NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1872, 4 October 1913, Page 3

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[Bi Glencoi.] i Sportsmen throughout the Dominion will be on the tip-toe of expectation to-day in the hopo that Soltano will win the A.J.C. Derby. It is quite safe to say that more interest will centre . in tho runuing of Mr. Lowry's colt in the Derby than in tho rest of tho Maoriland contingent engaged in tho other raoes. Certainly ho appears to have every chance of equalling'the great performance put up by Noctuiform in 11)05, lieu that wonderful colt ra,n homo ill the Randwiok bluo ribbon event from' his stable companion, Sungod, in record time. To-day. tho field is reduced to six runners. The whole six will have hosts of admirers, but latest information from the scene of action would tend to the opinion that the Hastingsowned colt will supersede Beragoon as favourite. This pair will overshadow the other runners. But will Soltano overshadow Beragoon at tho postP That is the question. -On track Tyork the brilliant son of Multiform would appear to havo a little in his favour, but it is now suggested that ho is on the down grade, and, possibly, his owner-trainer has overdone him. If he has it is only what others have done before him. This is the exact way that the great Sceptre lost the Derby. Trained by an amateur (hor owner, Robert Sievier) she had just a little too much galloping, and, in consequence, left her race on tho tracks. To-day's race may be run at a middling pace, _ and, if so, the chances seom to be with our representative. That will bo right into the hands of Oliver, who will'probably go for what is termed "the break," and then it will be a case of "catch me if you can." Pike, who Jb to ride Beragoon, goner-, ally likes to be in front on tho fence. These tactics will suit Olivor just .as well, and it is any odds that, when the field settles down, he will be in No. 2 position, and also on tho rails, only leaving thom when absolutely necessary to come out and make his final dash. Several of the New Zealand contingent are engaged in tho Hurdles, and. on National form, Loch Maben would seem to bo the best handicapped. The Trial Stakes, one mile and a quarter, .will see Banksia (Achilles— Tortulla) in commission, and possibly showing up in a very favourable light. From time to time good reports have come to hand of the excellence of her private gallops, and, on Wednesday laßt, she covered a mile at Randwick in lmin. 43isec., which was the second fastest gallop of the morning,-' .This was probably her try out for the Trial Stakes to-day. Tho great Duke Footo' ia not likely to have much opposition in the Spring Stakes, one mile and a-half, and the [New Zealand penciller who laid 1000 to 500 against him some five months ago, though having apparently all tho best of the deal then, has now .decidedly the worst of it. Tho big Epsom Handicapswill be contested by a very strong field, and luck will play a prominent 'part in it. There are no New Zealand horns engaged. Oliver will be on the top weight. Gigandra, who is carrying a stone loss than he won with at Rosehill, and Emerson will bo on Graftoline, who has the nice racing weight of 7st. 21b. Cherubim, tha full brother to Soldier'b Chorus, is our representative in the Konsingto'n Stakes, seven furlongs. Good acceptances have been received for the Napier Park meeting to-day. In the Hack Hurdles Lamsdodf will not have Witched to bother him over the last half-mile, nor Rongomau over the first mile, so that the old fellow should have an easy time, of it, unless Prestwiok (on whom the Karamu stable will rely) is better over fencos than on the flat. As Ngarua has been allowed to drop out of the Trial Hack Handicap at the Napier Park Meeting, A. Shearsby is evidently of the opinion that Adroit is the better of the pair over five furlongs. Mr. F. Armstrong's filly showed a. Tot of pace at Otaki, where she ran third (finishing at a great rate) to Iliad's Hero and Waldemar. Zimnier will bo the Karamu representative in thiß race. If Windage is at his best tho handicappor has surely taken a great liberty with him in letting him in at 91b above the minimum. ' The form of Birkful in the Hawko's Bay Guineas will cause him to go out a strong favourite on the mils Hack Race. Mangaroa and Matlow both got very bad; passages in tho big race at Hastings on Wednesday, but Detter luck may be in storo for them in tho Park Stakes to-day. Dowriham, who oarrica Mr. E. J. Watt's colours, and is reported to be_ a "regular Bwallow-catcher," will have" a chance of showing his ability in the Juvenile Handicap at tho Napier Park Races. Diavolo ran third to two good ones .in Bliss and Altcar in the Final Handicap at Hastings, and this form is likely to make him favourite in the Railway Handicap to-day.