NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8356, 17 February 1913, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “The Judge.” ) The nominations for the Manawatu Trotting dub’s meeting indicate that a very fine afternoon’s sport should be seen at the gathering; a'l tho events having filled well. Anjong the entries for the . A.R.C. Easter Handicap and St. George’s Handicap is that good horse Fort William (Souit —Siminia), who has not carried silk since ho won the Hawke’s Bay Cup of 1911. It is evidently expected he will stand another preparation. Those who delight to get in early and back their fancies ate li.ctly to be puzzled in the big events at the A.R.O, and C,J.C. meetings. A fair number of horses have been nominated for.both meetings, included among them being such prominent horses as Bobrikoff, Sir Solo, Dearest, Sanguinary, and Imagination. The Dunedin J.C.’s big meeting will take place on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, and it looks like proving one of the most successful yet held at Wingatui. In the Cup the North Island will be represented by Mira, who has been taken south by J. WLowe. The grey horse is to be ridden by F. D. Jones, and should put up a big fight. Sister Radius is reported to have been well supported for the Publicans’ Handicap, the chief sprint event on the opening day of the Dunedin meeting. She is a brown three-year-old filly ,by Charlemagne 11. from the Hotchkiss mare Bt. Regis, and is said to' he very smart. Last season she only started once, this being in the Duno„din Stakes, won by Autumnus, in which she was not placed. Anna Carlovna is a very strong public fancy for the Dunedin Cup and, should she win, is likely to pay a very short price. There are one or two very useful gallopers in the race, notably the consistent Coroniform, Mira, who never looked bettor, Parable, who has very little more weight than she won witn last year, Brown Owl, who on her Oaks running is really well treated, and the speedy Stardancor. It looks like proving a really fine race. Tho Gluten mare Semolina,, who won the Rotorua Cup, was the greatest outsider but one in the race. She just got home from Jolie Fille, who was conceding the winner 321 b. While the Rotorua Jockey Club’s meeting was being held a dust storm swept across Arawa Park, and spectators soon looked very grimy. Backers, however, rolled up in force, £4630 going through the machine as against £3006 last year. The New Zealand-bred Puaka, now in Victoria, recently changed hands, and is being trained at Mentone by A. Ferguson. It is understood that Cosy Corner and Maple Leaf, two inmates of E. Scoullar’s stable at Ricearton, will be sent to Australia shortly to compete in pony races. A list of winning sires compiled for the “ Australasian Turf Register” for the half-year ending January 27th, shows that the progeny of Ayr Laddie have won eighty-five races of the value of £17,174. Maister is second on tho list with sixty-nine races, worth £10,742, while Wallace £10,399, Positano £10,313, and Sir Foote £7841 follow in that order. Multiform figures in eleventh place with nine races worth £4607, and Souit is credited with eleven races valued at £2763, while the following New Zealand sires also figure in the list: Menschikoff £IB2O, Royal Artillery £lslO, Machine Gun £l4Bl, Nonette £1423. Birkenhead £930, Sabretache £771, Wairiki £6lO, Btepniak £520, Royal Fusilier £503, Merriwee £5Ol, Sf. Ambrose £4lO, and Siege Gun £347. The Wanganui Trotting Club is holdmg its annual meeting on Easter Saturday and Monday. Last year tho meeting was a big success, as there are many lovers of the light harness horso in the district. The fact that now the totalisator will he in use will help to make the fixture additionally attractive to sportsmen. At the last meeting of the A.R.C. district committee the jockey’s license of M. Ryan was cancelled at his own request. Now that Bob Derrett has relinquished the saddle Ryan is probably the oldest jockey riding to-day, and ho piloted many a goon winner long before most of tho present school of horsemen were born. Well over a quarter of a century ago he was riding winners in Australia, while in New Zealand he has been first past the post on innumerable occasions. Among races he has won one can recall the A.R.C. Handicap (twice), the Northern ChamS Stakes (four times), Auckland as (four times). Welcome Stakes (twice), Great Northern Oaks (twice), Easter Handicap (twice), Avondale Stakes, Avondale Guineas (four times), and the Avondale Cup. He was also successful in tho Queensland Derby and in the St. Leger (twice). Despite being handicapped by the loss of an eye Ryan was a fine horseman, and an exceedingly popular man. For some time he has been the right-hand man for Frank MaoMnnemin, the well-known EUerslie trainer.