NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1330, 6 January 1912, Page 13

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[BT GLENCOE.] The .Wellington Racing Club's weights, vhich made their appearance yesterday, have been much discussed in sporting circles. In the Wellington Cup the topweight, Los Angeles, can be passed over with the remark that he has been porfcrming . very indifferently since returning from Randwick, and he certainly has been given a chanco, if only ho strikes his best form. It is a big "if," and so far it appears that the Messrs. _ Stead have not inad» a good bargain in' tho purchase of tho San Francisco gelding. Equitas (Bst. 121b.) will, if started at all at tho meeting, most likely contost the Telegraph Handicap ill; which thero will probably b6' a weak -field and in which sho has a stone more to carry. The form or Miss Mischicf at Ellerslie, when she carried Bst 41b. and dead-heated with Maxwell in tho A.R.C. H-indic.ip, run over the same distance as the Wellington Cup, demonstrates that she is in tip-top form at present, and with only 61b. more to carry tho Treadmill mare cannot be said to bo other than favourably treated. However, the same stable shelters a more tl.an useful representative in Byron, winner of tho Champion Plate at Trentham, and who in tho past has shown a great partiality for tho Trentham course, having won there at both meetings at which ho was saddiod up previously 110 is remarkably well treated, and it will be no surprise to find him the slablo horso on tho day. Sir Geo. Clifford's pair of Derby winners are asked to concede Byron a stone and 91b. respectively. If either is started it may bo the colt. So many horses have been feeling the effects of recent racing that the field is likely to be diminished. Of those that raced at provincial meetings during the holidays nothing looks better than Birkline (7st. 51b.). Tho Birkenhead gelding is one of tho solid variety and appears to be coming on with every race.

The field in the Telegraph Handicap will, as stated above, nrobablv be a weak one. Two previous winners "of the race aro engaged, in Equitas and Gipsy Belle, and tho pair appear likely to again piny a prominent part in tho decision of the race. Others that must be held in high esteem aro Culprit and Ireland while, of tho light weights, Dearest and Khamsin may bo considered likely to win a race of this class. Acceptances for the first day's events at Trentham are due next Friday. They will be awaited with much interest. - Stamp duty payable by the Wairarapa Kacing Club in respect to its recent meeting amounts to .£578 las. 7d. Now that all tho holiday meetings aro over, tho credit for smartest totatisator ?F, k "} t ust to the Manawatu Racing Club, llie dividends wero declared with n.uch promptitude at tho recent fixture, and the arrangements for receiving investments and for paying out wero excellent. Until Husbandman won the Great A °rthern Derby on January 1, 1910, Sir " ca -. Uifford s colours had never be?n carried to victory in that event. Sinco then, Jvihnlining and Counterfeit have both won the race for tho Canterbury sportsman. Mr. Murdoch M'Loan disposed of three t 3 ilR rst,s 111 Auckland last Wednesday. Ike once-brilliant Ashby was on l • down to Mr. E, Gallagher for JO guineas, l'oicticrs realised 20gns„ and a brother to Poicticrs 23gns. Oiving to Sandstream having struck himself in Auckland, he was brought back from the northern capital last week (says the Napier "Daily Telegraph"), it is not anticipated that anything serious will result from the mishap. Tho totalisator tax payable over the summer meeting of the Auckland Racing Club amounted to .£4422 13s. The tax collectablo over the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's two days' meeting this week came to J2510 18s. 6d. Early this week, Mr. J. Honnah disposed of Cullinan to Mr. J. Griffiths for the sum of .£3O Appin is again in work under the care of \v. Stono. The Possible gelding will be prepared for winter jumping events. Acceptances for the first day's events at tho Foxton Racing Club's meeting close on Thursday next. According to a southern writer, Penates showed souio of his old pace at the Dunedin meeting, but failed to stay over four furlongs. His front fetlocks are now said to be much enlarged. "Terlinga," in "The Australasian," says that Gunboat's form in Ausitralia had bron very poor for a long time, but in tho Hopctouu Cup, at 7st. 131b., he was backed as though the rest of tho starters might as well havo boon in their stables. Ami so it was. Backed as loii£ ;m a bookmaker could be found to lay against him, Gunboat won as he liked. Verily, Mr. E. A. Connolly is vary proficient lit the racing game (continues the writer named). According to an admirer, he will in time secure all the money that is to be picked up on a Victorian racecourse. He certainly has mado a marked improvement in Gunboat. Any other trainer might, perhaps, have succeeded in getting Gunboat back to something, like his New Zealand form, but how many trainers would havo displayed such _ dash and norve in backing tho good thing. Of course, Connolly can hardly, have won all tho bookmakers

lost over tho Hopotoun Cup. Ho has devoted followers, and outsiders, with sorno knowledge of what Gunboat could do in his own country, arc said (o have helped themselves when they saw how things were going 111 tho market, but on tho whole Gunboat's first appearance as a winner in Victoria must havo been very profitable to his owner. The programrao of the Wanganui Jockey Club's meeting, which is to bo held au tho AVanganui racecourse on Thursday and Saturday, February 29 .and Maroli 2, appears in another column in this issue. FIXTURES. Jan. 20, 22, and 24—Wellington R.C. Summer. Feb. 1 and 2—Gisborne R.C. Summer. Feb. 1 and 3—Canterbury J.C. Summor.