NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1784, 24 June 1913, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

ißr Glencok.!

The bad weather experienced in the city during the last lew days is reported to be general over New Zealand, so that once more the Napier Park Steeplechase meeting may be a we.t one. It is a.u old saying in the Hawke's Bay district that if Hastings is fine Napier will bo wet during the following week. And how true it is! Barely has the Hawke's Bay meeting , been wet, whila tho opposite is the rule for the -Napier gathering, which takes place on the following week. If wo take it as granted that the Park will bo damp on Wednesday it follows, as if something like a corollary, that we must look for horses that aro known to be good in soft going. This will not bo a difiieult matter in tho Hack Hurdles, for tho Birkenheads all like the going villi the sling out of it. It will eonio as no surprise to find Peary a pronounced order if he runs. But will ho run? This, of course, is known only to Trainer S. Waddcll, but the chances aro that he will. Schooling in races does a liorso nuich more good than track work, and every race can bo depended upon to do Peary a lot of good. The Hack Steeples field is not a strong one, but there are one or two safe conveyances in it, and amongst these may be mentioned The lianter, Castle Canter, and Fireworks. It will bo interesting to observe how Bedloh, who has been carrying all before him in hack raccs, will fare in open company on Wednesday, when lis will bo pitted against a'fesefnl field in tho Stewards' Mile. Tho Birkenhead >gclding is a good sticker, but it has to l>o remembered that, in the Bankawa Handicap, he failed badly. There may, however, be somo excuse for this defeat as on the following day ho "bolted" with tho Hack Welter, carrying 9st. 71b.

Outside El Dorado and Tho Spaniard tliero is nothing in tho Napier Steeplechaso that is likely to earn laurels as a 'chaser. The meeting of this pair, however, will bo an interesting one, as it will afford some lino as to_ tnc quality of The Spaniard. At Hastings he scored what was. practically a bloodless victory, but now that El Dorado has shown signs of returning to form ho is certain to test Mr. F. Armstrong's horse, and, if tho latter wins, the form will certainly be good. In justification of the idea that the pair will bo the only ones to trouble the judge it should be pointed out that Leolanter had a heavy fall 'at Hastings, and could not walk next day. AVaitarero is 13 years old, and has won a singlo steeple-, chase as a four-year-old, Appin has not been up any timo. Smirny, Bravest. Tyrannic, and Donzcl could not get round at Hastings,, anil Rebel, Master Malachi, Ranter, and Reservoir are, hardly class enough. The success of Gnomo in the Final Handicap at Hastings came as a gr»at surprise, and those who supported the Obligado gelding received a fine dividend. Though Gnome only showed moderate form late-Iv, W. Clarko always entertained a high "opinion of him, and. with racing and travelling, he is clearly "making good."

There seems to ho 110 doubt, whatever that C. Emerson wiU do well in Sydney. The first meeting in which ho rode was at Warwick Farm, and the Riccarton lad had a ride in each tint race, it-hilo 0110 owner put up 7lb. overweight to secure his services. Dion, who won the lug handicap with Emerson in the raddle, started at nil outside price. Kairoma (Birkenhead-Film) recently changed hands iu Sydney tor 10 guineas. Mr. J. B. .Tool has now won all the English "classics," his successful representatives being as follow:—Derby, Simitar; One Thousand Guineas, .Test; Two Thousand Guineas, Snnstar; Oaks, Oiyr Lassie, Glass Doll, .Test; St. Leger, "Votfr Majesty. Master Paul, the South Island hurdler, arrived safely in Australia, and has gone on to Melbourne to compcta in the big jumping events there next month. Clarence O'Neill is nursing: another fracture in Tasmania. This time it is tho small bono in his right leg and die ex-New Zealaiidor expects to lie alrnit again in a few weeks. Ronald Cameron has been showing groat form in the saddle at the Melbourne lncstinrrs recently..jutcl ho will huvo Iho imiokl* r>i'%everal 'good mounts in the big j"';" Ping races at Flemington and Caulm-ld this winter. ■, The Grand Prix de Paris will be decidod on Sunday next.