NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2392, 23 February 1915, Page 3

NOTES AND COMMENTS

' • fßi GIJBNCOB.I The Wanganui Jockey Clnb's Autumn Meeting will be held on Thursday and Saturday of this week and the Trotting Club's annual fixture will take place on Friday and the following Monday.' Racing clubs all over . the. Dominion, are. experiencing a' falling-ofi in their nominations. This is the case at Napier, and is probably due to the fact that owing to the high, prices ruling for feed trainers are turning out their second-class horses.

A leading owner who was present at Woodville last week stated that he hadJ just returned :from a, trip through the South Island, and that with the exception of Southland -feed promised to fie! very Scarce this year, and though prices are higher now than ever previously there is likely to be a still further rise. Oats changed hands recently in Christchnrch at Is. 6d. per bushel, and hay" cannot be got at any price. Though no mention is made of it, it is probable that the Caulfield Futurity Stakes beaten division . contained Land of Song.and Woorak. The latter was the early favourite for the Newmarket Handicap, but if ho started in Saturday's race he is sure to be deposed by. now, and the post of favourite will be occupied by Flash of Steel, who with his 71b. penalty will carry 7st. 91b. Nominations : for all' events at the Autumn Meeting of the Masterton Racing Club close on Friday next at 10 p.m. Eerehau is back in her box at Trentham, and is not to be raced at Wanganui. The brown mare stripped very well at Woodville, but she failed badly in both her races. Her next publio appearance will be at Nelson next month. Since Croesus so suddenly got to the forefront of sprinters no opportunity has been afforded handicappers of expressing their opinion of his merits. However, the Royal Fusilier gelding is in the Flying Handicap at Napier, and it will be interesting to Gee how Mr. H. Coyle compares him with Chortle. Starter A. G. Wood, of Napier, is a much-travelled man of late. He was at Wairoa last- month, and then proceeded to Riccarton' for the midsummer meeting of the C.J.C. From there he went to Gisborne for the Poverty Bay fixturq. and then came straight back toiDnnedin. It is probable that he will settle in the South Island.

Consequent upon his Rood showing in the Bond Cup at Caulfield when lie beat several fancied candidates for the Australian Cup, the American-bred Lcmpriere is now favourite for the race mentioned. •After running second.to Land of Song in the St. George's Stakes at Caulfield the form of Mountain Knight was inquired Into by ths stewards, but the expliliiiUlnu .of tlißowixer ajul trainor vas accented,

H. M'Lachlan was, however, censured for bad riding. R. Lewis, who is to ride 'Carlita in the V.R.C. St. Legor, rodo Wolawa and Radnor, the last two winners of that raco. The Jato T. Dales has a renin rkablo record in' connection with the V.H.C. St. Leger, winning the race on Richmond, Bosworth, Grand Flaneur, Navigator, Martini-Henry, Matchlock, Trident, Abcrcorn, Volley, and Droadnought. His last iivo wins were in succession. After all Moonbria is not to start in tho Australian Cup, and M'Lachlan will bo available to ride Di Gania. When Brattle won tho Oakleigh Plate at she' put up new figures for the race, tho last half-mile of which took 47jsec.

FIXTURES. Fob. 25 and 27—Wanganui J.C. Autumn. March 3 and 4—Dannovirke U.C. Autumn. March 10 and U—Nelson J.C. Annual. March 12 and lS—Napier Park R.C. Autumn. , March 17—Opunako R.C. Annual. March 18 and 19—Masterton R.C. Autumn March 24 and 25—Rangitikei R.C. Anuual.