NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2468, 22 May 1915, Page 12

NOTES AND COMMENTS

fßr GtEXCoE.] The fields have thinned down considerably for to-day's races at Wanganui, but they are doubtless big enough to give satisfaction. la the Winter Oats, six furlongs, there are only half a dozen acceptors, and if Playoff starts in the Empire Handicap there will only be one dividend. The first day's winner is out, and as Hoy and Verona! are again engaged they may lead the rast of the Bold homo. Several of the horses that raced in the Hack Steeplechase on the first day will have to measure strides with Daylight Bill to-day, as there is no cross-country event for hacks. Mr. Morse must have been greatly impressed with the form of Daylight Bill, as ho has raised him no fewer than 231b. The grey does not seem to handle weight too well, and. the extra load may find him nut, even though the distance is half a mile shorter today. He will be challenged nearly all the way, and though his great jumping will stick to him the pace and weight combined should find him out. Even if he wins it will n'ot be "on th« bit?' as was the case on Thursday. The Pole hit a fence very hard on Thursday, and may be sore to-day. Addnouelit has only a jumper's chance, but the laco will improve him. Soporific's hack form was good, and he has a chance to-day, but the extra four furlongs is ngaink him. If well, The Pole would win as easily as Daylight Bill did the first day. The two Aucklanders, Toreador and Jolio Fille ar» likely to do much better in the Hack Hurdles to-day than was the case on Thursday, but the former is broken-winded, and the Soult mare, who will be considerably improved by the Tace, should have a great chance of winning. Doon can also be relied upon to do. well, and her performance the first day bordered on the sensational, for she came nowhere. Jolie Pille is class, and were it a flat race the others would all be receiving weight. She is a great jumper, and is sure to do better consider, ing that it was hor first race on lefthanded going. The May Hurdles has only got an acceptance of six, and it looks like the twe ton weights having tho finish to themselves. A win for either of them will not entail a penalty for the Great Northern Hurdles. Aratiatia should do better over the shorter course, and with a race into him. The Empire Handicap is the most difficult proposition backers have to deal with. Emperador's showing was too bad to be true the first day, but the race may do him good and soher him down from his milling habits. The stable has also Banksia engaged, and with Gst. 1316. she should have a chance, as she finished fourth in the Thompson Handicap, which contained a better class than is engaged, to-day. Tinopai got a bad passage on Thursday,' and so did Gold Soult. Banksia will probnbly go too fast for Bonny Rig?, but Princess Moutoa has a chance, taking a line through hor form behind Ma'niaroa at Egmont. The Balgownie Hack Handicap looks like a good thing for the first day's winner, as he came from a very long way back, and put in quite a long run,. Riders.A. J. M'Plinn and J. Buchanan returned homo to Auckland yesterday. The former sore to ride, and Buchanan's mounts, Merry 800 and Waiorewa, were Tailed home, owing to the hard naturo of the going. Stipendiary Steward J. M'Mahon is ill at Palmerston North, and was unable to attend tho Waiignnui meeting. Tho nnich-talked-of "dope" inquiry was held at Wanganui yesterday, but there was not enough evidence to go on, and the matter fizzled out. Word from Melbourne states that Paoli won a jumpers' flat race at Sandown Park. Messrs. H. Speed and J. Paterson, two stewards of the Wanganui Jockey Club, havo enlisted.