OTAGO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 884, 14 February 1907, Page 8

OTAGO.

DUNEDIN, Feb. 13. The Dunedin Cup Meeting takes place next week, and there is every prospect of the club experiencing a successful gathering. The acceptances have not fallen due, but at the present Cross Battery is fancied in both the Cup and Publican’s, and she should about win which event may prove her mission. The Tahuna Park Trotting Club also hold a two days’ meeting, and the meeting has attracted, a liberal nomination. A remarkable feature of the C.J.C. Midsummer Meeting was that the yellow and black racing banner of Mr G. G. Stead was not unfurled at the gathering. Mr. Stead’s colours are generally very conspicuous at Riccarton, and owning large studs and training stables does not necessarily mean owning a lot of cracks; Apparently the fighting force under Mason is at present hors de combat, or being held in reserve; and what makes the absence very remarkable is the fact that the stable had no less than 15 engaged in the Middle Park Plate when the nominations were declared. The North Otago Jockey Club continues to add to the attractiveness of its programmes, and for Cup Meeting, which is to be held on May 23 and 24, the principal items are to be the Oamaru Cup of 230sovs, the Tokarahi Handicap of 120sovs, the Victoria Handicap of 150sovs, and the Otekaike Handicap of lOOsovs. During the currency of the Midsummer Meeting Mr. J. B. Reid sold Sea King to “Mr J. Case’ at a figure which is understood to have been in the neighbourhood of £BOO, and purchased Watershoot at £3OO. Aoelus, who displayed excellent form at the Midsummer Meeting, was bred by Mr. J. S. Thomson, and was got by Euroclydon out of Santa Clarina (a daughter of St. Leger and Puwerewere). He was one of the best horses seen at the meeting, and should be well worth watching in the future. The two Cross Batteries is a combination likely to receive good support for the Easter and Autumn Handicaps. Royal Artillery, who was one of our most brilliant horses under silk, has been slow in making a name for himself as a sire; but the. form of Watershoot should give him a boost in the estimation of breeders. The finy Tremulous is also a promising sort that should prove a favourable advertisement. Some of the riding which was displayed at Riccarton was not to be compared to the enviable reputation possessed by Caesar’s wife. There

was some very poor horsemanship displayed in one ra’ce; and strange to tell that shortly after the horses returned to the paddock the band commenced a melody in which “The Holy City” was the initial item, and “Do Not Forget Me” was trumped into the atmosphere at the finish.. Step-dancer appeared to be acting fairly well for about nine furlongs in the Midsummer, but she failed to come on when asked for a final effort. The racing she had at the meeting should, however, keep her up a bit, and it will not be surprising to find her doing better work at Wingatui.

The riders of Buccleuch and Golden Cairn in the Craven Plate made a suicidal hurry to get over the journey, and both horses stopped badly at the finish. The more haste the less speed at the finish. Elevation was badly left at the start of the Middle Park Plate, or otherwise would at least have been a good second to Glenculloch. It is, however, doubtful if he could have beaten Sir George Clifford’s colt, even if the pair had hopped away on level terms. Cross Battery was travelling slowly in the early part of the St. Alban’s Handicap, and entered the straight so wide that one would imagine that her rider had lost the helm. The rider, however, steered himself on to the carpet, and was strongly advised that he will have to give a more pleasing display of navigation in the future.