NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2449, 30 April 1915, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[By Glßncob.l Scratchdngs notified from Hastings are Mangaw&i, Nocturnal, and Depredation out of the Maiden. Chortle, Beldame, Banksia, and Castalia out of the Porangahau Handicap, and Emperador, Leonta, Multiply, Ventura, Sir Alba, Kimbombi. and Midnight Star out of the Cup, and Montana out of the Poukawa Handicap. Hurakia, who was formerly owned by E. Kemp, at Hastings, has changed hands, and is now owned by H, Hickey, in whose colours he- will race to-day. A good rain fell at Hastings on Wednesday night, and the going should be much improved for to-day's races. Mr. J. S. MTLeod, who purchased the yearlings at the Randwick sales, returned by the Mokoia on Wednesday and proceeded on to Hastings yesterday morning. Byron will not make the trip to Blenheim, but will be given an easy time of it for a few days. . He will be racing at Wanganui at the winter meeting of that club. , The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting will commence at Hastings *today. Class is well represented in the open flat Taces, and the different contests promise to be keenly contested. The day's racing will commence with the Hack Hurdles, for which Birkful will be favourite. It would not take a good one to beat him, but the class is weak and the majority of the runners are Backward. In the Maiden Rnee the English-bred Heather Mixture will make his first appearance. Maltegarde will be the popular fancy, and will be ridden by W. Ryan. A very useful-looking horse is Mossman, who is by Vasco from Mossie. He has a very free style of -galloping, and with. C. Emerson in the saddle should run well. Pinistere (Finland—Ladv Darling) is erratic at the post, but if he gets away he has plenty of pace, In the Nursery Handicap Rangitero will be the popular selection, but Eligible and Three will also carry money. The Porangahau Handicap is generally reckoned as lying between Croesus (B. Deeloy) and Tete-a-tete (J. O'Shea). Others likely to run well .are Centre and Bonny Sigg. Balboa electrified the touts at Hastings yesterday by finishing alongside Desert Gold at the end of half a mile run in 49 l-ssec, He will be a firm favourite in the Cup to-day. W. Bell is to ride Mummer. Vi and Sensitive will be the popular picks ,in the Karamu Hurdles. The latter gelding comes from Napieri and has a great reputation. The two top-weights. Dinner Gong and Multiplication, are likely to . divide the machine honours in the Poukawa Handicap, and amongst the others Black Heart,' who is galloping very freely on the tracks, will be best supported. The day's racing will conclude with the Autumn Handicap, for which George will have n].my admirers. The Poririia horse is not seen at his best on hard going, and Allen Doone or Red Book may defeat him. While being, hunted at Hastings this week fho steeplechaser Mollington, who has _been off tlie scene for a long time, had a heavy fall over a wire fence, and a spell will be necessary for him. The southern sportsman, Mr. F. Neligan, passed through Wellington yesterday on the way to Hastings. He is on the look-out for a jumper for the South Island.