NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2700, 21 February 1916, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS

rß"f Acceptances for the first day's handicaps at Wanganui close to-night. A private cablegram received in Wellington last week recor'ds the success of the Achilles mare ilargarita in the H. 2 Handicap at Victoria l J ark. The New Zealand-owned mare carried lOst. 121b., and started favourite. Cyklon, winner of the St. George's Stakes at Caiilfield on Saturday, is an imported horse, by Carbine's son Spearmint. He was formerly owned by a German sportsman, but- when the war broke out he was sold cheaply to come* to Australia. He is one of the favourites for the lievmarket Handicap, to bo run on March L The Held which he defeated on Saturday probably included Woorak, tho absolute favourite for the l iSewmarket Handicap, and Patrobas, tho Australian Cup favourite. l'ax, winner of the Hanawatu Trotting Cup on Saturday, was driven by P. Holmes. The lticcarton,trainer arrived from the 6outh the same morning, and only just caught the Napier mail per medium of a uiotor-car, which was waiting on the lrharf for him. He returned to Christchurch on Saturday evening, and will be back on Wednesday with a team for the Wanganui Trotting meeting, to be held this week. A big shipment of thoroughbreds bought in England at the December sales reached Melbourne lust month. Amongst the number was Costello (llarco—Perjury), described by 6ome authorities as the best-looking young horse in England. Costello has been purchased by the Messrs. A. & G. Tye, and will go into L. Robertson's stabled. The imported horae's doings will bo watched with interest in these parts, as at one sale last year it was announced that he had been purchased on behalf of a New Zealand buyer, but evidently* the sale fell through.

Owing to failing health the 'V.R.C. liandicapper, Mr. W. A. Menzies, has resigned his position, and applications are now being called to fill the vacancy. The salary is .=£759 per annum.

The field Battery mare War Queen, who is still owned by Mr. W. Davies, formerly of Trontham, won the ■ Flying Handicap at Wyong (N.S.W.) on February 8.

At Ascot on - February 2 the ex-New Zealand horseman, F. Porter, who used to ride Te Arai in steeplechases here, won five'races, and was second in''the only other race he rode in.

Deviation, wEo was sold some time back by Mr. W. E. Bidwill, has gone into a Wingatui stable,, and was shipped south last week. In future the brown gelding will be trained by D. P. Wilson.

- News from Hastings states that tho hurdle gelding Kow changed hands after the Poverty Bay meeting, and is now owned by Sir. D. Donovan.

It is definitely announced that the projected trip to America -with Out Thorpe has been abandoned, ns the champion has not yet got over the bad fall he sustained at the last Forbury meeting. Rumour in the south has been busy lately with tho name of the ex-New Zeulander, D. J. Price, and, it is said, had the trip eventuated, Price -would have gone to the States to take the ribbons when the champion raced.

Last year's winner, Master Lupin, is now first favourite far the Wanganui Cup.

A three-year-old filly by Wallace from Cruciform has gone into training under J. Cripps at one of tho Victorian suburban tracks. Sho is said to be the bestlooking of the ex-New Zealand champion's progeny to date.

For some time G. Price was eeriously considering starting Panmure in the Flying Handicap at Wanganui, in which his weight, with a penalty, would be Bst.Slb. However, on v Saturday he finally abandoned Hie idea, and the imported horse will not be asked to race again until the autumn meeting of the Wellington Racing Clufcr.