THE TURF

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 106, 29 January 1919, Page 7

THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS [Bγ' Glbncob.] The Takapuna Meeting is to be opened to-day, continued to-morrow, and concluded- on Saturday. Amongst tho runners in tho Trial Handicap is the consistent, but unlucky, General Stephen, who has several times been, placed without winning a. race. Aotrice, * member of J. AVilliamson'B stables, is a filly with a reputation'for speed.'. ■■'■At Ellerslio Athens II was very, sore, and ho may not ; begin: quickly ouough to have a chanco in tho Zcalandia Handicap. Of tho others, Hyllus, Tst..9lb., has repeatedly shown that ho can gallop with the best. ' : '•• '-.-" They (ire a Very weak -field' in tho Jiauruki Hurdles, and if Master Lupin is anything 'like himself he may have no .difficulty in accounting for them. Threo years ago tho Lupin gelding- ran third in the Grand National Hurdles, ■•• •■ Tokji will bo at a-' short price in the Clip, in which he is to have the services of H. Gray. Blue Cross and Killard may do well amongst the light-weights. The two-year-old ' Hetana raced so consistently at Ellerslie that he is sure to have a, big following in the Cnlliope Handicap, fivo furlongs. Princess Charming.and Finkop will both have plenty of 6upportors. ' - ' ■ . ' .If. Master Lupin starts in the Hauraki Hurdles backers may niako Thrace the favourite in the bpon huixllo race, the company of which is not by any means strong.- ...... Through winning the Foxton Cnp All Over.will now hnve to put up- a 71b. p'en- ■ alty.- in the Taljapuna Cup. to-day," This will make lus weight Bst. 111b. - ■ The. victory of Arch Marella in the 'A.J.C. Anniversary Handicap will bo pleasing•-. to the Napier owner of Statnette, as .the last-named. is a fullsister to the champion Sydney performer. Statuette is.-to make her first appearance in the Trial Plate at Pahiatua, and will be ridden by C. Emerson,. . J. O'Shea was expected back in Auckland by the -Niagara, last week, but he did' not arrive, and now it is given out that he intends -staying in Australia for some. time. ' ' La Pucello/whn gave her supporters a good return when she won the Maiden Hack event of seven furlongs at Foxton, is.a five-year-old chestnut daughter of Gold Crest and- Jeanhie" D'At<V and is, ■therefore/-a half-sister : t<v Demos and Orleans. La. Pucello was one of the last to leave the "mark, but worked-her way through'tho field in'bold fashion, and won so attractively as to suggest she ■will do furthor service for AV. S. Tatham, who race.d her dam with considerable success 'many.'years'' ago. ! Tho Masterton sportsman, Mr. F; Dorrset, has .good reason.to remember the AVellington Cup with especial affection, for his. colours liayo been carried prominently on three occasions in the Trentham race. In ISO!) Bluo Ribbon scored, and four years after tho Bluejacket inare claimed tho attention of. the judge Sir Solo led the field home, while this year his representative, -Red Ribbon, ran a dead heat with Rowi Poto for first honours. Eedßibbon.is a daughter of Blue Ribbon, and wns bred by her owner. . . That good horsolCing OlFa, ■wiunpr ,of the Canlfleld Cup-last year, has developed lameness, and hns'been struck, out of all 'his autumn engagements. The- AnglorAustralian sportam'm,-;. itr. 'A. AV. Ccx, recently retired Gay Crusader to. the stud, flnd though the , servico fee •was fixed at -lOOgns; the horse's list was full in a'week/ .. London files draw' attention to the fact that when' Marshal Petain made his famous entry into Jletz ho did so on a .thoroughbred horso-which .yfas.pueewe.il ■known.on French raceeourfes.' This was the. steeplechaser Monsieur Monestyr, by Fjdonard lII— Grey, Dawn 11, which h!<d an honourable.career on the steeplechairo courses, narticularly at Auteuil. He wa.i an excellent jumper, of-splendid tempfr, and is a model in conformation. At tho outbreak of hostilities, jtfoiisisnr Monestyr was acquired by General A r nrin, and"carrie.d' the ltirter throughout the campai.sn -at', the heat , of ono of the ravelrr divi'Biqns. Itwas at the request of General. Variri that MaHlial PetanvTode Monsieur Monestyr into Metz. .-" .