NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 858, 2 July 1910, Page 13

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[Br Glencos.]

El Dorado and Tui Cakobsu were yes* terday scratched for all engagements at the Wellington Racing Club's Winter meeting.

Speculate, who was among the winners at the Ashburtoii Racing Club's meeting last week, was foaled in 1898, and is one of tho oldest horses racing on the flat in New Zealand. '

Honest Tom, the winner of the seoond day's steeplechase at the Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting, is qualifying with the hounds ill order to' be eligible for tho hunters', events at the Grand National meeting next month.

The Victorian Racing Club's meeting commences at Flemington to-day, when the principal event to be decided is the Grand National Hurdle Race.

Lingerer has gone into • R. Gooseman's stable at Hastings, and will be prepared for some of the minor events at the Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting-

The roan mare Royal Maid is no longer trained by A. Shearsby. She has been sent home to her owner at Pahiatua. *.

The name of Okiwai has been claimed for tho three-year-old colt by Malatua in the Porirua stable. ..

News of the scratching of El Dorado for the Wellington Steeples and Grand National Steeples did not come as a surprise, for it has been known for some time that Mr. G. P. Donnelly's horse was in a bad way.' At one stage of his illness, it is said that the veterinary surgeon who attended him held out but little hope for his recovery. Yesterday's "Hawke's Bay Herald" states that _E1 Dorado has been turned out, and will not be raced again this winter.

A cablegram received last night from the ex-New Zealander D. J. Price contained the news that the Grand Na-' tional favourite Ataahua. was doing very well, and his owner was sanguine of the son of Mahaki giving a good account of himself in r .the.big. race, today. Sportsmen throughout the Dominion would be pleased to hear of the victory, of . a New Zealand-bred horse. The field engaged to-day is not by any means a high-class one, and Ataahua appears to possess a better chance than he did in the two other contests that he was entered for.

Trainers are booking accommodation freely at the Wellington Racing Club's stables at Trentham and the winter meeting promises to be a highly successful one.

Some little while back (says "Sentinel") it was reported that Zetland was to bo retired from the turf on account of "bad treatment on tho part of the handicappers." He was spelled, 'is now in'work again, and figures amongst the nominations for the Winter Cup. It is to bo hoped that the . handicappers will note this fact, and not have the audacity to block the way of the son of Obligado to the winning post.

It is understood that the New Zea* land jockey, H. Cairns, will ride Ataahua in tho Grand National Hurdle Race at Flemington to-day. Hermes, whom F. Burn was to ride, does not appear among the acceptors, so perhaps Burn may have the mount on Maui.

The £300 Sires' Produce Stakes of tho Melbourne Trotting Club will be run on Tuesday next.

Several New Zealand-bred horses are engaged in tho minor events at the Victoriati Racing Club's meeting at Flemington to-day, namely—Maiden Ehirdle Race, two miles, AVaihuku and Ngaruahoo; Iramoo Welter, one mile, Gold Thread and King Paul; Myross Handicap, seven furlongs, Gold Cord, Sea God, and Marty re; Winter Handicap, ono mile and a quarter, Snowfoot.

Although' tho acceptances for the first day's events at tho Gisbonie Racing Club's meeting are not large, the meeting will bo interesting on account of tho fact that several Grand National candidates are engaged, notably Paisamo, Continuance, To Arai and Swarth-' moor. Douche, who was a competitor in hurdle events at the recent meetings in Hawko's Bay, is engaged in the principal flat race at Gisborue on Thursday next.

Ulster King, who won the.Princess of Wales's Stakes at the Newmarket meeting on Thursday, raced four times last season, winning one race only. Up till the time the last mail left' England he had not won any important race this season.