OTAGO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 819, 16 November 1905, Page 9

OTAGO.

Dunedin, November 15. The Dunedin horses which were raced at Riccarton did not bring much grist to the mill, and their followers, we. e not on pleasant terms with themselves at the conclusion of the meeting. The form of Vladimir, although not good enough to return him a winner, was full of merit, and under better track conditions he would have been more dangerous in his races.

Mr. S. Nettlefold has purchased the Stepniak—Ambush fihy Beresina from Mr. G. G. Stead. The filly goes into D. J. Prince’s stable.

Golden Knight, the disappointing son of Waflace and Aura, is to be thrown out of.training, and will probably be used on a few mares. When he scored in the Maiden Plate last season the son of Aura ran a particularly brilliant mile, but he appears to have deve oped too much sense to make a good racehorse.

Vladimir was stood behind his field when at the post for the Members’ Hanfl.cap, but when the barrier rose he got away to a moving start, and after getting out in front it looked odds on him staying there. Quarryman, however, quickly got to him, and after the pair had disputed the lead until close to home the pace told, and Solution and Master Alix gave them the go by. Zetland, the son of Obligado and Lady Zetland, who possessed a rare turn of speed as a threeryear-old, was amongst the runners at Riccarton last week after a year’s absence from the scene. He looked bright and healthy, and as he gave a glimpse of his old form he should be heard of again as a winner. J. McComb’s ev’l star has evidently been in the ascendant lately, as he did not score a win at Riccarton, but there’s comfort in the reflection that a bad horse can be taken to the track, but a regiment of jockeys cannot make some of them win there.

The two-year-old sister to Vladimir did not run as well at the Cup meeting as wts-.t might have been expected from her track and public form at Wingatui. She was, however, running prominently in her i ace on the last day, when she was cb.qu ed out and had her chance spoiled. Prig! ion’s form at Riccarton was very d:sapj cirting to those who had seen his fo”. at Luredin, Oamaru, and Gore. At th>* last-r.f med place, extravagant as the statement may seem, he was apparently the equal of Vladimir over a mile, but whereas the latter improved the former must have gone right off to be only capable of the indifferent form he displayed at the Cup meeting. Ailsa will not return to Wingatui after the New Zealand Cup meeting, but goes into Prosser’s stable at Wellington. The Wallace filly could be ill spared from our list, as we have not too many horses in tj aining at headquarters. It is rumoured that Bulawayo may go into a Riccarton trainer’s stable to be prenared for future engagements.

The number of fines which were imposed cn bookmakers for trespass at Riccarton during the National could easily be construed into an invitation for tljem to stop away from the Cup meeting, but they were there just the same, albeit somewhat subdued in their demeanour. The writer questioned one oi' two as to whether they had been warned off, but the reply was in the negative, so it is probable that the club have decid 'd not to continue their hard policy towards the metallicians.

Hew : tt has been condemned for his handling of Noctuiform in the Cup, but it was probably through riding to orders that caused him to get into the bad position in which he got when rounding

Cutts’ corner. His mount was going very strongly, when running pa§t the stand, and it would have been a much better policy to let-the colt stride along -in. front of his field. It: is -noteworthy that<Hew.tt nearly. lost-this year’s Cup where he stole a march and won last year's race on Grand Rapids. When on the Gipsy Grand gelding Hewitt put in a break just as he dashed round Cutts’ corner, and the bit of ground won there was npt -to be despised at the finish. Hewitt was, it will be remembered, castigated for losing the Wanganui Cup on Orloff, who was beaten by a narrow margin by. old Mars, and then again when Ibex beat Cruciform at Rand wick.