TURF NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9064, 13 April 1908, Page 6

TURF NOTES.

(By "Zetland.") The Wairarapa bred horse, Matakokiri, has been nominated for the Avondale Steeplechase. In his schooling work over big obstacles the Saracen gelding has been giving his mentor satisfaction. The Maryborough trained Merrie Zealand will probably be a contestant at the Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting at Easter. J. Russell, the well-known Martinborough trainer, who has Narcotic an;l Merrie Zealand 111 lint; condition at present, is having four more loose boxes erected, and will soon have a goad average team in work. The Tauherenikau course is in exceptionally fine order just now, and all the arrangements for the Easter meeting are well forward. The entrance to the straight has been widened, which will minimise the rials of accidents occurring. Accommodation has been ordered for a number of outside horses, and the meeting is expected to be a decided sueCGSSL Mr W/E. Bidwill has received advice from his trainer to the effect that Elevation is doing good work at Randwick. The Doncaster Handicap, one mile, will be run on Saturday next, and a considerable number of the New Zealand sporting public will be interested in the result. The Merrie England's run well with age. Platypus, who has been in training for about seven seasons, scored at thf* recent Masterton meeting, while Tikarawa, who has been racing about the same time, won the Autumn Handicap at Reefton on Friday last. Acceptances for the Wairarapa meeting are due to-night, and it is expected that owners will respond as liberally as usual. The handicaps are not framed on what is generally called the "flattering" system, and at least several owners are of the opinion that their horses have been asked to carry more than their performances warrant. The adjustment for the Hurdles appears to be an equitable one. In the Easter Handicap Aberration is asked to carry Bst 41b, which is lOlbs more than he carried in the Waipipi Cup laßt month, when he ran third. He is certainly not well treated. Merrie Rose, whn ran second in the same race, carrying 7st 41bs, has been raised 12lbs, and is therefore not well in, when it is taken into consideration that San Julie, Tupono and Mataari have only been risen 21bs, 51bs and 21bs respectively. In the' Weltei*, Osiris should not have to give Lochiela 61bs, and is within one pound of Kelso, a recent double winner. Sunbonnet has been allotted her full weight at 93t 21b, and Gawain, who ran unsuccessfully at the Masterton meeting, with 7st 111b, in the March Handicap, of seven furlongs, could have been let off with less than Bst 9lb. In the Makahi Hack, of five furlongs, Conquer is assessed rather highly at 7st 91b in being placed on the same mark as Royal Maid, who won races at Taratahi and (Martinborough this season, while the first named has yet to score a|vvin. Tumut, 7st 21bs, could have been given the minimum, as he has only been in work a'f"w weeks, and as yet has not faced a starter. Taking the handicaps on a whole, however, I do not expect many defections, and the acceptances should form a good average of the number of nominations.