NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 142, 5 March 1918, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

fBY GLENCOE.I

A final reminder is given those concerned that acceptances for the Napier and Wairarapa Meetings close to-night. The Akaroa Meeting takes placo to-day. The first ovent is timed to start at 11 a.m. -,ii The V.R.O. Meeting will bo continued today, when amongst other races, tho Australian Cup, two miles and a quarter, wil. be decided. Red Pennant, who was placed third in the Brunswick Stakes on Saturday, is one of the well-fancied division for the race. In former years at the V.R.O. Meeting the Bourke Handicap, seven furlongs, lias often gone to the winner of the Newmarket Handicap. This ;car such a happening cannot take placo, as Oetigne, who scored in the big sprint on Saturday, is not engaged in to-day's race, though he fiffurtß in the Australian Cup. Mr. G. L. Stead has tired of Bon d'Or, and tho brother to Moulu is to bo sold. His box at Yaldhurst will he filled by a yearling half-brother, who claims the imported Nassau as his siro. Tho useful steeplechaser Kiwitea died recently or, his owner's farm. Tho cause of death was an internal • trouble; Kiwi-, tea was a promising 'chaser, and his loss is a severe one to his owner.

Tho fact that Kiiboy has not been entered at Bllerslie or Riccarton at the Easter meetings suggests that the Gold Cup winner is again giving trouble Immediately after the Duncdin Meeting, Mr. W. A. Kcmball, owner of Hymestra, Nauna, and others, asked for a price to ho put on Torfrcda, but the owner of the filly said that ho was not anxious to part with her.

Mr. D. H. Roberts, who won the last Auckland Cup with Fiery Cross, has entered Kiljoy for tho Easter Handicap, hut the Cup winner is evidently intended to race at Riccarton.

A good number of horses with engagements at the Nelson Meeting were shipped by the Patcena yesterday. Amongst the number were Mascot, and Exclusive, from J. W. Lowe's stables, and Waimatao, in charge of M. Williams. The trio arc all expected to race well to-morrow.

When the New Zealand-bred filly Kilflinn passed into the hands of the Rajah of Pudukota last year, some curiosity was evinced as to the sum the Indian nobleman paid for her. In one case £2000 was mentioned; and as the daughter of Kilbroney had defeated Desert Gold at weight-for-age, such a sum. though high, did not seem altogether unreasonable. According to the Sydney "Referee," vlie Rajah of Pudukota sccored the New Zealand filly much cheaper than is popularly thought. It is stated that he gave 500gns. down for Kilflinn, and a contingency of another SCOgns. attached to her first win, so that sho actually cost him lOOOgns. The Salisbury Welter was worth only £200 to the winner, so Kilflinn still has a long way to go to make up her purchase money. It Is stated that Kilflinn was only lightly supported by her owner when she registered her win at Caulfield on February 16.

Desert Gold's second r.lace in the Oanlfield Futurity Stakes was worth £600, This brings her winnings in stakes (inclusive of the value of trophies) to £18,215.

Amongst the entries for- the' March Steeplechase, two miles, to be run at Plemington to-day, is Bonny, a gelding that used to enrry Mr. E. Short's h hack steeplechases in the North Ishnd. Bonny is getting on In years now, and his pace is not likely to be improving. The ex-New Zealand trainer, Lou Robertson, has the imported horse Union Arms engaged in the name race.

Lingle, 9st. 51b., is top weight in the Australian Cup. The Linacre horee was runner-HD to Westcourt in the last Melbourne Cup, and this performance secured him his big weight in to-day's race, though last season he did not win a race. Not since Tartan won in 1906 has' a , horse carrying anything like Linglc's . weight been successful in the race. The long, trying journey is all against the top weights, and tho last quarter of a mile in'particular generally finds a weak, spot in their armament.

Mr. Macdonald, a prominent South Australian sportsman, lias arrived in \Vrllinsrton on a holiday visit to New Zealand.