OTAGO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 698, 23 July 1903, Page 7

OTAGO.

Dunedin, July 21. The tep, horses owned in this part of the world who claim engagement at the C.J.C. National Meeting have not been badly treated 1 by the weight adjuster, except, perhaps, Vladimir, who looks too close to Pampero at a difference of Hb over a mile. In the Steeples, Pipi, by his present form, does not look • a likely .winner, and Snider may not survive a preparation calculated to get him over three and a half miles over country. If Pampero was trained for the race he would run a good horse, and he looks the best of our lot on paper. Our representatives in the Hurdles consist of Victor 11. and Southerly Buster, and if the former can reproduce his best Australian form he would be entitled to a chance, but horses like Battleaxe, Tresham, and Tradewind should hold him fairly safe. An important addition was made to the list of horses in training at Wingatui by the arrival from Sydney on Saturday last of the yearling colt Oxydonor, a son of Lochiel and Melissa, and consequently a fuli-brother to the wellknown Australian performers, Survivor (now in England), and Revivor, both of whom have the A.J.C. Metropolitan handicap to their, credit. The colt goes into McGuiness’ stable and will race in the same interests as the Wallace filly who recently joined the team. Mr T. Dempsey, one time well-known in Dunedin, was awarded the Maiden Hurdle race of £2OO with his horse Examiner on the first day of the V.R.C. Grand National Meeting. The race was won by Kilt, but in the run home the latter, interfered with Examiner and the Stewards disqualified him, and gave the race to Mr Dempsey’s horse. An esteemed Oamaru. correspondent writes to say that he has seen the cable from Australia to Messrs Fleming and Hedley, Auctioneers, offering 500 guineas for Mr J. O’Brien’s stallion Obligardo, and further states that Mr O’Brien has asked 700 guineas for the son of Orville. A. Ward intends taking his team for the C.J.C. National Meeting, consisting of Southerly Buster, Phaetonitis, an,d Victor 11., up North in the course of a few days to complete their training for the meeting. Owing, to the recent heav. fall of snow, the horses l were off the tracks for several days, and had to he exercised on the sands. Battleaxe for the Hurdles and Haydn are the two' choice selections here for the National. E. McComb, who spent about three years in Dunedin, is said to be getting a string of horses together in Tasmania His many friends will be pleased to hear of his success, as he was very popular with all whom he came in contact with in this Island. Dunedin, July 20. , A couple of days back I made a call at J. Ruttledge’s stables, and he kindly stripped the several inhabitants of his. boxes for my inspection. He has at present a team of six in active commission, one in the “ hospital,” and one running out.

The latter is -old Maremma, the black son of Lady Emma and Rubezhal who baa been a good . stake winner in the past. The veteran is- looking healthy and well, and it is possible that he will sport silk again in some of the district races at Waikouaiti in, • the. summer. The inhabir tant of the “ hospital ” is Donna Rosa, the daughter of Don Pedro and Red Ensign, who, unfortunately, went amiss when she was showing marked improvement in her track form. She has now almost recovered, and walks sound, but would probably require firing or a stiffish blister before she could be put into work again. - Canteen, the grey son of Castor and. Vivandiere, is looking big and lusty and in excellent health. What little work he has been doing since resuming work on the tracks has given no indication that the trouble which caused retirement some few months , back is likely to affect him again. It will be remembered that he slightly ricked his back, and it wasi deemed advisable to give him a spell. He is a good constitutioned horse, .with a rare set of legs and feet, and a fine, even temper. Apart from his colour the grey looks a Cup horse all over, and although he is not well treated through some'of his old opponents on the race track, still he has a nice racing weight in the New Zealand Cup, and fit and well should run a good horse ! in the race.

Next to Canteenf’si box is the latest addition to the team in Vladimir, the handsome son of Stepniak and Mist. He' o is looking in excellent order, and if reserved for races up to a mile he should r< coup Dis Owners for the outlay incurred over his purchase. • .Glenelg, the son of Ike and Enchantress, is not by any m/eans an “ oil painting,” but although he is' narrow, leggy, and roached-backed, as the farmers say, he can gallop all right. His nest form last season was his bold bid for victory in the Fendalton Handicap, when he ran Halberdier to a short head, but he did hot take part in the second race, when the C.J.C. stewards ordered the rax to be re-run. • ’

Ardnarff, the son of the k ick land I'trby winner, Fitzherculesi, is looking bright and well, and the rising two-year-old i-bit by Stepniak out of Cobweb is* growing in the right way, and promises to furnisn into fin attractive looking horse.

The last one of the team inspesoed was Fate, a four-year-old by Stepniak out of Enchantress, and is a fine big raking chestnut mare that has a business-like air about hei which attracts favourable attention. She is built jon more &ij'.&c#ve lines than her half-brother, (’Unelg. but has small bony growths on both !i?r fore pasterns, whidh may cause trouble later ori, but at present she gallops soundly enough on the tracks. Taking his team allround, Ruttledge may be said to have a string of horses who should more than pay their way next season.