NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8346, 5 February 1913, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “Tbs Judge.”) Tho autumn meeting of the Taranaki Jockey Club looks like proving the best in the long history of tbo club, xho acceptances being excellent. The tableland at tho back of New Plymouth is an ideal spot for a racecourse, and the club is steadily pushing ahead with its improvement scheme which, when completed, will make it a very up-to-date track. Secretary E. R. Webster is a live man at the helm. The ownerg of Grenadier appear to hold tho optimistic opinion that, the veteran is still capable of winning a race, and he has been freely entered at tho Rotorua meeting. Time was when Grenadier could foot it with the best in tho land, but it was a long timo ago. The Soult gelding has not caught the judge’s eye since June sth, 1909, and from carrying top weight has come down to tho minimum. As he was foaled in' 1902, it is hardly likely he will “come back” now, but his connections apparently think otherwise. J. Conquest, whoso luck has not been of the best for some time, headed the list of winning jockeys at the Takapuna mooting. Spalpeen and Soult were the most successful sires. The entries for the annual meeting of the Rotorua Jockey Club, which takes place next week, are much larger than usual, and, tho fixture bids fair to be a great deal more successful than has hitherto proved to bo the case. It is cabled from Melbourne that Midnight Sun is an unlikely starter in the Australian Cup, as his owner considers the weight excessive. Mr Watt’s horse has been allotted 8.8, which is 81b more than he won the New Zealand Cup under, and is 21b less than he carried in the Auckland Cup. It is 61b under weight-for-age, so that, although the horse is not leniently treated, it is difficult to see how the handicapper oonld have given him much less. . Handicaps for the Wanganui Cup are due to appear on Saturday, but no doubt Mr Morse will declare them immediately the, Egmont meeting has come to a close. The Manawatn Racing Club had a very successful meeting at Christmas, one result of which is that the stakes for. the autumn meeting have been promptly increased by ,£330. With the stakes on tho up-grade tho club need never fear any want of patronage. To Kuiti will hold its annual meeting to-morrow, and it should prove successful, despite tho fact that the railway authorities refused to run a special train from Auckland. Tho acceptances are good all round, and. as i’o, Fi u iti. : is the centre of a big district,.--Aiie meeting is not likely to want for very liberal support. Jolie Fillo won the Te Kuiti Cup last year under 9st, with Miss Livonia (8.5) third. To-morrow Jolio Fille is set to carry 8.7 in the Te Kuiti Cup, while Miss Livonia has 7.11. These are the only members of last year’s field engaged on this occasion. TTTK EGMONT MEETING. Tho attention of sportsman throughout New Zealand will centre to-day on. Dawera, whore the Figment Racing Club is to commence its summer meeting. The principal events will, of course, bo tho Egmont Cup and tho tiawera Stakes. Tno Cup was first run in 1802, and was then a two-miles affair, but tho crazo for shortening tho distance brought about a reduction to a mile and three-quarters in 1896, and four years later to a milo and a half. Dudu and Coronet aro the only horses which have twice proved successful in tho race, while Convoy holds the weight record, viz., 9.8. Last year Bronze won in a field of a dozen, of which, it seems curious to note, not. one will start in tho Cup to-day. The field should bo slightly; larger than last year, and tho probabilities are all in favour of a good race. With Labour Day, Mira. Undecided, Manawhakaha, Master Laddo, and other well-perform-ed ones among the runners, the winner will not be easy to pick out, and it looks as though half a dozen will be strongly supported. In the Stakes there is certain to be a rush to get on to Bobrikoff, who will be giving his opponents far less weight than he would if the event was a handicap. For instance, he will be meeting Masterpiece on 181 b better terms than when he so decisively defeated Sir George Clifford’s horse in the Wellington Cup. ’ The black colt Postillion (Advance — Brown Spec) has been accepted for in tho Waipapa Hack Race, and those who saw him win at Marten will no doubt favour his chance, although Crawford, who has been showing good form of late, will be fancied. There is the likelihood ef a big field in the Meremero Hack Handicap, as no less than twenty-four have accepted. One or two useful sprinters are in tho list, among them being/Lucerne, Grattan, Sylvia May, and Tree Lucerne; and these are likely to carry most money. One of the best races of the meeting should be the Flying Handicap. Dearest on whom Deeley will have tho mount, is top weight, but she will he set a very stiff task, as among the field appear tho names of Peroneal, Sanguinary, and > Distinction, all of whom have winning form to commend them, while Goldsize has been brought down from Auckland for the race, and

is said to be very fit. It should prove an exciting finish. Tho racing all round promises to be exceptionally interesting.