TIE TURF

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2353, 8 January 1915, Page 8

TIE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS [By Gllncoe.] The Whangarei meeting will be concluded to-day. The Foxton weights are due tomorrow. Indigo is now a popular first fancy for the Wellington Cup. On his form in the New Zealand Cap the three-year-old in being let off with one pound less than weight-for-age must have a good chance. The form of Warstep at EllersJio shows him up in a favourable light, and admitting that the Martian mare has improved a lot there is this much to be said, that as a general rule a three-year-old is capable of more improvement than one of a year older. J. Deerey seems to have a mortgage on the Auckland Hurdle Race, run on the concluding day of the big Ellerslie holiday carnival, that horseman having steered the winner of that particular event no fewer than three times during the last four years. His successes were recorded on Lloyds, Phroso, and Hereford, while in the missing year he did /not have a ride. Sir George Clifford's team went through the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting without winning a race. This was the third successive year in which the Cliokebore Lodge stable has had that experience at. the big summer carnival at Ellerslie. It iB understood that the Otago horses Palisade and Sister Radius will be sent to Australia this month, with a view of competing at the Autumn meetings. J. Olsen will accompany them to do the -riding. 'The'Wanganui Trotting Club is giving £1000 in stake money for its annual meeting, to be held on February 26 and March 1. As these dates fit in with the Wanganui Jockey Club's annual meeting, there is sure to be a large attendance at the fixture. When competing at Reefton last week tho Sir Laddo mare Alecto broke down badly, and will not be able to race again for some time.. There is an. opinion in Wellington that Bimeter will represent Mr. G. D. Greenwood in the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham, and that Emperador will be reserved for tho Waterloo Stakes, run on the same day. ~*So far no decision has been arrived at as to whether : the new six-furlongs course at Trentham will be used at the Cup meeting. Most likely the matter will not /be settled until near , the day of the' races. Secretary A. E. Whyte said yesterday that the grass was growing well, but it would greatly depend upon the weather experienced between now and Cup day. It is' not very often that _ three brothers are seen driving horses in one race (says the Ashburton "Guardian"). It is still more seldom that they occupy the first,' second, and third positions in that race. Such was the case at Methven on Friday, however, when D. M'Kendry, J. P. M'Kendry, and J. H. M'Kendry occupied the places in the Open Trot Handicap. Two of the brothers (D. and J. H. M'Kendry) drove their own horses (General Grant and Imperial Ann) into first and third plaoes respectively, while J. P. M'Kendry piloted Mr. J. Dowling's Frontier into the second position-. The Masterton-owned Sir Solo started favourite in the Bagot Handicap, one mile and a half, run at the v.R.C. meeting on New. Year's Day, but he failed to finish in a place. At Flemington on January 1 the New Zealand horseman Joe O'Coniiell won both jumping events. In the Hurdles he was successful oh Bennitas, and in the January Steeplechase the race was awarded to Fireworks after the winner, Barfleur, had been disqualified. Chorubini, with M'Lachlan in the saddle,'was made favourite in the Welter Handicap at Tattersall's meeting on January 1, hut he failed to finish in a place. The race went to the Tartan golding Taunter, who was second favourite. A New Zealand owner was recently negotiating for the purchase of Taunter, but he considered the price asked, viz., 800gns., too much for a gelding. The Hawera trainer Peroy Coffey arrived in town -last evening with the much-boomed maiden, Lord Multifid, and the hurdler Kurnalpi. The pair aro to be shipped to Sydney' to-day. Mr. J. Hawkins,' owner of the first-named, will accompany the horses to the other 6ide. , ■ fixtures, Jan. 20, 22, and 23.—Wellington ■ B.C. Summer. Jan. 22 and 23.—Foxton R.C. Annual. Feb. 3 and 4.—Egmoht R.C. Summer. Feb. i and 6.—Gisborne R.C. Summer. Feb. 6—Canterbury J.C. Summer. Feb. 10 and 1.1 —Taranaki J.C. Autumn. Fob. 11 and IS.-rPoverty Bay T.C. Summer. Feb. 17, 18, and .20.—Dunedin J.C. Autumn. Feb. 19 and 20.—South Auckland R.C. Annual. March 12 and 13.—Napier Park R.C. Autumn. - -