NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2662, 6 January 1916, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS

IBt Glencos.l Weights for the Wellington meeting are due to-morrow. At tho blood-stock sales at Auckland this week the top price of 550gns. was realised for a filly by Boniform—Class, dam of Bon Ton, Eligible, and The Toff. She became tlic property of tho Messrs. Riddiford, The next highest-priced lot was a colt by the imported Demosthenes from Gold Thread, who brought 500gns., being sccured by Mr. H. E. Troutbeck. Tho Biddiford Bros, also secured a Demosthenes—Gold Treasuro colt for SOOgns. The Waikanao Stud sent up live lots, which realised 34i)gns. The highestpriced one being a Birkenhead—Lady Helen colt, which realised lOOgns. During the holiday meetings J. O'Sliea rodo eight winners. Emerson and Bell rode sis each, and Oliver and Deeley four each. ; Amongst tho buyers at the blood-stock sales at Auckland was Mr. F. Weine, of Wellington who gave loOgns. for a bay colt by Robert the Bruce from Puhi. The , youngster is an exceptionally well-gro an colt. Prior to the start of the North Otigo Cup the Achilles mare Peronilla tool: ' charge of her rider, and bolted a couple of circuits before being pulled up. One of the few regrettable incidents in connection with the racing at tho holiday meetings was the suspension during pleasure of the crack racehorse Croesus and his party by the stewards of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. Nothing is known of the facts of the case, as racing clubs do not throw their doors open to the Press, but the hearing took a considerable time. The regrettable feature is that the owner of the. horse, who if <i well-known farmer' in the Hawko's Buy district, should be placed in such an unenviable position. If the horse was p.dicd it was a most absurd proceeding, for in such a weak class it would be a herculean task to effectively stop him, alSs ; t it should be borne in mind that ho has 1 never yet been successful over a furthsv distance than six furlongs, and in ihe race' that the trouble occurred in Co Royal Fusilier gelding was out in fr<nt to the turn for home. On the other hand, the progeny of Royal Fusilier have not in the past been anything bnt sprinters. True Bothlea won a Toorak Handicap. but he was the solitary exception. Still, the Hawke's Bay stewards are, generally speaking, men who know the racing game, and they can be depended upon to have given the question most careful consideration. The decision will no doubt be appealed against. During Country Belle's successful attempts on the two miles' record for the j Dominion, she was paced by the hurdle gelding Black Northern. The last-named | evidently thought he had done enough for the week, for in the hurdles at Ellerslie he ran off at the turn, and crashed into the stone-wall, giving A. Julian a bad shaking. The Conqueror gelding Collector, who was acquired by a patron of J. Fryer's stables some time back, soon repaid his purchase money, as he won a double at Stratford. Included amongst the buyers at the Auckland yearling" sales was the wellknown Randwick trainer, J. Whitworth, who secured the Maori King Tatters filly for 130gns., and tho-All Black-Bar* lev Bree colt for 95gns. The former is a 'full-sister to Maori Mat, winner of the Debutante Stakes at Caulfield, and the latter is a half-brother to Boyal Scotch. .. Mr. G. P. Donnelly, who imported Demosthenes to this country, must have been more than sutisfied with prices realised by the horse's stock at his first sale. The youngsters are well-grown and look liko turning out gallopers. Jean Laddo, who scored a double win at Tauherenikau, has been most unlucky in the past, and has been placed on several occasions. Her owner has had several offers to purchase her, but has always declined to put a price on the daughter of Jeanne d'Arc, and it now looks as it bis judgment was correct. FIXTURES. Jan. 5 and G.-Westland B.C. Summer. Feb. 3 and s.—'Gisborne B.C. Summer. Feb. S—C.J.C. Summer.