OTAGO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 852, 5 July 1906, Page 7

OTAGO.

Dunedin, July 4. A visit paid to Wingatui at the latter end of last week discovered matters turfy to be in a dormant state, and most of the horses which were in commission during the year are having a rest after their more or less successful labours under silk. A call was made at J. Rutledge’s, and it was found that the additions to his stables had been completed, and the new boxes almost ready for habitation. Rutledge will now have accommodation for 11 horses, and as there has always been a demand for his services, it is safe to say the extra boxes will soon be tenanted. At the present the team in active commission and doing useful work are Cuirosettia, Astrakhan, Abusive, The Birkenhead —Merganser colt, and the brace of yearlings recently imported from Sydney. The yearlings were cantered during the afternoon, and the Grafton colt, who is a fine rangy fellow with a splendid set of legs, has an attractive style of moving. He swings along with a sweeping stride

which suggests he will be a breadwinner when he is muscled up into racing condition. The Sir Tristram colt is smaller than his stable companion, and not so thick or well furnished behind as his compatriot. He hits out with more fight than the Grafton colt, probably because he does not possess such a placid temper as has the latter. Both look a pair of fairy promising sorts, and in good time it is to be hoped that their owner will be rwarded for his welcome addition to our list of horses at headquarters. It is a pity Dunedin could not discover a few more patrons like the chief patrons of Ruttledge’s stable, but meantime we will have to be content to rub along in our little tinpot way. It is not encouraging to think that only three stables at Wingatui would have to shut their gates, and we would then be in possession of a battlefield without the equine soldiers to play at war. Good luck to those that keep in the business. Vladimir was inspected where he is running out, and it was pleasing to note that the son of Mist has evidently derived a considerable amount of benefit from his enforced spell, as his legs have fined down, and look as if they may survive another preparation. Whether they will or not can only be decided on the track, but it is to be hoped they will, as with few good ’uns we can ill spare a Vladimir. W. McDonald was on the track with a couple of Lord Rosslyn fillies and Amethyst, a rising three-year-old by Lord Rosslyn out of Tourmaline. The trio were cantered, and shaped pleasingly. At his invitation a visit was paid to the stables, and the rugs were 1 removed from Notus (who represents our New Zealand Cup nomination), Sychem, and Apollodoris. Notus is looking well and healthy, but unfortunately has a callous enlargement on the inside of his off fore pastern, which may prove troublesome when the ground gets hard. This is a result of getting put on to the rails whilst running in the Sockburn Handicap at the C.J.C. Autumn Meeting. In what work he is doing Notus moves soundly enough at present. Sychem is also looking very well, but sports a slightly suspicious foreleg, the origin of which trouble is surmised to have started when he was racing on the second day of the D.J.C. Winter Meeting. Apollodoris has been indulgently treated since he last raced at Wingatui, and as a result he has filled out a bit and freshened up considerably. Apollodoris appears to have grown up a bit, but if he never grows another hair he has proved that valuable packages are frequently found in small parcels. McDonald has a quartette running out at present, and it consists of Afer, Hamattan, Sonia, and Erikine. The first-named showed considerable promise in the spring, but she raced with a combination of bad luck and disappointment, which prevented her displaying in public what she was capable of showing in private. Some Southland enthusiasts are forming a coursing club. It is unlikely that Pipi will make the journey to Wellington. Chrichton is in work at his owner’s private track, but is said to be anything but the Chrichton of old in appearance.