NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 262, 1 August 1919, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By GujNcoe.) Weights for the minor events at the C.J.C. Winter Meeting am duo to-day, and acceptances close on Friday of uext week, when final payments" for the Steeplechase, Hurdles, and Winter Cup arc also due. Starting' with 1 the National meeting, jockeys riding in any races will bo compelled to wear , skull caps. Hitherto it was only necessary to protect the head when engaged in a jumping ovent. It was intended to race Chaban in.the Hunt Cup at the Mnnawatu meeting, but the old felii'ow went wrong a couple ol weeks back, and the last probably lias been seen of him on the racecourse. Sir Fanciful, a dual winner at the Hunt Club meeting at Awapuni on Wednesday, only cost his present owner 200 guineas •last .autumn. He bids fair to quickly repay .the balance.of his purchase money.

It is'noticeable that the hunters' events at Hie coming National meeting have'not filled well, but in most of the other minor events the entries are as good as could be expected. ■ Oinaliu, the present favourite Tor' the National Hurdles, has' not been entered for tho Jumpers' Flat Race at-Riccartoiiv li.ut he will be given ri race in'HhcAvonhead 'Handicap, seven fiirloiiES, on the opening day. ' ■ • ■ ' Gay Lad, who has been galloping in brilliant style lately, is likely to be seen out in a race at the Grand National meeting. The imported horso is very forward, and ho should be at tho top of his form early in tho season. • Kickapoo,' who was formerly trained privately at- Stratford,' is' now in Ha■w'ora, where she will be: propaied for future engagements. The brown .mare is ' ft full sister" to .■ Flying Camp, and at times has shown a good lot of pace in her work. ' ' The gelding Gunwale; which showed ' promiso over the battens, went sore in tlio shoulder and had to be eased. This w«s unfortunate for his owner, as the chestnut is' a natural jumper, capable of. getting over any style.iof;'. jump, ..find was"■'e.o.rlain to havo captured ■& minor steeplechase. At Riccarton on Wednesday, Master Strownn, with ■]?. Ellis. up,g,ivo a finished display in a round of the big fences. His jumping . was particularly, smart, and, with nearly a.fortnight to go, he should bo in good trim by the time, tho big race comes round. . • • ■■Tho South Island horseman F. Douglas is still incapacitated as tho result- of the fall he sustained at tho Cliristchurch Hunt Club's meeting, but ho .hopes to be well enough to fulfil engagements at the Grand National meeting.' • Jockeys R. Tapp, J. Tilsley,., and O. lil'Arten went south la?t night to assist •at"tho coming Grand National fixture. The three placed horses in the .Maiden Kaco at Awapuni on Wednesday all hail from Marton. Sir Fanciful and'nautawa arc trained by J. Coyle and Coral Queen ■by T. Coleman. • Now that the buck conditions have been altered, Hineamaru-is again ftble.lo'raco in hack events, even though she has already won nearly .£IOOO in 'stakes. ■ After all, it is expected that Messrs! W. G. Stead and AV. Richmond will rnco their teams in Sydney and Melbourne during tho coming spring meetings. Tho horses Saeanof, Taunaha, Surveyor, Golden Bubble, Lady Ball, and Lady I)ay. light have left Napier for Auckland in , charge of. G. Jones, and it is hoped to get them aboard a steamer for Sydney next week.