NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2794, 12 June 1916, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[By Ulencoe.]

The Gisborne Racing Club's Steeplechase 'meeting, to be held on Thursday and' Saturday, is the only attraction for sportsmen this week.

It' was intended to enter flie Otagoowned Black Sea for the Hawke's Bay Steeples, but his name does not appear in the lists published,- so 'evidently his owner reconsidered the idea.

While at Auckland Mr. P. J. Lysnar tried to buy Brown Loch, who was placed each day, but the Thames owner, Mr. C. J. Winder, would not sell: . /

Spalperion is engaged in both the Hurdles and Steeplechase on the opening day at Gisborne, but. lie will probably forfeit to . Marconi, and be sent out to contest tlie Steeplechase, in which the top-weight, Braeburn may be his most formidable opponent. Tiia hunter, Lady Bibbero, a safe jumper, with only 9st. 101b., may bS-in the picture all the.way.

' With the exception of the big Steeplechase, in which there will be only iivo rubers, very satisfactory acceptaifces have been received for the handicap events to be. run at Gisborne on-Thurs-day. The Aucklanders, Spalperion, Mai'coni, and Crispeen, will* lake part in the open Hurdles, - for, which Al'arconi, who snowed consistent form at Ellerslie, running a first- and two seconds, may be first choice. Worcester, Signo, and Soldier, well-known northern performers, are . engaged in. the principal flat, race,' in which Kcoya is top-weight with list. 81b.

Grand Idea, who races in the colours of the Hon % W. D. S. Mac Donald, will be a runner l'ii tlie Hack Handicap, seven furlongs, at Gisborne on Thursday. He is not opposed by a solid field, and as lie showed a lot of pace in his races at . Eastings, he is sure to be one of the fancied division. I'eniloon, a dual winner at the Ellerslie meeting, is owned by a couplo of doctors, who are at present serving at the front. Sympathy will be felt for Mr, A. W. Cordon, stipendiary steward, who received word last week that-one of his sons had been killed in action. Stanley Reid, who has just been relicensed after an enforced spell, lias been riding wSrk at liiccarton lately. 1 lie will have his first mount on Sir Solo in the Uncle Hurdles at Napier. The well-known jockey, W. Scobie, who lias been riding for Mr. U. Rutherford for some time, hals enlisted, and expects to be called up shortly. \ \ At Riccarton, I'. M'Gratli is giving Thrax some schooling, and the old gelding Is jumping well. The Soult gelding Marconi, a winner 'at Auckland, is credited with beir«; a much improved horse of late, and many of those present at Ellerslie hold the view that, but for a faulty jump at the last fence, he would have defeated I'ursettller in the Campbell Hurdles. The New Zealand-bred pony, Berg, by Signalman—Cartouche, has been racing well for some time in Sydney. Ho won u race last month at Hosebery, but a fortnight later, at Victoria l J ark, his running in the Fourteen-one Handicap did. not find favour with the stewards, who disqualified the pony, with his owner and trainer, for twelve months, his rider being suspended for a similar term. Tho two-year-old filly, Lady Elysian, by l'jlysian—Powder Puff, won a Fourteenono Handicap at tho Victoria Park pony meeting, Sydney, on Hay 31. Private advice has been received stating that Tim Doolan ran'third in tho iiopetoun Steeplechase at Flciniugton last Saturday week.. Several rising two-year-olds wero allowed to run along a furlong or so at" from half to three-quarter pace on the sand track at Riccartoh on Saturday. Tho number included Biplane (Comedy King—Air Motor),- Choral Singer (Bezonian—Sweet Angelus), filly by Kil-broney—Arai-tc-Uru, Immortelle (Martian —Everlasting), "Waipara (Danubo —Kitiroa), Tvne (Danube—Lady Reina), and a chestnut' lilly by Demosthenes—Mistime. Racing is reviving with a rush ill the United States, where 870 horses wero recently nominated for fifteen races at tho Empire City Racing Association's meeting. An average of 58 per race must very nearly constitute a record. As the result of his breakdown at the Oamaru meeting last month, Bandy has boeu turned out for a lengthy spell. Should he become sound again, tho,Sarto gelding will be given the opportunity of earning distinction as a hurdler.