NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 109, 1 February 1919, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[By Glkkcojvl

There will bo racing at Riccarton and Takapuna to-day. At the former place tho O.J.C. will hold its midsummer ■meeting—a one-day affair since tho cut in the dates, patronised by the local stables only. At. the North Shore the Takapuna Club will conclude its summer gathering. At Riccarton the sport will commence with tho Hornby Welter Handicap, ono mile. Tho class is not strong, and if Moorabbo' can stay at all she may win. 'Good Hope generally shines on ;i big track in a small field. The Halstvell Handicap, nine furlongs, is for hacks, and is run over a longer course than hacks are usually found contesting. Bondage, who hails from tho stablo of F. D. Jones, was a winner at Timaru, as was llylans, and tho latin's racfl was a ten-furlong one. Link Op is tho only winner engaged in the LyHelton Plate, but her form lias not been good. Golden Grozier hails from Yaldliul'st, and was noticed running a fair race at Trcntham. , " Winter Cherry at her best is a much better performer than any of the Craven Plato field. Unfortunately, tho Englishbred mare went eoro at Trentham, and may not be caught at her best to-day. Tliis is to bo her last race unless, she shows improved form. Tho Middle Park Plate has only drawn two-year-olds this season. Surveyor, is to carry full penalties, and as Macduff is meeting him on very advantageous terms, bo should at least make it interesting for (he Yaldhurst colt. Bedford and Hiueamaru may be much nought after for their races to-day. Both animals were winners at Takapuna on Thursday. Boing such a" good horse, and likely to be all the better for the two races he had on the opening day. Master Lupin will probably have a big following in the Waiwera Hurdles to-day, in which ho has 12st. 51b. i At one stage it looked certain that tho Taranaki Jockey Club would cut out the weight-for-age race from its programme, but tho meeting bctwen Desert Gold and Gloaming will bo such a good drawing card that tho racc is_ saved for soino time. It is understood that tho club forwarded a special invitation to Mr. Lowry to be present with the mare, ' ami as ho has won the race the last two years, he agreed to race his liiaro again. She started oil the. journey y-ssterdav. and will arrive to-day. Her trainer,' F. Davis, is most hopeful of her chalice, as she lias been sprinting well in her work. H. Gray will ride the mare, and B. Deeley wiil be on Gloaming. There will be much interest ill the draw for positions, as it is considered that the horse drawimr the inside will hav an advantage. Al lien Estland- beat Bimeter in 1917 lie started from the inside, and onlv just won, and Finmark. "with a similar advantage, only just scraped home from Koesian last year. Finmark saw a very short price, hut his backers got a great shock when he had to he hard ridden at the finish to stall off Kocsian. ' (Continued on Pago 10.)