OTAGO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 682, 2 April 1903, Page 15

OTAGO.

Dunedin, April 1. The Dunedin horses who have continued their engagementsi in the Great Easter Handicap are all doing well up to date. Pampero continues to stride along pleasingly in his work, and pulls up thoroughly sound. It is rumoured that he was left out of the Great Autumn through an oversight, and the work he was putting in prior to the acceptances lends colour to the report. Vladimir is training on, and improving in his manners on the track. Red Gauntlet is suffering from a cracked heel, but is registering good work on the track. St. Denis is very fit and well, and strides along with great freedom in his work. Blazer is keeping well, and on the score of weight has been given the chance of his life. Petrovna is a trifle on the big side, and had a touch of colic a few days back,, but is now working all right. Her trainer, however, is inclined to be too lenient with his horses. Dunedin holds a remarkably strong hand in the Easter Handicap, and there are excellent prospects of the stake coming this way. If Pampero survives his w'rcmg-up gallops I have a strong fancy for him, but before saying anything, definite about our lot I will wait to see how some of

them shape when they are being slackened out at the end of the week. McGuinness leaves early next week for Riccarton with his team, consisting of Pampero, Vladimir, Red Gauntlet, Crown Imperial, Lady Roslyn, and Lady Babbie. Turgenieff, the chestnut gelding by Stepniak —Seashell, who was sold under the hammer at the last New Zealand Cup Meeting for eighty-one guineas, has been purchased by “J. Tristram,” the part owner of Pallas and Co. A. Mathie, who was severely injured whilst riding Dartmoor in the Hurdle Race on the last day of the Dunedin Cup Meeting, left the hospital last week, and is progressing favourably towards complete recovery. Billet Doux was taken uip last week after a lengthy spell, and the son of St. Leger has filled out considerably as a result of his holiday. Before resuming work on the track the gelding will be broken into harness and hacked about town to see if that treatment will improve his manners. Tb.e ’chaser Pipi has been taken up, and is now a stable companion of Petrovna. Evening Wonder has been nominated for the Adelaide Steeplechase run in May next, and it looks as if the gelding was going to make a lengthy stay in Australasia.

Fighting Mac is doing steady work at Oamaru in view of the South Canterbury Meeting. McComb, who has been fairly successful on the Otago and Southland courses, contemplates returning to Tasmania if he can dispose of his property at Wingatui at a satisfactory figure. McComb is equally at home on the fiat and over obstacles, and his services would be in demand wherever he goes. He finds the climate down this way too trying, and his health has not been too robust of late. Vladimir was priced recently by Mr J. Ellis, and the figure wanted was £750, but Mr Ellis would not go beyond £5OO and a winning contingency. Tge Auckland horseman, J. Gallagher, was offered and refused the ride on Petrovna in the Great Easter. Glenelg has been awarded Bst 21b in the Onkaparinga Cup, one mile and three fui> longs. The top of the list is occupied by l-'ootbolt, with lOst 51b, and next to him comes Flagship, with lOst. Glenelg will not make the journey, and one of his front fetlock joints, which has caused his trainer some anxiety, has been treated to a blister. Evening Wonder has received

list- 121 b in the Onkaparinga Steeplechase, three miles and a-quarter. Colonel Shillinski is top-weight with 13st 81b, and Arcadia 12st 121 b, Freedom 12st 111 b. Kiota 12st 71b, Kaimata 12st 31b. and Mystery 12st. Divide the Wonderland gelding from the. top-weight. The Australian-bred Victoria 11., who competed at Gore, is amongst the entries for the Hurdles at the C-J.C. Easter Meeting. J. McComb will ride St. Denis in the Easter Handicap, and it is not vet known who will steer the horses in McGuinness’ stable who claim engagements in the race. McComb will, however, do what riding lie can for the Zetland spots during the meeting. Red Gauntlet is, as most sports know, a son of Lochiel, and what proved conclusively that the conspicuously-marked chestnut has a liberal allowance of Scottish blood coursing in his veins was the fact that on hearing the melodious swirl of a •set of bagpipes being lustily played at a picnic recently held at Wingatui, the colt commenced to do a Highland reel in his box with more noise and abandon than has ever been displayed bv anv kilted dancer tripping the light fantastic toe at festive gatherings. Canteen is being treated to a spell, and runs out, daily in a small paddock, but is boxed, and one night last week when the grey was having one of his hind legs brushed down after his day’s freedom he playfully tapped J. Rae, who was wielding the brush, on the nose, and severelv damaged the light-weight’s- nasal organ, but fortunately the horse was bare-footed, 1 and Rae had a lucky escape from what might have proved a serious accident. As it was the services of a medical man had to be sought before the damaged member could be restored to its former classical contour. The six-year-old gelding, Spider, by Stepniak—Cobweb, and Visionary, by Stepniak—-Illusion, are for private sale. The. first is guaranteed sound, and the latter is a big, roomy mare, and closely related to Men&chikoff.