NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1907, 15 November 1913, Page 14

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[By GiENCOE.I Taking the surrounding circumstances into consideration the Marlborough Racing Club has received good acceptances for its meeting to be held'on' Wednesday-and Thursday next. The visiting t horses will be shipped by the Mapourika, which leaves for Picton at 5 p.m. on Monday. Already accommodation ha.s been booked for twenty horses. That useful gelding Bulletin, by Pilgrim's Progress—Gossip, therefore halfbrother to Bobrikoff, has been returned to his owner's station at Little River, and will not be raced again. Bulletin has suffered a good deal from rhoumatic troubles, and this is the reason of his retirement. He was a reaTiy good performer last season, and when in his bes't condition could be depended on to .perform very creditably. Tho Stead Gold Cup is looked upon as ono of tho most coveted races of the Canterbury Jockoy Club's Metropolitan Meeting. Merry Roe is regarded as the most formidable opponent anything will have to meet. Merry Roe, it will bo remembered, won the Trentham weight-for-age, tlio Champion Plate, with tho great ease. Tho Riccarton horseman L. Hegarty, who has spent tho last few months in Australia, returned to Christchurch on Tuesday. Hpgarty did a lot of riding while in Sydney and Melbourne, and in jumping races especially his services were much in demand. Mr. P. Neaglo, of Napior, has decided to leave Diavolo qnd Sir Moseley at Ellerslio until after tho Auckland Cup meeting. The pair aro also engaged at the Takapunn meeting, at tho end of tho month. The Wellington-owned Peronilla, winner of last year's Welcome Stakos, was to have been sent South on Wednesday evening, to take part in the Electric Plato at Riccarton to-day, but her owner was unablo to arrange for spaco on the boat, and at the last moment the trip was cancelled. It was unfortunate for her connections, because, if back to her best form, the Achilles filly would be sure to keep the two-year-olds busy till the post was reached. The.Riccarton carnival will be concluded to-day. Tho principal events aro tho Stead Cup and the Electric Plato. The best weight-for-ago horses in the Dominion arc engaged in the former ovont, which should bo a battle royal. Aufcumnus will strip a better horse to-day than he did at Trcntham, and ho promises to dispute favouritism with Merrj_ Roe, .who. scored over him

in the Champion Plate. Martius will also he improved by his race in the Dorby, and may make- the best showing of tho thrco-ycav-olds. This is a big order, considering tlmt Bonny Helen, Warstep, and Merry Roe aro all winners, but Marlius is a good colt, and his best has not yet been seen. Were Coroietted (list._ 91b.) qnito at liis host, it would bo a simple task for liim to dispose of- tho moderate Tot he will meet in the Hurdles to-day, but since he has been in tho south lio has not jumped well, and runs about a lot at his fences. The fall Bravest had 0:1 Wednesday will make him ir.oro careful to-day, and lie should got. round safeiy. The chestnut geHing lias b.nilt up a- lot lately, and looks a imi«h improved horse. There are serer.il winners handicapped in tho Pioneer Handicap, five furlongs, for two-year-olds, and in addition there aro several place-getters. If Eohcontro starts it will bo his fourth appearance at the meeting—a big task for a two-year-old. Bold Stroke and First Flight will carry Sir Geo. Clifford's colours, and both have big reputations. Though neither of them has so far rim into a phee, the combination will probably b& the favourite choice to-day. Chrysotis, a runner in tho Seymour Handicap, stays on well, but in her only previous start at the meeting she got cut out at tho barrier rise, and then failed to reach the front. With only 61b. , above tie minimum, Mount Victoria is very well handicapped in the Cresey Welter, but the firm going may not suit tlio local horse. Golden Morn, on tho same mark, is a. speedy hack, and if at her be..t tho Cannio Chiel filly would sliow up. There are 24 acceptors in this event," and if they all go to the post a pretty race should be the result. A very high-class field will be seen out in the Members' Handicap, seven.; furlongs. Bliss can he depended upon to see that the pace is on the whole way, hut 9st. may find -her out. The- Dunedin pair, Obsono and My Lawyer, both of whom have/ been running on at the end of their races, aro well in with 7st. 101b. Tho Electric Plate will see all the best two-year-olds out, and also Ventura. The "latter has been engaged instead of Tatterley, which is significant. The Fcndalton Handicap, a mile and a quarter, is the concluding event of the meeting, and another big field is engaged. Quarantine, 7st. 131b., should bo improved by tlio two races lie has had, and Kilraiu, 7sfc. 101b., is well enough handicapped. Mysteriach, 7st.' 31b.,' ran a great race in the Mtaropolitan Handicap, a mile and a half, in which, after getting badly left, he led into the straight.. .For the first time for many years (says our Pa'.merston correspondent) the well-known handicapper, Mr. J. B. Henrys, will not assist in person at the annual summer meeting of tho Manawatu Racing Club at Christmas, as ho has arranged to be present at the Dunedin Jockey Club's and.other meetings shout the samstime.. Hβ will, however, frame the handicaps for the first day's races, including the Manawat-u Cup. j Tho handicaps for the second and third days' races will be framed by Mr. Bert Coyle, of Napier, .