NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2663, 7 January 1916, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS

IBT 'aLENCOH.I The Wliangarei meeting takes place on Wednesday and Thursday next. Entries for the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup close on Tuesday next. , A rumour is current that Mr. T. H. Lowry _ will be represented at the big Kandwick meeting «t Easter. Ills team will consist of tho flying Desert Gold and Balboa and pernaps Tete-a-tete. AVeights for.the Poxton meeting are due to-morroiv and acceptances close on the following Friday. ; * In order to prevent the brush steeplechase fences at Rand wick from being set on iiro, as at the A.J.C. Spring Meeting, ■they were hosed at intervals of half au hour on each day of tho recent meetings. An Auckland writer mentions that Blackall was very sore after his exertions in the Auckland Cup, and that he was unable to hit out in the Grandstand Handicap, won by King Lupin. The last-named was starting for the first timo over a distance. J. O'Shen's riding cheque at tlie Auckland meeting amounted to something liKo ■£2<)0.» Coleraine, a dual winner at Ellerslie, also won three races at the Thames meeting. It is said that the bridles of Downnam and King Lupin became entangled for more than a, furlong during the early part of the Railway Handicap on Boxing Day, which would accouut for their not being in .the fighting-line at the close, ana also explain the easv victories recorded by. them in 'subsequent events. Eligible must be counted an unlucky three-year-old in meeting one of the calibre of Desert Gold in his year. Most sportsmen will agree that .in nine years out of ten full Derby and other classic honours would have fallen to the lot of one as good as Eligible, who has already won five races this season, including three good mile and a .quarter handicaps, a six furlong sprint, and the mile and a half Auckland Plate. Referring to J. N. M'Gregor's enlistment, a "Bulletin" writer says if he gets caught by an enemy shell the sensation ought to make liiin feel quite at home. In 23 years lie. has had 12G falls, which broke and rebroke his collar--bone, smashed his thigh, shattered liis leg, fractured his arm, damaged his spine, and even cracked his skull. On one occasion he broke both collarbones and injured his spine; and after nine months in hospital was carried out partially paralysed, as incurable; yet a short time afterwards he won two steeplechases at Hawke's Bay on Speciosa. M'Gregor's pluck is a thing beyond doubt 01- reason; but it is as a quick-mending artist'that he calls for special notice. As likely ns pot he may defy the Turkish guns and finish at home 011 a piece of banana skin. This season Desert Gold has won eight races in succession, and holds an unbeaten certificate. When she scored in the Royal States on Monday she beat the two-year-olds for pace the whole way. This makes her second win in this event. Several of the Riccarton trainors, who were present at the big Ellerslie meeting, are inclined to the opinion that the two-year-old honours rightly belong to Hyttus, who twice defeated , The Toff last week. They point out that the Karamu gelding was consistently unlucky in his weight-for-age races, but in the liandicaps, when he had the services of a good horseman, he showed up well. Handicapper H. Coyle seems to iaye made an excellent adjustment of tho big race to be decided on January 20. Warstep, the top weight, will be an absentee, but every inducement has been held , out to First Glance (9st. 21b.) to come up, and if her trainer decides to bring her she is certain to give a good account'or herself. She was third to De«crt Goul and Warstep in the Stead Cup, run ; n record time, won tho Members' Handicap, and at Dunedin at Christmas she scored on the first day • under Dst. Gib., and with lOst. lib. on a lieavy track on tho second day she was only beaten Tiy ••• head. Chortle (9st. 31b.) and Balboa tust. lib.) seeiii correctly placed, as is Indi?o (Bst. 91b.), but the liandicappev seems to have been a trifle severe on Eligible (Bs*-. Sib.), However, a careful analysis of his form shows the three-year-old to be good, and as slated in another paragraph ho has already won five races this season. Rinaldo (Bst. 01b.) seems to be too unlucky to win a big race, but lie has "ueou given a great chance to break his spell. Kcwi Poto (Sst. 21b.) and Square Deal (vst. 121b.) may liardly bo class enough, but Sir Solo (Sst.) is reported, as coming back to form, and likely to be at his best on January 20. Welcome Nugget (7st. 131b.) seems to bo the blot of the handicap, and must be regarded as really well in considering his llanawatu Cup form. Tariiiganuitu (7st. 71b.) is held safe by Welcome Nugget 011 Awapuni form. Tho eve of the handicap seems to bo Snub (7st. 41b.) A useful three-year-old with no weight' 011 his back must always ije dangerous in any handicap up to twelve furlongs.