NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9005, 18 January 1895, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[By Hotspur.] By present appearances the Wellington Cap is likely to provide a capital contest, for It is tally expected that the number left in on Monday next when the acceptances «re made up will contain representatives from many different racing centres. The star handicap performers at the Auckland Meeting, Lottie and Mahaki, are pat dowa as sure competitors, and the meeting of the pair in itself will be of interest. There is nothing like sticking to running form, so I should say it is the best business to couple the support of the two named with Lady Zetland. At the same time I should want nothing better than Bosefeldt if that right good daughter of ftordenfeldt were quite herself, for she was not that when she was put down by Irish Twist the other day. Something definite in regard to the composition of the field and anticipatory of the result can be I given next week. The weights for the lesser handicap on the first day appear elsewhere. I have a liking for Planet and Spindrift, both with recent good performances, in the Anniversary Handicap, and a pair above them, Searchlight and Allanadale, are worthy of respect. It is hard to understand why a difference of 201b is made between Medicas and St. John in the Nursery Handicap, when the latter won at .31b at New Brighton. Medicual should say is the better 'colt of the pair, but ho is surely not given a remote chance on present form. The youngsters are indeed curiously handicapped, for we find Black and Bed, a winner, In receipt of weight from everything. St. John is the one I have most regard for. Senator and iTahitarata commend themselves to mc in the Welter, and the last named may be worth following in the Disposal Stakes. Were Krioa the Krina of a season back I would fancy her chance in the Telegraph Handicap, but the colt that now follows her on the list, to wit, King's Bowman, may be the pick of the lot, Brltomarte being one that appears well in among the top weights. Clarence and Bevolt have the best of the weights in the Hurdle Bace, and the Canterbury horse reads especially well. Voltaire and Kaahu are a pair in the Hack Bace that have a good chance. The West Coast campaign waa brought to a conclusion on Tuesday last, the closing proceedings being on the Weslland Bacing Club's ground at Hokitika. The first two, these being the principal, gatherings were, generally speaking, successful, both from a racing and club point of view. There were, however, but a limited number of horses to compete at the opening meetIng, and as several of these were used up before the conclusion of racing at Greymouth, the minor meetings had very poor fields to contest for. the prizes offered. Besides this, while the weather was so favourable at Beef ton and Greymouth as to induce large attendances, it was otherwise at the concluding fixtures, and I'm much afraid the. struggles for existence of the Euraara and Hokttlka Clubs are not yet over. Goodwood may justly be described as the hero of the campaign, seeing he captured the two most desirable prizes, and did so under difficulties, for very sore all the time he was away from headquarters, his successes being gained by his well attested gaineness. Three firsts and three seconds was the record of Mr Harris' horse, and it is a pleasure to be able to congratulate the young sportsman on having a candidate to co worthily carry hie colours. Goodwood had doughty antagonists in Geraint and Doubtful, both trained in the same stable. They are enid to be the only two really sound! horees on the Coast, and both were' brought out by B. Griffin in capital order, If they were not at times handled to the best advantage by their pilots. Doubtful, who is by Chantllly (half brother to Welcome Jack) from the Daniel O'Rourke mart Achievement, i> described Jα A fine upstanding brown, and very like J&lfiita" Warden in appearance. Doubtltil tsmax: to thrive on racing, for he«fook:patt twjQ distinction at each and all at theinxegamoj He won no fewer than elevfcnoe-OBtUaujd divided a stake with speaking he has scored i ttrSfce t limes; Except.to Goodwood areiarterjy'had to concede weight to all opponents. Ger&lufc, It would appear, has {developed?into a stayer, and is a regular Ibttll dogfJloJ&her. Banner waa quite oat of forrPi.aafl «JUn.njr>y Faa was nob at anytUliig like:.hJslJMtt. Minerva was regarded <ia*aar4talng tot the first hurdle race in which she.took part, but failed badly, ana\her tanning right through Indicated efcs !b<?4 gctneoefT. Sheanan was blamed for hi» TKgi!»g\.ef;tixo mare at Kumara, but from wh&t&c*tiUsnr.u the flag fell when the field lews l|jt eouph (straggling line that Sheenan Icbaftfossl It was no stare until the others tiad gone some distance away, and the effort to make up lost ground took all the steam out of Minerva. Thorpe broke down at Greymouth. Regalia It looking and going as well as ever. When running in the Hack Bace at Hurnara on the flrtt day, Brummagem, by St. George—Trinket, who up till recently was Che property of Mr T. H. Lance, Amuri, came down and breaking his fetlock had to be destroyed.

. In regard to the management of the gatherings, the want of punctuality in keeping to programme time Is much complslned of. The horees and Jockeys have weary waits to submit to after going to the post, the delays in starting the race being apparently anxiety to get as much as possible on the totalisation. As in two events at Kumara Doubtful, was barredeh the machine and payment made on the one that finished second, it might be pointed out that at the last Racing Conference this practice was disallowed. If no mistake has been made in the telegraphic message, the Westland Club are struggling with a unique complaint, namely, the placing by the judge in one of the events. The wonder is that such a complaint should be entertained for a moment.

The Auckland Summer Steeplechase has, of late years, fallen to light-weighted contestants, and Roecias, by last week bearing 12afc to the front, has nude a weight-carrying record for the race, and at the same time has established a claim to be considered, along with Norton, some remove* from the other 'chasers w» hare "at present in commission. It Is rather a pity that, owing to the disablement of flickey, Norton's pilot, the Grand National winner was not sent out to oppose the giant chestnut , . 1 am inclined to think that Norton would have proved a thorn In the , side of the winner. However that may 1 be, there U no g&inaaylag the merit t>f Rosclus , victory, and as he Iβ such a good horse under weight he may be looked to to : have a successful career at the cross 1 country game.

The New York Spirit of the Times says:— ■" Mr 0. B. Haggin is reported to be trying to bay another Hotket strain Australia to take the place of Maxim at Bincho del Paso. The hone he is after is said to be Culraaeler, bay home, foaled in 1883, by Musket ou* of Frailty and toll brother to Trenton." Another paper states that Mr Haggla has purchased Joly, Sir Modred'a brother, which I know to be incorrect* For myself fam inclined to thiak the Ameri-cuietad-master willendcaToar toprocare Carbine before negotiating for any other.

The Turf Field and Fan* states that Sir Modred, who was exhibited at the hone show, caught cold on the trip to San Francisco, and for seTeral day* was very sick with congestion of the tongs, Be Is bow recorering. .:

Lottie* correct re-handleapped weight for the Wellington Cap Is Bsfe 61b, that also being Mahaki's Impost. Jlr Kean'e mart nsdt to be tety kindly dealt with,

ana her position at the head of the betting quotations' seems quite! justified. Crawley pulled up very lame after his lait race on the West Coast, and his stable companion, Abaura* also having seen his best day, D. Kobarts has at present a rather sorry team to work on. The first cases in Christchurch under the Gaming Act against layers of totaliaator odds were heard in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. In one case a fine ot jBS and costs was inflicted. A full report of the case appears in a later column. It is cvi. dent the authorities now intend to suppress the " totalisator odds " layer.