NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1361, 12 February 1912, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By Qlenjos.J Mr. Morse's adjustments for the Wangaiiui Cup and Flying Handicap at \Vanganui were received on Saturday,-and-were eagerly discussed. Not a little interest^

was taken in the handicapping of Counterfeit and Los Angeles. Both are on tho 9sl. mark, and the lesult of the race will have to bo known before the discussion in regard to this pair is ended. Many hold tho opinion that the Treadmill lilly has only got to start, and the same people hold that Los Angeles is badly dealt with, and it is time that the haiidieappers dropped him a little. Other partisans are of opinion that Counterfeit, has received all that, she is entitled to, and point out that she is only a tliree-yoar-oli, and that 9st. is a big weight for one of this age. Very true, but in the past we have seen three-year-olds carry much bigger weights and win, and there is «very rea-on tj suppose that tho daughter of Delusive is of a distinctly high class and quite as good as Gladsmui, Nightfall, and several other fillies who, as three-year-olds, carried big imposts successfully in handicaps. Undecided (Bst. 511).) has been raised 101b. for his Wellington Cup win, and, apparently, the owner is quite satisfied with the impost, for the horse rules as Hrst favourite in the betting market. Strong support has been _ accorded him, and at the latest quotations he is two points in advance of Counterfeit. Waim.ingu (Bst. lib.) ran badly throughout the Auckland meeting, at which ho was very sore. He' is an unlikely starter at Wanganni, and can be dismissed without further reference. Bronze (Sst. 31b.) is badly placed as regards Counterfeit, but evidently the handicapper was impressed with her Haweva Cup performance, in which she finished on well, but there was not much behind her. Midnight Sun (Bst. 21b.) has 31b. more to enrry than tho weight, which ho failed with at Trentham. He does not seem to have any tho best of matters, for ho is likely to encounter a much stronger field than he met at Trentham. Domino (Sst. 21b.) Ims been strung up for a long time, but, were he landed at the. post lit and well, he would be a difficult proposition for most of the runners, and would be well suited by the circular course. Santa Rosa (Sst. 21b.) has the Auckland Cup to his credit, and is stated to be a sure runner at Wanganni. He is far from reliable, never running the same race twice. Merrivonia (7st. 121b.) is generally at her best at this time of the year. If last year's wiuner shows any sign of returning to form, she will not'want backers on tho day, weighted, as she is, at' 71b less than tho impost which she carried successfully last year. . 1 , 1 4 SCol, »t (7st. 111b.) has performed so indifferently, ol late that he might well have been let in with a few pounds les= Since, running second to Vicc-Admiral in the .\ew Zealand Cup the Karamu colt has shown no-form at all, and his absence from the field will occasion no surprise. ( F' \ nh - ] has sl, °™ S°°<l form of late, but only in sprint events. However were she to be specially prepared for this race, she .should give a good account of herself as she appears to run on at the end of her races, thus givin" the impression that she would stay. Coromandcl (7st. 101b.) seems to bo in his right place. A. Jackson's horse is an unlucky animal, his "seconds" in lug handicaps being numerous. Aberbrothock (7st. 91b.) and Maxwell t..-t. /lb.) are both good useful performers 1 when caught at their best. T'he former has been going on in the right way since 111 "m' V n i! may b , c , at more than beat mm. the latter would probably be better suited over a course a quarter of a mile shorter, but with his light impost he may be able to get successfully to the end of the journey. Iney (7st. 51b.) has no credentials for a race oyer such u course, but Jargon (ist. 21b) is a good honest little horse. Lady Menschikoff (fist. 131b.) stuvs well and has won a number of important handicaps.

Of those handicapped at the minimum i lantation and Ijlilando mav be accepted for. Both have been showing up well lately and the laf,ter is a previous winner of tho race.

In the Flying Handicap the Highdoii pair of sprinters, Boanerges and Nyland are on top.' The latter is weighted at 9st. 21b., and is-receiving lib. from his'com-' panion. Gladiole and' Dearest"-arc-dn 'the !)st. lib. mark, which is where they have been .during the last few meetings. Culprit (Sst. 81b.) is well in, and so is Gipsy Belle-with Bst: Gib. Both mares can"begin very fast,-and should be at home on the Wanganui course.

Royal Scotch (Sst. 71b.) is about in his right place. Certainly he could not have got more weight. Probably he will be favourite as there is little doubt that he should have won on tho last day at 'Trentham. He came from a. long way back, and was travelling faster than anything else in the race at the finish. Theodore (Bst. 51b.) has been off the scene for a couple of seasons and may not be ready yet.

St,. Toney (Sst. 31b.) ran well. at Hawera, but find the opposition more difficult at Wanganui. ' Lower down the big Bold occur the names of Heatherbrae (7st. 111b.) and Kakania (7st. 91b.). Both are good performers, and the defection of the former from the Dnnedin acceptances gives rise to the belief that she will accompany Counterfeit to Wanganui. Among the tail is the English colt Valido (7st. 21b.), but he has been troubled with his feet lately, and may not see the post.

Our Otaki correspondent states that Trainer F. Higgott intends to erect a 15-stell stnble on his recently-acquired property there. Higgott has a big team of horses under his care at the present time.

At the Te Kuiti races last week the sum of .C 5132 was passed through the totalisator. In all the events the fields were large enough for two dividends to be declared.

It is reported that Mr. A. F. Douglas has sold Seraphic to a West Coast sportsman.

The "Hawke's Bay Herald" states that there h no truth in the rumour that Mr. T. H. Lowry is sending a yearling brother to Itathlea to Sydney for the Easter sales. The same journal pays.that there is no yearling brother to Kathlea. Mr. Loivry, however, is sending a couple of yearlings over for the sales. They are Royal Fusilier—Gossip colt (half-brother to Bobrikoff) and a Royal Fusilier—La Cloche colt (brother to Beldame). A New Plymouth writer states that XI invested on each of Deeley's mounts on Thursday last would have shown a clear profit of .£5. Recent improvements to the Wanganui Racecourse (says an exchange) include the providing of extra facilities for specula'tors on the machine, as three additional receiving windows are being providedtwo inside and one outside. It is anticipated that this will meet all immediate requirements. A scheme for watering the whole of tho course has just been completed, enabling all the tracts to be watered dailv, and this will be done from now on until tho forthcoming meeting is over/ FIXTURES. Feb. 14—Rotorua J.C. Annual. Feb. H and 15—Tarhnaki J.C. Autumn. Feb. 21, 22, and 24—Duncdin J.C. Feb. 21 and 22—Woodvillfl District J.C. Autumn. Feb. 23 and 24—South Auckland R.C. Annni*l- , „. . T /-i Feb. 29 and March 2—Wanganm J.C. Autumn. . , March 6 and 7—Dannevirke R.C. Autumn. March 13 and It—Napier Park R.C. Autumn. March 18-Oimnafce R.C. Annual. March 20 and 21—Nelson J.C Annual. April 8 and 9-Canterbury J.C. Autumn.