NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 14, 11 October 1918, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

I'BIT GIiBKCOK.'.. Acceptances for On first day of tho iilastcrton liaciiiii' uub's spring Jtec-tiug close at 5 o'clock - iS-flny. Ciood-eized Holds arc engaged in all the evonts at the Dtincdin. Jockey Ohio's Spring meeting, which opens at Wingatui to-day. 'I'lie itrst event, on tno card i» the Spring Hurdles, one inilo and three-.tt.iiartors. The Held is not .1 siroug one, iinrl Nocturnal may be a good favourite, as his owner thinks lie is lot-ward enough to enter for the Auckland Cup. J{o is to be ridden by S. Keid. Good Hope is on the improve and may he the best, ol' the others. The ilnmigntua Handicap, seven furious?, is for hacks, and ban drawn an acceptance of liftecn. (Jsctul borscs, in Burrnngong, Ardmoiv, ami Warfarin, arc at the top of the handicap, itoyal Star, a winner at Ashburton, is in the middle of the field, and Talitha, who y:jih noticed showing 0, lot of pace at Utalii is only carrying 41b. abovu the luinimuiu. A lot of interest .will be taken in the M'Xican Sialics, lour furlongs, which is tin; (irsl classic two-year-old oveul of the season. 'I'ho Olilionl stable will rely on llacdull un'd Itoyal Stan, who is sired by Autunnuis, and is reported to be as fast as his dam, Kirriemuir. Others well spoken of arc Foo Chow and Some Kid (Uirken-lirad-Sequin). Tiic last-named and Koyal Stag were both timed to run tour furlongs belter than 6Cscc. «t Jiiccai'ton on Saturday. Several of the runners in the Jlosgicl Handicap are not forward enough to see out a fast race, ami under this heading conio iforke's Drill, Mnrgeriuc, and Killai'd. Kose J.'ink lias been in winning vein Intely, and she is ''sure to again give 11 good account of herself. Thaddeua a.nd Cynic should also run well. The Guineas looks like being a match between Long Mango ami Scornful, as both have had a race and should on this account be better able to see out the milo than J'unltn. ][. dray will ride Scornful, who may start favourite. Kilboyttc, Mohawk, Buller, and lliehaela, who head the list iji the Hlectrio Handicap, are all making their first appearance of tho season, and Daytime, who is receiving weight from thont, has been sharpened up by a nice. In his last start the Hyiiiettus gelding got off badly, hut this must have been an accident, as ho .is an unusually nuick beginner. It will be 110 surprise to find him the best back, ed of the starters to-day. it is a very weak Hold that Is carded to run in the Taioma Handicap, six furlongs. Hon Spec litis a big private reputation, and if lie takes his place in the field to-day ho may go out. favourite.

Tho lticcarton trainer, i\ -Christmas, expects nouns additions 10 lis team next week. Amongst the additions will be a brother to jviury Cross and a brother to tllcudower.

Mr. J. O. K. Grieg's two importations Gay Lad and Soxb.v. who havu been in \V. M'JJonald's iticarton .stable, have been sent homo and may ho spoiled.

Nows comes lroiu Southland of the death of the steeplechaser Recharge, by fionown—Tomboy.

It is lvportcil that Jlr. E. Short, has sold the four-year-old gelding Uonnino, by Signor—Helen l'ortluncl, for 701)gti3., a rather big sum to give for a gelding.

Fiat, the colt by All Black from La. Notte (dam of Koctuiform, Midnight Sun, and Nightfall), has been sold by T. }'. Quinlivun to Mrs. 11. A. l'erry. It is said a big price was naid for the youngster.

Disdainful, who has (lono very little 'work since racing at Amberley last month, is again doing light tasks at Kit-carton.

Tho champion nmro Wai'stcp has fonled a colt to Sollerino, and is to visit Sanquhar. Another foaling reported is a lllly by All Black from Cruoinolla.

Mr. ,T. B. Heicl informed "Sentinel." of tho "dago Witness," that, owing to illhealth ho had decided to hold a clearing sale of his stud ai some time towards the end of January or in February. The news will be received with general regret as the stud is comprised of as line :i collection of thoroughbreds as bus ever been gathered together in Australasia. Several imported mares figure in tha list, and the four stallions-Kilbroney, Sunny Lake, Winkie, and Markhopc-will also go under the hammer. As evidence of his intention to drop breeding on n large scale, Jlr. lleid has also decided to sell of! his land, and has, in fact, ulri'iidy inado a start in that direction by selling a block to a farmer whoso new residence is now in the course of building. Sic anxiety and worry of tho personal management, of a large stud Mr. lieid finds.rather too trying, and some idea of the work entailed may be gathered from the fact that there aro at present well over iffl) marcs, to say nothing of yearlings, etc., ruryiing in the paddocks. It wil bo interesting to see what' Kilbrouoy will bring, as a little whilo ago an offer of HOOOghs. was made for the sire. . The Sarto gelding Art is at present being hacked about liiccarlon, but he is to go up to his owner's station in a few days. Varnish was scratched at 9.10 a.m. on Wednesday for. tho New Zealand Cup. So far no rider has been engaged for Jiorke's Drift In the New Zealand Cuii. hut it, is probable that O. Kn.icraon will he oficred the mount, if he is not retained for Cynic. It. is anticipated that Mr. 11. l'riedlander will be represented at the Wellington Soring Meeting by Sedd-el-Tlahr, Foo Chow, Marjory, Royal Star, and Sleepyhead.