NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 211, 31 May 1919, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[Bγ Glenooe.] The Auckland Winter Meeting, which opons to-day, is the biggest jumping gathering in the North island. Aβ is usual at this meeting, the fluids arc on the large side, but ae plenty of rain has fallen there will no doubt be numerous scratchings. : The Jlaiden Steeplechase, two miles and a half, is the first evont on the card. The recent successes of l'olthqgue will keep him in the publio eye, and though ho has list. 121b. he is sure to have a hoat of supporters, fallow and White, who is in at the minimum, ran well over brush fences at Avondale. There ie a field of 40 horses in the Jervois Handicap, seven furlongs, and tho majority of them will go to the- post. Haok events always fill remarkably well in the Auckland district, principally because there is, only one over a sprint couree each day. Admiral Advance and To Miro are both useful hacks that are in at tho minimum. . ' Tho Maiden Hurdles has not got a very high-class lot engaged, but tho top-weight, Muneter, can euminon up a lot of pact, and he may break tho fiold up in the iirst half of tho journey. Signature is an improving horso that may get into a jlace. The etar item of tho day's card is the Groat Northern Hurdles, hvo miles and a half. Tho Nntionul winner, Kauri King, ie No. 1 on tho card, but list. Sib. is a big weight for a liorse that has not had a race over fences since tho spring. Still, he nets well in soft going, and may bo inoi'o forward than is expected. I'or some roason Art is not fancied. He is a firstrato performer when at his Lest, but,if tho going is at all heavy he con be ruled out. Eui'ipos is reported to havo developed a "leg," but it cannot bo serious or ho would have been withdrawn. Sloight-of-Hand is the ruling fancy, but ho requires tho going to be firm before lie can show his best form. Sir inohor has been off tho tracks for a couple o( days, and evidently he has gone wrong once more. Thrace is hardly up to National form, and Easier Lupin cannot act in wet going. On tho other liniiil, Paruoa shines in it, and tho I'cilding Cup winner won his first jumping rucii in very heavy going at Marton in tho spring. Cynic haSj schooled well once or twice, but lie hardly seems seasoned enough to run out two miles pml a half. The Cornwall Handicap, one n.ile and a quarter, lias a useful fiold accepted for. Bedford, 9st. 12ib., generally shapes well in soft going, but Kiltnrd is (oo long a stridor to be at home in il. Jlangainahoe, who has previously won this event, rends wyll to-day. Ho will , have tho services of H. Robiuson, and ho ilwass finishes well. Hyllus bas beon

tiring in his work, and lie is not now so well fancied as he was fi'.'iuo time back. Gray will be on Alteruliun, and the Taranaki horse is expected to shapo well. Poneton and Benzine are two piomising hunters in the Hunt Club Hurdle?, but the ancient Dnnrobin and Jaunnmda aro again engaged, and are always hard , to beat. The Members' Handicap lias several good sprinters engaged. Two iiijeiy ones are the quick-beginning Mill-o'-Gowrie, 9st. 51b., and Hurry Up, Sst. l'Jlb. Welter weights suit the latter, who is a good linislier. Tho special train arrangements for the King's Birthday are advertised in this ißsue.