NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1910, 19 November 1913, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

TBr GmScoe,] Th« English flat racing season closes' this week with tho Manchester and Lingfield meetings. Owners are reminded ' that acceptances.for the first day's:handicaps' .at. tho Feilding Jockey Club's meeting close on Friday. ... ~- ...'. Many of those present' at Riccartpn think' that, whenever B.oftny Helen meets Warstep over a longer course ■ than ten furjongs, the Neiv Plymouth owned filly will finish in front, and. so; bear out the Oaks- , running. It is pointed out that, though defeated/ the Bonifonn filly was coming through her field gamely towards- the finish of the ■ Stead' Cup, and was then going much the fastest of the placed horses. ■ Nimbus, the French colt, who went so close to winning the Epsom Derby in June last, recently won aa important raco in his Dative country—the Prix ' du Consoil Municipal. That useful little filly, Immer, Started favourite in the- 'concluding event, the Fend'a-Iton. Handicap, at Riccar'ton. Of course, her good- third to Bonny Helen and 'Warstep in the Oaks, and- the subsequent form of tho last-named hi the Stead Cup, was responsihlo for the support accorded Mr. Ktrkdale-'s filly, but, in_ the race, af'tfrr being out to front for sis furlongs, sho petered out of.. it, and was not to tho first half dozen at- the finish. As, showing tho uncertainty exactly ■what colour a-- foal may become, it is interesting to note that the erack English two-year-old The Tetrarch was foal* -ed a and soon developed the black blotches or spots which one often sees in chestnut descendants -of B.irdcatehcr. "When the foal'cast his coatthe black. Motehes became- quite light coloured, and his permanent coat iiron grey. "Mr.' Kennedy, who bred'' the youngster, attributes the. The Tetrarch to his and the latter's aaihj - rate old AliceHawthorn,' ' ' '

It is understood that several, horsemen with engagements at Blenheim to' day are still in Wellington, Tuoy missed the Mapoarika on Monday, and there has been n§ steamer since. The racing mare; Waipakrj .arrived'here yesterday from Foxton oib the way to Blenheim, but, as ttiore Was no steamdispatch for Pieto'n yesterday, • she was compelled to remain.here.. She may bo ■taken on' by the Mapourika to-day,'and, in that case., will arrive in time for .the second day of -the Riverlands meeting. A Sydney exchange says: "If further proof wore wanting that the' form of ■ New Zealand horse's is below the Australian standard, the success of Okenibifii in the-Derby, run at the Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting on_ Monday last, would be sufficient to furnish it, 'Oherui' bitti was' a competitor hero •during the last spring campaign, but though he started in A.J.O. 'Kensington Bandi-' cap with fist. 31b., was beaten out of a, place, and met-with a similar fate in 'fattersall's Club Welter Handicap and Rosehill Guineas." On tile form of Tatterloy at Trentham and Siceartad; Eocene is likely to come in for strong support in the Flying Handicap at Feildi'ng, for, in ■ the Railway Handicap at- Napier (won by Mr. J- Armstrong's was amongst the beaten division.. The Marlborough Racing _ Club's Spring meeting will open at Riverlands to-day. Owing to the dislocation of shipping there will not be as many horses engaged as couM be wished., but still there, is tiie material for an interesting day. The Waldomar, runnerHp to Iliad's Hero on both days at Otaki, will bo a starter in the Maiden Hack race (five furlongs), and, ire the bawls of ti. Wilson, theSlahaki gelding should give a good account of himself. Sartowia., who races in the colours-.of "Mr. Lance Wood," is engaged in the Welter Hack and the Open Flying, but,as- the field in the first event is a weak, one-, the half-sister. .to - Vladimir will doubtless be saddled up in it. At Tren-t-ham she showed a lot of pace when gatloping with the two-year-olds on the tracks, and in the Scurry (won by Merry Guy) she was running on well at "tie finish. The value of that form, was exemplified next day, as Sunhird only just defeated Merry Guy,' and then went ea and won a race at Riccarton. Merry Frank and Waipaim will be missing from tho .Blenheim Handicap, field. If tho going is soft it will suit Turna. and also Commotion, who. was very sore when racing at .Wangamii. Glen-spring (9st.) is at the head of the weights in the Flying Handicap. The aged chestnut gelding does not race much outside the MarlbaroTigh district but, when well, ho can muster a Jot of pace. Mount Victoria may bo feeling the effects of his racing at Riccarton, but Leapuki and Huia will both bo fresh! The former, when fit, is well able to lioM. his own with a field -such as- this. The biggest field of the day will bo seen out in the Electric Hack Handi, cap. Merry Guy, Sir Mcutoa, and Waldomar should be in the fighting lino the whole way.