NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1915, 25 November 1913, Page 5

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[By Glincoi.] There will be racing at Takapuna and Timaru to-morrow. Jockeys Gray and Deeley'went South by last evening's steamer to fulfil riding engagements at tko South Canterbury fixture. Deeley will ride Glenfinnan and Oxenhope in the double, and Gray will bo on Flora Mac Donald and Formnal. A private telegram received in Wellington yesterday states that Bravest has gone sore, and will be unable to start at Timaru to-morrow. The Australian jockey, Frank "Wootton, who is reported ,to be definitely retiring from the saddle, is not yet twenty years of age. It is interesting to note that the last occasion on which Oxenhope scored was at Timaru, when he was ridden by Deeley. ■ Since then the crack horseman has been unable to ride the l'aldhurst cast-off, but, to-morrow, he will be in the saddle again. Marconi's weight in the Trial Handicap at Takapuna is Bst. 111b., and not 9st. Ulb., as was telegraphed. The Soult colt ran a good race in the Avondale Guineas, and on that form he is entitled to respect to-morrow. J. , O'Sliea is t9 have tho-rido on Mr. Jackson's colt, and he will also ride Royal Irish, who is one of the jirime fancies for the St. Andrew's Handicap.

Mr. Jos. Thompson's filly Delenda, runnor-up to Castalia on both days at Avondale, and twice runner-up to Chime at Ellerslie, is sure to he a favourite selection in the Cambria Handicap (four furlongs) at Takapuna. The filly is very smart at finding her feet, and this is a great advantage on the North Shore course. Her name was inadvertently printed in the published list of acceptances as "Defender." The following are the weights in tho Eighth Feilduic Stakes, five furlongs, which is to be run on Saturday:— Bimdiera, 9st. 41b.; Postillion, 9st. 31b.; Expect, 9st.; Naumai, Bst. 121b.; Brocade, 6st. lib.; lloumania, 6st. 61b.; Gladiolo, Bst. 101b.; Gipsy Belle, Bst. 101b.; Ermengarde, Bst. 91b.; Pariform, 6st. 61b.; Vocation, Bst. 41b.; Guiding Way, Bst. 21b.; Iliad's Hero, Bst. 21b.; Sunbird, 7st. 111b. The Oroua Stakes, six furlongs, will be run at Feilding on Monday. Tho following horsos remain in the race: — Postillion, 9st.; Expect, 9st.; Our King, 9st.; Leapnki, Bst. 121b.; Gladiole, Bst. 101b.; Sanguinary, Bst. 101b.; Ermengarde, Sat. 91b.; Ventura, Bst. 91b.; Iliad's Hero, Bst. 41b.; Vocation, Bst. 41b.; Roumania, 6st. 91b.; Tribunal, 6st. 91b. Ebonite is being regularly schooled over fences at Trentliam, and is likely to be seen racing over hurdles atWoodville next month. D. Maher, tho famous American jockey, was born at Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A., on October 29, 1881. Ho rode his first winner in England at Manchester in September, 1900. Since then he has ridden over 100 winners per. season in all but three seasons, in one of which his record was ninetynine. This is all the more remarkablo when it is remembered that for some seasons past he has been unable to ride at less than Bst. 91b. Previous to' tliis year, ho had not headed the list since 1908, Wootton beating him in 1909, 1910, 1911, and 1912.

The withdrawal of Tact from the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie may mean that the chestnut maro has gone wrong. Tact can go very fast over a short course, and had she started at Ellerslie early this month sho would havo been one of the favourites in the first event credited to Prince Soult. Our Queen, whose untimely end on the racecourse came about yesterday, was by Birkenhead from that wonderful matron, Indian Queen. She was not so successful on the race tracks as the other progeny of Indian Queen, but her foals will doubtless bo eagerlv sought after.