NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2958, 22 December 1916, Page 5

NOTES AND COMMENTS

!Bl CiLENCOE.I

A. iinid reminder is given those concerned that acceptances for the first day handicaps at tho Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's Summer Meeting, to be held on January 1 and 2, close to-night at 8 o'clock. The Melbourno Cap winner, Sasanof, is apparently to be given a let-up at the conclusion of the racing at .Ellerslie, as he is not entered for the Wellington Meeting. If Bjorneborg is a runner in tho Auckland Cup, he will he ridden by G. Clarke, but in the event of Mr. Lowry's representative not taking his place in the field Clarke will ride Wishful. It is a habit with those who draw a horse in Tattersall's Sweeps to lav the owners a substantial sum to nothing the animal's chance-. Recently Mr. G. S. Yuill was made an offer of tjus sort about his representative, Rushlord, for tho Rosehill December Handicap, and passed it on to his trainer, T. Payten. It was not the latter'a first lucky experience in that respect as only recently ho landed'a nice win under similar circumstances. The death ocourred recently of Mr. J. O. Evitt, formerly the premier handicapper of the Dominion. In the 90's the late Mr. Evitt handicapped for all the leading clubs in the North Island, and he was one of the most popular officials. The well-known horseman, H. Goldfinch, has had his license withdrawn by the Auckland Committee. Coming on the eve of so important a meeting, the punishment is particularly severe. Fresh riders will now have to be found for Colonel Soult and Bisogne, in the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicaps, unless the matter is reconsidered by the Auckland Committeo. A northern writer, in discussing the question, points out that the committee might well have administered a. caution first, as in taking away tho license of the jockey at such a stage they are seriously inconveniencing other people who had engaged his services for tho meeting.

A returned visitor from Auckland states that since tho arrival at headquarters of Chortle, the Multifid gelding has gained many friends for tho Cup. Chortle is well enough handicapped, but 9st. is a/big weight to carry successfully over two miles. S. Reid's mount is 6uch a hard puller that he will probably beat himself before tho end of the race. In his races this season he has pulled very hard, and this was especially noticeable 'at AVoodviile, where his rider had to bo checking him continually to keep him off tho other runners' heels.

A rumour from Hastings credits the Auckland Cup favourite,. Blackall, with running once round the plough as fast as did Eligible and Sasanof beforo the pair wero sent to Australia.

The rain w'Aich fell at Ellerslie yesterday would be very welcome to trainers, but it would be doubly so were it to como down solidly for an hour or two at Awapuni aid Trentham. On the last-named courses rain is badly needed. Several horses have been left in the Palmerston North Stakes by error. The probable starters are: Panmure, Ceaselire, Rockbound, Crowhurst, Sweot Tipperary, and Rose Pink. Mr. Bidwill has left Probation and Elation in, but neither have yet shown themselves to bo up to woight-for-age form. <~ Petruchio, Bimeter, Nones, and Ohoreka have also been left in tho race, but probably through an oversight.

At Hastings the two-year-old, La Tasse (Rokeby—Tea Clip), is showing improved form on the tracks, and there is a likelihood of tho half-sister to Db Gama getting on the winning Jist shortly. Tho filly has always shown pace on tha tracks, but she has not been easy to manage at the starting gate, and in one of her races at Riccarton sho ran across tho back of the field when the tapes flew up, and took no part in the race.. She is owned by the well-known Rotorua sportsman, Mr. H. E, Troutbeck.

Mr. W. G. Stead has engaged Bayonne, who_ is by Bayardo from Alicia, at the coming Trentham Meeting. Bayonno was

imported to this country at the same time as Shrill. She was in regular -work at Hastings for some time, but when the other members of tlie team were sent to Australia to raco the Bayardo filly was jjiven a spell. The following horseman are reported to havo been engaged to rido Auckland Cup candidates:—Sid. Eeid, Chortle; B. Deeley, Mullingar; C. Emerson, Tho Toffj J. Conquest, Lady Penury; -T. O'Shea, Blackall; A. Eced, John Barleycorn; E. Beed, Depredation; G. Clarke, Bjorneborg; C. Sinclair, Prince Merriwee; E. Manson, El Gallo. No horsemen are definitely announced for Ardenvhor/Wishful, and Alteration. Tete-a-Tete, who won the A.E.C. Eailjray Handicap last year; Downham, who won in the preceding year; and King Lupin, who won the event in 1913, are engaged in the sis furlong race again this year. The grey gelding, Tho Golfer, in charge of his owner-trainer .J. S. M'Laughlin, will be railed to New Plymouth this'morning.