NOTES AND COMMENTS

(S~ "SIX LANCELOT.")

Sir Ealpli was the only double winrter at the Egmont Meeting. In the Opeke Handicap he met Henry Clay on 101b worse terms than on the previous day, and the pair again finished in the order named. Sir Ralph is trained by P. E. Pope at Ellerslie for Mr. H. T. Reid.

Heads separated ' Revocation and Mia Cara in the Tawhiti Handicap ou the previous day, and with 51b in her favour in the Mokoia Handicap yesterday the Fordell representative managed to turn the tables. This was the Boniform mare's first win this season. At Wangaimi in the early part of the season she acted as runner-up to Cliakwana and Rangitero. each day, and hid been off the scene since racing at Trenthain in October.

Zetes and Otter, winner and runner-up in the Tongahoe Hurdles on the first day, wer& unplaced in the Manawapou Hurdle* won by Deeside, who was among the also started division in the Waihi Jfandicap on Wednesday. Deeside is owned by Mr. W Slattery and trained by P. Johnson, a successful mail with jumping horses. As a rider lie wan associated with the successes of Jenny, Muscatel, Dummy, Kaitere, Mutiny, Cavalier, Battleaxe, Whalebone, The Friar, and other horsea in important races. Deeside is by Cheshire (sire of Revocation)* a horse imported by the late Mr. Cr. G. Stead, by Tarporley—Maybud. Vanilla (dam of Deeside) was ono of Mr. John Heslop's breeding by Cruiser i'rop Juno, by- Don Juan—!>\veet Sauce, by Cassivelaiums. Vanilla also had progeny by St. Cyr and St. Clements, but X fancy Deesido is the first of her stock to win. Deeside is engaged in ths Great Northern Hurdles with the minimum weight and does not incur a penalty for yesterday's win. Nita, ruuntr-up to Deeside, is in the Great Northern Steeplechase.

The . Ngamutu Handicap, one mile and a distance, went to Fidelio, a placegetter behind Pohehe and Pink Tie on the first day. i Fidelio is a stable mate of Bisogne in W. Mantle's team, and is owned by Mr. W. C. Phillips, a steward of the Taranaki Jockey Club, who used to race Di Gama. Fidelio is one of Mi. T. H. Lowry's breeding, by Finland—Cmilatrice, and is a halfsister to the New Zealand Cup winner, Downfall. Her only previous success this season was at the Taranaki Cup Meeting. Pergola-, Madam Eistori, and Birkenetta, place-getters in the Telegraph Handicap, five furlongs,- on the opening day, all failed in the- Shoi'Ls Handicap, run over the same distance. Th 6 places were filled by three of the a-lsc-started division on Wednesday. The winner, Inah (Coronet —Inaha), is owned by Mr. H. Spi'att, who used to race Mendip. Her previous successes this season were at Stratford and Opunake, where she won two events the same daV. She is oiily three years old, and should be heard of in the open class next season.

Under the welter weight of 10.3 Eewi Poto ran a good race in the Maiiaia Handicap, one. mile and a -distance, defeating all his opponents except Goldeft Grafton, who was in receipt ot a liberal allowance in weight. Golden Qrafton was not among the competitors on the previous day. On her last appearance, at Trentham, She rah second to Heeltap in the Hutt Handicap, on the concluding day. Golden Grafton is engaged in the Autumn Handicap at the Manawatu meeting. A 101b penalty for yesterday's win brings her weight up to 7.3. Rewi Poto will meet her on 101b better terms at Awapuni than at Egmont.

Tho Borough Handicap winner, Salutary, was the least fancied but one in a field of fourteen which contested the Railway Handicap on the opening day. Sir Ralph was also among tho unplaced division in the event named. Salutary is a beginner at the game, and is trained by J. Fryer at Hawera. He is a five-year-old gelding by St. Paul—^Emigration. The French general, Nivelle, was in his young days a gentleman rider ot mark in his own country. La Chronique dv Turf reminds its readers that General Nivelle some 30 years ago was a wellknown rider in military races, and that he has ever since then remained a- fervent admirer of tho thoroughbred. His chief successes as a. cross-country rider were gained •on Cpmte de Ohargcres's 1 mare Sapho, on whom he won three steeplechases in. great style in 1887 at Paray le Mouial, Moulins, and Roanne in the course of as many weeks. She was a highly-bred mare by Uhlan out of Saltarefle, the latter of whom Won the French Derby of 1874 for M. K. Fould,:

Diadem, : winner of the One- Thousand ■Guineas, is a. full sister to Diadurnenos, by Orby (Orme —Rhoda B.) from Donofct-a.. by Donovan—Eiriovata. Another, 'of Donetta's progeny" in Don Eeynaldo (by St. Frusquin) takes up stud duty at Mr. Frank Reynokls'sstud in New South Wales next season. The runner-up, Sunny Jane, is by Sunslar (Simdridge— Doris) from Maid of tho Mist, by Cyllene—Sceptre, by Persimmon—Ornament. The other place-getter, Nonpareil, is by Radium (Bend Or—Taia) from Quintessence (by St. Frusquin— ■■ Margarine). The sum of 12,000 soys wilt be distributed in stakes in. Queensland next month. It is understood that Bunting will be a performer in the principal events. Mr. E. J. Watt was represented in previous years by Sea Pink and Moonbria.

Ireland (Kiloheran —Savaanah) won the First-class Plate at the Canning Park (W.A.) Meeting recently. K. Quinlivan has added to his Hastings team threa youngsters sired by Demosthenes. They are a filly from Formula, a bay gelding from Golden Ball, and a filly from Stvesa. T. F. Quinlivan is handling half adozen yearlings at Hastings!. They are a black colt, nnmed Pontoon^ by Wolawa—Float; full sister .to

[ Nones; half-brother to Kilrain, by I Martian; filly by Athenic—Perseis, by Positano—Circe (sister to Daystar), dam of Hopfield; and brown filly by Athenic —Culprit. The Hastings irainer tells me that Athenic is leaving good-looking stock. The totalisator does not appear to have caught on at country meetings in New South Wales. At the Menangle Park Meeting this month the amount invested was £28 in four races. There were no investments at all in the other two events. Tho South Island-bred Wasseca (by General Symons—Helene) won the Grand Annual Steeplechase, of 400 soys, three miles, a.fc Wa-rfnambool recently. On tho previous day he won the" Brierley Steeplechase,; of ISO soys.