NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1856, 16 September 1913, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[Bt Glencoe.]

F. Porter arrived at Napier from, Gisborne yesterday. He had with him the hurdle horses Birkline and Fagot, who are engaged at the Otaki meeting next weok.

The "two Colonel Soults" u a combination .which has been well supported for the Avondale Cup and Flying Handicap. Mr. J. R. M'Donald is 1 caving for Sydney by next Friday's steamer. Ho will bo present at Rand.vick to see The Native run in the hurdle events at the Australian Jockey Club's meeting, which opens on October 4.

Soltano has been entered for the Spring Stakes (one mile), which is to bo run at Rosehill on Saturday next.' Tho field contains the best handicap horses in Australia, besides several A.J.C. Derby candidates.

H. Hickoy has nominated -WhakaT.'eira and Beacon for tho hurdle race (two miles) at Rosehill next Saturday.

After 'his good showing in the Chelmsford Stakes, it may be safely concluded that the Multiform oolt, Beragoon, is now a firm favourite for tho A.J.C. Derby. The Rosehill Guineas (seven furlongs) should see him at his best next Saturday.

Tho spring meeting of the Avondale Jockey Club will commence to-morrow, ooncluding onSaturday next.

Tho New Zealand-bred Beau Soult, who is one of tho fancies for tho A.J.C. Derby, scored in the Club Handicap (ono-mile) at Newcastle on September 6. The distance was negotiated in lrain. 42} sec., and tfhe . Soult colt, carrying Bst, 111b.', had a four-lengths' victory. This wears all the aspects of a good Derby trial.

Meritus-r-tbe ' 'four-year-old' ' halfbrother to Lady Medallist in E. A. Connolly's stables—won the Dvona Trial (seven furlongs) at Caulfield on September 6. On" the same day Connolly saddled up the long-kept Anna Carloviia, and his money sent her out a short-priced order in the' Heatherlio Handicap (nine' furlongs), but, owing to over-confidence 011 the part of E. Turner, she was beaten by a neck. 'Sea Prince also started favourite in tho Memsie Stakes, but Uncle Sam and Audacity both accounted for him, and, to make the day still worse, Mcritus suffered defeat in tho Warriston Welter. Topmast, who was recently purchased by Lord Denman, Governor-General of Australia, won the V..A.T.C. Amateur Challenge Cup, a steeplechase of two miles and a half, on September 6.

Tlio English papers are full of comments and letters concerning the American, or, as most of tlio English writers term it, tho "monkey" seat. In America tlio subject is also attracting a deal of attention, and it is generally regarded as ail attempt to decry a stylo of horsemanship which has been productivo of best results in that country. J. liowo, who trains Mr. H. P. Whitney's horses, and has been so successful with Whisk Broom II in America- recently, was asked what ho thought of tlio different styles, and replied: "Would Whisk Broom II bo as great a horse as ho i-s if ho were ridden by some boy who is a dead weight 011 his back, as he would be if the long stirrup were used? It is just anoth-ar attempt of tlio English to decry successful American methods." That was tho general opinion of most trainers and jockeys that were interviewed.

The Gisborne trainer, G. Jones, has been seriously ill since the National meeting.

Prior to the start of the Hcatherlie Handicap at Caulfiold on September 6, Midnight Sun lashed out and badly kicked G.- Higgins, rider of TJxbridge. Tho boy had his thigh damaged,' and was unable to take part in tho race. On September 6, at Caulfield, the New Zealander, Master Paul (list. 131b.), ridden by L. Hogarty, started favourite in tho Sandringham Steeples, two miles, but was beaten by .Tack Windsor, who was ridden by J. N. M'Grogor. Mr. E. J. Watt's Kildonan (Kilcheran—Armada) was a runner in tlio Hurdles at Warwick Farm 011 September 6, but 110 was without a quotation, and shaped accordingly. Mr. Adrian Knox, chairman oL the Australian Jockey Club, will, not be present at tho Spring niching. He has mado arrangements to leave for England, and probably goes moro on business than pleasure (says a Sydney oxchange). His departure from Sydney with the club's big fixture so closo at hand lends itself to that suggestion. Advice received in Australia states that the blood stallion Flying Machine is being shipped from England on the s.s. Medic, due to arrivo in Sydney at tho end of October. Flying Machine is a six-year-old horso by Ayrshire from Gravitation (an own sister to William the Third), by St. Simon from Tact (tho dam of Amiable, winner of the Oaks and One Thousand Guineas), by Wisdom. Tlio annual mooting of the liutt Valley Trotting Club was held last evening, Mr. A. M. Samuel, president, being in the chair. Tho following officers woro elccted: —President, Mr. A. M. Samuel; stewards, Messrs. A. M. Samuel, John Sharpe, James Sharpe, J. T. Craig, H. Ryder, 11. Palmer, J. Elvines, T. Edwards, 11. Edwards, 0. Upton, R. Quinii, J. August, J. M'Parland, H. M'Whirtor, J. Donarks.