TURF NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9020, 6 January 1908, Page 6

TURF NOTES.

(By "Zetland.")

When Eiflemaid fell while running in the Wairarapa Cup she sustained .minor injuries, and was cut about the limbs slightly. It is expected, however, that the little mare will be ready for work again in the course •of a few days. Weights for the Wellington meeting are published elsewhere. All the best performers of this district are engaged at Trentham this month, consequently there is a greater amount of local interest than usual being taken in the fixture. Mahuta is expected back from Auckland to-day. The black colt ran unsuccessfully at the Northern in.?, and his owner no doubt considers it would have been better to have easjd him off in his work after the New Zealand Cup contest rather than pat him such a task as trying to win tha Auckland Cup so soon afterwards. Sherlock Holmes has beeh transferred to K. McKenzie's stable at Tauherenikau. While trained by M. McGrath at Opaki, The Officer gelding won races in good style, and for tha sake of his owner it is hoped that he may retain his form. The racehorses Hinupai and Variation are to be placed on the private :aio list this week. Both are sound trid in racing condition. The McGrath stable was in good ' <.' m at Tauherenikau last we?k. To Vn the three open events on the i'-s't day with Moloch, Sherlock 1 ilmes and Aberration, and to score i.ain with the latter in the Welter . Thursday was decidedly creditThe stable was unfortunate in ;jing the services of Riflemaid for i second day, for otherwise the •:!; of wins may have been in•vjssed. i The well-known trainer 11. Fletcher, V 10 has been residing at Blenheim :tr the past eight months, has return- - to Ciareville, where he has securi 1 the stables previously leased to •A. 1-Ie has Silken Rein in nice con- ' and expects to have other

horses to fill the boxes in due course. The disqualification of B. Oliver by the Wairarapa Racing Club for the riding of Sherlock Holmes has caused a deal of discussion in racing circles. I understand that the Stewards were unanimous in arriving at tbe decision the wisdom of which, however, is open to question. In the first place those who have watched the running of Sherlock Holmes always notice that, when he has done pulling he has done galloping. It i<3 useless, therefore, to ride him out with the whip. In the second place it is not usual for a rider taking hold of a horse in order to enable another to win, to get such a big break on the field as Oliver did on his mount, for on entering the straight he was fully eight lengths in front of the field. The second day's running when Sherlock Holmes met Aberration on six pounds better terms over the same distance, when the latter again won easily, did not strengthen the club's decision to disqualify Oliver. Taking the various points into consideration I am of the opinion that the club woulJ be doing an act of justice if the Stewards decide to remove the. ban at their next monthly meeting. H. McPhse has in work a nice stamp of a gelding by Euroclydon Epsom. He competed in the Maiden at Tauherenikau on Wednesday, but had not been in loijg enough to show winning form. The Wairarapa Racing Club contemplates making further additions to its already up-to-date appointments. The Stewards' stand is to be shifted further into the saddling paddock, and the grandstand is to be enlarged and the lawn space extended. It is understood that Mr W. E. Bidwill will send his two fine colts Elevation and Gravitation over to Australia to contest some of the principal events of the Commonwealth at Easter time. Elevation is at present being spelled, but is in splendid condition, and showing no ill effects from the racing he has done this season. Gravitation has not done much work of late, hence his defeat in the Juvenile Handicap at the Wairarapa meeting. Should the trip eventuate the good wishes of New Zealand's sportsmen will go with Mr Bidwill's pair of high-class performers.