THE TURF

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 295, 2 September 1918, Page 7

THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS

fBY GIiENCOB.I

Nominations for tho Otaki Spring Meeting close to-night at 8 o'clock. Owners should note that the Tolcgranh Olnce at Otaki closes at 5 p.m. Acceptances for the Dannevirko Meeting close to-morrow night at 8 o clock. Mr. B. Harley has been reappointed starter by the Gore, Otaki, and South Canterbury Jockey Clubs. Jingo strained the tendons of, a front leg at the Grand National Meeting, and has not dono any work since. The leg has filled a little, but the Plavus gelding does not limp on it. At Kiccarton W. J. Porter is busy breaking in a filly by Markhopo-Helianthes. She is on the poor Bide, and will be turned out on the spring grass alter being ridden for a while. J. M'Qrcgor, the ox-New Zealand rider, who has sustained innumerable injuries during his career as n. jockey, had a had fall in the Hurdlo Eaco at tho Combined Hunt Clubs' Meeting, held at Moonee Valley, Melbourne, on Aueust 14. ttlis lung was in.lured, and after receiviug ittention on the oourso ho had to be removed to St. Vincent's Hospital. I'. Mason, who is looking after the Greenwood horses while his father is in Australia, is keeping Afterglow and ileus busy, and they a-rc doing good work. Ihe Solferino-Anitea and Martian-Grand Opera colts are both doing well, and two suoh long-striding smart colts' should do well in tbeir two-year-old careers. E. J. Mason, tho trainer iof Biplane, when interviewed in Sydney, recently, said that Biplane would probamy be a starter in tile A.J.C. Spring Stakes, Craven Plate, or Randwick Plate, in which oyent he would most likely meet Desort Gold. Mason pointed out that as Biplane was now a four-year-old, and would havo-to carry extra weight. Desert Gold had tho advantage by being a marc, and would meet Biplane on 51b. better terms in tho weighUor-age events. Whether Biplane would start in the Caulfield Cup was a matter for tho future, and dopended entirely on conditions. 1

In Australia imported St. Anton has Bired .the winner of the first two-year-old race of tho season for the last two years. In 1917 St. Speed, by St. Anton, won tho Pulham Park Plate, and the winner of tho race of that, name on Saturday, week, Lord Setay, was got by the same sire. Lord Setay may bo given the opnortunity of trying his worth in probably tatter company,. for he figures among the entrants for Maribyrnong Plate;

Mr. G. L. Stead's two-year-old colt Surveyor, by Nassau—Pedometer., was- ecnt to Eiccarton last week and placed under the oare of M. Hobos, .who will lraip Uio youngster until tho return of 1!. I). O'Donnell from Australia. VY. Hcbbs is In charge i at Yaldhurst in O'DonncU's absence, having Melee, and the two-year-olds, Golden Crozier and Orange Bittors in work. Survoyor, however, is a highlystrung colt, whoso attendant, H. Were, having just completed his- apprenticeship, has been engaged to ride for Mr. W. A. Nicholls. This influenced Mr. Stead in making special arrangements for Surveyor. Were will remain ,with the colt, while still'being available to rido Mr. Nicholls's horses in their, work and their races.

In Austraia it iB fully expecjed that Biplane and Desert Gold will hayo their much'-talked-of meeting in the Spring Stakes at ltandwick, and though amori.st. others the imported horses Mugtuo and Coo: d'Or arc engaged, nonu of them are regarded as being equal to defeating the Now Zealand pair. Desert Gold is not to bo raced until tho Randwick fixture, which shows that F. Davis is confident of her, condition, but as Biplane is a very thick-winded horse, and takes a lot of galloping to fit him, R. J. Manon is certain to engage him at the Rosehill and Hawkesbury meetings, wliich are decided this month. Magpio has only had one race since he camo to Australia, and this ho was successful in. It was tho. Elder Stakes, a nine-furlongs weight-for-age race, and the runner-up was Wedge, who defeated Desert Gold in tho Caulfiold Futurity Stakes. To beat a horse of the calibre of Wedge over nine furlongs is a performance above tho ordinary, but to give him sevoral longths' start over the last three furlongs, and beat him easily, is an indication that Magpio will have a good deal to say' in the destination of any stake ho competes for. 'Orocsus is a regular attendant at the Hastings tracks, and tho half-brother to Desert Gold.is said to be looking very well. . . A grandson of Carbine is America's best three-year-old of this season. The horse referred to is H. V. Whitney's Jolir.cn (Spearmint—Mineola). who,-' in June, won the Suburban Handicap. Belmont Stakes, and Latonia Dorby, all within a fortnight. There were six runnors for the last-mentioned race, and Johren, who v;as favourite, scored easily from tho K"ntuoky Derby winner, Exterminator, iie time for the mile and a half being 2min. 33sec. Johren was bred bv Mr. Whitney, who sent Mineola (Meddler-Hurley Burley) from America to England to bo mitcd with Spearmint. Kahumanga, 10st. 71b„ is added to tho weights foj the Jumpers' Flat Handicap at the Danncvirko Meeting.