THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1491, 13 July 1912, Page 13

THE TURF.

NOTES AND COMMENTS,

IBt Qlenoob.l Tiiero is a likelihood of A. Julian beiii" abe to ride at the Wellington mcefiug .In a letter .ccen-cU by tho writer last evening, it was stated that tho injured arm had been taken out of the sling, and was loing well. Julian, is anxious to ride at tho meeting if it is at all possible.

~A , Sydnoy writer expresses the opinion that it is becoming more difficult every year tor a top-weight to win the Melbourne Cup.! , ™ u Mamikaii tho black gelding by Mania- ? oto from Serf, purchased by T. Wil?on uas been lame on and off ever since he wont to Awapuni. It is quito likelv that the proposal to take him to Australia will be abandoned.

None- of tho 1-orses which contested tho Parliamentary Handicap last year will bo anions tlu> starters for next Wednesdav's race. '

Gf. Price arrives at Trenthairi on lionday with Neirine, a Trial Plate, candidate. Ho will return homo, to Awapuni as soon as the first day's races aro over".

Paisano and .Tho Rover, who aro among the acceptors for tho AVinter Hurdles on Wednesday next, have both won tho event in previous years.

A cablegram received from Melbourne last evening, statts that tho aged Malvolio gelding, Bribery, had advanced to the position of favourite for tlio V.R.C. Grand National.Steeplechase, to be run at Flemlngton to-day. As is well known, Bribery is owned by the ox-Biecarton trainer D. J Price, and will be ridden by T. Cahill. It seems too much to expect the old horse to win—he is.twelve years—but tho right people are' supporting him, and, certainly, ho would, only have to get back to anything approaching his best form to have the race at his mercy. Of tho field engaged, Vanguard is only a nouy in size, but ho has won several good- races, and,- only last month at Caulfield, he scored in great style. Central Green lias also won at Caulfield and Flemington, but, if the journey were shorter, ho would be- more in favour. Leah Kleshna is a great jumper, and a good stayer. In Victoria she is hold to bo the'best jumper in tho State. Nimrod is to Iβ steered by P." Bum, who has ridden but one winner in nearly two years. A peculiarity about Tinapagee, who is the second favourite, is that ho has no public form to recommend him, but still keeps his position. He is owned and trained by tlie Godbys, who provided the winner of last year's contest. It is not /often that'maiden performers win a Flem,ington National, but good judges expect J. ■ N. M'Gregor's mount to go very close to it to-day.

The Southland trainer, P. T. Hogan, arrived at Riccarton during, the week with Lugeon, Vulgar Boy, and Magdala, who are all engaged at the Grand National meeting. Lugeon, who won the two steeplechase events at Wingatui last month, comes north to conypeto over tho big country at Trentham. ' ■ •

Countermine, White Cockade, Master Paul, and Sea King, the Eiccarton horses which nre e'ngaged at the Winter meeting of the Wellington Baring Club next week, aro expected to arrive from tho south to-morrow. .

The jockey W.' Better, ■■ who has been in the Chrisfcliurch Hospital for three weeks suffering from injuries received through a fall at Riccarton, remains in an unconscious state, his condition being unchanged.—"Lyttelton Times."

The twO-year-old Glenowl, by Glenapp, phb won a race at tho North Otago Joekoy Club's meeting in May, is-the only South Island horse engaged in tho Trial Plate, to be decided at the Wellington Racing Club's winter meeting next week. A writer in the "Southland -Times" records a peculiar experience of a Southland sportsman.' Whilo being ridden out at exercise, Mr. H."S. Winsome discharged hor rider into a gorse hedge and galloped off, but was captured uninjured by her owner, who camo upon, the sceno quite -unexpectedly, and was greatly. astonished to find that he had caught his own filly in a wild career. Since arriving in Sydney, the New Zealand light-weight jockey, C. Emerson, has been regularly riding at Bandwick in the niorniugs, , . A colt by the imported horse Gazeloy (Grey Leg—Lygia) has been purchased to do duty at tlio stud in Queensland. The great Australian sire, Malster, lias not yet sired a winner of the Cauifield Cup or the Helbourno Cup. Last Saturday's big field for tho V.E.C. Grand National Hurdles was not a record ouo. When Crusoe won in 1891, thero wero 20 fitavters, and the next'krgest field was 23 in 1892, and again in 1905. But tho Grand National Hurdle Race has never been a backers' race, and as evidence, of this, Marniout is tho only favourite to win since Valdis succeeded in 1899. Tho last five.winners of tho race have all carried less than lOst. • ,

There is a disposition in some quarters to decry The Native as a horse unable to act in the mud. This is,hardly the case, though it is not denieft that tho tlack gelding races better on top of the ground. Last year, at Trentham, in the winter, the Warry gelding fairly ran away with the Jumpers' Flat Eace, when it will be remembered tho going was very heavy. Tn timilar weather conditions the Bulls-trained nnimal was the only horse to extend Maui Nina in the Bracelet at Ellersiie last month, and by way of proving the merit of this performance, it has to bo-said that many good judges declare the Menschikoff gelding, who was a treblo winner at this meeting, to bo the best horso seen with the colours up at that gathering. Again, the owner cannot regard The Native as a poor "mud horse," or ho would not have paid up for him, for past experienco has taught us to always expect heavy going at Trentham at thi.9 period of tha year. ~ Mr P. Hall, of Gisborne. has arrived in Wellington, and will remain here to see his horso, .Mira, race at Trentham next week. There is a rising four-year-old half-brother, by Multifid, Tunning , out at Mr. Hall's at Gisborne, but, as he is a big, over-grown colt,, his owner has decided to. give him time before asking to race. British Maid will in future race in the joint interests of Messrs. M. Lavery and G. Ncicli. ' At the Waimato Plains Trotting Club's meeting at Hawora. on Wednesday afternoon Albertorious was driven an exhibition trot, and greatly pleased tho onlookers, but as tho going was not suitable to fast times, no time was taken. Of (ho riders in last. Saturday's V.R.C. Grand National Hurdlo Baro V. Burn would 1)0 the veteran, it beiiiff his ninth appearance in that event. His name is 'not yet included among tho winning jockeys, though in 1910 he was second on Tlie Beckoning, and last year was similarly placed on Sparkle. Among tho horses, Bribery has had , more G.N. Hurdles exporienco than any other competitor. Ho first ran itt that race in 1906, finishing nowhere, but tho following year lie was successful. In 1908 he was sixth .'with 12st. lib., while last year, with 10st. 71b., he was one of tho whippers-in. On Saturday last he was making his fifth appearance. , ,