NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2381, 10 February 1915, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[B? Glenooe-I Specialform's win in the Midsummer tLandicap ranks among the best weightcarrying achievements in the 'history of that event. On only two occasions previously has- the race been won by a horse carrying 9st. or over. Sultan was successful with 9st. 21b. in the 'season of 1889-90, and Lady Zetland won with 9st. in 1895. : who won his first race at the Egmont meeting on Wednesday last, brings-, a new sire under notice. This "> loremost, by Phoebus Appollorforme. Foremost is therefore a halfbrother to Cruciform and Formosan, besides being olosely related to Uniform, Multiform, and Monoform. Vestalis, who won the Maiden Hack Scurry at the Egmont meeting on Thursday, was bred by Mr. J. F, Buchanan, being by Martian—lngleneuk, She is thus a inil-sister to Tread'ifc, who won _ the . Lyttelton Plato at Eiccarton on Saturday. Vestalis is a four-year-old, and this was her first win. Sartorze, who won the Craven Plate on Saturday, ia a grandson of 'l'res Deuce, the ■ dam of Manton, a triple crown winner. Though she has raced consistently for, two seasons, Snapdragon's victory in l 8 c e ,' tor on Saturday marked the first occasion on which she has managed to oatoh the judgo's eye. She is a half-sister to such high-class performers as To-morrow, Lady Wayward, and Flitaway. Tannhauser is again in work at Riccarton. His bad joint, which was blistered, still bears an ugly appearance. The Martian gelding is to be tried over hurdles. New Plymouth will be the rendezvous of sports men* to-day, when the Taranaki Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting will commence. The fields are likely to be reduced considerably, and with the Hawora form to guide them, those present should succeed in picking several, winners. In the Hack Hurdles, Merry Guy, who has improved a lot lately, may bo the fancy, with Kahua, Styrax, and Tirohanga all well liked. In the absent© >of Toreador, backers may go solidly for Play Off, who is very smart over a bhort course, and should account for the useful Simple Sam at a difference of 31b. Tyson can go fast over a short course, but the oompany here is more select than ho ha-s been used to in hack races. Martingale and Combustion have I both been racing very consistently of | late, and the pair should bo heard from , at the finish' of tho Timaro Handicap, six furlongs. • The presence of Emperador in the Cup field will scare off. a lot of the j -tvthcff aooentora.. Tie Eiocartcn,. csprej,

sehtativQ will be ridden by Luke Wilson. The field' for the Mimi Welter x will also be small. Lo3 Angelos and' Wild Lupin aro both unsound. Kaniki may start in the Flying, and Gloy will I be absent. Recent form 'points to Injader, who was unlucky at Hawera; and Patronymic, who mil have to shoulder a penalty for his success at the Egmont meeting.The Chokebore . filly,. ■ Wisebird is meeting her field on greatly improved terms in the Flying Handicap She is Certain to have a host of supporters. During Mr. H. Nurse's visit to New Zealand, Con the Shaughraun and the Other horses owned by him in Melbourne are being spelled. J.. N. M'Gregor, the cross-country rider, who was out of the saddle for such a, lengthy period on account of & broken leg, is apimrently feeling quite well enough to rido again now. On a recent morning at Calilfield the exNew Zealander schooled horses over both hurdles and fences. ' Soporific was recently fired and turned out. It is expected that he will he ready to take in hand again before the steeplechase season is at an end. The trustees of the estate of the late Mr. H. Hodge have, it is understood, decided to race some of the horses in the estate, and Borsil, Chillies, Margarita, and Negative will probably be kept in training, A letter from Calcutta contains.the information that Cider has changed hands, T. Scott having disposed of him for £2000 and a contingency to Mr. M. Goculdas, of Bombay. Scott has also got rid of Widjriewa, selling him for £600 and a contingency to a Lucknow owner. When Scott bought Cider in Australia he paid £2000 for him, with contingencies, and as in his ownership the' Ayr Laddie horse won something over £2600 in prize money, prior to liis departure for India, he has not proved an unprofitable investment. Metallicus (Stepniak—Madder), who is now being trained at Randwick by T>. Allsop, was very infirm when Mr. J. L. Brown bought him for 50 guineas about fifteen or sixteen months ago. A Sydney writer says that the brother to All Red seems sound enough now. and' may stand a preparation. ' FIXTURES. i Feb. lfl and I.l—Taranaki J.C. Autumn. Feb. 11 and 13.—Poverty Bay T.C. SumFlB, and 20.—Dunedln J.C. AuFeb'l9 and 20.—South Auckland R.C. Annual. ' • .