NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1277, 4 November 1911, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

fßi Gliscos.l

Tho Victoria Racing Club's meeting oommencos lit Flcmington to-day, when tho Dwrby, tho Maribyrnong Plate, and the Melbourne Stnl;6s will be run. Tho Melbourno Cup will bo decided on Tuesday next. At Ellerslio to-day the Auckland Racing Club's riieeting will bo brought to a close. Referring to the. defeat of the favourite, Miss Winsome, in tho Great Northern Guineas, an Auckland exchange says:— Turning for home, General Latour was half a lenglh in front of Miss Winsome, Sir Moutoa dropping right out of it. At the distance Dc-elcy was sitting still on Miss Winsome, while, Brady was riding General labour hard, and the raco looked all over. Tho unexpected, however, happened, for General Lntour, sticking to his task like a bulldog, hung on to his opponent, and when Deley realised his danger and snt down on Jliss Winsome, she failed to respond, and General Latour snatched a victory by a head. Deelcy's handling of his mount came in for a lot of criticism, and the stewards nsked for an explanation, which was tendered, and accepted as satisfactory, and rightly so, for although Deelcy was perhaps a little over-confident, there is no doubt tho ailment from which the mare was suffering was the prime cause of her defeat. Advices received from Christchurch last evening stated Hint there wns every prospect of fina weather at Eiccarton to-day

for tho opening of the Canterbury Jockey Club's metropolitan meeting. Tho first race on the card is the Spring Tlurdlcs, in which ',ho issuo appears to bo very open. The two top-weights, Espartoro and St. Aidaii, are both very well, and good reports arc to hand of Hawick, who created such a favourable impression at Kicearton at the Grand National fixture.

Tho Spring Plato is usually a very fastrun race, and this year should see no exception, as some smart thrce-yenr-oldsaro engaged. Morecambo is tho favourite in the south,, where bis track work has earned him a great reputation. He is likely to oneountor strong opposition from St.. Petersburg and labour lsay, Tho Derby colt, Masterpiece, is engaged in tho Kicearton Welter, in which ho has 9st. 81b. (a big weight for a three-year-old), but ho is credited with being something abovo tho ordinary. Jlerry Frank, who will be ridden by Hatch, must, on Wanganui form, possess a good chnnce, and may defeat the bulk of the field.

There has been no change in the Now Zealand Cup market, and Miscount still retains his position of favourite. The issuo on all sides k regarded as decidedlv open, but the three-year-old has a big concession in weight over a two-mile course.

Ermengardc's 101b. penalty is likely to provo an effective bar to her success in the Welcome- Stakes. Tho Chokeboro stable will run both Winning Way and Autumnus, and this combination is sure to bo tho choice of backers.

Kilkenny, who carries Mr. G. D. Greenwood's colours, and who will be ridden bv tho crack amateur horseman, Mr. AV. Wood, has only 51b. above the minimum in the Ladies' Purse, in which he will bo opposed by a, very weak field. Nyland and Bliss are the favourite selections in tho Stewards' Handicap. The day's racing will conclude with the Apprentices' Plato, five furlongs, in which some spocdy hor?os are eniraged, including Messrs. Stead's Peroneal (AchillesPrelude).

FIXTURES. November I.—Auckland R.C. Spring. November 4, (i, 8. and 11.—Canterbury J.C. Metropolitan. Nov. 29 and 30—Feilding J.C. Spring. December 26 and 29. and January 1 and 2. —Auckland R.C. Summer.