NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1864, 25 September 1913, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[Bi Glencoe.]

Tlio AVanganui meeting opens to-day and, given'fine weather, it should bo au interesting day's sport. Five runners will contest tlid Wanganui Guineas. Outside Mr. J. B. Reid's pair, Motvbray and Rinaldo, they are not a striking lot. Sir Geo. Clifford has sent up Stevedore (TreadmillHaven). This colt is so far a maiden performer, but a3 a 2-year-old lo bad a good reputation, and recently, at Riccarton, he carried F. Ef Jones and ran ft mile faster than did Mowbray, with R. Berry in the saddle. Many' arc inclined to discount this gallop' considerably, because Veritas finished alongside him. But thero'is no real reason for this, for Veritas may yet' fulfil early predictions of his galloping ability. There is a chance, indeed, that the Elevation youngster is .more than fair, and may have been knocked out last spring in tho effort to pet him roady for the Randwick campaign. Still, to get back to Stevedore, the very fact that he has not had a raco will tell seriously against him, and most pcoplo will prefer the chances of Mowbray, who was n topnotcher as a 2-ycar-old. Bonny Helen is highly thought of by her connections, but her public form does not show her to bo tho equal of Mowbray. , Iri the Flying Handicap, tho Fordell stable will havo two representatives., viz., Postillion (9st. 31b.) and Kaniki" (Bst. 91b.). Tho former may require a race or two before ho is at his best., and under the circumstances his stablo companion Kaniki may bo a botte- favourite. Makara (Bst. 41b.) and Royal Simon (Bst.) are likely to bo well fancied. The former 'always runs well on the Wanganui course and ho is reported to be very forward now. A field of 15 is engaged in the Maiden Race, but they are not a good lot, and outside Sunbird and St. Elmn they aro practically unknown. Tho former is by Martian from Mary of /. rgyle, and at Marton early this month she showed phenomenal pace in a hack race. . Goodwin Park's form at tho National Meeting was so good that backers will nrobnbl.v not hesitate to entrust him in the Okehu Hurdles. Rill may not bo a runner in tlio Hack Hurdles, and in her absenco tho Aus-tralian-bred Pliroso may start favourite. At Otaki Mira showed that he was returning to form and the Spring Handicap to-day should sco him in a favourable light. A useful lot will bo seen tinder silk in this race, which should be the most difficult event on the programme. The news that a substantial figure had been offered for Soltano will hardly come as' a surprise, for tho Soult colt is a perfect model of a horse and can gallop fust. Tlio suggestion that ho is inclined to bo "musical" may have nothing iii it, and is probably duo to tho colt being backward and in .want of- a good raco to sharpen him up. Mr. W. E. Bidwill was in Wellington

.Yesterday on a business visit. Ho will be present at Hastings next week to sco his 2-ycar-old Reputation (Martian —Stcpfcldt) race in tho Hastings Stakes. Jockey E. Low.o returned from Sydney yesterday and goes on to Hastings this morning. Immor—Flying Handicap—was tho only scratching for tho Wanganui meeting up till 9 o'clock last evening. , B. Dceley is making a good recovery from his accident and hopes to be able to rido at Hastings next week. Hia mount on Stevedore in the Wanganui Guineas to-day will bo taken by W. Prico. 1 It is intended to liavo Mendip operated upon for throat, troubles next week. The St. Paul gelding is still spelling in the paddock at Hawera. There will be racing at Geraldino in the.South Island to-day and to-morrow. Nominations for tho Waverley-Waito-tarii Racing Club's annual meoting close to-morrow night. Tho fixture is to bo held on October 27. Owners are reminded that nominations for the Masterton Racing Club's spring meeting close at half-past 9 o clock to-morrow night with the secretary, Mr. A. Hathaway. Woights for the first day's events at the Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting will bo declared on Monday next. Soltano's namo appears among the entries for tho Rowley Mile at tho Hawkcsbury (Sydney) meeting on Saturday next. , To-day's race for tho Wanganui Guineas recalls tho fact that tho first contest for the Guineas in 1898 was won by Tigress, carrying tho oolours of tho lato Sir William Russell. During his long association with the turf, Sir William .owned many good horses, including Coeur de Lion (Manawatu Cup and' Great Northern Hurdles), Tigridia (Great Northern Guineas), Aronoel (Great Northern Champagne Stakes), Escopeta (Hawke's Bay Guineas), St. ICathcrine (Egmont Cup, Wanganui Cup, and Wanganui Derby), Noyado (Wanganui Derby and Taranaki Cup), Heiress (Wollesley Stakes), Nadador (C.J.C. Grand National Steeplechase, Hawke's Bay Steeplechase, Napier Steeplechase, Wanganui Steeplechase, a.nd Wellington Steeplechase), and Corazon (Great Northern Steeplechase, Wanganui Steeplechase, and July Steeplechase). ' ■