NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2464, 18 May 1915, Page 3

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[By Glen'coe."]

The Oamaru breeder, Mr. J. B. Reid, left on a trip to England last week. Ho intends to purchase several thoroughbred horses while in the Old Country.

It is reported that a Wellington owner was anxious to buy the Auckland horse Nicomar, and would have given 400gns. for him, but his owner would not treat for his purchase.

A Wellington follower of the sport remarked yesterday that tho form shown by El' Gallo at Hawera would make the Century Hurdles at Wanganui a better race, as most owners would prefer to get one in, and not wait to take on El Gallo on his own course.

According to all accounts both The Pole and his rider, A. J. M'Flynn, had a very narrow escape from a serious accident when tho horse tried to run off at the brush fence, and in doing so jumped a picket fence and charged through the posts which support the number board in the middle of the course. R. O'Donnell stated on Saturday night that the horse was all right, and would race at the meeting. It appears that the brush fence is much higher than the other schooling fences, and The Pole, never having been hunted, would not know that he could go through the bigger part of the brush.

In Wanganui Black Northern is much favoured for the Century Hurdles, and the general opinion is that he has lost all his rogtiishness, and is now back to his best form of two seasons ago.

Merrimax was again made favourite in the Hurdle Race at Tattersall's meeting on May 8, but as on many previous occasions he failed again.

Galen, a half-brother to the Doncaster Handicap winner Garlin, won a two-year-old race at City Tattersall's meeting in Sydney early this month.

Bon Ton was amongst the starters in the Adelaide Cup, won by Naxbery, but he finished down the course.

Palisade started second favourite in the Goodwood Handicap, six furlongs, at the Adelaide meeting, but he was not sighted on the journey.

The Federal Hurdle Race, two miles, at Moonee Valley on May 8, was won by Plymouth, who was ridden by tho ex-New Zoalander, J. N. M'Gregor,

Included in tho winders at Moonee Valley wf-re Wolcon 'The Welkin from the Auckland-bred Kamo). Progeny of the imported horse soon invincible over short courses in Australia. Lesbos, who is iil*> by The Welkin, scored in t.lio South Australian Stakes, seven furlongs, at the Adelaide meeting. It is interesting to noto that Wolcen could not win at tho pony meetings in Sydney, which shows tho class that is met there.

Te Kuhurangi (Conqueror—Valhince) won a hurdle rao.o at Victoria Park on iliiv 5. Jin "started favourite.

Fireworks won the Grand National Steeplechase. three mile?, at the Warrnambool Meeting. There was a New Zealand flavour about" the win for flk horso bred hers HHd wn.i oirnrd, trained, .jM<i ridden br Kaw. Zs&laadora,

I The racehorses Con The Shaughraun and Master Paul, in charge of L. Hagerty, are expected back from Melbourne this week and will be trained at Riccarton in future. It is said on the good authority of a noted British General that in no previous war have horses been so much cared for as in the one now engaging the attention of so many, nations. In commenting on tho Liverpool Grand National, a writer' in the # "Sporting Chronicle" makes the following interesting reference to the Australian representative: "Bullawarra, now stripping fit for the first time, was quite in misfortune's way. Refuting the charge that has been made again him of being only a plodder, he was in the • first two at Becher's, had taken the lead at the next brook, and retained it until the fence before the water. There he was, according to his jockey, partly blinded, owing to the sudden dart across the course of tho riderless Bachelor's Flight, and I fancy he was still unsettled when ■ho took the water. This was the one obstacle of all others that would be likely to get a horse abroad under such circumstances, and it was a fatal miss which the Australian made."

Ono sign that Germany is getting short of men is that she is calling up all sorts and conditions of jockeys to the colours. The calling up of jockeys is a sign either of shortage of men or that the German racing season will not bo started according to "time-table." Among the jockeys now called upon to serve is Lommatsch, who is to join a Grenadier regiment. A jockey as a grenadier seems to betoken a oertain lowering of the standard of height and bulk which was so dear to the heart of one of the Kaiser's venerated ancestors. In. addition to Lommatsch, Jockey W. Adolph has been called up from Karlshorst, while from Hoppogarten the jockeys Locht, Ludwig, Steffen, Theilen, ■ and Dreissig have all been summoned to the colours, in addition to many already serving.