which has to claps& before the Cup comes up for decision, together with the doubtful-looking leg, which will have to be studied, it looks very .problematical if the son of Mist can be gofi ready in time to comport himself with credit oven two miles in the early part of November. Still the enforced holiday may bo a blessing in disguise, as it will be remembered Canteen went wrong across the> loins at the back of tha season which preceded that in which Rutledge succeeded in turning the handsome grey into a recordmaking New Zealand Cup winner; but at the same time it would 1 only be ' judicious I and wise to wait and see how Vladimir [ comports himself on the track for a month or so before according him any support for tho two-mile journey at Riccarton. Astrakan, the two-year-old brother to Master Alix. Petrovna, and Tsaritza, has lost hia chubby looks, and has both lengthened and grown up a good deal since Es raced at the k>st Dunedin Cup meeting; but unfortunately his improvement in that respect is discounted by the fact that he has been displaying a soreness which his trainer has not yet succeeded in locating. He looks bright and well to the eye, and was very busy with the contents of his manger at the time of inspection. Cuirosettia has I lost a lot of his lathiness, and now preI sonts a more taking appeai-ance than when. I he raced at Forbury Park and Wingatui. ! He is a raking, big gelding, and ehoulcß j keep on improving with age. Old Donna* | Roea was not going to be overlooked, and! j she- forced herself gii out attention by* | coming to the door of her box. Grand Opera, I the- handsome daughter of Gipsy Grand ! and lima, has thrived and grown since I her first season, and the Sir Lancelot— I Tirade colt Abusive has greatly improved in I size and appearance during the- past few months. When this <vlt landed from the North Island he had a ponifted appearance, but has now grown into a decent-sized and! attractive-looking youngster. On breeding lines he should do something out of the ordinary, as his sire, Sir Lancelot, in addition to being a good horsa on the track, is a son of Dreadnought, and a half-brother to the world-famous Sir ilodred. Sir Lancelot was the last of the Idalias, and it is to bo hoped hs will prove his woi - th as a she, and make uo the great loss that wa« experienced whan Sir Modred was sent from these shores. Abusive is also stoutly bred on the dam's side, as Tirade was got by Mousquetaire (Nordenfeldi — Frailty) out c£ Florence Maearthy. the dam of Tirailleur and co. The two recent additions tc £h«i team, in Rio Grande and his two-year-old brother were also inspected, and were pronounced likely-looking sorts. Rio Grande has a remarkable deformity about ths heads in having or.o of his eyes and the corresponding oar a^ov-.fc an. inch lihjfcer than those on tho other side of his frontispiece. Taking the team all round, it is readily recognised that Ruttledee has some fiaei material to try his skill on during the 1 coming season; and, thanking him for tho genial mami&r in which he received our invasion of hi?, .premises, the visitors cut short a visit which, if necessarily brief, was by no means unpleasant or unappreciated.