THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1333, 10 January 1912, Page 7

THE TURF.

NOTES AND COMMENTS, .■ •. [By GiEtscoß.] 'Acceptances for tho first day's events at •the Wellington Racing Club's autumn "meeting close on. Friday, • Byron maintains his position as favourite for tho Wellington Cup. That astuto owner, U. A. Connolly,'is reported to have had ,£IOOO on Gunboat when ho won tho Hopcto.un Cup. Ouo of "the tail" of tho Wellington Cup field who is sure to see tho post is Splash. Tho withdrawal of Los Angeles from tho Wellington Cup wa-s only to bo expected. Tho chestnut's form, of late, has been anything but satisfactory, and his trainer has conio to tho conclusion that tho .only means of getting him risht again is to first Rive him a good spell.

If, as is reported, Prince Soult is to be sent down to contest the Wellington Stakes, Sir Geo. Clifford may decide to Bend Autumnus to Trenthani to do'battlo amidst tho Auckland crack; and so decido the question as to which is tho better of tho pair. Bat would this decide it?' Tho writer thinks not, and, of tho pair, would favour Autumnus. The reason is that ho is tho wore forward oi ! the pair— a question will probably bo raised here, but that is the writer's opinion—and, in addition, ho .will besrin too smartly for tho Sjoult co )f:. Had the Royal Stakes been run over a five-furlongs course., and had Winning "Wny not.been subjected, to interferenco, sno would have won easily, On EiccartOn form Autumnus is superior to 'Winning Way, so there is but one deduction. Tho question will be nsked: "Has not Prince Soult improved?" To which tho writer roplies, in true Hibernian fashion, ,by asking:. . "Has, not Autnmnus iniDroyed?" Let us hope that the two cracks meet, ' and that none of the fifth-raters will set in thmr way. . Then wo shall see a struggle worthy of tho ureat game. The 'iV.R.C. is, :nde«d, fortunate in having such a Btar ;;tom for Anniversary. Hay. It tnav Teadily bo said that it will eclipse the .Cup for genuine interest. • • ■■• , ' .

v Mr. A. E.Whvte, seoretarj-of the Wellington Racing Club,.notifies the scratching ot Los Angeles and Bon Ton for all engagements at the forthcoming summer meeting. ■ .

,:Mt.S. Whitworth, who has been resident ,in Australia for sonio cansiderablo ii 1S « s P?? ted .back in Wellington today by the Moeraki. '

-.The most successful racehorse in Aus-tria-Hungary in the past riat-racing season was Prince Hohenlohe-Oehringen's two-year-old Londluf t, who -won in stakes 152,0b'0kr., or about 6336 sovs. She is the second animal of her ago. that has headed tho winning 'list in the dual monarchy ijince m>, the other being Has. cal, who Came out ,o'n.' top. In 1009 with 126,920kr., and' was ■ again' iii the following year with 27tS,100kr.

.The Auckland "Herald" states that on the second day of the Auckland Trotting Clubs meeting Jlrs. A. Julian's Lord Victor won thu Tramway Handicap Trot, with Mr. T. R. Exley's La Bcllo second. It is now alleged that some irregularity existed in thu taking out of Lord Victor's nomination; and Jlr. .-Exlpy has ■lodged'an injunction against tho paying over of tho stuke.

.'". Sir Antrim as a .strong favourite -for the. Foxton Clip and Lady iloutoa for the Flying Handicap at the same meeting. In the Manawatu Cup last month Sir Antrim ran unplaced, and did not .compete in any event on the second or third day.of the.meeting. Lady Moutoa finished second in tho six-furlong handicap :on all three days of the Manawatu fixture.. . . ,'." '....' . -■'..■

■Sir. .William- Grantham, whose death occurred on, November 30, was typical .rather ,of the .Old-Country ,, , gentleman v.than of. the'judgeV(says> the London He, loved: horses • and hunting, wasiinterestetl in cricket' in his younger days, took part in'and-'latterly judged the ,Bar Point-to-Point: Steeplechases'; onduiitil quite recently UE«d to ride. daily :to the. Law Courts. on • horseback. In>fact,'. ! heV\oacfc , ''sUilblrtWl9 n is clqvafdou-to the Judicial Bench ""to an . early knowledge of agriculture and horses. . I had the , , benefit. of reading and -learn-JaTO.under-onsi most eminent .Judges of the present 'day,' and when he taught me law I took' the opportunity of teaching him to'hunt, mien I fin- . ished my career ho. was heard to remark that whatever might be my future posi.tion as a lawyer, he had- formed one opinion'of me—that I was a very good i'udge of a horse. A few years later ier Majesty wanted someone to represent nor on the Bench, and,.looking for someone who would make a good judge, sho heard part of.the remark of the distinguished Judge, and supposed he', had al- . luded to me aa a good Judge of law. And that, I believe is how I.got a seat Bnthe Bench." •.:'■■■

BRIDGE SCRATCHED. .(Rec. January 9, 10.25 p.m.) .'.'..: Sydney, January 9. Bridge has been; scratched, for the Anniversary Handicap.