NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1542, 11 September 1912, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[By Glf.kcoe.] Several light showers fell at Dannevirkc Inst evening, but there was not enough rain to seriously affect tho success of tlio meeting to-day. It is hoped that the weather will hold off, for, the Tamaki racecourse, on a wet day, is anything but a desirable place, and generally, on tho appenranco of rain, everybody but hardened turfites leavo the course. The Rover enso is still being freely discussed in sporting circles. Yesterday it was "given out" that A. 11. Wright intended to appeal to the Racing Conference against the decision of tho C.J.C., aud that Sir John Findlay, K.C., would act on his behalf. So far counsel acting for C. Price has not heard from the C.J.C., and as yet, the jockey in question is without a copy of minutes and evidence taken at the inquiry at which he was disqualified. Last evening ho went to Huntcrville to discuss a plan, of action with Mr. "Timi Puru," who is also appealing to tho Racing Conference. Tho rumour that The Native has been sold is contradicted. Though he is,under offer at MOgns. no salo had taken nlnco up till yesterday. Field Battery is, this season, to do stud duty in the Palmcrston North district whither he was railed from Trenthani on Monday last. Tho Brook mare Katriona, dam of Deploy, slipped her foal late last month, and died on Saturday last. T. Wilson has so far failed to secure space for Lady Georgia on the Sydney, boat, but ho hopes to get the niaro oil board tho Aorangi which calls there on tho way from San Francisco to Sydney. During his absenco in Australia his two fillies—the progeny of Advance and Splendid- Idea—will be turned out at Huulerville. Mention of tho youngsters in question recalls an extraordinary fact about their colour. Everyone will remember that Advance was a jet black in colour, and Splendid Idea a pale ohestnut. At the present timo tho elder of tho fillies is rmito black, and the younger ono is a "pale chestnut. This is the reverse of what breeders would prognosticate. Kelp, winner of tho Hack Steeples.at Morton, will contest the open raco at Dannevirke to-day when ho will be ridden as usual by F. Cress. Word from Invcrcargill states that the New Zealand Cup candidate Soldiers' Chorus (Martian—Grand Opera) is in capital condition, but his owner has not definitely decided whother the horso will continue his Cup engagement or not. Thcro is said to bo some likelihood of the son of Martian dropping out of tho twemilo event and competing in the Stewards' Handicap, Tho spring meeting of the Ashburton County Racing Club commences to-mor-row, and will bo conoludcd on Friday. Messrs. J. and W. Kemp, of Hillgrovc, Otago, have purchased from Mr. T. H. Lowry, tho brown gelding Mcriwa (Merriwee—Lady Helen). The horse was shipped south somo b'ttle timo ago, and has arrived safely at Messrs. Kemp's station, where for a timo at least he- will be used as a hack. Moriwa, after somo smart performances as a two-year-old, met with an accident in Lady Medallist's Wanganui Guineas, and did not race again until the following season. He was at one time favourite for Bridge's New Zealand Cup, but went back in tho betting before the day of tho raco. If his new owners decide to race him later on, ho should bo able to win-plenty -of races down 60uth cither on the flat or over hurdles. Mention of the Wanganui Guineas, iu which Moriwa oamo to grief, brings to mind the fact that of the nine horses that started in that event, five subsequently wont to Australia. Tho winner, Lady Medallist, has been a good winner in Australia, and so has tho runner-up, Broadsword. Bridge, another of tho five, has not so far troubled tho Australian judges. Boanerges met with a fatal accident m his first race, while Milan perish-, od on the voyage across. When Ulysses was winning steeplechases in Southland ten years ago and more, he was then described ns an aged horse. Ho is still alive, and at a clearing sale in Southland tho other day he changed hands for £i 10s. • who was among the place-getters in tho Ascot Five Hundred, rim at Melbourne on Monday, is the New Zealandbred horso by Menschikoff, from Nannie. A jiromisihg cross-country novico made his first public appearance in tho Open Steeplechase at the Birchwooil Hunt meeting on Wednesday last. This was Silvertop, the first of tho progeny of Quicksilver (Silvermark—Selina) to earrv silk, while his dam, Gold, is better known as the mother of Goldsail. Silvertop is said to lie a rare cut of a horso for racing between the flags, and he is also a good jumper, although he is inclined at present to go too far into the air at his fences.

FIXTURES. Sept. 11—Dannevirke R.C. Steeplechase Sept. 12 and 13.—Ashburton County R C Sept. 23 and 24.-Otuki Maori lt.C. Spriii". Sept. 25 and 28.—Avondale J.C. Spring Sept. 2G and 27—Gernldinc E.C. Spring Sept. 2G and 28.-Wnng.inui J.C. Spring, Oct. 2,-Hawke's Bay J.C. Spriii" Oct. s—Napier Park E.C. Spring. Oct. 9 and 12.-Duncdin J.C. Spring Oct. 21 and 25.—Poverty Bay T.C. Spring Oct. 29 and 30.-GrcTiuoutli J.C. Spring