NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 175, 19 April 1919, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[By Glencoe.J

The Auckland Racing Clubs -Piaster gathering will commence to-day, and will be concluded on Monday. The President's Handicap, one mile and a tiuartor, is the opening event. Then, a.re ten acceptors, but the class is i.ofc high. Ivillard, All Talk, and Wamta cppear to bo the best of the bunch. The Great Northern Oaks may be a match between the Egmont and Taranakl Cup winner, Afterglow, and the Wooilville and Rangitikei Cup winner. Star My. Both fillies are very useful, and the contest should be a keen one between the pair. Star Lady is to be ridden by li. Jlorris and Afterglow will be steered by A. Mackic, who scored on her at New Plymouth. Morris is the more cxperi.en'ced of the pair, and ho may get trie, last run in with Star Lady. In the north. Thrace is much fancied for the Brighton Hurdles. Thrace has been racing most* consistently smco ho scored at Avondale in the spring. However he has not in the past shown any strong partiality for the big, upright fencw at Ellerslie, and fihould he hit n couple of them the 12st. on his back will then tell n tale. Waimai, 10st., is very well handicapped, and Tenacious, 9st. 81b., is a eood'stayer. The issue in the Champagne Stakes im rest between Affectation, Iletaua, and Crenides, hut on Hawke's Bay form tno first-named should again account for tlio other pair. • The star item of the day is the Easter Handicap, one mile. If Desert Gold ana Killowen both start the Lowr.v bracket nia-y be the most fancied with the public. Spanner has beon galloping very fast on the track, and last week lie put l.p a record for the season over seven furlongs. Ho will coiiie in for a lot of support, as ho is such a good beginner and is suro of a. position early in tlio race. The two light-weights, Rebekah and Tuunaha, liavo both done all that has been asked of them. The former is a very free goer, but she may not see out a strong nine. On the other hand, Taunaha is a slugjish mover, but if L. Morris can get the best out of him he should ho in the fighting lino at the finish. His performance behind Affectation in .the Hawkes Bay.' Stakes was a good one, and none of the starters in to-day's race could have bettered it. • , In the Onslow Stakes, five furlongs, Mr. A. M'.Donahl holds a very strong hand with Murihulm and Rose Wreath, both of whom are at the top of the handicap. Stammer raced well at Hastings, and Red Pepper will carry the Lowry colours. . The biggest field of tlio day is earned for the Nelson Handicap, one mile. The top-weight, Imaribbon. finished second to Vasoovia at Tauherenikau last month. Others with form to recommend them are Woody Glen. Pierrot, and Gatherer. The distance, seven furlongs, in the Eden Handicap would appear to lie a trifle far for Torfrecla, but on the -.ither hand she is not meeting anything like the class she has been opposed to lately. Mossmau and Rekanui were both winners at the country fixtures. The locallyowned Active is nicely weighted'with 7st., and he will no doubt come in for strong support. ' Visitors to the Feilding meeting on Easter Monday will be pleased to learn that a soecial train will leave Feilding offer the"last race and connect with the Wellington train leaving Palmeiston North at 6 p.m. This will enable the return journey to be made in the day.

FIXTURES. April 19—Tuapeka County J.C. Jubilee. April 19 and 21—Auckland R.C. Autumn. April 19, 21, 23, and 2fi—Australian J.C. Autumn. April 21—Waipukurau J.C- Annual. \pril 21 and 22—Canterbury J.C. Autumn, April 21, 22—Feilding J.C. Autumn. April 21—Kumarn R.C- Autumn. April 23—Westland R.C. Autumn. April 2(s—Greymouth J.C. Autumn. April 26, 28—Wairarapa R.C. Autumn. April 30—Reefton J.C. Autumn. May 1 and 3-Wollington R.C. Autumn. May 7 nnd B—Manamtu R.C. Autumn. May it and 15-Egmont.R.C. Winter. May 15, and 16-South Canterbury J.C. Autumn. June 3, 5, and 7—Dunedin J.C. Winter.