NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3056, 17 April 1917, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

, . ,IBt Glsnoob, , ! Up to date, plenty of rain has fallen at Trentham to suit all requirements, and unleep it holds off novr .the going irill te on the heavy side for Thursday's racing. ..• ■• . '

No fewer.than tirenty-six horses have paid up for the Thompson Handicap, while in the Railway Handicap sevonteen have cried content. A peculiarity about the 'mile race is that the whole of the horses on the minimum "have dropped out.

Class will be well represented at Trentham this week, and with' Desert Gold, The Toff, Kilboy, Sasanof, and Bunting racing, not to mention several others, patrons of the eport are assured of an interesting meeting. ' . '. .'

M. Hobbs, with a team of eleven horses, has already reached Trenthnm. He has the largest team of any of the visiting trainers.

Trainer J. M'Craeken has given Croesus an easy time of it since his arrival at Trenthnm, but the half-brother to Desert Gold will probably be opened out this morning.

J. W. Lowe .has three horses in the Thompson. Handicap, and as yet he is not oerlain \vhiph of them will run. Seadown is certain' to start, and will bo ridden by 0. Clarke, but whether Menclausor Chakwana will represent the Messrs. Eiddiford haenot yet beon decided. The original idea was that Ohakwana, should carry the stable colours, but the mare is not at her best in tne soft going, and probably a final decision will be delayed until the day of tho race. If the present weather continues, Vagabond may be much fancied for the Nursery Handicap on Thursday, as the Martian gelding has in the past proved his ability to act well in soft going.

.T. H. Prosser, with a team of six horses, reached Trentham yesterday. His runners for Thursday will be Eockbotiml, Eocksalt, .Kukri, Portland Lady, Precious Metal, and Tango.

B. J. Mason and H. Cutts are expected to arrive from the south this morning. The former is bringing. Thames and Bi-meter.-and the latter Adjutant and Good Hope.

It is stated that Sasanof ;w.ill bo Mr. Stead's representative in. the Thompson Handicap, and that B. Deeley will 'have the mount on the Melbourne Cup winner, who should be accompanied by Fiery Cross wherever he finishes. If the going is heavy the champion may not be eeen at his best, as he is only a littlo fellow, and 9st. will trouble him. ,

Art's owner has decided not to send the Sarto gelding'north for the Wellington or Manawatu fixtures, but the crack hurdler may be given the opportunity of earning further distinction at the A.K.C. Great Northern Meeting. It is not often that Southland 6tablee are represented at the Wellington Meeting, but one of them will have two useful representatives in Gunrest and Buller at this week's. fistnre. The former is not ovor-weighted in the Thompson Handicap, but his entry in sucito an evour. as the Trentham Gold Cup can hardly be accepted seriously.

The lameness lvhicli prevented. Peronilla from fulfilling her engagements at Riecarton last week, is wearing off, and it is hoped that she will be able to take paTfc in the huTdlo Taces at the South Canterbury Jockey Club's Meeting this week.'

The' New- Zealand breeders who sent their yearlings to tho Sydney sales should bo more than satisfied with the results. Mr. .T. B. Reid had a. couple of SOO-guinoa. lots, and several others sold well.: Mr. G. M. Currio also got pood prices for his King Riifus— Bronze filly, and a, . filly from Roscommon by tho same eire.

Npir, who is to carry Mr. B, J. AYatt's colours in the Plunkct Nursery at Trentham on Thursday, is a, greatly improved horse, and is expected to race well here. The reported intention of his owner to r-llip tho two-year-old to Melbourne seems to have been temporarily abandoned. It is thought that if the going ie heavy f. Da,vis Kill not start Desert Gold at

Trentliiun. Tho mare was once defeated at Ellerslio in heavy going, nnd since then has not been saddled up in liko conditions. From every point of viow fine weather is, to be hoped for, as no one likes to see good horses getting beaten wtan the feeling is that tho tioing was solely 'responsible, for their failures. Nominations , for the Blenheim May Meeting close on Thursday.