NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1190, 27 July 1911, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

fßt Glkjcoe.] For some tirte past the advance made by KildOnan in the Grand National market has caused considerable surprise. That there were good grounds for backing tho big Kilcheran gelding se.ems probable, for it now turns out that on Saturday morning he jumped five hurdles on the course proper, and ran once round (a little over a mile) in record time for that course. That ho will be seasoned enough to defeat horses like The Native seems very doubtful, but one thing is certain, and that is, that if ha wins tho Trial Hurdles on tho opening day, Mr. Watt's one-eyed gelding will nearly start favourite in the big hurdle race.

The .Rover is to be sent south to-night in charge of his owner, A. M. Wright. The poor form of the Advance gelding in the Final Hurdles gave his National supporters a great shock, and a lot of his scrip has been unloaded at a discount during the last few days. Some of his staunehest admirers declare that this form is all wrong, and that ho will do better in the National, but this line of reasoning is hard to follow, for his owner was very sanguine of tho result, and, to use his own words, he. thought that his horse would "trot in." if North East were to be taken south it would look guineas to gooseberries on his boating Tho Hover, and yet trainer A. Hall thinks that his horse could not win. Form in hurdle races, as in Hat races, is very difficult to follow, and everyone holds different opinions. In this instance, this writer is going to be against The Rover.

There is some mention of Windage not paying up for tho National Hurdles, and, if this turns out to be the case, C. Cochrane will have the mount on Centaur. Mendip, who won the last Hawera Cup. and was second in the Taranaki Cup and innumerable other handicaps, has just been taken up again by his-trainer, C. Jackson. The St. Paul gelding has wintered very well, and looks like heing ready to race early in the spring. ■ .lackson's only other active, worker is Bonnie Lass, as Con the Shaughraun has been turned out on his owner's placo for a long spell.

At Hawora, Mr. G. Gibson has a promising three-year-old by Maniopoto from Hikomai. He is a big, upstanding gelding, and will be schooled over fences (as soon as tho National meeting is over) in preparation for the early Stirin.i meetings. Paritutu, in charge of his trainer, J. George, is to be shipped South to-night. Trainer G. vPrico puffed through AVellingtoh yesterday on the way to Riccarton, with Nyland and Boanerges, who are engaged at the Canterbury Jockey Chin's Grand National meeting. A. Oliver, who will ride the horses named, also left for Riccarton last night.

' T,e Menu arrived from Anrklind yesterday, ami went on to Riccarton by steamer. It "is undcr.-tood that the Auckland jockey, Pinker, will have the mount ou the T.oolantis gelding in the Grand National Steeplechase.

It would appear that Provocation is not likely to fulfil his engagement in (he Winter Cup, as Mr.'W. Smart lias secured Ihe services of 11. Hatch for Undecided in the event named.

J. Hercock, who is to ride f'nrnzon in the Grand National Steeplechase, left for the south by the Maori la>t night.

One of the best-known racing officials in tho North Island passed away yrstcrday—Mr. J. W. Emmersnii, secretary of the Waverley Racing f 'lnb. Deceased had been a resident of Waverley for many years. Abnut lifleen years ago ho look ni> artive pari in football, playing for th" Wavcrlcv Club under I lie Wauganui Jiughv i'uinn. More recently ho took a koon' interest in bowls, and repro.-onled the Wavcrlcv Howling Club at Ihe h-l loiirnamonl lield in Wellington. For (ho past two years ho had foiiehl against. Ihe ravages of cancer, and his death was not unexpected. Ho leaves a widow and a young family. FIXTURES. August 8, 10, and 12—Canterbury J.C.'a Grand National.