NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1874, 7 October 1913, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[By Glencoe.] Jockoys W. Bell and H. Coker, who Have engagements at tho Dunedin meeting, went South by \Vahino last evening. Tho former will ride Somniform, Sauci, Daringdale, and Kostroma; Coker will rido Simon Pure in the Hurdles. Gigandra was favourite for the Epsom' Handicap run on Saturday, and the winnor, Aleconner, started a rank outsider. Trainer A. Neale, who has only recently returned from a trip to Sydney with Manakau, led in !his first winner this season at Napier on Saturday w'hen the Gold Reef mare Eoceno won tho Railway Handicap. In the past tho black mare has neon troubled to fet six furlongs, but Nealo appears to avo worked a marked improvement in her, and she ran lier raco out on Saturday. Mr. Jas. Armstrong, of Dannevirke, purchased her no later than August last; but ho is now standing in well over the deal. R. J. Mason is leaving Sydney next Saturday on his return to tho Dominion. In addition to Cherubini, Emperador, and Banksia, he is bringing with him a couplo of two-year-olds. Tho dofeat of Soltano in the A.J.C. Derby can. probably he explained by the fact that, in tho tussle with Oliver over the first' mile, the colt choked. Jockeys who havo ridden him in the Dominion state that, if any attempt is 'made to hold him. when he| is pulling hard, ho is apt to "choke up." Undismayed' by his failure at Hastings, Mr. P. P. Neaglo is going to give Sir Moseley another chance to win. a Guineas, and tiho colt is to bo sent to Ellerslie at the end of tho month to race in tho Auckland Guineas on November 5. In all probability his stable companion, Diavolo, will also make the trip North. Merton has been sold to a West Coast buyer and goes into W. Donnellan's stables at Groymoutli. The victory of Soltano in the Clibhorn Stakes will no doubt make some amends for his failure in tho Derby, but it is a hundred pities thpt Beragoon was not a runner yesterday. The pair are engaged in the Craven: Plate (one milo and a-quarter) to-morrow, and it is to bo hoped both will be able to compete, for a return match between the pair would be full of interest. J. Pike is having a run of success at the A.J.C. meeting at Randwick. Already he has ridden, the winners of the Derby, Metropolitan Handicap, and Shortts Handicap.