NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1755, 21 May 1913, Page 3

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[By Glencoe.] Acceptances for tho first day's handicaps of tho coming Auckland meeting cioso 011 Friday next. There is also duo at the same time.a final payment for the Great. Northern Hurdle;, two miles and a half. AVith acceptances of eleven, eleven and twelve in the Steeples, Hurdles, and Connolly Handicap respectively, the Wanganui Club ivill, no doubt, be satis ; lied. Except in tho ease of Ngntiruanui in the Connolly Handicap, there were 110 unlooked-for pencillings. It may be that tho. son of Maniopoto has gone slightly amiss. Ho was also a non-acceptor on the second day of the Esmont meeting.

Surprise was expressed when The Native was paid up for in both the Steeples and Hurdles. In whichever race he starts he must be .1 bad horse to beat, but most people would like to see a race behind him before he is extensively supported. In any case he now looks bigger and stronger than ever, _ and the long spell which ho had 011 his owner's run at Levin has evidently benefited him. In his first few essays over the big fences at Porirua he did not take kindly to them, but he improved a good deal, and is now as good a jumper over brush as he was over hurdles. News concerning Antarctic is not of a reassuring nature, and those who have seen him working lately aro not pleased with his form. Okaihau won last year's racc, and, from that period on, he was always ' givius trouble. The samo must be said of him this year, though with less emphasis. Glenniore has only to bo as he was at Riecarton, and he wili start favourite. The Beaufort winner is fairly well seasoned with racing, and, in this rospeet, 110 will be at an advantage over the others. Dorando is the horse which Wanganui people aro selecting to win. He has done a lot of work, and has done it well. If Hawick were at anything like the form which he showed at _ the "National" meeting, Mr. ilson's gelding would givo a good account of hiinselt, but his prea'-'iit track work does not suggest that lie is quite ready. In the Hurdles the early favourite was Chief Marshal, but Hickey's horse has eased somewhat during tho lost few days, and Xgatimaru has superseded him si> favourite, with Daxbv Paul and Bercola also in demand. The two last-named aro good stayers. This will assist them over a journey cf two miles and a quarter. St. Kovhi," who was railed north yesterday, and will be ridden by L. Ilegarty, is also spoken of as a .Tkclj- winner.

Nothing but Leonta- is for in the Connolly Handicap, and, if W. Price rides the big Conqueror gelding (or sonic other equally strong horseman) there 13 little chance of his losing the position of. favourite. Mr. Bristol's horse has won five times out of his last six starts, and the Hawera win was achieved in such an easy manner that it is safe to assume that liis owner is pleased that it is a case of fixed penalties at Wanganui and not rehandicaps. If there is one horse that the weight adjuster must feel uncomfortable about it is Leonta. Still, handicappers have extraordinary luck ot times. Wo shall see if Mr. G. Morse is fortunate.

J. W. Lowe has an addition to his team at Trentliam—a yearling filly by Birkenhead from Vologda. 'The youngster, which was bred at the Waikanae stud, is owned by a West Coast racing man. Lowe's other youngster by Charlemagne II from Monardo attracts very favourable comment from track watchers. They predict a useful career for her.

Obligant, who broke down badlv at Awapuui last month, is still at Trentliam, .but it is expected that ho will shortly bo sent home to Gisborne to bo turned out on his owner's Station.

The recent doath of the prominent Indian sportsman. Sir A. A. Apcar, was sudden. He was out on the racecourse on tho morning of his death, and was apparently in the best of spirits. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon he began to write a letter to his brother, and after finishing a few lines, walked into the next room, and collapsed. A doctor was quickly requisitioned, but death, it appears, was instantaneous, tho cause being an apoplectic seizure. It is difficult to forecast what effect the death of this well-known sportsman will have upon the turf in India, but a hope is expressed that his brother, Mr. Alee. Apcar, who has devoted all his timo to tliesltring for the past couple of years, may see his way to race the horses now in the stable.

Gaelic—the ancient New Zealand-bred gelding by Bonnie Scotland—was sent out second favourite in the Federal Hurdles at Moonee Valley on May 10. He was ridden by Ronald Cameron, but failed to finish in better than third place.

When Covccoat returned to his training quarters at Findon after winning the Liverpool Grand _ National Steeplechase kst month, his stable companion, Jerry M. (last year's victor) was taken to the station to await his arrival, and the pair were subsequently led through the village amidst the cheering of the inhabitants, who turned out in large numbers to greet' Sir Charles AsshetouSmith's famous '"chasers.

A New Zealand horseman, W. Cairns, rode Ngara, winner of the Novice Handicap at the Brisbane Tattersall's meeting on May 10.

Though the racing has not yet started, •several of the steeplechasers are already knocked out. Yesterday morning tho roll was added to by Armagh, who fell .it Wanganui and injured his shoulder rather badly. This is bad luck for .J. Williamson,'as tho bay horse had a rare dash of pace for a steeplechaser, and looked like winning races this season.

The Menschikoff mare, Lace Collar, who was sent to tho stud last year to be mated with Gold Crest, recently rat into a wiro fence, and ivas badly cut about. For some time it was feared that she lvoulS die, but she pulled round.

FIXTURES.

May 22 and 23—North Otago J.C. Winter. May 22 and 2-I—'Wanganui ,f. C. Winter. May 31, June 3 and s—Auckland R.C. Winter. Juno 3 and 4—Dunedin ,T.C. Winter. .Tunc 3 and I—Olaki Maori R.C. Winter. .1 une IS and l'J—ltawke's Hay J.C. Winter. .Tunc 25 and 2G—Jfapi»r Park Ji.C. Winter. July 3 and ■)—Gisborne lt.C. Steeplechase. July 16 and 19—Wellington lt.C. Winter. August 12, 14, and 10—C.J.C. Grand National.