NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2274, 7 October 1914, Page 3

NOTES AND COMMENTS

1 FBy GlEncoe.] ; The Australian Jockey Club's, SpringMeeting will be continued at Randwick to-day, when the principal events to be decided are the Craven Plate, weight for age, .the Suburban Handicap, and the Gimcrack Stakes for two-year-olds. Salzburg, who was sold to an- Otago owner a few weeks back, left Riccarton for Dunedin on Monday. M. Caniille Blanc, the- well-known French sportsman, is giving a free hand to the Commission for Purchasing liemounts in France ■ (says the London "Sportsman"). Many of his horses valued at thousands of pounds have been claimed (for £40, which is the limit the Commission is allowed to pay, and when regret was expressed that he should be called upon to make so flreat a sacrifice, M. Blanc is reported to have said: ".What does it matter so long as our officers are well mounted?" ■ H. Colter is to ride Parable in 'the hitrdle races at Dunedin, "The Looker-Oil" in the Ohristehurch "Evening News" says that Autumnus is getting- through his morning, tasks in great style, and so far he. does not show any signs of lameness. The same writer states that Kilmeny has improved a lot during the last week. He still goes short, But not as badly ag he was doing. First Glance is not to compete at fcho Dunedin Jockey Club's Spring Meeting, but 6he may he given a run at Timaru next week. i By the Tainui, which arrive , ! from London on Monday, .Mr. J. 0. Hayward, of the Wairarajia, imported* tho thoroughbred horses Lucullus, by Ard Patrick from Lucca, and Merry Moment, by Count Schomberg—Merry Gal. Thesires named were accompanied by Petit Tor, by Wolf's Crag—Poppy,,by Pet-er —Son of Hermit, in foal to Mirador \iy Marco. Martius, who is .top-weight in the Mosgiel Handicap, to be decided at Wingatui on Friday, had been galloping well at Riccarton before leaving for the south. Owners are 'reminded that acceptances for the Mnsterton Racing Club's meeting close on Friday next. Weights for, the first day's events 'at the Wellington. Eacing Club's Spring Meeting will be declared on Monday. One of the featurgs of the Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting will be the meeting of First Flight and Rencontre in the Guineas on Friday. The former ran a great ■ race at last month, and he is evidently a colt that is on the improve. Rencontre has been doing capital track work recently, and is expected to play a prominent part in tho settlement of tho big three-year-old races this season. The Hasvke's Bay Jockey Club's Spring Meeting takes place at Hastings on Saturday next when the Hawke's .Bay Guineas and the Hastings Stakes are the principal races to bo decided. Aye Ready, who is engaged in the Dunedin Stakes on Friday, is a half-, pister (by All Red) to that good handicap performer Oiyoi. Apropos the early victories of' tho imported horse, St._ Spasa, in Australia, a Melbourne writer «ays: —"Experience in the past has shown that the r.ld acclimatisation theory as pertaining to English equino importations • is in the present days of activity untenable. But if is interesting to recall that , what religiously obtained as articles of faith among the old school of trainers, an estimable body of men on the whole, havo in course of ti'mo been ruthlessly exploded by members of tho new. As recaids English newcomers

we in Australia have grown accustomed now to seo them racing soon after their arrival. Tho thoroughbred readily adapts itself to circumstances, and the chief contributing reason why the averago newcomer is ready to race a fow montbs after landing is undoubtedly the efficient ship service and rapid transit. Before the stock industry was so well .studied by shipmasters, horses invariably wanted a lot of attention and treatment after their voyage from England, and they usually, readied Australia in poor condition and spoilt in temper."

FIXTURES,

Oct. 9 and 10.-Dunedin J.C. Spring. Oct. 10-Hawke's Bay J.C. Spring. Oct. 15-Masterton R.C, Spring. Oct. 15 and 17.-South Canterbury J.C. Spring. Oct. 2-1 and 26.—Wellington R.C. Spring Oct. 28 and 27-Gore R.C. Spring. Ootober 27 and 28.—Greymouth J.C. Spring Oct.. 29 and 30,-Poverty Bay T.C Spring! Nov. 4 and -7.-Auckla.nd R.C. Spring/ Nov. 7, a, 11, and li—Canterbury J.C. Metropolitan. Nov. 18 and 19.-Marlborough R.C. Spring. Nov. 28 and 30—Feilding J.C. Sprin?.