NOTES AND COMMENTS

(IX 'SIR LANCELOT.")

The members of R. Longley's Ricearton team which competed at Napier Park went through without a win. The only one of the trio to get placed was Art, runner-up to Kauri King in the Hurdles on Saturday. Banian, who is reported to have broken a fetlock while' competing in the race in which his stable mate ran second, was by Birkenhead—Banzai, and was among the winners at the Wellington Winter Meeting twd years ago on the only occasion that he sported silk. He had an easy time last season, when ho ran one first, two seconds, and a third, out of four starts. He was making his reappearance in the race in which ho met with injuries which terminated his racing career. Although the field lengaged in the Hawkes Bay Steeplechase includes Collector and Bon Reve, the Napier Park winners, also Master Timi (winner on both days at Gisborne), it cannot be said that class is' well represented. In the Napier Steeplechase, Braeburn was handicapped to concede Bon Reve 101b, and if Waimai and Master Strowan had been engaged, they would have bean heavily weighted to give somo of the moderates engaged a chance of success.

A mishap while competing in the Wanda Steeplechase at Caulfield put Tim Doolan out of action for more important events in which he was engaged. The race mentioned terminated the career of Caibye on Saturday last. Last vvinter, in. the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase, in which he ran second to Old Mungindi, Caibye conceded weight and a beating to Waimai, winner of the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton, and who has since returning added the Great Northern Steeplechase to his winning account. This season Caibye scored in the Australian Steeplechase, worth 1200 soys to the winner. The contest was decided at Caulfield, where the gelding terminated his career on Saturday. Caibye was sired by Caiman, an imported American horse, who was credited with a world's record for a mile—lmin 33 l-ssec —but was not a success as a sire. Caibye's dam. Goodbye, was by Autonomy—Broadside (by Goldsborbugh—Powder), a sister to the Melbourne Cup winner Arsenal. The impost allotted Bon Reve in the Hawkes Bay Steeplechase (1.2.4) has only been carried to victory on five occasions since the race was instituted in 1879. Clarence, an old-time champion, carried 12.12 and 13.2; Chemist and Norton,, who were about the best horses of their time, won with 12.6 and 12.9 respectively; and Moifaa scored with 13.0. The latter afterwards went Home and won the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase. J. H. Prosser, the well-known Porirua trainer, has greatly improved in health recently, and informs me he will be present at Trentham next month, with the team. The horses nominated are Talitha, Blighty, Gold Soult, Tauira, Gwyrme, Nocturnal, Parky, and Kahunganui. The five last-named are engaged in jumping races, in which the stable was pretty successful a few seasons back.

H. Burt was out schooling the horses on Saturday, and returned to camp yesterday morning. -

Gwynne (Mahaki —Louie) was among the runners at Otaki, but failed to show any form. Nocturnal (All Black—La Notte) is a full brother to Blacknll, who was tried at the hurdle business hut showed such a dislike to it that the attempt made to convert him mo a hack hurdler was abandoned. Tauira. won at Trentham last winter, and after his coming hack there is hope for Parky, who has had a long spell since he won the Winter Cup. The writer cannot remember any of the Rose d'Amour family, to which Parky belongs, earning distinction as jumpers, although most of thorn paid their way on the flat. Kahunganui, who is engaged in the Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase events at Trentham, is owned by Mr. D. Prosser, jun., and is an aged gelding by Torpedo.

After a spell, Cooing and Mascot have again joined the active members of J. W. Lowe's team at Trentham.

The Irish stallion Orby has gone the way of all flesh, having died on 6th April, at Sandyford, County Dublin. He was by Orme from the American mare Rhoda 8., and won the Epsom Derby of 1907 by two lengths from Wool Winder and Sleivo Gallion (favourite at 13 to 8 on). At the stud he had considerable success, having got winners of 70 races worth about £30,000. Flash of Steel, who won the Caulfield Futurity Stakes, of 1915, is a son of Orby.

In the Hunt Club Steeplechase at Hastings, Yellow and Black is asked to concede weight to Northland, winner of a double at Ellerslie. while the latter is conceding several of his opponents 341b. The Oaks race is older than the Derby. The first race for the former was in 1779, when tho race fell to Bridget, the property of the Earl of Derby, who gave his name to the Blue Riband of the Turf,'the first race for which was "run in 1780. This was won by Sir C. Bimbury's Diomed.

. Neither Roumania nor Mount Victoria started on Saturday. After witnessing the second day's racing, Mr. Whitney returned by boat, reaching home at midday on Sunday. Secret Code (by Sir Laddo—Secret) won the principal event at the Brighton (Tas.) June Meeting.