NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1630, 23 December 1912, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By Glcncoo.) Owners are reminded that acceptances for tho Wairarapa and Stratford meet-.

ings,- both of which are to be held on New YeaT's Day, close this evening. The nominations for the Wellington Cup •meeting constitute a record for the club. The list contains the names of the whole of the leading handicap horses in the Dominion The Opaki-trained Sir Knqx is to be a, runner at Taratahi on Boxing Day and will then be taken north to contest the Marton Cup on New Year's Day. On the other hand Sir Solo will Tace in. the Manawatu Cup and afterwards at Tauheri. nikau on New Year's Day. . Bobrikoff continues to receive eupport for the Auckland Cup and a correspondent in Napier states that the black gelding is now looking as well as ever. Bβ that as-it may, it has to be remembered that the sou of Finland is not getting any younger, and it is very questionable if he can get the distance. His past efforts over a lengthy course when, at the top of his form, have been anything but good, and ' he has never been successful over a longer journey than 12 furlongs. Though Lady Georgia and Powder Fox were not accepted for at Ellerslie it still . seems as if they are being brought bacs from Melbourne. They have been freely nominated in the Wellington Racing Club's summer meeting next month. The only noticeable defection from the Manawatu Cup (fin.il payments for which were published on' Saturday) is Byron. Apparently the Wellington-owned animal is to be reserved for the Marton Cup (one :■ mile and a quarter) which distance is * more suitable for him than the longer journey at Awapuni. ■■'.-.> On Boxing Day tho Viceroy's Cup— the principal race in India—will be run. The Irish-bred Mayfowl, who has already won the event twice in succession,. is a strong favourite for the race, with the • Sydney Cup winner, Vavasour, and Gun- ; boat nest in demand. . ."

Clarence O'Neill, the well-known crosscountry jockey, recently meb with a nasty accident in Adelaide. ,He was riding an unruly horse endeavouring to quieten the animal. The horse ran into a stone wall, and one of O'Neill's legs, which, was broken when he fell off Debenture atFlemirigton some years ago, was seriously . injured. The latest word was that O'Neill was making good progress towards recovery. " ■/• ■ r : . - ,M Lady Medallist , !) full-sister, Moorilla, whose sole claim to fame was established as a 3-year-old when she brought, off an unexpected, victory in tho Sydney Cup, won the principal handicap at Rosehill on December 11. Starting favourite' she won comfortably, in the colours of Mr. Isaac Earnshaw, who only recently purchased her. Gipsy Belle's name does not fijure in tho final payments for the Railway Handicap at Auckland. From this it may be inferred that the mare has gone wrong for she was railed to headquarters on Wednesday last in company with tho Stead team. . .. -, , Amongst the. passengers by the Maori from Lyttelton yesterday were Sir Geo. Clifford arid R. J. Mason, who are on their way* north to attend the Auckland Cup meeting at Ellerslie. The .Hastings trainers, Jas. Munn and H. Hickey, with four horsis euoh, are leavinj for Palnierston North this mora"c". Emerson will ride Masterpiece, Nightwatch, Winning Way, and Glenfinnan at Ellerslie on. Boxing Day. On the evening of the same day he. takes tram for Awapuni where lie will ride Peromlla in the Palmerston North Stakes on- Friday. Ermengarde is very forward at the present, and on Saturday morning she demonstrated this by galloping six furlongs in lmin. 18Jsec. She was picked up by Neirene over the last four furlongs, and the pair finished together. The gallop was done on the plough track. ' ." _ . The secretary of tlie Wellington Racing Club notifies that the following additions and deletions. should be made to tlio nominations, which appeared on Saturday for the Wellington Club's summer meet-inK.-Wellington Cup-Add Heatherbrae. Ruapehu Handicap.—Add Missile and Sir Saracen; delete Hamurana. Mungaroa Welter Handicap-Add Dogfish. January Welter Handicap-Delete Dogfish and San lass; add Merry Frank. Douro CupAdd Peary and Sir Saracen. Wai aceville Welter and Kaitoke Handicap—Add Sir Saracen. , , , Special train arrangements .have been made for the Manawatu Racing Clubs meeting, which takes place at Awapuni on . Thursday, Friday, and Saturday next. On, '■ the first day trains will leave Thorndon for Awapuni at 7.10 a.m., i.ia a.m., B.l< ; a.m., and 9.10 p.m. Wellington, residents ■ can travel to and from the meeting in ol Local trotting enthusiasts will be catered for by tho Hurt Valley Trotting Club, whose annual meeting takes place at the Petone Recreation Ground on Boxing Day. Excellent acceptances have been received for the different events, and one present appearances the fixture should be one of the best in the history of the club. The Martian horse, Soldiers Chorus, has gone on the right way since the New Zealand Cup meeting, and will be a competitor at the Southland Racing Clubs meeting at Invercargill next week. He claims an engagement in the Cup. . ■ • Domino has greatly impressed the trapk watchers since his arrival at Ellerslie, and the son of Freedom appears to be in capital trim for his Auckland Cup engageWith both Bleriot and Waiorewa. to represent him,-the Gisborne sportsman, Mr. F. Hall, appears to hold a very strong hand in the .A.E.C. Eailway Handicap.