THE TURF

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2684, 2 February 1916, Page 2

THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS

IB'C Glexcoi.l

The Egmont meeting will open to-diy. The first event is the Hack Hurdles, whii.li has not drawn anything like «. good field. Florist, the top-weight, lias been placed in ti hurdle race, but has yet to win one. T. Pine's liiai'e, who scored on the Hat at Foxton, may go out favourite for to-day's race.

If Biiiieler is started in the Flying Handicap he may be the best supported on. the machine, and it' reserved tor the Stakes he will occupy a like position. Yesterday afternoon it was freely slated in the city that the weight-for-age raco would be his mission, and on tlic face of it, it certainly seems reasonable to suppose lie wilt start for a XiOQ stake in preference to one half the size. Mason has also got Umperador in the Stakes, but as the Charlemagne II gelding is most leniently treated in the Cup, which lie has iron previously, he may start in that event, and allow Binieter to race in the Egmoiit Stakes, the field for which will bo anything but a strong one, while it does not contain a smart two-year-old. Another unlikely starter in the Flying Handicap is Setldiil-Bahr, .who has just come m alter a short spell. Recorder, who has been racing more generously ot' late, may keep the others busy from toe time the barrier ia raised. .Battle Eve has 'ieen racing badly of late, and cannot be get to reproduce his track form. Ta.day he will bc-ridden by W. Bell, and the Highdcn light-weight often gets more out of sour-tempered horses than do Borne of the other riders. In the Mere Mere Hack Flat Handicap, five furlongs, there are two very smart beginners in Interlude and Royal Chef, ami the pair can he depended upon to he at the head of affairs inside half a furlong. Interlude (W. Bell), who has the most experience, may be found the more solid of the pair.- At Martoa the Beaonian filly put a big break on her field over the same distance, and she is only raised 101b. In the Egmont Cup there are «evcn acceptors, but it is thought that Merry Roe will be an absentee. AVelcome Nugget is sot to concede Eniperador 311)., but the majority of thoso present will probably show that they doubt his ability to do this, and Eniperador will probably be li very hot order. There is nothing engaged in the race that is likely to set a solid pace without spoiling its own chance, and in a middling run race E. Hatch can be relied upon to always liavo Empei'jidor handy for a sprint tome. Black Ad# another of Hatch's mounts, may go out better liked than Paraoa in the Waipapa Hack Handicap, seven furlongs, but the half-brother to Rewi Poto will have an army of supporters, for rightly or wrongly the impression prevails at New Plymouth, where ho is trained, that he is a better horse than Rev/i Poto. Bertrada (A. Oliver) has not won a race this season, but sho lias been in minor places. With Crown Pearl likely. to be backward, the field will bo a weak one, and tho Highden mare may breiik her Jong spell of bad luck. Acceptances, for the C.J.C. Midsummer Meeting are due to-morrow night. The Takapuna meeting will be concluded to-day. Tho Woodville Club should be well pleased with the response from owners for the Cup meeting, to bo held cu February 1G and 17. Good class horses are engaged in the open events, and the meeting promises to be a successful one. Weights for tho first day are due on Monday.

It. Deeley increased his lead for the jockey premiership by steering two winners at Taltapuna on Saturday. His nearest rival, J.. O'Shea, failed to gain winning brackets. During the race for tho l'erry Handicap at Takapuna 011 Saturday, Deeley's mount, Summer Pjose, and. Pre-eminent (Carmont) fell, but neither horseman, was much the .. worse... for.jA'the. experience. Deeley rodo • again'; iiK.'tlie next race. Mr. K. Hamuli's' chestnut horse, King Lupin, by Lupin—St. Crispin mare, has won ,£]!soo in stakes in the. past 1 month. The Waiknto owner-trainer'has aiso wonraces during the same period with Tinopai, Tinoreka, aud Bekanui. Post Hflste, the two-year-old fullbroiher to Plying Start, who was broken in some time ago at Chokebore Lodge, and then, turned out, has been taken up aah'n, The gelding strikes himself badly behind, and it is doubtful if a great amount of time will be spent .011' him. Ji. Hannon, who won the Talcapuna Cup with King Lupin, has accepted for the chestnut in tho big handicap to-day, but 110 has also got Tinopai engaged, and the latter, who was not started in the Cup, may carry, tho colours to-day. GnUupiii, who started favourite in the Hack Kindles at Takapuna on Saturday, failed to jump well, and fell at the lack of the coursc. Ho has not been paid up for to-day, and in his absence the closing of tho • machine may Ibid larania Jack, the first day's winner, favourite. The two-year-old Bekanui was unfortunate enough to draw an outside positiou in the- Calliope Handicap on Saturday, and this spoilt his chance. He may <lo' considerably better to-day, as ho is meeting those that finished in front of liim on greatly-improved terms. An exchange is responsible for the fol-lowing-.—Whilst two well-known habitues of tile racing world were, race-books in hand, discus Gin" the pros and cons of the field in the "Wellington Cup, a bee settled 011 the Wank part of the page* which, carl'Tc'u'rli'e tail of the field. That, of course, was suggestive, and became more so when, on marking tho place where the honey-gatherer had momentarily alighted and turning over tho leaf, it was found to be directly opposite the name of Bee. Roth promptly threw away" ,£1 ■ on file Martian—Lady Disdain mare, and informod the owner of their inspiration, who added another "tenner" to his commission on the "tote."

RACING FIXTURES. Feb. 2 and 3.—Ejpnont It.C. Summer. Feb. 3 acd s.—Gisborne R.C. Summer. Feb. 5— C.J.C. Summer. Feb. 9 and 10.—Xarauaki J.C. Autumn. Feb. 10 and 12.—Povertj Bay T.C. Summer.