RACING'NEWS

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(BY "VEDETTE")

AXSWEES IO COHEESPONDENTS.

"Eoader," Lyall Bay.—ln one caee the virliin of an ultra-careful policy. In the other a self-appointed apolocist for the bushrangmg gaua. '"Why?;" Wellington— An you surmise, the omission of tlie v.-ord is no mere ai-ei-ilout. There are few sportsmen. For want of a better the following may lie a worthy description: "One who is clean lioth inside and outside: who looks neither up to the rich nur down ou the jmrrwho can lose without squealing :iud win without bragging; who is courteous tn women and considerate to children ami the aged; who is too bravo to lie. t"o generous to cheat, and is eoi'eut with his share of the world's coods, au:i lets others people have theirs/ "E. 8.," Palmerston Korth.—Purely a matter of opinion. On actual performance;; Lady Cvrcndish has ttio honour, althongh Automne did all tliat was asked of him. He could do no more. AH with equal chances in every way Licini-js would be selected tn preference to either.

There -will be two Sotttli Island fixtures this week, the autumn meetings of the MarlboTough and South Canterbury Clubs being set down for Friday and Saturday. Acceptances for the Hawkes Bay Autumn Meeting are due on Friday. The Hamilton Meeting will be concluded on Thursday. It is stated that Surveyor "was very sour at the Avondale Meeting, and refused io iace the barrier. All things considered, a good deal has been asked of him, and for an aged stallion he is wonderfully tractaible. It is understood that he has now been permanently retired to the stud.

A very promising maiden performer in Bright Sol made his appearance at the Avondale Meeting, but just failed to get on the winning list, states an erchange. . Unfortunately, his tendons are somewhat weak, but if he stands a preparation he will win races. It is stated on reliable authority that Royal Blood, Euapapa, and. Sa'ndstar will be taken over to Australia to race. 7£ turned out at their best by Trainer ~W. Kirk, the trio should at least pay expenses, as they are much, better than the average performer. Mr. W. 6. Stead, who has just returned from Australia, is a decided advocate for the complete control of racing by stipendiary stewards. Interviewed recently, he said that when the 'stipendiary stewards system was introduced into New Zealand, he was strongly ■opposed to it, but his experience of it /5a Ajistralia had converted him to an- ■ other view, and he thought Hat the ;jpow«rs of the paid officials in New Zealand should be made wider when the Kacing Conference sits again in July. On account of toe severe taxation under which clubs wars now working, the big betting owner was an asset to the clubs, but his presence was not always in the best interests of racing. , Honorary officials, no doubt, did their work conscientiously, but many of these on the executives o" country clubs. only saw a tew days' racing in the year, and were not always competent to detect malpractices, and the assistance of paid officials who followed racing throughout the Dominion was necessary to keep racing on a high standard. The colours question is likely to come before the Victoria Racing Club very shortly, and the Melbourne Press is agitating for straight out colours, and clear and distinctive designs. The "Australasian" says, in regard to this : Different coloured caps ai'o strongly objected to r by judges the world over, as are vertical halves, ' facings, small cuffs, seams, braids, single spots, and a single stripe that generally 'is inserted.in the front of the jacket. Vertical halves are, of cource, the terror of judges, as that official following a field at th"c back of the course may see a jockey with apparently a white jacket figuring conspicuously in the race, and when the field turns into the straight the other side of the colour; which may be black, is then only visible, with the" result that the yidge is wondering what iias become of the norse carrying . -white. Another point that should be insisted upon is that all.stars, hoops, sashes, braces, diamonds, and other ornaments should bp at least 3 inches wide. The different colours on the jacket then stand out very plainly. All would be well if owners called a spade a spade or rather yellow yellow; but gold, old gold, orange, tangerine, tango, canary, primrose, apricot, and amber, all belong to the "yellow family." It is the same with red, as scarlet, cardinal, cerise, cherry, tomato, crimson, maroon, rose, and claret are aH more or less red. If the regulation colours were adhered to. there would not be the confusieon that now exists in regard to these branches of the yellow or red tribe. _ The Two Thousand Guineas will bs decided at Newmarket to-morrow, and the One Thousand on Friday; A large^eld seems likely in the first of tho classics. But for his lameness, Picaroon probafely would have started favourite, but it can -be concluded now that he will be a doubtful starter. The King has a possible representative in the Hurry On colt, Runuymede, already a winner this season. Alec Taylor also had engaged,, in addition to Picaroon Lord Astor'g Crossbow, by Gay Crusador, from Popinjay, who is stated to be a likely juvenile- The Aga, Khan had five nominations, bat Zionist (Spearmint —Jmbth) is selected 1 as the likely one. In the Ono Thousand Guineas Lord Astor's «rack filly, Saucy. Sue, if started, will no doubt be a strong favourite. Am Auckland writer states that the St. Amariß goJtnnjr, Kaikahu has been purchased by the .Canterbury owner, Mr. P Delargey. Kaikaira has shown useful form in tha North. Town Bank, who was £howin<* distinct signs of soreness on ths Taranaki circuit ii Eebnia-ry, is still doing no more than walking exorcise at EliersHe, It is expected that he win be put into regular work again when the tracks become really soft. Tha sfcsblemates, Mnsketoon and Lady Ridicule, are doing the lightest, possible work at Ellerslie. Probably they will ha sent along soon in readiness, for tho Auckland Winter Meeting. Musketoon is described as looking the picture of health. E. Warner, who was injured when Peter Amans fell with him in tiio Autumn bl.eeplecha.se, has been discharged from hospital. "Pilot,." of (.lie Sydney "Referee.'' selects Manfred as tho best two-year-old in Australia, and (lie likely " A.J.C. Derby winner of next year. Like Heroic, who stood out last year, and even-

decisively turned the tables on Poetaster and Los Gates, both of whom were too good for him at tho V.R.C. Meeting. It now seems unfortunate for Mr. B. Chaffey that Manfred stopped at the post in the A.J.C. Sires' Produce Stakes. As he lost Los -Giilos itnd Poetaster at six lui-longs, Lho extra furlong would have been ;ill in his. favour. In the Champagne Stnkts his penally was only 51b against the I.olb of the two fillies'mentioned, but, it would be difficult to compute, by how much he beat them." Mention at Heroic's two starts in one afternoon at ttandwick, when he was left at the post in the Ali-aged Stakes, and beaten out of place in the Cumberland Stakes, has recalled Carbine's success in the self-same double. Carbine, too. Was a triree-year-old. Starting at 6 to 4 on, lie won the All-Aged Stakes by a neck from the two-year-old Rudolph, and, bucked down to 5 to 2 on for the Cumberland Stakes, then two miles, won that racu by half a head from LochieL' The only other runner was Abercorn, and, with the pace little more than a slow canter for. the greater part of the journey, the two miles took smiji ssec. Carbine was unbeaten at that meeting, his other wins being .the Sydney Cup and A.J.C. Plate. While on the subject of Heroic, his continued unruliness at the start seems extraordinary. According to all accounts he waa as quiet as a sheep in the birdcage prior to the race for the AllAged Stakes, but stubbornly refused to face the barrier. He was not by any means allowed to canter behind his field, and one Randwick trainer timed him to run his last seven furlongs in the AllAged Stakes .in lrnin 24 4-ssec. Under these circumstances it was not surprising that he was beaten over a mile and a

half, a race or two later on. What is surprising that backers fairly rushed him in his second essay. There seem to be some differences of opinion as to Pamplona's lameness, but a well-known Southern trainer in Wellington last week did not speak too hopefully of the Pallas gelding seeing ont the jumping season. F. Cress has taken up permanent residence at Otaki, and will train Misgovern on that course. The Trentham-trained pair, Master Peter and Carawock; figure amongst the ■entries for the Great Northern Steeplechase, Dick being the only other entry from this part of the world. Dubious has been entered for the Great Northern Hurdles, and so has Carawock. The entries for the two Great Northerns are interesting, for in addition to the proved _ jumpers is the customary percentage. b£ novices or near novices. Mr. J. Bull, as usual, has his pai>-, Omahu and Brigadier Bill, doubly engaged, but with ths Hurdle Race decided on Wednesday, 3rd June, and the Steeplechase on Saturday, 6th June, there is a better opportunity this year than usual for a horse to contest successfully both races. Comical has been entr-red for the Hurdles, and he should be one of the favourites. Tho proven horses engaged in the Steeplechase include San Forte, Omahu, Sir Roseberry, C'iwawock, Passin' Through, Sea IVil, Master Peter, Snnke;;.Mary.;Brace,:.Petar Amans, Charlatan, and Oakleigh. Horses hitherto regarded as hurdlers with steeplechase engagements include Brigadier Bill, Frisco Mail, Landbird, Gochson, Tinokaha, and Irish Jig. G. Murray Aynsley has thrown Starmist and Sparklight out of work and they will join Footfall in a spell until it is time to start on their preparation Tor spring engagements. He has now l.aken in hand .1 fresh team, numbering 'half a dozen. It consists of the four-year-old Tiff, by Martian—Lady Disdain; two-year-old Goldstep, by Autumnus—Warstep ; two-year old Glen Almond, by Bonny Glen—Prim; twoyear old Rebuke, by Clarenceuj:—Reproachful ; also a couple of yearlings, a Filly by Paper Money—Stardancer, and a, filly by Paladin—Mazabuka. Count Cavour has finished racing for this season, and he has been eased up. It is not intended to turn him otrt for a complete spell, as T. H. Gillett prefers to keep him pottering along in light tasks until it' is time to start him serious-iy on his preparation for spring engagements. Boadieea is going along nicely in her track work, and she is gradually goting into racing shape, writes "Argus." She will not be hurried, however, and the Ashburton Meeting in June may be chosen for her first race. The Australian-bred three-year-old Chickwheat, by Buckwheat—Petal, has rejoined IT. Nurse's active team, after being in retirement for a few months, writes "Argus." Chickwheat has started eight times this season for five seconds and three unplaced performances, his record in this respect being similar to that of Haze, who was twice unplaced before putting up fire seconds on end. This is a coincidence of special interest, in view of the fact that they were purchased in Sydney as yearlings at the same time and were accidentally mixed up on the way to Kiccarton, Chickwheat going into R, J. Mason's stable as the Demosthenes—Scotch Light colt and Haze into S. Trilford's stable as the Buckwheat—Petal colt. The mistake was_ rectified a few weeks later. The Riocarton owner-trainer, Mr J. H. Prosser, has returned from' a trip to Sydney. 'While there he was. of course, interested in Lovesign, a good mare that he bred and raced with great success before selling her ior a big figure. She m&t with a misbap recently while doing swimming exercise, and was unable to fulfil her engagements at the Australian Jockey Club's Meeting, but it is expected thafc^ she will soon be all right again. W. G- Hobbs has four yearlings under his charge, in preparation for two-year-old races next season. They are a filly by Solferino—Elysium, filly ' by Paper Money—Zia, nlly by ' Boniform— Mistime, and gelding by* Absurd—Procrastinate. Gay Juliet, In the same stable, is in great buckle. It is reported that the five-year-old gelding, Bonome!, who has been raced for some time by the North Island trainer, B. Burgess, has been purchased by a Cantsrbrury owner, and that he will go to Riccarton in a few days. Bonomel. by Boniform—Philomel, has been racing over hurdles, and he won at Feikling on Easier Monday. Four yearling fillies from Sir George. Clifford's"Slonyhurst Stud arrived at Riccarton during the week-end, and Cutts Brothers will make an early startto break them in. They are "Green Cloth, by The Ace—Equipment; Wild Work, by Autummis—Heltcr Skelter: Front. Rank, by Warplane—Discipline: and Stan Thistle, by Tho Ace—Scottish Star. They will sooii'hp joined by another trio. They ;we Card Trick, by " The Ace

dually won the Derby before beinp platod iindor the ban, Manfred is by Valais. '•Pilot' goes on to say: "Manfred possesses unbstancß, and his appearance and style of galloping point to him as a potankal staj-er. In Melbourne ho was bsatsn si cis aad eewsa itslsam, but at

—Counterfeit: Record Trip, by The Ace —Sailor's Hope.; and Sightseer, by Aatumnus—T.eleEcope. The season's crmatgnmnnt will he. completed later by Miss Slightly, by Warplane—Albs Mimic, and Lucky Sprig, by The Ace—Heatherbrae. Thie kst-Hftmsd iiaiv be aent fof-