NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3198, 24 September 1917, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

TBY GLENCOE.] At' Otaki to-day good-sized fields are engaged throughout the card, and there is every indication that tho sport provided will be of a high order. The meeting is a one-day fixture this ye'ar, and the ciuh will most likely,'sulfer from the curtailment of the train sorviee. A start will be made at 11.45 a.m., with the Maiden. Plate, live furlongs. Thore is an entry of eighteen, and the majority of them will see tho post.- Pervolo. who promised to shape veil, it» uufdrfcun&tcly amiss and may not -Eee tie post. Blue Gown, a promising All Red mare in C. Pritchard's stables, and Warmaid, who was placed twice at the last Ajapuni meeting, are-the best of tlio- older• division. The three-year olds aro represented by Matilda and AstMjphel. ' The first-named has been working well _at Trentham, and sbe may be favourite. She will have, an advantage over Astrophel, having bad a race at Marton.- Astrophel was a fair two-year-old, and since then the has been gelded/ and also operated on for throat troubles. It wiU be interesting to see to-day if the latter has been 6^u ?t 'the Dominion Day Hack Handicap, one mile, Nobleman and J.he Golfte ha\e yet to race over eight furlongs, though both have won over a furlong, shorter. There is no reason why the pair should not got the extra distance, and the rnfeet ing between them and Ijady Beaufort, 7rt. 71b. should provide a good race. H. way ,111 have his first mount on the lian-bred filly, who should get 3°ur nev well under such a li*ndy wei o ht. Ot the others Hastie showed winning, form at Dannevirke. , .

Arlington and Eodenham are at the head of tho list in. the fatimi Hack Steeplechase. Sabrenui, who is next to them, has run off at his last three starts, and backers will now light 6hy of bim on account of this. Parcmata may be missing from the field, but Coalition will be plugging along at the ngnt end of tne race. ATitiatia and Pawerewere would both be better suited over a shorter course. .• Monelaus, the top-weight in the Memorial Stakes. wiU probably forego his engagement in favour of his stable companion Mascot, v/ho has been well on tho tracks at Trentham. I-ady Louisa has been sore smco tho Marton meeting, but Orleans and bleight-of-Hand will both have plenty of aumrers. as Mill Coldstream, who is to be ridden by A. Keed. Roso Pink has been galloping badlv since the Dannevirke meeting. Ui tho light-weights Undecided and M»-:cot will be the most fancied. They are not a good lot m the Stewards' Handicap, six furlongs, and Tncterj, who paid a sensational dividend at irentham last soason, may beuuore forwaid in' condition than tho others. Chakwana having gone amiss will to missis-J from the Plying Handicap and Orleans, Black Ada, and Nobleman may also decline their engagement- ■ Crowliurst was one of the best, two-yeaiiplds last, season, and if he strips well to-day"® may carry the most money on the uiacnine'. for last season's Cvo-year-o ds too. been winning this spring. Otheis likely to show up at the finish are Poto and Bairnsdale, each of whom has been racing consistently of late. Thoughtful, the top-weignt in the Welter Handicap, will bo meeting a lot of horst-s who have racpd earlier in the day. ino chestnut will be ridden by 1- Pntchua. and may encounter nost opposition fiom Hastie, & winner at Danuovirko. Iu the ordinary coiirsc of events thero ■would.have been a large crowd travelling to Otaki to-day for tbe spring meeting, but the Railway Departments announcement that the express trams will J'ot slop may* debar muy follower*! cr the sport from going out of town to-day. The alternative ia to travel by the 9.25, Tvhieh means missing at least 'one if pot two ci tho races. . Those who do this can get back to town by 10.30 or even earlier if the 4.55 from Otaki is delayed, as was the case on both days of the meeting in June last.