NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 152, 22 March 1919, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[By Gwjncoe.]

The Masterton Racing Club's autumn fixture—a one-day affair—will bo held on tho Opaki racecourse to-day. neLlington patrons can travel by the mail tram which loaves Lainblon Station at 7.50 a.m., and will stop at tho racecourse siding. A return train will leave the racecourse at 5.40 p.m., and will run tluough to Wellington. . The opening event is the 1 rial Slakes, five furlongs. There are several ti\o-ycar-olds engaged, and they h'tve a big pull in the weights, 'two of I hem, in tho Highden icpresentiitive Negligee and Mr. A. M'Donald's Murihilcu, have been place-getters in handicaps, and they may command mo.sl attention to-day. T'auherenikau form points to \ ascovia as being dangerous in tho lclcphouc Hack Handicap, six lurlongs. She had been up no time when she scored at lauherenikau, and is sure to have irapro\eel sirce then. . . With a penalty on Torfrcda m the !• lying Handicap, the public nuiy prefer Chimera and Astrophel before the tupweight. Chimera put up a very attractive performance on file second day oz tho Wairarapa meeting, ami she now seems to ho back to her best lorni. Pacific Slopo may carry most support in the Autumn Handicap, for his second to Star Lady at Woodyulo was a good effort, and he was several lengths ahead of Cooing and Multicipal, whom he. meets on tho same- terms to-dav. It she has gone on (lie right way since the \wuiarapa mealing, Multaiiio should have a chance, a.s she finished third in each o[ her last two races. ' . , Three winners in Magistrate, ho.-e Wreath, and Miss Gold are at the. head of the two-year-old handicap. Iho lastnamed is a good finisher, and will be well-suited by the long straight at Upalti. lied Signal, the fop-weight in the seven furlongs Hack Handicap, will bo riddenby H. Gray. Slio scored very decisively in her last start, and will no doubt have a bit; following to-day. Several of llio runners in Hie Stewards Handicap have, engagements earlier in the day, but they will probanlv bo saddled up n second time, as it is only a one-day meeting. Tauhcrenikau form points to Sweet Tipperary and Kiltess. Stutter mav be at a short price m the Dash Hack Handicap, the opposition for which is very weak. The Demosthenes lilly will be 'ridden by JI. Gray. Gold Problem and Restful may bo the best ot the others. , ~ Tlie New Zealand-bred Probation was a good favourite in the Salisbury iVoller Handicap, seven furlongs, at the Caulfield meeting this month, but she failed to gain a place. Nanna, who was ridden by an apprentice, made all tlw running. and was just boaten oil the post by Froth and Bubble. Sporting writers in Melbourne all declared that Nanna should have won, but her rider was not equal to holding his own with his opponent. , , ... .Hare Hatch, a full-brother to Gloaming, was successful in the big handicap at the Goodwood (W.A.) mooting this month. Hare Hatch used to show pace as a two-yteir-old, but ho was in (he same class as his brother, and in his winning effort he only struggled home bj a bare, naif-head. It is reported that the well-known Hastings horseman L. Stowe, who has iust returned from France, has been ottered an engagement to ride for a successful English stake. Ho intends, leaving shortly to take up his new position. The Haivke's Bay Cup meeting weights are published to-day, and acceptances close on Wednesday next with Secretary H. S. Moss. , The Ashburton meeting will be concluded to-day. . AVeights for the principal events at he Auckland meetings are duo on Monday liecent advices from Australia state that the Martian mare Beo has finished her racing careor. and is to be retired to tlie stud.' For her inches, Bee was a great performer, but she was veiy unlucky when racing on tho other side. The steeplechaser Collector has a badly- trained shoulder and his '.rainer \V. M'Donald thinks it is doubtful if he will ever race again. Sundance. Kilmoon. <iiul Almoner will carry their owner's colours at the [lawke's Bay and Auckland autumn meetings. As R, O'Donnell will have a team racing at Riccarton, W. M Donald will go north in charge of the horses. After completing her' morniiig-'s work on the training track at Riccarton on Monday, Mr. John Grigg's well-known mare Britain Crown fGolden Knight— Britoness) died suddenly.