NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2900, 12 October 1916, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

{Br Gmncoe.'l Acceptances for iho Wollingtoii Racing Club'£ first day handicaps close on Monday nosfc at 9 p.m. | ' Tho spring meeting; of tlio Duncdin Jockey Club will be held on Friday and Saturday. Heavy rain has fallen, at Masterton during tlio past couple of days, and tho .track is likely to ba heavy for to-day's 'racing. The mail..train, which, leaves Lanibton Station at 7.G0 a.m.,. will stop at Opaki, and -will land .patrons', in/plenty of time' for .{he. first race. . Excursion fares are available.' '.-:'}/ They- are an even, lot in the Trial: Stakes, • ive furlongs, but', if - tlio two-year-olds aTe any good they should- show out with such a big pull in the weights. On the other hand, it is a bit earry to expect youngstors to get five' furlongs. Chuckle, tho full-sister to Chortle, has had a Tace at Hastings, but the distanco will probably find her out. Sabana and Black Lake, two promising three-year-old fillies, should both 6how up particularly tho last-named, who' has had two races this season.

Tho top weight, Splendidus, is lueoting a very inferior lot in tho Telephone Handicap, six fnrlongs, and the chestnut gelding may be a good favourite. Pernor, who is in receipt of 61b., may be tho most forward of tlio others. Rewi Poto will carry No. 1 cloth in the Flying Handicap, but as ho baa been raoing over a distance during tho last season, ho may hayo lost most of his dash. Mia Cara, Bst. 71b., reads well on Wanganui form, an.d tho soft going will enable Coldstream to : begin better than, ho did at Otaki. Botanist showed' winning form on the second day of tho Otaki meeting, and ho and Goldstrcam may be the public fancies to-day. Rowi Poto and Welcome Nugget are Ukoly to be missing from tho Spring Handicap. Tho middle division includes tVo very likely sorts in Merrio Gain and l Maniaroa. Gold Soult does not <vct well in heavy going. Montana, will carry plenty of money, as lie io a great favourite in tho Wairarapa district. Ho will be ridden by A.-Reed, who has been associated with some of his successes in tho past.

Red Bibber lay be at a very short price in tho dies' Purse. Tho chestnut mare is •, d forward at tho present time, and pi. ted tho fiold for over a milo in the bi[, handicap at Otaki on tho first day. I£ Sir Agnes' is back to form ho will command a lot of support in tho Masterton Hack Handioan, seven furlongs, as ho ifl a great irad lark. Anothor which should go -well is tho useful Golden Grafton, who has been doing great track work at New Plymouth.

Binaldo will make his reappearance nndor silk in tho Stewards' Handicap, seven furlongs. Last year tho brown, horso won tho big handicap at the same mooting, but to-day ho may bo on tho backward side. Botanist, Hushabyo, and Master Achilles aro engaged earlier in the day, and may not start again. George has won over this courso previously, and Sir Solo gave a glimpso of his old form at Otaki, when he ran to the front with his stable companion Bed Ribbon. The Auckland Chip winnor has previously won in heavy going at Woodvillo. Bradamanto won on this course in heavy going in. tho auttimn. If Splondidus earns, a penalty he will probably bo withdrawn from the Dash Handicap, fivo furlongs. This will allow Oliver's services to be rotained for Miss Deval, who may be a good/favourite. Others that may be will supported, are Spectual, Need, and Struggle. Hie lastnamed showed'up well in a try-out with Elation early this week. K Quinlivan is expected at Trentham on Monday next, with Blackall, Simon-

ides, La Tosso, and Elocution. The threo last-named are all the property of Mr. H. E. Troutbeok.

•Hopflold (Master— Civoe), Trinner of tho Suburban Handicap on - tho third day of the A-.J.C. meeting, is a half-brother to Perceus.n. mave by Positano, purchased by Mr. E. J. Watt : in Australia, some four or five years ago: - Percous 'showed great pace as a two-year-old, "and in her trials could' always laccount for that galloper : Boyal Scotch. She, however, mot with' an accident which -prevented,her ever sporting: silk, and sho is now a member of the' Longland' stud, where she has produced a conplo of foals to All-Black: ■•■■■-•■' "V •■'lt may hot be gonerally known that Mr, W. G. Stead was very; ken on,securing wben a yearling Pommcrn,. who is now recognised as one of tho best horses seen- in England for some time. An offer of four figures was made for; the son of'Polymelus, biit, as no business resulted, the Hawke's Bay sportsman made a further offer (this time epproachinz the five-figure mark), but again.no sale eventuated. ' At the Moouee Valley faces on September 30, H. 18. Cairns rode Wartupa, who floored in. the .Welter Purse. It may not bo generally known that the standing orders for tho N.Z.E.I. Training Camps specially forbid,mounted troops to gallop past paddocks m which there are .racehorses or brood mares. Soldiers generally are warned not; to disturb thoroughbred stock, and it is evident that tho Defenco Department considers the preservation of the blood .horse-a military necessity.- No doubt at a later-stage of the present war when cavalry obtains liberty of-move-ment, New Zealand romounts- will be much, in demand. Should tho opportunity arise, it may bo tnkon for granted that they will play a prominent part in the final relentless pursuit, which will enable tho Allied Infantry to Toap. effectually tho fniits--of-.viotory.-. . •■ ...To date tho stock- of Birkonhaad, whose death. ■;was recorded : yesterday, have won. ■ over .£IOO,OOO in stakes. He ' sired Zimmerman (5410 sovs., including tho two Derbies, Jubilee Cup, Royal Stakes, Auckland Cup, etc.), Formby (3555 sovs., including. Hastings Stakes, Wollosley Stakes, N.I. Challenge Stakes, Wellington Stakes, and G.N. Foal Stakes), Miscount (SBGO sovs.,'.G.N. Champagno Stakes, Hawke's Bay Guineas), Provocation (2900 sovs., Wellesley Stakes, N.I. Challenge Stakes, Hawke's Bay Stakes, Jackson Stakes, Manawatu Stakes, Feildfcog Stakes, and C.J.C. Champagne Stakes) Bona (1295 sovs., C.J.C. Welcome Stakes, Hastings Stakes, and Wellesley Stakes), Woodhey (2160 sovs.), St. Aidan (2300 sovs.), Ito (UOO sovs., Wanganui Guineas), Oxton (14C0 sovs.), Dawn (1580 sovs.), Rock Ferry (1060 sovs.), Inez (1720 sovs.), Hernia (1715 sovs.), Birklind (3010 sors.), Ha - lcayno ! (3115 sovs.), Tattcrly, Audax, Bollin, Kairoma, Gravitation (Hastings Stakes, Jackson Stakes), Idealist (Winter Cup), Finery (A.R.C. Welcome Stakes). Peary, BirkM' (10M sovs.), Hot {1W sovs., G.N. Oaks), Morcoambo, etc. His loss will be a severe one to Iris ownor, but arrangements are already under way to replace him. \