OTAGO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 681, 26 March 1903, Page 14

OTAGO.

March 21st. The Gore Racing Club held their Autumn Meeting on the 17th and 18th, but:-, were unfortunate in having bad weather on both days, which considerably interfered with the attendance. In fact, tfye, ; club have a just grievance, against Jupi? ter Pluvius and his watering pot, as ou turning over the records for. the-past ten, years I find that out of twenty meetingsheld during the period only six have, been held in fine, weather. All the other fixtures have been got off during wet. or threatening weather, and threatening.. weather has - probably, aa an, effect; on fair weather sports aSii any brand; During the. two days, off the..

recent meeting the sum of £3,202 was put through the machines, which amount was a shrinkage of £1,400 on last year’s take. The racing on the first day was only fairly interesting, but on the second day some good racing was witnessed, ©nd some close finishes were fought out. The North Island-bred gelding Southerly Buster got away with the hurdle race in good style, and apparently is much better at Gore, where he is trained, than at any other meeting to which he has to trav©! • i The Fitz Hercules gelding Ardnarff won the Gore Cup from Sirius, Pellet, and Victor, with a bit to spare, but meting Sirius on 8 lbs. worse terms over a shorter course, on the second day, he succumbed to the Dreadnought gelding by a long neck after a good race. Sirius’ win was due firstly to the excellent riding of J. M. Comb, who kept his mount on Ardnanff’s quarter coming down the running, and after “ kidding ” to be hard at his horse until a few strides from the post, he then got to work in “ real earnest,” and got up and (von. Sirius was short of a gallop on the first day, as since the Wingatui Meeting, when he jarred one of his hind pasterns, he has not been able to do a great deal of work on the track.

Bed Bonald, who was got by the Dunedin Cup winner Occident out of Bed Ensign, scored a double on the first day, and has greatly improved since competing at Tapanui and Lawrence. He is a half brother of the speedy Red Lancer who now appears to be a light of other days. Avenue, the North Island bred gelding by Drury Lane, won the President’s Handicap, a four furlong flutter got off on the second day. He just managed to squeeze home from Rawmore by a short head.

Amongst the starters at G\>re was the black gelding Victor who was bred in Victoria and got by Wellington (son of Panic) out of Little Louie, a mare got by the Yattendon horse Hercules. Victor was bred, by Mr. J. 0. Manifold in Victoria, and has some veiy good performances to his credit in Victoria. His last two wins were in jumper’s flat race at Caulfield, and a hurdle race at the Rame place. In the first event, which was run over a mile and three furlongs, he won with 9.9 on his back in 2 min. 29 3-4th sec , from King Pin, 9.13, Aesop 9.9, and nine others. In the hurdle race he had 11., and beat Scutum 10.12, Aeeop 9.5, and 11 others over 2 miles 1 furlong and 64 yards in 4 mins. 11 secs. Both of these performances read well, and Victor should make a welcome addition to our list of hurdlers. He, is a whole black in colour, with the exception of a white hind pastern, and stands about 15 3. He shows a lot of quality, and. galloped with plenty of determination, but was very backward, and after his race in the Cup he was considerably distressed He is trained by C. A. Ward, who has also Phaetonitis, Picket, Shotgun, Trentbridge, Southerly Buster and Wedlock in his stable. Ward tells me he will in all probability shift his team to Dunedin in the near future, and will probably fix on Wellington as his headquarters. Ward was well known as a gentleman rider, ©nd won many races over country prior to adopting the training of horses. He also served with one of the New Zealand contingents during the South African campaign. Tugela, who is fairly well known up north as First Light, scored over a moderate lot in the Croydon Handicap, 7 furlongs, and was followed home by Sarchedon, the three-year-old son of Castor and Lady Peer. Sarchedon gave me the idea that he has turned cunning by, the way he raced at the meeting, and it would probably improve him if he were gelded. At the conclusion of the first day’s racing at the Gore Meeting the final heat of the Gore Trotting Cup, which was ordered to be re-run under the original handicap by the New Zealand Trotting Association, was got off, and was won easily by Fichu who paced 2 min. 30 2 T sth sec. for the mile. This must be considered a very good: go, as the track was heavy and cut up by the racing which had taken place during the day. Only Fichu, Baxter, and Bob E.T. started. George L., who won the heat the first time it was run but was objected to on the ground that the Club had no right to re-handicapthe horses aftex-cpm-

peting in the first heats, was withdrawn, and Lexey and Boldrewood were also struck out. It will be remembered that the Club re-handicapped the placed horses in the first two heats, although there was nothing mentioned on the official programme which gave them power to do so, and when George L. won he was pro ested against, and the Trotting Association upheld the appeal. It is an important decision to clubs, and they should make a note of the fact when drawing up their programmes in future. Whilst at Gore I made the acquaintance of the ’chaser Polly, who is one of the horses attached to Hyland’s circus. Mr. Hyland kindly had the mare stripped, and also showed me another ’chaser of lesser note. Polly looks a good sort of a mare, and stands about 15 3, and she and the other horse (who is a raking big bay gelding badly affected with string halt) will probably be nominated for the forthcoming Riverton Steeplechases. Polly has won several cross country events in the back blocks of Australia, and is likely to pick up a small stake or two in New Zealand, as Mr. Hyland in forms me he intends making a lengthy stay in this colony. Evening Wonder left for South Aus tralia a few days back to fulfil his engagements at the Onkaparinga Meeting. Nobody accompanied the horse, and he was sent away in charge of one of the ship’s hands. As the meeting takes place on April 13th the Wonderland gelding will not have too much time to get in order for his racing. Dunedin, March 24

The Dunedin-owned horses who claim engagements in the C.J.C. Easter and Autumn Handicaps have nothing to complain of on the score of treatment by the weight adjuster, with the exception of Canteen., who got more than he deserved in both races, and had the pen put through his name. Pampero has been favourably treated in both races, and fit and well he would take a lot of beating in whatever race was selected for the son of St. Clair. At present he is doing useful work on the track, and moving soundly enough. On the frm displayed by Vladimir at the New Zealand Cup Meeting he is also given a chance to distinguish himself, and should run a good horse in the, short race. Petrovna remains healthy and well, and must have a great say with her burden on her form at the last Wellington meeting. Red Gauntlet is a favourite of mine. He is gradually thickening out, and improving in his staying powers, and I would not put winning the Easter beyond his compass. Blazer has dropped in the estimation of the handicapper, and if hr could regain some of his old time brilliancy he would keep the opposition extremely busy. A few days before the last Dunedin Meeting he jarred one of his joints and had to be eased in his work, but still managed to run decently. Tsaritza is nicely treated, but has a penchant for breaking blood vessels in the head, which makes one stand off her chance Sirius, the Dreadnought horse, who makes up the Otago lot figuring in the race, lacks the neces sary brilliancy which is wanted by a horse likely to score in such a race. He is slightly amiss at present owing to having jarred one of his hind pasterns, but would give a good account of Himself in the Autumn if his preparation had not been interferred with. Pampero reads well in the Autumn, and on paper I would stand him to win outright, but it is advisable to wait and see how he stands up to his work before putting any bullion on to his chance. Two others in the race for whom I have a fancy are General Symons and Lady Lillian. Canteen will probably be treated to a spell. There is nothing wrong with the horse, but it is deemed advisable to spell him before next season. Amongst the yearlings sold in Melbourne recently was a colt by Eminence (son of Bill of Portland and Emmie, the dam of Beanba, H loise, and Emir) out of Cuirassina the daughter of Cuirassier and the Traducer mare Rosanna. Cuirassina was at one time owned Dy Mr. Bridger when that gentleman resided in Southland, and the filly raced several times in this colony without losing her maiden stakes. The colt mentioned realised 115 guineas, which must be considered a good figure, considering the prices brought by other well-bred youngsters who changed ownership at the same gala.