NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1776, 14 June 1913, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(Si Glsncob.l General surprise was expressed when it was found that F. Tilley lad not nominated Leonta for the New Zealand Cup. The Conqueror gelding gave evidence of staying ability in several races in the autumn,, and it was confidently expected that he would be entered for the bis Riccarton event. Perhaps the Fordell trainer, who has won the Cup twice, is not very keen nowadays in giving a likely good horse.the preparation necessary to enable hini to run two miles so early in the season. It is a noticeable fact that a horso which wins a New Zealand Cup Tarely does much afterwards. Numerous instances could be cited bearing out this statement. The St. Ambrose gelding Mallard has bom sold out of the Highden stables. There was a dearth of jockeys at Ellerslie on the concluding day of the winter meeting. In the Fitzroy welter Handicap 31 horses paid up. but only 29 jockeys were available, and the other two horses had to bo scratched.

Brown Trout is to race at the Hastings and Napier meetings, and will leave Otaki on Monday. He will be ridden in his engagements'.by. H. Telford. B. Young is working up a big. connection as a rider of. jumpers. At .Hastings' ho will be on Supreme in tho Hack Steeples.- Nyland in the Open Hurdles, and: Aberbrothock in the Hack Hurdles. ' It is reported that the -Steeplechaser Continuance has again broken down, and there is little chance of him being seen out this winter. , W. Young has been engaged to ride for A. Shearsby at the Hastings and Napier Park meetings. Cti Thursday morning Nyland and Aberbrothock were schooled in company at Hastings, and each gave a good display, the effort of the former being a specially fine one. Seaweed, who was also schooled on the same morning by F. Fraser, toppled over at tho second fence. " The Feilding trainer, A. Attwood, is taking Supreme, Bill, and Ngatitnara to the Hawke's Bay meoting, and they will leave for Hastings on Monday. On the same dav Q. Price is leaving Patmerston North with Nyland, E. Watson is taking Aberbrothock, and _T. Clark Flingot. All have tho same destination.

An error crept into this column yesterday, when it was made to appear that Leolanter would not v bo a starter at Hastings. Dorando was the hoTse meant. In addition to Gay' Lawless, the steeplechaser Master Paul was also shinned to Svdney yesterday. His owner (Mr. H. Nurse) and Jockey L. Hegarty also made the trip. < In addition to having both collar-bon**s broken, A. ,T. M'Flynnis, it is feared, hurt internally, and there is little chance of him riding again this season. Durins his absence P. Brady will ride 3. Williamson's jumpers. Discussing the Great Northern Steeples, a trainer who lias just returned from Ellerslio gave a most gloomy account of the horsemanship displayed in the race, and he thinks that tho riders of to-day cannot compare with the old cross-country riders. Asked.for a more specific utatement, he gave the winner Bercola credit for covering more ground than anything elsa in the race, and he says that the backers of both Paritutu and Hautere were discomfited bv horsemanship which intent have been better. The former was pulled about too much in the earlier Dart of the race, and the latter wa,s tailed off to an extreme length in the first .two and a half miles, and then made up his ground too quickly. No wonder (the speaker continued) that ho was 'dead beat" on the hill tho last time. Dorando, he regards as the most unlucky horse in tho race, for lie was in a Rood position throughout, but twice pot interfered with through horses falling in front of him.