NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 38, 14 August 1919, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(BY "SIR LANCELOT.")

The Dannevirke Racing Club, io con.juncfcion with the Dannevirke Hunt Club, has issued an attractive programme for the Spring Meeting, to he held on 10th and 11th September. On the opening day the principal events are : The Spring Handicap, of 300 soys, one mile and a quarter; Dannevirke Steeplechase, of 350 soys, about three miles; and Otanga Handicap, of 250 soys, six furlongs. Nominations for all events close to-night at 8 o'clock with Mr. Walter Dobson (secretary). In connection with the Spring Meeting of the Marton Jockey Club, to be held on 3rd and 4th September, owners and trainers who intend making the trip are reminded that nominations close tomorrow with Mr. Arthur Way (Secretary). Mr. R. 'A^cton-Adams was not present at Riccarton on Tuesday to witness the success of Lochella in the Grand National Steeplechase, -worth 1050 soys to the owner of the winner, the most important success in the'"royal blue, with white crosses" since they have been carried in' the . Dominion. The Dunedin owner was formerly a patron of J. ._H. Prosseri's Porrrua stable, and, during other successes gained while his team was trained there, were the Wellesley Stakes with Rockbound-, and the M'Lean Stakes with Lisp. A couple of seasons back Mr. Acton-Adams decided to have his horses trained at . Wingatui, and they went into C. Christie's stable. After Graftella defeated Nocturnal, at Donedin in the spring, Mr. Acton-Adams purchased himi, and also his full brother, Lochella, bringing his team up to ten. They were in the private sale list before the Wellington Meeting, when Lochella could have been purchased for 250gns 4 at which figure he would have proved, a. bargain. On his first appearance in a steeplechase he won the Hack and' Hunters' Steeplechase on the concluding! day of the Wellington Meeting. His next appearance was at Riccarton, where he was winning the Homeby Steeplechase.when he,ran off at the last fence. This performance gained him many friends for the big race, and', as his subsequent schooling work was of a. satisfactory nature, ho was sent out favourite. . S. Henderson was lucky to get the ride, as, had Troublesome started, he would have had' to ride that horse. The solid, pace set by Lochella effectually settled all the top-weights. The time put up, slightly improved on Eclairs record, 'registered in 1907, Lochella, although not a Stud Book horse, has successful Australian blood on both sides of his pedigree. His sire, Grafton! Loch, wus imported to Dunedin from Sydney as a yearling by Air. L. C. Hazlitt, and started winning as a two-year-old. Ho was successful in his first race at Dunedin, .and- raced longer on . the turf than stallions" generally do. He was by Grafton—-Loch Lotta, by Lochiel —Lady Trenville, by Trenton, a successful New South Wales family^ Estella (dam of the Grand National Steeplechase winner) also won races in Southland, where she-was bred. She was by Epicure, one of half-a-dozen sons 'of Tubal' Cain, brought from South Australia in the early 80's, and the only one that failed to make good as a racing proposition in the Dominion. Epicure was raced by Messrs. Mason and Vallance, and after failing at Dunedin was sold to the Lakes district, where he went to the stud. At the same time ' the partnership . named was represented by another of. the breed in Turquoise, a good performer, who was afterwards sold to Mr. John Marshall, and won, among other races, the Auckland Easter and Autumn Handicaps. They were great stayers and weight carriers, and could race all day, reminding the writer of the Painter tribe, while, they had legs and constitutions like the Apremonts. Another of thev breed was Bayard, who won races up and down the coast in.the colours of Mr. Sam Powell, and later in the' ownership of Mr. Joseph Paul. He won the Wanganui Stakes, then a two-mile race, two years in succession. On the second occasion he beat Armourer (another Tubal Cam) by half a head. The last named won races for Mr. D. Campion, and. afterwards for J. George, the New: Plymouth ownertrainer. One day, at Palmerston, he won a hurdle race and a flat race. '. Emir Bey won races in Mr. Patsy. Butler's colours in Canterbury and Dunedin, arid was afterwards sold toGisborne, where he was a good performer, before going to the stud. Last but not least of _ the South Australian contingent was Taiaroa (a full brother to Emir Bey), who was raced by Messrs. Stephenson and'iHazlitt, of Dunedin. He war, a very successful performer at the old Fdrbury Course, and also, won races at Riccarton. Another of Stuart WaddftU's team was Ouida (a. half-sister to Birhdoora). but she was not as good as the-Tubal-Cain horses mentioned, although she Won several races for the Dunedin owners, when Taiaroa and Captain Webster were the mainstays of the stable. ; Ouida produced Skirmisher (by Vanguard), winner of the Canterbury Derby : and Cup, and a good handicap performer. St. Ouida (by St. Clair). also won races, but none of her progeny by Multiform turned out of any account. The progeny of male members of the family are seldom heard of as winners. Whether they stayed too long on the turf or did not get' many opportunities at the stud, the writer cannot say. Entries for the New Zealand Cup close at 8 p.m. to-morrow.