NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1065, 2 March 1911, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

. [By Glencoe.] LADY MEDALLIST'S PROGRAMME. The Wanganui Cup meeting opens today. Last night tho weather gave promise of being beautifully line, so that, on present appearances, the meeting should be a most successful one. The Cup candidates have all' come through their special preparations well (telegraphs our correspondent), and the two most favoured are Miss Mischief, who looks as well as when she prevailed at Wellington, and Merrivonia, who is better than ever, and who gave a tasto of • her quality yesterday by galloping six furlongs as last as the Flying Handicap candidates wore galloping over the same distance. With Oliver in tho snddle, Merrivonia is in some quarters expected to bring about the downfall of the ton-weight. The following aro the probable starters and their riders in the Cup:—Miss Mischief, Sst. 131b. (11. Gray); Mendip, Bst. 71b. (F. D. Jones); Kcpu, Sst. fill). (T. O'Brien); Merrivonia, Bst. 51b. (A. Oliver); Parable, 7st. 1 lib. (C. Jenkins); Shining Star, Gst. 101b. (J. M'Lcan); Goodwin Park, fist. 71b. (E. Emerson); The Reiver, Gst. 71b. (—); Mallet, Ost. 71b. (C. Monk), B. Deeley was to have ridden Mendip to-day, but he hurt his arm rather badly at tho Hamilton meeting, and as tho trouble reappeared yesterday lie was compelled to notify the trainer, C. Jackson, of his inability to ride. He will stand down on both days, and will return home. That useful mare Lady Medallist is being shipped to Australia on March 10, and will contest tiic weight-for-age events >at the forthcoming Australian Jockey Club's meeting. Her lease to J. H. Prosscr expires next week, and her owner (Mr. J. R. Reid) is sending her to Randwick. She will go into F. M'Grath's stables, but so far it has not been decided wild is to ride her. Mr. Reid desired Prosper, to mako tho trip, but he was unnble to do so for obvious reasons. It is doubtful if Lady Medallist will return to New Zealand, but if she does she is to go to the sthd, and will certainly not race again. Birkdale developed soreness after a gallop on Monday morning. This was the reason of his withdrawal from the Wanganui Cup.

F. Coleman is to ride Ribstone Pippin in tho Hack Hurdles at Wangar.ui tndny. The Australian-bi'oil horse is to be offered for tale on Friday next. Mr. W. Lovett has leased St. Prior to another Stratford snorlsman, and in all probability the daughter of St. Clements and Prioress will make her next public appearance at tho I'atea meeting on Easter Monday. Four out of the (en acceptors for the Wahganui Cup are trained in Tiiranaki, and Goodwin Park, though trained at Fordell, is also owned in Taranaki. Tho Nelson and Timarti meetings will bo concluded this afternoon. Owners arc reminded that nominations for the Mastcrton Racing Club's meeting closo to-morrow night. Mr. J. ]•:. Henrys, tho well-known handicap{>er, was nn'able to bo present at the Nelson meeting this year on account of the fact that it clashed with the South Canterbury Jockey Club's fixture. This is tho first time for many years that Mr. Henrys has missed the Nelson races. Weights for the first day's events at the Napier Park Racing Club's meeting will be declared to-morrow. A. Oliver and C. Jenkins are tho only jockeys riding in the Wanganui Cup to-day who have previously ridden tho winner 6f the race. , 'In.last Saturday's Sydney "Arrow" tho following' note appearedTho last two Futurities saw first favourites in Soultline and Comedy King succcssf'ul, and though ,in most big races a real "rough 'un" benefits the bookmakers sooner or later, it iis taking a long time for one to come to light in.this event. Of tho thirteen disposed of six have gone to first favourites, two -to actual second favourites, while ono winner shared tho latter position with another runner, and in another instance the winner was equal second favourite with two. others. ■ Nominations for the Mast'erton races close on Friday at 0.30 p.m. FIXTURES. March 2—Couth Canterbury J.C. Autumn. Autumn. March 2—Nelson J.C. Annual. March 2 and 4—Wanganui J.C. Autumn. March 8 and o—Dannevirke R.C. Autumn. March 15 and 16—Napier Park R.C. Autumn. March 17—Opunako R.C. Hack. March 23 and 2-I—Mastcrton R.C. Autumn. April 12' and 15—Greymouth .T.C. Autumn. April 15 and 17—Wairarapa R.C. Autumn. April 17 and 18—Canterbury J.C. Autumn April 20aiul 21—Westland R.C. Autumn. May 10 aud 11—Hawke's Bay J.C. Au- . tuiun.