NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1212, 22 August 1911, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

', _ {BY GLENCOE.I There will be a. race meeting at Mooreleld (Sydney) to-day, and several Neiy Zealand-horses are engaged. In© list includes 'Aphaea, Genius, Royal coult, .Wlmrekura, and Ifairoma. Advices from Melbourne state that the New Zealand Cup winner, Lady Lucy, is doing good work on tho tracks. Now Zealand jockeys, Ji Decry, A;. Whittaker, and H. Gray, were Ml m the. saddle at the Rosehill meeting on August 12, but none of the trio succeeded in 'Botching a win.' : Nominations for. the Dannevirko Steeplechase meeting close on Thursday next. When riding Grafnax, who fell in tho 'Australian Steeplechase, tli© crack M.clbourne horseman, Fred Bum, sustained a broken ankle. This, on top of his bad fall a month-ago, will probably cause the long-delayed but often heralded .retirement, of the Jlelbourne rider..

In connection with the .Wanganui Jockey-Club's .spring meeting, owriqrs. are reminded that nominations for .all events ■close on Monday next. It is remarkable how even tho best ■junipers can make mistakes-in steeplechases. Those who have seen Grafnax perform 6tate that ho is as good a jumper as Lovell, and Bribery's many successes over country speaks for his, jumping ability; .Yet these two champions both camo down in the Australian Steeplechase at Caulfield, and, furthermore, no bad luck (such as a horse falling in front of them) contributed'to the disaster.

' Merrie Zealand, Merrie Time, and MerTie Goer, in charge-of Trainer G. Higgott, will leave for Sydney by next l'ridays 'boat.

An Auckland owner 'is at present negotiating for the purchase of Lovell, and if a sale is effected the Huntsman gelding •will be nominated for the steeplechases at •the Australian' Jockey Club's spring meeting. Grey Dawn, a Hawera horse that was ■in the i market for the Great Northern Steeples at an early stage, but who subsequently, went wrong, is entered in the Hack -Steeplechases at'"'the Marton ■meeting. .

C. Jenkins-returned homo yesterday. The Levin horseman lost a good ileal in weight' as a result of,his week's illness, ■and" be'compelled to lay up for some time yet':: He was due at Hastings next ■week-to iid©'Mr. E"; .T." "Watt's 'two-year-, olds'.in their work, but this trip will have to be. cancelled. .

Mr. Doss's fiilj- Deploy is moving in an ..attraetivo-;raariner at :Trentham, ■ and.may "bo .regarded' as a. ruijrier at "Marton. Sho appeared to be running on at,the end of her' race? in the autumn, and may, therefore, be preferred in tho long-distance events - instc.ad of in the sprints.

Veterinary-Surgeon F.' Crossley , went •south at the latter end of last week to operate on Expansion for .'his throat trouble. The operation must have been ■successful, as Mr. Crossley is one of the passengers by the Mararoa, which arrives 3iere this morning. '

Koraii has been entered for both hurdle races-'at Maa-ton, and for both open, handicaps. The Pilgrim's Progress horso had a great private reputation as a jumper in .the-autumn, and it .was expected that ho ■would be produced at Otaki. "Unfortunately, however, while doing a schooling gallop with Anratus, he got into a fence, and' was lame as a result. Owing to de-lay in tho delivery of a telsgram, his owner missed the acceptance 1 for tho' 'Fina.l ■Hurdles at Wellington.

FIXTURES. ~ 'August 24—Amberley Steeplechase annnal. September 6 and 7—Marton J.C. annual. September 13—Dannevirko R.C. Sl&epie- ! chase. September 28 and 29—Wanganui J.C. Spring. November 4—C.J.C. Now Zealand Cup.