NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1398, 26 March 1912, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[Bi Glenjoz.] _ This year, as in previous contests, thsre is a string North Island flavour about both tho big handicaps to tie decided at Riccartoii in connection with the C.J.C. autumn .meeting. At the top of the tree in :the Easter Handicap, seven furlongs, is the three-year-old filly Bronze, who has 9st. 31b., and next to lier comes Dearest, wjth 9st. At weight-for-age, the latter would be giving Bronzo 61b., so that the handicapper cannot be said to have teen too lenient with the Highden filly. In well-informed circles it is stated that Bronze is a sure starter in the race in question, as is Dearest, so that apparently all parties are satisfied. Backers of the pair have gone for them mostly as "secOlid legs," so .that the decision to start them in the short race will not bo acceptable to the majority of backers, though tho odds' merchants will hail tho decision with delight, for if either of the pair succeed in winning, its chance in the Anturiin Handicap on the second day is practically nil. A 141b. penalty will "certainly stop either of them. Should both net defeated on the first day, it will still be unpalatable to backers, who will not like their fancies to be sprinting one day and essaying to stay the next. As to tho ! chances of the pah , , what nre they ? Leaving out the other runners for the time ■being, how is Bronze going to give a year and 3lb. to Dearest? Tho last time "the pair met over a sprint course was in the Metropolitan Handicap on the second day. at Trentham, v:hen Bronze, 7st. 91b., won from Gladiole, Bst. 101b,, and Dearest, Bst s lib., by the narrowest of margins, nnd in what was perhaps a lucky win for Dearest got shut in between GJadiolo and Bronze, and her rider was thus prevented from doing his best at the finish. Still it must be remembered that Bronze came from a long way back, but so did Dearest, end the latter was also unlucky enough tt> cannon into I'nll Bate coming round fhe ■bottom l>snd. There was then 61b. between tho two mares, and now there is 3lb. the other way, so that Bronzo is supposed to have improved 91b. in the interval. Time will tell if this is correct. But vrhat of tho others, as represented by Koynl Scotch, Bst. 131b., and Gipsy Belle, 9it 121b.? In tho City Handicap at tho Wellington Cnp meeting, Royal Scotch, 8.-t. olb., finished very fast behind Dearest, 84. 31b., and Pull Ente. On all sides it was admitted that he should have, come home first. He was absolutely the last k> leave the mark, and was still tailed oft' with two furlongs to go. but then put in a run the like of which has seldom been seen on a racecourse. Since then ho has gone on the right way, mid h;is finished second in both the Wanganui Flyin? and Jackson Stakes. There is therefore solid grounds for tho position ofi favourite, which Mr. Watt's colt occupies to-day. la some quarters a disposition is noticeable towards decrying Gipsy Belle, ] but it should be remembered that speedy j mares such as Gipsy Belle generally stay, on with a?e, as witness the case of Armlet, who, it may not be generally known, wns being prepared for the Stead Cup when she showed signs of givins; way in one of her joints, so if , was decided to retire her. Everyone will remember how brilliant was tho Mensehikoff mare, and what grave misgivings everyone had as to lier staying till sho came out nnd , won tho C.J.C. Enster Handicap in Australasian record time. But to revert to Gipsy Belle. The Rtepnialc mare has already shown her ability to encompass seven i'urlongF, and in the Criterion Handicap at Eiccarton in 1910 Theadoro only beat her by a head. With Bst. 121b. on her back, Mr. J. Monk's mare certainly has a chance nnd with tivo such' good mares as Dearrst and Gipsy Belle trainer Jos. Prosser would feem to have a slight percentage in his favour towards lunding tho winner- Of t.bft remainder of tho field nothing reads better than Byron, 8s(. 21b. This gelding can gallop with the best in the laud, but unfortunately he is not thoroughly reliable. Tho troiibln seems to be when it becomes necessary to get hold of his Ivead; he then throws it up in the air and becomes unmanageable. His hanging-out tendency can be left out of calculation, ns that'occurs only ou a right-handed track such as Ellerslio. At Eiccarton ho i-nn be depended upon to be on the fence the whole way—a great deal in a horse's favour, and un advantage which Tcducns tho argument only to a question of getting n clear run. Mason's stable also shelters Valido, the English-bred colt, but it is hardly likely that a maiden performer would be set to win such a hard raco a.i the C.J.C. Easter Handicap.

Nominations for the Wellington Kacing Club's autumn meeting close on Friday next.

Mr. G. V. Donnelly, president of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club, was in town yesterday. lie returns homo this morning.

By _ registering 3min. 50Jscc. on March IC, Simple Simon broke tho two railo etceplechase record for Caulfield, previously held by the New Zealand 'chaser Hoanga, 3miii. olsea.

Nominations for all events at the Wellington Racing Club's autumn meeting will close oa March 29, at 0 p.m.

The Wairarapa Racing Club is now adding to its accommodation at Tauhcrenikau racecourse by tho erection of 2t additional loose-boxes (writes our special correspondent). These are now nearly completed, and will be ready in time for tho coming Autumn meeting. The ac-commodation-house is also being fitted with extra beds, and it is probaole that another building for the purpose will bo erected before, the next Summer meeting.

A recent winner i\i Queensland was the two-year-old Koataniti (Soult—Alannah), bred by Mr. G. M. Currie, tho Wangamti sportsman.

The Royal Commission which went to New Zealand, Victoria, and South Australia to investigate tho totalisator question, has sent in nn interim Teport to the Governor, stating what has been done, and advising that it is desirable that Brisbane, where both totalisator and bookmakers nre allowed, should bo visited. The poriod over which the commission was appointed expired on March 12. An extension of time is asked for, and will probably be gTanted.—"Sydney Morning Herald."

At Port Adelaide races on March 16 Lady Valois, by Achilles—Valois, winner of the Trial Stakes, returned her backers a very largo dividend, while each of those who had a ticket on the second, Ethel Maud, received one still larger.

"Pilot," of tho Sydney "Referee," says that tho amended Gaming Act of New Zealand must be. far-reaching indeed if under its provisions an honourable man can bo forever tabooed from the racecourses of the country, or even at the pleasure of individual clubs, simply because he is a bookmaker prior to the passing of an Act which made his occupation illegal. The jockey H. Cairns laid a complaint against Mr. A. J. Staughton, owner of Matouree, bearing on statements said to have been made by Mr. Staughton in regard to Cairns's riding of Matoureo in the Australian Cup and other events. The V.R.C. committeo considered the matter on March 15, but took no action.

A notable stud book matron has passed away in Etra Weenie, bred in 1889, by Trenton from Nellie (says a Melbourne exchange). Her first foal, Diffidence (by Pilgrim's Progress) won, among other races, the Sydney Cup of 1899. The following year she gave birth to tho Victoria Derby nnd Melbourne Cup winner Mcrriwee. Her next foal was Wigelmar, l who won the Debutant Stakes in 1899, and ran second in the Maribyrnong Plate, a race which Etra Weenio captured in 1891. These were the letter's threo best offspring, though she subsequently thre l w,J'tf>>pair of fair performers in 'Simmerette. ;- ; ' .r, •

Tho Grand Western Handicap,: worth 10,000rs. to the winner, and ',viin\ over a nine-furlong course at the Boinb'aVi'meeting on February 17, and open to all horses, was won by that champion English pony, Refresher (14.2) r wh0 carried Sst. Amongst tho other runners were Brogue (9st. 81b.), ■Aborigine (9st. lib.), and Master Delaval (Bst. 10lb.). Amongst other winners at the Bombay meeting last month was the New Zealand-bred Leo Grand, who won the; Stewards' Purse of 2750r5. from three others at his own class on February 19.