NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 1, 23 September 1918, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

rill' GLEXCOE.

Given fine weather, tho Otaki Meeting, which takes place 10-day. should 1« a eucccisiul ouo in every way, as good news nro engaged in all the events, and tho class is (Hiito up to the standard ol previous years. Proceedinso will open at 11.10 a.m. Willi Die fiyiiiß Handicap. 1 lie topweights arc Waimatuo and Aloiidaus, hoih of whom are bavins Mien , lirst race ot the season and can be paused over on that account. Astrophel did not show Jus right form at Dauiiefirke, and is likely lo do belter to-day, liemoa and 80-Peep arc two of the field that should show improved form as the result of their clforls at. Marton/ U Morris will ride the lormer and bamievirke form points to Torchlight and Willys Knight being well up m t he Dominion Day Handicap, one mile, lhc distance will suit the pair a lot better man the majorty of the field, torchlight: 'was unlucky at Dannevirko, where he got n, bad passage, mid Willys Knight was only just beaten by Persian l'rince. Onek-) war and Focinan represent the best form in the Hack Steeplechase, but Kmge lark is an improving horse with a big null in the weights. The distance of the Memorial Stakes will be against Form Up, but the next pair, Devotion and. Mascot, are good middle-distance performers, and both arc- expected to raco prominently. All Over and Hydras were both in the limelight at Dannevirke, and either of them may make it interesting for the others. Hydrus has a Rood margin in his favour, and the circular course will suit the Opaki B VrsFa'n l'rince, who heads the handicap in the Stewards' Hack Handicap, has an- • other engagement in tho Plying Handicap, but lie is most likvly to contest the latter event. On his best form Uajliut would, have a chance second to none, and the well-bred Blighty (Kilbroney-Arniilla) should by this time bo showing Borne form. At the last meeting on this course Aliika won the Scnvry by a good margin, and a repetition of that form would put lnni close up to-day. Providing irydrus starts in the big event, the Welter Handicap may lay between Glorify and Sardinia, The latter raced well at Hiccarton, aud if he can repeat this form to-day ho should bo very troublesome at the finish. The biggest field of the day is to contest the Hack Welter Handicap, but it is not a strong one. fcabme will be ridden by H. Gray, and she won so decisively at Damievirfce that she must bo given consideration for to-day's race. The consistent but unlucky Ijtuwai will be <t competition and probably Willys Knight will be nnddlcd up again. The Australian campaign was advanced a further slage on Saturday at Jiosehill, where, to the general surprise, hilnioon scored in the big handicap and defeated a high-class field, which included many Epsom and Metropolitan Handicap candidates. It is unfortunate that the weight carried by Kilmuon was not telegraphed, but he is mire to have been in near tho minimum. Finmark was ft big order locally for the Guineas, and he acnnilsU himself well, though ho had to strike his colours nt the finish to Woorawa, runnerup to Almoner in the Breeders Plate last October. Almoner was amongst the unplaced division, and liis showing would liot be pleasing to his connections. Another failure was Biplane, who ran badly in tho Sprint; Stakes. On his showing it looks as if the four-year-old is backward. Kilhone, who ie fancied for tho Lpsom Handicap, finished last, but as this form is too bad tn be true, it is probable that ho got a bad passage.