NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 58, 6 September 1926, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(BY "VEDETTE.")

RACING FIXTURES.

September 9, 11—Wanganui J.C. September 15—Dannevirke R.C. September 10—Dannevirke Hunt Club. September 24, 25—Ashburton County R.C. September 21, 25—Napier Park B.C. September 25, 27—Avondalo J.C. , September ?_, October I—Geraldlne R.C. October 2—Hawkes Bay J.C. October 7—Knrow J.C. October 7, 9—Whangarei R.C. October 8, 9—Otaki Maori R.C. October 9— Oamaru J.C. October 14, 16—Dunedin J.C. October 16—Carterton R.C. October 23. 25—Wellington R.C. , October 25—Waikato Hunt Club. October 25—Waipawa County R.C. October 23, 25, or 25. 27—Waverley R.C. October 25—North Canterbury R.C October 25, 27—Gore R.C October 28, 30—Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 29, 30—Masterton R.C. October 30—Banks Peninsula R.C. October SO. November I—Thames J.C. The serious part of the New Zealand-versus-Australia equine" contests commenced at Warwick Farm on Saturday, first blood going to the Australians through the medium of Windbag, Rampion/- and Pantheon. Most New /.ealanders, however, would be well satisfied .with the result. That Limerick could make Rampion do his best and run seven furlongs in Imm 26>/_sec is very encouraging as a Derby trial, and when a mile and a half has to be covered Limerick will carry the confidence and money of his countrymen. Windbag and Valicare appeared to go away from Rapine at the end 'of a mile, but that distance is all too ehort for Martian's son. It was remarkable, in fact, that he was so close to the flying Valicare in the early stages. His prospects in the long-distance veight-for-age races at Randwick cannot be despised. Pantheon, who won the Warwick l'arm Spring Handicap on Saturday, was top weight with 9.8. Star Stranger bad 8.11, _o that he was anything but disgraced, tor the English horse has a big reputation as a galloper, and when he first came to Australia was considered up to the best weight-for-age form. Star Stranger from all appearances is going to be a hard nut to crack in the Metropolitan. Quixotic, who scored ih the Campbelltown Handicap at Warwick Farm on (Saturday, is New Zealand bred, but has done most of his racing in Australia. He has been something of a disappointment, but now seems to have struck real form. While a great deal of interest was centred in the Warwick Farm fixture, the meeting between Heroic, Manfred, and The Banker in the Meinsie Stakes at Caulfield should not be overlooked. Manfred was having his first run after his misdemeanours at the barrier last year, and apparently he redeemed himself somewhat by his great battle with Heroic. Unfortunately the cable message does not state how far The Banker finshed behind the two • brilliant gallopers. His case is similar to the other New Zealanders, for the distance he covered on Saturday—nine furlongs—was all too short for him to be ■een at his best. The class in the Avondale Cup with a few exceptions is poor and not worthy of a £1500 stake. There is a slight improvement in the sprint events, while the presence of Lysander, Seatoun, and Commendation in the Avondale Guineas ■will invest that race with much interest. A large field seems certain in the Avondale Stakes, the first big moneyed two-year-old race of the year. Te Kara is a noticeable nomination for the Avondale Meeting. J. T. Humphries was in great form at the Otago Hunt Meeting on Saturday, riding three winners in succession. There were a number of thoroughbreds on the Remuera, which arrived in Wellington yesterday. In addition to Mr. Vivian Riddiford's fillies by Skyrocket and Herjwere a stallion for the Waikato Hunt Cluo and seven brought out by Mr. A. Parker for sale. Rapine, Count Cavour, and Star Stranger, who head the list in the New Zealand Cup, all raced at Warwick Farm on Saturday.. It is many years since a three-year-old won the New Zealand Cup, the last to earn distinction being Indigo, who deadheated with Warstep in 1914, while prior to that Noctuiform won in 1905. This year Kilperon, Kilbox, and High Gear are eligible, all of them handicapped at the minimum.