NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 149, 13 March 1918, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[BY OLENCOE.I

The Wairarnpa Meeting will bo held on the Tauhorenlkau course to-morrow and Friday. Acceptances for the lianfjitikei Meeting close on Friday night. When Desert Gold was narrowly defeated in tho Oaulfield Futurity Stakes, a host of Melbourno sportsmen blamed M'Laclilan's riding, but the owner was reported to bo satisfied. After tho exhibition by the same rider in the King's Plate ou Monday, somo ono else may bo given the ride at ltandwick. Lilydalo, Exclusive, and Bluegown, having won races since the nominations closed, arc not now eligible to compete in tbo Scurry at Tauherenikau to-morrow. Wardanccr, who appeared to bo well handicapped with Est. 31b., in tho Great Autumn Handicap, has gone slightly amiss and may not be able to fulfil his engagement at Hiccarton. Tho victory of Dcfcnco in the Australian Cup will revivo' recollections of the oltort made by hi 3 sire, Carbine, to win the long-distance handicap in the autumn of 1889, at which date he ranked as a thtpo-year-old. Carbine was weighted at Bst. 61b., and lie defeated all his field, save tho aged, Lochlel, whom ho was called upon to meet at a difference of only lib. Each of tho horses that filled the placcs in last year's contest for the Great Easter Handicap, namely Kystad, Sasanof, and Fiery Cross, claims engagement in next month's race. Of the place-fillers in the mile and a half race Fiery Cross and Adjutant are again oligiblo to compete. Word is received from Queensland of the death of the Birkenhead horso Mischief. who had for somo years been doing stud duty at Mr. Frank • Darley's establishment. Mischief never succeeded in getting anything nearly so brilliant as ho [ himself was on tho racecourse. It is doubtj ful, says the "Australasian," if Qucens- ; land ever possessed a more brilliant youngster, and the pity of it was that he had not a sufficiently cast-iron constitution to enable him to stand up to tho work required of him. Otherwise ho would have been a racehorse of fame on the Australian turf. Mischief was bred in New Zealand, and was imported with a number of others of the Birkenheads by Mr. F. C. Cox. Tho Ellcrsiie trainer, J. Williamson, is having a great run of luck at the country fixtures. On Saturday last at To Aroha Royal Irish and Ring Lupin, both of wh6ra are in his stables, won races. H. Gray rode both of them. When Mr. Lowry's intention of giviug Desert Gold's Australian winnings to patriotic funds became known in Melbourno another owner in Mr. T. Stirton, owner of Cctignc, announced his intention of giving portion of his horse's winnings to au Australian fund. Tho capable Hastings horseman H. Lorigan is leaving for the 6outh to-morrow night to fulfil riding engagements at tho Southland and Riverton Meetings. Lorigan will not return north until well into next month. Tho Highden jockey G. Clarke has been engaged to ride Devotion in tho Wairarapa Cup to-morrow. The same rider will be on Mr. Lance Wood's HishigU'.m in the two-year-old handicap H. Gray has contracted to ride at Paoroa on Saturday next, and Opuuake on the Monday. This will entail some speedy travelling on his part. He will j<iu tho Auckland-Wellington express ou the Sunday, and on arrival at Marton next morning will undertake a motor trip of over .100 miles in an attempt to reach Opuuake in time to complete engagements. As a result of his victory in tho Napier Cup, Ladogeur has incurred a penalty of 141b. for tho Great Autumn Handicap, which will bring his wcieht up to 7st. 121b. Though Oroesus and Sweet-Corn also managed to get on the winning list at Napier Park, they will not be required to put up extra weight in tho Great Easter Handicap."W.J.H." (Feilding) is informed that Client was' tho favourite on the totalisator for the Wanganui Oup.