THE TURF

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 267, 31 July 1918, Page 6

THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS H3Y GLEKCOE.I First acceptances for tie National Hurdles and Steeplechase and Winter Cup arc due on Friday, when entries for tho minor events must also lie made. , The Auckland representative, Gluetanus, in charge of F. Burns, passed through. Wellington yesterday on hie way south. Tile Gluten gelding has been' exactly a. week on the voyage, and his mentor is experiencing a, similar trip as that which, befell Gluepot twelvo months ago. A prominent Auckland owner . was anxious to retain tho services of E. Keed. to rido next season, but as thai, horseman lias engaged to do tho Highden riding lie had to decline the offer. Colorado's defection from tho Grand National Jlurdlei is to bo regretted, as on his best form tho Frisco gelding had an undeniable chance in that event. When being exercised at Eiccarton on Saturday week ho slipped on the frozen track and. ricked his shoulder so badly that it was only with difficulty ho was got away from the courso. Since" then the injury has kept Colorado in his box, and on Saturday his trainer decided that it was useless to go on with the hurdle horse's preparation. In addition'to winning at Kombla Grango earlier in tho month, the Kilbroney—Pasnakile filly Kilmaino, was successful in tho second division of tho Granville Stakes at tho Roseliill meeting on July 20, Tho Eiccarton trainer, W. Hibberd, has been suffering lately from an affection in one of his eyes, and lie is at present an tomato of the hospital, where he is being treated for tho trouble. Sleight-of-Hand is making slow but steady progress from the injuries ho suffered while being railed from uyttclton, on his arrival from the north. His trainer, A. J. Shearsby, hopes to start the Mystification gelding in the Grand National Hurdle Handicap next month, but realises that his charge cannot be nearly at Ilia best after his recent experience. His stecpleohasa candidate, Yellow and B!ac1;, is in excellent order, and Sheawby is of opinion that ho will givo a good account of himself in the big cross-country gvents at the Grand National meeting. 'At Eiccarton on Saturday afternoon Waimai (Flynn) was schooled over a circuit of the country.. Ho got round safely, but did not put the same dash into his jumping as ho used to when in Christchurch before; in fact, says a Southern writer, lie appeared to be decidcdly Bhifty at several fonces, perhaps because ho was not going fast enough. Whatever tho reason, ho did not give Flynn a very com. fortable ride. ' Boro is again giving his trainer trouble, and it iB unlikely that the Calibre gelding will be a runner in the Steeplechase. At Eiccarton on Saturday morning Iteltchikoff set out to jump four flights of hurdlcß at a lcisuroly pace behind a leader. Ho fell at tho second fence,' and upon botng remounted fell at it again. Afterwards ha would not jump at all. Tho ex-Trentham horseman ;H. Thompson redo Pistolior to victory in the Leamington Hurdleß at Oanllield thiß month. He only caught and beat Westondale in the last striae, Devotion is Improving daily in her condition, She and the rising three-year-olds, Active and 80-Peep, are worked of a morning, but the youngsters 'in H. Telford's stables are not worked till the afternoon,

That great maro Wakefield produced- a winner in Nightwatch, who waß successful In tho Malvina Welter Handioap, one mile, at Oaulfleld, on Jnly 2. Niglitwatch is by St. Alwyne, Biro o£ Lady Medallist, an,d ruuß.in the colours of llr. C. L. MacdonaJd, who bred both he and Wakefield.

The local National Steeplechase candidate, Coalition, will go south to-morrow in chaa'go of J. W. Lowo. • The last-n&nwd has quite "got over tho illness which troubled hlin last week.

Roy Eeed is to go Bonth to-morrow to ride at the National meeting. So far the Highden horseman has not acceptor a mount in the Winter Cup.

A Press Association telegram from Melbourne atates\that there are twelve final acceptors for tho Australian Hurdles. No New Zealand horses are in.