NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1221, 1 September 1911, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[BT Gienco-.] In the opening event at the Wairarapa Hunt Club's meeting yesterday, Master Webb, a likely-looking sort. of. hurdle horse (that can, by the way, be considerably improved) effected a surprise by defeating Overheard, who. was conceding, him 201b- The latter was ridden in behind, and gave 11aster Webb a big break over the last half-mile. He failed to get up by a neck only. Riimi, the only other starter, was beaten off. 'Out of the nine horses carded for the Hunt Steeples, only two—Sylvia Maid and Wildfire—laced the starter. Both gave a good display of jumping, but the former had too much pace, and won easily. Ten horses started in the Hack Flat, but they wcro .a very poor lot, and luveran, who is of very little account, won all the way. Sir Solo has been up no time, and is scarcely ready to race. Killio' Lass looked very light, and the others were practically unknown. Operation .was in second place till well into tho straight, v when Whatnrangi came from the clouds, and cut' Mr. Reside's mare out of second place. Oakley and Gret, both of whom, wore the colours of Mr. C. F. Vallnnce, comprised the field in the Taralahi Steeples. The top-weight jumped very badly, and lost, a lot of ground at each fence. He bad a big lead at the final half' mile, but his rider then eased him, and Gret got up, and passed him. This was the signal for cheering, and the pair. were hard ridden. Over the last fenco Gret led by a length, bnt Oakley stayed on the best, and just got up in time' to snatch a viclory. The Bracelet, was the good thing for Xetita that, most people expected it 'to be, and she won in a common canter. • Sylvia Maid • and Gret were saddled up a second time in the Final Steeples, and were opposed by Ngakonui. The latter fell at. the second fence, and Sylvia Maid won easily, giving T. Pritchard his second winning ride on the day. In connection with the Otaki Maori Racing Club's spring meeting, owners are reminded that nominations for all events, except the Maiden Plate, close at halfpast eight o'clock to-night with the club's secretary,'. Mr. O. J. D'Ath. Weights for the Dannevirke Racing Club's meeting are .due on Monday. Jolly Friar, who raced successfully in this island about four years ago. is'still in work in Southland. Recently she shaped satisfactorily with tho Birchwood Hunt. Funi-Join, which, translated from the Kaffir, means "I want a. job," is the namo of a. galloway at present raping on . tho Rand. A Johannesburg paper suggested, after a recent '• performance, that he be given one—between the shafts of a cart.

Mere Mere, tho younger full : sister to Kopu and Kurawaka,.has been registered as the joint property of Messrs. J. S. O'Neill and A. E. Grenside. '

A. Kaynor, who. used to train for Greenmeadows. is now stationed at Dannevirke, where ho has Seaweed in work, also a four-year-old gelding by Kilcheran out of Mini, and a three-year-old a fullbrother to Napper (Birkenhead—Snooze). The general opinion in Melbourne (says an Australian writer) appears to be that Mr. Menzies has made a flattering handicap for the "Height-class Thousand."' to Iks run at Ascot (Vie.), on September 7. The New Zealand-bred Masonic, who has done so well at Melbourne suburban meetings, heads the list with 11.3 or 15lb, more than anything else engaged, Lumbers coming next with 10.2. Little Hurst, last year's winner, is engaged with 7.5. With all her.weight, Masonic heads the quotations in Melbourne, with Littlo Hurst and Lady Argyle next in demand. Others that appear to be i»oa(ius w'lli some support are Archness, Resolved, Espenelga, and La Pose.. In Aueklaml, Sea Elf is a warm favourite br the. Avondale Clip. Tho Auckland owner-trainer, F. Ross, lias a half-sister to Truganini in work. A. Rhodes has engaged four boxes at Avondale for his team. They will be shipped north from New Plymouth in a few days. The Auckland jorkey, B. Dceley, leaves Auckland on Sunday for Marton to fulfil engagements at the Marton Jockey Club's meeting on Wednesday and Thursday next. On Saturday last whilst the. steeplechaser Prospector, by Gold Reef—Dazzle, was being.given a gallop on the Clifilen racecourse, . he suddenly dropped down dead. His owner, Mr. M. Hanley, who was in the saddle at the time, received a

nasly fall, and for some limn remained unconscious. Prospector at (lie lime appeared In have totally recovered from his recent indisposition,' and was galloping well. Sympathy is expressed for Mr. lianley as the horse promised well in stceplechaso company. Jle was a very fast horse over hurdles in his day ami developed skill as a steeplechaser while under I'. T. llogan's care at Kiverton. •Miss Winsome is shaping nicely in her work at Ellerslie. and should he ready to ■show her form in tlio early three-year-old races at the Auckland meetings. At a meeting of stewards of the Wairar'apa Racing Club, held on Wednesday nfternoon, Mr. W. E.. Bidwill was reelected chairman for the ensuing year. It was decided to make a donation to the funds of the Sports Protection League in the manner suggested by the president of ths Racing Conference. The club's starter, Mr. If. 11. Skipwith, notified that ho had accepted a similar position with the llawlie's Bay Jockey Club, and would, therefore, be unable to carry out tho duties at Tauhcrinikau on the second day of tho Summer meeting (January 1), but would bo willing to act on the first day (December 30). It was decided to tcrminato the engagement with .Mr. Skipwith, and to call for applications for'the otliee of starter. Mr. W. Dalrymple, who has been clerk of the scales for several years past, tendered his resignation, and this was accepted with regret. Mr. Hartgill is to be asked to perfotm this duty as well as that of judge. Mr. J. W. Card was .reappointed deputy-judge.