THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1857, 17 September 1913, Page 3

THE TURF.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[By Glencoe.]

Tho Avondalo Jockey Club's Spring Meeting opens to-day. Tho fields are largo and the probable results not easy to divine. Chief interest will bo ill tho Avondalo Stakes, four furlongs, which is tho first two-year-old event of tho season. Kitty Bellairs and Shepherd's Inn arc tho pair most spoken of, and they should givo a good account of themselves.

A big field will as usual contest tho Maiden Handicap. Included in tho runnors are Loloma (Bst. 01b.) and Monojack (7st. 131b.). The latter has been doing good work at Ellerslio and was to have been Deeley's mount, had t'ho Auckland horseman not met with an accident recently.

Tho issue in tho Grey Lynn Hurdles, two miles, will probably bo left to tho light-weights, for Silver Cluso is reported to bo very backward. Pip (9st. 91b.) and Watchchain, on the same mark, seem to be rather too good for tho others.

: Several of the runners will bo well fancied in t'lio Cup. Bluestono (7st. 101b.) is top weight, and he has shown that ho can get the distance well. Royal Arms (7st. 91b.) should run well if tho going is firm, and both Merry Hoe (7st. bib.) and Colonel Soult (7st. lib.) will doubtless have many supporters.

Taken on form I'otoa (Bst. 121b.) at onco arrests tho attention in the field for the Henderson Handicap; seven furlongs. Tho nearest to him is Tragedy King who has 141b. less. The Wan garni i Cup winner, Tiresome, has 7s. 91b., and Decorate, who showed good form against the hacks -at EUerslie in Juno, has 7st. 31b. • .

Dannevirke form points strongly to Master Webb as likely to be running well at the finish of ■the Spring Steeples. Tho Hastings-owned horse is , a great jumper and is just now at tho top of his form. Crown Pearl, 9st. 71b., catches tho eye in the Plying Handicap. The bay gelding is not harshly treated and should show up. Prince Soult (7st. 131b.) has, however, been galloping well on tho EUerslie tracks of late.

Tho Governor-General of Australia is evidently a keen lover of steeplechasing. He recently won the V.A.T.C. Aniateur Challenge Cup at Caultield with Topmast, and has entered that horse for tho two big .jumping races of the A.J.C. The acceptances for the Otaki meeting can bo regarded as very satisfactory. Of tho ninety-seven horses weighteel sixty-threo have continued their engagements. The most notable defections in tho big handicap are Los Angejos, Undecided, Expect, Byron, and Passadcna. Tho two last-named and Otahu are to be reserved for the AVanganui meeting. • Though ho is 12.years old The Officer gelding, Overrate, is still in work at Opaki, and appears quite sound. Overrate is still ablo to win races, as ho demonstrated at Carterton last year when he brought about tho downfall of a strong favourite —Big Blast —in the Hack AVelter event'. Mr. H. Tinker, of Hiccarton, who formerly owned Colleen Mary, has purchased from the Hastings trainer, 11. Goodman, a two-year-old filly by King's Guest—Merry Kate, by Glairgowrie— Fishgirl. Merry Kato is a half-sister to First Love, tho grand dam,of Antagonist. * ' The Wairarapa horseman 11. Hatch, who has taken over tho stables formerly occupied by M. M'Grath at Masterton, has two horses in his charge, Master Lupin and a filly by Advance—: Gold.Cord, dam of Tho Native, etc. ( Mr. C. I'\ Vallance's horses will not be trained at Kahumiugi as was at first intended, owing to tho difficulty in obtaining a suitable track. Amber and White and Bluezonia have been put into work at Clareville. Sir Knox is doing a light season at the stud at Masterton, but will shortly bo put into work again. At tho annual meeting of tho Hutt Valley Trotting Club on Monday night, tho track committee was authorised to -spend up to £3.0 on improvements to the track. It wis -unanimously decided to make arrangements to alter tho date of tho annual meeting from Boxing Day until January on a suitable day in Wellington Cup week. An effort is td be made by the Hutt Valley Trotting Club to regain its lost day's racing. Mr. T. M. "Wilford is to be approached to draw Tip a petition, which will bo circulated in tlio district and presented to tho Minister for Internal Affairs.