NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1694, 10 March 1913, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

r, ' [Br Giencoi.] Backers of Cn.her Davon in the Esk Handicap at Napier will I>a at a disadvantage, inasmuch as a new rider will have to be found for the erratic filly. Her usual pilot, M'Donald, is standing down. B. Deeley will bo at Nelson, and L. Wilson is not 1 ikely to accept tho mmint after certain events which happened at Dannevirke, ,

: 0. Emerson has ridden the last two winners of tho- Challenge Stakes at Riccarton, and lie wou'd appear to liavo a chanco of doing "tho hat track," as his mount this year is to bo Autnmnus, on whom ho scored last year.

■ W. 801 l has been offered the mount on Spccialfoni) in the Easter Handicap at Riccarton. The North Island jockeys who wero riding at the Dunpdin meeting were much impressed with tho Boniform filly's showing, and consider her'to be tho best of the light-weight division at Dannevirke. In connection with the -innual race meeting of the Nelson Jockey Club, to bo held on Wednesday and Thursday next, arrangements have been made with the Union Company for tho Mapourika (leaving Wellington on Tuesday) to call at Picton for -Marlborough visitors. " lie Pateena's departure also has been delayed until Thursday evening, which will enable Wellington and Marlborough sportsmen to return home after the second day's races, and be at business on Friday morning. The annual fixture «s creating interest localjy, and there is every prospect (given fino weather) of a very successful mcoliing. ' The Nelson Jockey Club's meeting takes plKce oil .Wednesday and Thursday. Acceptances for the Opunako races close this evening . Nominations for the Wellington Racing Club's meeting must bo made by Friday next. Tho Hon. O. Samuel, chairman of the Taranaki Jockey Club's committee, was on a visit to Wellington last week.

The bright particular star of the V.E.C. Autumn meetung concluded at Flemington on Saturday last was Piastre, who was seen out on each of tlio four days, ami was only beaten once, ill the Australian .Gup, in which ho ran third to two five-year-olds in receipt of llilb. and 41b. respectively. In the Essendon Stakes on the opening day, Piastre defeated Eudotus (winner of the Oaulfield Futurity Stakes and V.E.C. All-Aged Stakes), Almissa (Australian Cup) and others. In tlio Loch Plato Wolawa (winner of tlio St. Leger) finished among tlio unplaced division. As a three.year-old Piastre started lialf-a-dozau times without securing a winning bracket. This season ho made a good besinning by winning tlio Trial Stakes at the A.J.C. Spring meeting, 'and next day acted as runner-up to Duke Foote in the Metropolitan Handicap. The latter is owned by Mr. J. Brown (Baron), brother to the owner of Piastre. The horses named, however,, are trained in different stables. After Duke Foote's successes in tlio w.f.a. events at Eandwick and Flemington in the Spring, ho was made a great favourite for the Melbourne Cup.' He failed badly, but Piastre successfully represented the stable of the Newcastle coal-mine owners.' They have been pretty successful since they have been racing, and deserved to be, as they imported some valuable blood stock. Sir Footo (sire of Duke Footo) and Chand Bee Bee (daughter of Eoyal Hampton) were two of their English purchases. The latter produced Chantress (Newmarket Handicap), Bee Bee (Maribyrnong Plato), and Baw Bee (Breeders' Plato).

Though imported horses have done remarkably well in sprint races in Aus-. tralia, they havo seldom succeeded in long distance events. Two' years ago Comedy King (imp.) won the Melbourne Cup, and last week, for the first time, an imported horse "(Almissa) won the Australian Cup. Ho is a five-year-old bay horse by Ayrshire—La Roche, trained by F. Musgrave for Messrs. Bafllieu. Last season he went through without a win, but this term had previously scored in, the Williamstown Cup. ' • ' ' Tlio Newmarket Handicap winner Ee■liove was sired by Muvillo, bred in England to Australian time, by Velasquez, by Donovan from Vista, dam Balsam, by Friar's Balsam —Loch Dee, by Galopin. Murillo was Balsam's only foal, she having died the year after she was imported. Murillo was raced as a two-year-old in Australia, and carried the colours of Mr. H. V. Foy to victory' in the Maribyrnong Plate. Lancaster Eose (dam of Believe) wag a successful country performer in New South Wales, by Lancaster (Ilotchkiss—Frailty) from Nitouoha, by imported Eiridspord from She (by Nordenfeldt —Steppo) dam of Bobadil and sister to Stepniak. The breeding of Loch Amos (Wallace— Arrowroot) should interest Dominion sportsmen. He won the Eiver Handicap and was a place-getter ill two other events. Ho was the only descendant of Wallace to score during the four days. ATrowform (Multiform—Arrowroot), a two-year-old competitor at the meeting, carries the same colours as Piastre. Arrowroot was imported by Mr. W. Brown in 1906. She was by Morion—Semolina, by St. Simon— Mowerina. Her first foal (to' English time) was King Eufus, by William Eufus, by. Melton—Siniona, by St. Simon—Flying Footsteps. King Eufus was purchased by Mr. George Currie, of Wanganui, and the first batch of his yearlings were shipped to Sydney last week for auction at tho Easter sales.

Tlio unlucky performer at the meeting was Cadonia, who ran third in the Essendon Stakes, and second in>tlie Australian Cup and Champion Stajccs. The place money in the three events amounted to 800 sovs., which would bo considered a fair stake in a totalisator country. Cadonia was unlucky enough to bump against Trafalgar when he was racing, and acted as runner-up to the champion in the Randwick Plate two years in succession. Cadonia's sire Prudent King (Love Wisely—Lovelorn) is at Mr. Sydney Reynolds's stud on the Paterson River, Now South Wales. On the opposite side of the river is the far-famed Tocal Stud owned by Mr. Frank Reynolds.

Messrs. Mitohell have two of the progeny of Trafalgar's dam, Grand Canary, in Walter stable <it Remington. .Both of Ihr-in Have been given time to develop The four-year-old Gillamatong, winner of the concluding event at Flemington on' Saturday, is by imported Challenger, by Isinglass—Meddlesome, by St. Gatien—Busybody. The three-year-old is a filly by: .Perambulator, by Persimmon—Spyglass, by Royal Hampton.

The successful jumping performers, Lord Desmond and Scrutineer, each just failed to land a double at Flemington. In tli© Autumn Hurdles the first-named was beaten by Recollect, who was in receipt of exactly three stone, and in tho Autumn Steeplechase, Scrutineer was runner-up to Pinpress.

Puaka (St. Ambrose—Neroli), runnernp m the River Handicap, was the only New Zealand-bred horse that went near scoring ft win-.

It is understood that Wallace Young, who was recently disqualified by the Taranaki Jockey Club, has been advised that his case will be reopened.

Both Soldiers' Chorus, and Sombrero have made tho acceptance for the principal handicap at Invercargill on Wednesday next.

Simmer (by St. Simon) has dona remarkably well when mated with daughters of Carbine. Carbello (Carbine— lTourbillon) produced' Kaeburn, Ebullition (Newmarket Handicap), Vaporise, and other winners, to the Tocal sire. Carbina (Carbine—Azalea) is the dam of Burrawang, Winner of the Caulfield Guineas and runner-up in tho V.R.C. St. Leger stakes. (winner of the Hopeful Stakes at FJ<!mington) is by Malster— Carbrook, by Cranbrook—Corbien; by Car:bine. FIXTURES. March 12 and 13 —Southland R.C. Autumn. March 12 and 13—Napier Park R.C. Autumn. March 17—Opunake R.C. Annual. March 22 and 21—Auckland R.C. Autumn. March 22 and 21—Wairarapa R.C. Autumn. March 22, 24, and 29—Australian J.C. Autumn. March 21—Waipukurau J.C. Annual. March 21 and 25—Canterbury J.C. Autumn. March 21 and 25 —Feilding J .C. Easter. March 24 and 25—Riverton R.C. Annual. March 26—Westland R.C. Autumn. April 2—Reefton J.C. Autumn. \ April 2 and s—Wellington R.C. Autumn. April 9 and 10—Manawatu R.C. Autumn. April 16' and ' 17—Hawke's Bay J.C. Autumn.