OTAGO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 715, 19 November 1903, Page 8

OTAGO.

Dunedin, November 17. Dunedinites, generally, did not benefit greatly by the success of Canteen in the Cup, and many of those who did back the grey only fastened on to him at . the eleventh hour when it became known that McCombe was to ride the son of Vivandiere. It was generally believed that all going well with our horses that Pompero would be sure to finish in front of the grey. The owner of the horse nets a fair stake in bets, but the amount is only a third of what he would have gathered had his horse proved successful last year. Besides the owner, a local handicapper and a well-known publican were the only others who supported the grey to any extent, and they netted about £2OOO between them. Mr Fred Duval, the popular and well-known theatrical man, wins £lOOO straight out, and over the double Canteen and Machine Gun. It is stated that during the progress of the New Zealand Cup Meeting an offer of 2000 guineas was refused for Wairiki, and an offer of 1400 guineas for Roseal was also declined. For some time past, Canteen has been inclined to be very roguish when at the post for his races, and frequently has required a lot of coaxing to get him off the mark. The climax was reached on the last day of the Canterbury J.C. meeting, when the grey after keeping the field for the Ranfurly Handicap waiting for about twenty minutes, struck his toes in when the barrier flew up, and resolutely declined to take part in the race. His supporters in the Cup owe a mead of thanks to W. J. Taggart, the well-known trainer, for the valuable assistance he put in to get the grey off the mark for that race.

The punishments meted out to McCombe and Cameron for their riding in the New Zealand Cup, were the reverse of consistent. In the case of the latter,

it was admitted that he flogged Wairiki over the head with his whip, but even his sixteen months disqualification was leavened by the fact that the boy is to be allowed to work in an approved stable during his term of punishment. Canteen’s subsequent behaviour at the meeting suggested that the son of Castor might be expected to act unkindly in his race, but there was no mercy for the Dunedin horseman. It is understood that when McComb’s appeal comes up before the Racing Conference valuable and weighty evidence will be out forth to support the application for the removal of the disqualification. The inquiry into St. Denis’ running in the Ashley Handicap resulted in the Canterbury J.C. taking no further action in the matter, and the affair frizzled out. It was commonly believed that the club intended to watch the horses running on. the last day of the meeting, and compare it. with his previous form at the meeting, but that part of the difficulty was settled by the owner scratching the horse. St. Dems’ form was not more inconsistent than that of several other horses who sported silk at the meeting, and whose running was allowed to go unquestioned. Probably the real reason of St. Denis’ display lay in the fact that the gelding had not recovered from the effects of the bolt which he did a couple of days’ previous to the meeting. It will be remembered that when on the track and about to do a gallop, the horse’sbit broke, and after careering across country and jumping fences he was,, when finally captured, in his stable yard, trembling with excitement and sweating freely. St. Denis is a high-strung horse, and not the sort to forget his experiencein a hurry. At all events, in neither of

his races did he display his usual dash off the mark, and in the Ashley Handicap he was hard ridden under the whip when racing well down the running, but could make nfo impression on the leaders. Mr A. Moss bid up to 400 guineas for the Stepniak.—Hermosa colt at the yearling sales last week, and his opponent, for possession of the youngster was Mr G. G. Stead, to whom the lot w’as finally knocker’ town. The bidding was practically a duel between the two, and bids came in 25 guinea jumps. Prior to the sale, Mr Moss stated to the writer that he did not intend going in for any of the youngsters, as there was not much pleasure in owning horses when one could not see them race, but eventually he saw cause to change his mind when, the handsome, son of Hermosa entered the ring.

Obligado was brought into notice as a sire by the form, of Zetland on the last day of the meeting, and as the colt looks as if he is susceptible of considerable improvement the youngster should prove a good advertisement for his sire. McComb’s disqualification cost Dunedinites a pretty penny, as Petrovna, Ailsa and Goldspur would at least have been in “ the money,” if they had not won out right, if they had had his services in the saddle. Messrs Barnett and Grant intend closing the Dunedin branch of their business and establishing the firm’s headquarters in Christchurch. Grand Rapids would probably be the ruling favourite for the Auckland Cup if there was any market on the Northern race. There have been several punters who were anxious to support the horse, but the metallicians are not anxious, to do business at present. The Wallace filly Ailsa raced very consistently at the C.J.C. Cup Meeting, and had she not been made so much use of in the Pioneer Handicap she would probably have been returned a winner. In the race mentioned she hung on to her mark when the barrier rose, and G. Price appeared over anxious to get to the front and that was probably the reason why she failed in the last lew strides after she appeared to have the race won. Gipsy Grand had two good representatives at Riccarton in Grand Rapids and Bagpipes. The former is likely to be seen to advantage in some of our big handicaps before the present season closes. Emmeline, the daughter of St. Clair and the Yattendon mare Lady Emma.,, has produced a fine colt to the imported horse Obligado.

The New Zealand Bookmakers’ Association held a couple of meetings during the currency of the New Zealand Cup Meeting, and it was announced that over £6OO cash had been collected for the purpose of forming a fund to win the right for bookmakers to be present on all racecourses in the colony, irrespective of whether the meetings are held on public reserves or private property. The fielders are willing to pay reasonable license fees and work amicably with the clubs, but in the event of the latter maintaining their present hostile attitude towards the metallicians the money collected will be spent in the endeavour to win the right to be present on courses which are at present shut against them. It is intended to circularise all the clubs in the colony with the hope of finding out what stand the racing clubs intend taking in the matter.