NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 212, 1 June 1908, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[Br Gmncok^] Only three horses declined their engagements in;, the hsck'.-flat ovents at tho Otaki meeting. '" J. Tagsart brought Cross Battery from Riccarton' on Saturday' mbrnirtg, and proceeded by train to Otaki, whero the Stcpniak maro claims an engagement in the Raukawa Clip. ■ The Christoliurch horsoman, R. W. King, also went through to Otaki, and will rido Crosß Battery in her engagements. Foremost, winner of tho Members' Handicap at Ellerslio, is a half-brother to Cruciform. Ho won a double >at. the South Auckland Racing Club's meeting in March. Leonator seems to bo one of tho most unlucky horses in Auckland. Ho was a long timo in striking form, and sinco lie has dono so he has filled second position in several good handicaps. , Bobrikoff is at homo in soft going, so that tho conditions wore all in his Tavdur in tho Cornwall Handicap on' Saturday. As ho was in receipt of 15lbs. from Uramiim and lOlbs. from ilauparaha, there was not much merit in his win, but lie. appears--to-liavo scored comfortably. No oilo "that saw Waipu rtin so-disappoint-ingly at Woodvillo and Awapuhi in Decomber would have considered him as likely to. win tho Century and' Great , Northern ' Hurdle 1 tacos. At Woodville lie ran tliird to Tatira a,nd St. Amelia, aild at Awaptmi ho was unplaced in the raco Won by Papatawa, but -lio - has made considerable ; improvement , sinco, then, and has .'now' won three, races, in' as many weeks. Ho is tho only horse that has won the Qi'eat'Northerii Hnrdlos after succeeding in the Century Hurdles at Wangstriui. Ho is bred to'"stay, and, judging by .his recent displays,, the - longer the journey tho better he likod it. Mr. A. F. Douglas practically abandoned tho idea of taking any jumpers to Sydney this season after Merriwai and Needlework went wrong, but ho may now; think of taking Waipu over for tho Victorian meetings, where tlio long-distance races would suit the Torpedo gelding. ■' ■ Jno. o,'Connell, who rode Waipu 'on Saturday, also had the'mount on Merriwai in-last year's' race. Prior to last season, when ho' i-odo Nadador to victory in tho Wanganui Steeplechase, he had not-won...any or the ■ moro important . jumping. events, but'-' ho. is ; now inakihg'up for lost' : timo!' .. • A. Sliearsby ii hot' having tho best of luck, with Aorangi, although the Morriwco gelding has : won three or four jumping events. Ho fell at tho last hurdlo "at tho Manawatu • autumn meeting, when the raco Appeared to be in his keeping/and ho was holding a good chanco-ivhori lie fell oh'Saturday'at Ellorslie. I-Ie is a. good stayor, '.witli plenty of and as he has made considerable improvement as a jumper since the early part of tho season, he may yet rectify tho mistakes ho has made.. Ho is engaged in tho Great Northern Steeplechase on Wednesda.}y "aild if lie goes .to tho -post'it .will.bo.his..first -appearance over tho big country. ' '''•■■•'■ '• The mishap, to 'Paritiitu in tho Great Northern Hurdles-must have been very disappointing to his connections, as tlioy had freely suppo'rted'-the'son of. Castor for tho race, .besides coupling him in doubles with all tlio'favourites in the Steeplechase. 'On .Wc'dnesdaj^rioxfy;-tho Otaki and Duiledin. meetings will commence, and tho Auckland Racing Club's fixture will bo advanced another stage. ' ' A mimboi 1 of-Trentham'aiid Hutt horses ynll probably/bo', railed through'to Otaki this morning. ' \ Sol's'fine performance in running second in tho Great Northern Hurdles after winning the Takupuna Steeplechase 'last • Monday, ; will probably result in his being sent out favourite for tho Great, Northern. Stceplechaso.., oilWednesday.' His impost of 12at. 51b. ia a substantial for ■;& small-,•jiorsp. l -.-,.and ) .tjio field' will ho a!fairly" good oiic, 1 so that victory .for. tho son., of .Soult ..would, bo,full of jncrit. ; -Levanter and Eaitero iaro' tho, only , horses that have won the ovtfrit oil tvooccasions. Sol.,is-noiv, seven years' old, tho ago at which Levanter secured his second win'.;