NOTES AND COMMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 7 January 1931, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Footfall registered a notable performance when he won the Waikouaiti Cup last Thursday. He represented good class over a journey when at his best, and he included a Dunedin Cup among his successes. He had been spelled in the autumn of 1928, and, though lie made his reappearance in the following spring, he ran only once, after which lie had to go out for another long rest. Up to that stage he was raced by Mr C. G. Dalgety. but when his team was dispersed last Easter Footfall was purchased by his trainer (G. Murray Aynsley) for 70 guineas. The veteran gelding, now in his ninth year, has been doing useful work at Ricearton for ome time, and now that he has shown a return ee winning form, he may go on to further successes.

Queen’s Salute, who won her first race at Hastings last Thursday, is a wellgrown three-year-old by Chief Ruler from Soot, by All Black from Salute, by Soult from Lady Musket, by Blairgowrie from Muskerina by Musket. This is a very successful family. Salute being a good performer in her day, while her half-sister, March, is the dam of some good winners, including Te Kara, who dead-heated in the Auckland Cup seven years ago and won outright a year later. Queen’s Salute is only a novice, and she should develop into a good w.nner in open company, provided ler banner manners improve. The South Canterbury owner, Mr E. Cuthhertson, made a fortunate purchase when lie secured Shortly from the North Island owner, Mr W. R. Kernball, during the New Zealand Cup Meeting. Though a five-year-old. and not out of hack class, lie ha shown promise as a stayer. He realised expectations in this respect last Thursday, when he won the Wyndham Cup, defeating a useful field. His ability to run a mile and a quarter will give Shortly plenty of other chances of winning decent stakes at Southern meetings. The death occurred at Oringi a few days ago of Commendation, by Lirnond from Eulogy. Commendation cost 200 guineas as a yearling, being purchased by Mr W. H. Gaisford, in whose colours he did all his racing. As a two-year-old he won the Wellesley Stakes at Trentham, and the Welcome and Champagne Stakes at Riecarton, besides other ev&pts. He was a fine performer as a three-year-old, winning eight races and dead-heating on another occasion out of ten starts. He von both Derbies and botli St. Legers, creating an Australian record for a mile and three-quarters when he accounted for the New Zealand St. Leger at Trentham in 2.571,. His other victories included the Hawkes Bay Guineas and the Awapuni Gold Cup, while he deadheated with Lysander in the Avondale Guineas. Commendation was taken to Australia where he went amiss, and he had been more or less unsound since then. He was returned to the Dominion some time ago, and a report had it that he was about to again enter upon an active career.

Tim success of Lady Quex in the Palmerston North Stakes was fully anticipated, but it did not prove quite the hollow victory predicted, for Consent chased her home to make the Lord Quex mare fully extend herself. L. G. Morris, who had ridden Lady Quex in the Feilding Stakes, was on Consent at Awapuni, but with 11. Gray in the saddle, the Taranaki representative did not lose anything on that score. * Although drawn on the outside, Gray kept his mount on the move and eventually secured benefit from those tactics as the tapes went up. First out.. Lady Quex gave way to King Colossus within the first furlong and allowed the two-year-old to make the pace to the straight entrance, where she again took charge to eventually win by half a length from Consent, with Esteem, who had been 1 unlucky at the turn, but a nose away. Mr T. A. Duncan was represented at the Manawatu fixture bv '.three horses and each got on the winning list, Consent running a first and a second, Avro a first and a second and Cadland a first aid a third. L. G. Morris has done well with the horses under his charge during F. Tilley’s absence, and it is reported that even following upon the veteran trainer’s return, “tinowy” will continue to train for the Hunterville sportsman, but will make Marton his headquarters. Arrow Lad’s decisive victory in the President’s Handicap at the Manawatu fixture, following as it did his win over nine furlongs at Woodville, indicates that good sprinter as he is he must be reckoned now an even better middledistance horse. There is no doubt that he is the next best of his sire’s stock to Toxeuma racing at present, and at a low scale of weights he is a danger to any company. liis total stake earnings-now amount to £4225, £B9O of which has been captured this season.

Pytliia, a three-year-old filly by Psychology from the Boniform mare Flora. Macdonald, dam of Boyal Mac and Dumblane, broke a run of bad luck that has lately been following the stable of G. New, when she scored a pointless victory in the Highden Handicap at the Manawatu meeting.