NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1421, 23 April 1912, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By Glp.noob.] Awapuni will be the rendezvous for sportsmen to-morrow and Thursday, when in addition to the usual handicap events, the Eighth Mnuawatu Stakes and Fourth Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes will be decided. The field for the first-named event .is likely to consist of Autumnus, Brown Owl, Ermengarde, Prince Soult, tmtl lion Ton, nnd the same lot may bo expected to race in the Sires' Produco Stakes. In the handicap events the principal interest will centre in the Longburn and Telegraph Handicaps, Masterpiece, Sst. 411).; Boanerges, Bst. 41b.; The Rover, 7st. 71b.; and Lady.Moutoa, Gst. 121b.; nre the ruling favourites in the long race, coupled with Gladiole and Heatherbrae in the Telegraph Handicap.

Acceptances for the first day's events at the Marlborough Racing- Club's autumn meeting close on Saturday noxt.

. Kilosteri has been sold out of the Highden stables, and mny make his first appearance in his how owner's colours during the Manawatu meeting.

• A. Oliver is making a special effort to get down to Sst. -lib., sa as to be nblo to ride Boanerges in the Longburn Handicap. Other, jockeys with difficult tasks in the. matter of weight are W. Rvan, 7st. Sib. (Mira) and C. Price, 7st. 71b. (The Rover).

, Jan, Stepney, and Styx were railed homo after tho Trent ham meeting, and are not likely to be seen under silk at the Manawatu meeting, which opens to-mor-row.

Naumai nnd Ceylon, who ore' to represent Mr. H. Whitney at tho Timaru meeting to-morrow, were sent south by the Maori last evening.

The spoody Traquair filly Ventura is not to be. raced here, but, after a six months' spell, will bo again sent over to H. Kayner at Randwick. Ventura started five times as a two-year-old, being twice first and once third, and her winnings amounted to X' 2807. She has, therefore, paid good interest on the.. 420 guineas which her owner gave for her as a yearling'. . .

News from Awapuni states that Masterpiece is a doubtful starter in tho Longburn Handicap at Awapuni to-morrow. This will be bad news for double backers who supported tho Derby winner, coupled with Heathcrbrae, at a yeryshort price. The'last three contests for the Thompson Handicap have been won by mares— Armlet, Equitas, and Gipsy Bpllo.

Despito the huge amount of travelling and racing which Odessa has done this season, the son of St. Ambrose does not appeal It. gel over his nervousness, and it was noticiable that, when walking in the bird-cage on Saturday, tho perspiration was rolling off him. This notwithstanding the fact that it was not by any means a warm day and steady rain was falling.

Full Rate ran his last race on Saturday, and, in future, starters will not be troubled with The Officer gelding. It is stated that, when next he appears in public, it will be ill the show ring.

Ineuru finished last in both her races at Trciitham. It rather appears as if the Wavcrley marc has gone off her form.

■\V. J. Porter, who rode Zante at Trentham, do»s not intend to remain in this country, but will return to Melbourne in time for the Caulficld nnd Flemington Nationals. Porter took the trip to New Zealand on tho advice of his doctor, who thought that a trip would do him good after a bad fall. Ho did not intend to ride here but, as A. Rhodes was without a horseman for. Zante, Porter consented to take the ride.

Mr. E. A. Connolly, who tivclTe months ago purchased a half-brother to Lady Medallist, for llOOghs., recently secured a three-year-old, own sister to the Caulficld Cup winner, for 300gns.

According to Australian files, fhe New Zealand-bred Gunboat, who changed hands after wiuning tho Place Handicap at Randwick, is to go to India.

Five of Mr. G. M.' Currie's yearlings were sold in Sydney for a total of BBogns. The half-brother to .Bronze was not disposed of.

The Auckland jockey Wilson, who used to ride Hautapu at the northern meetings, was at. Deloraine, Tasmania, for the Easter carnival, and won the big steeplechase there on a horse called Clandaboye.

Hesperus (Stepniak—Fair Nell), who used to race at the Canterbury meetings without much success, was a strong fancy for the Deloraine Cup (Tasmania) on Easter Monday, but, after, leading for about, <i mile and a quarter, lio finished out of a place.

Hereward, formerly an inrualo of tho Porirua stable, is now racing in hurdlo events in Tasmania,

Tho New Zealand jockoy, C. O'Neill, has been offered, a position as private trainer to a Hobart sportsman, and, after fulfilling some engagements iu Melbourne, he will probably take up his residence in the Tasmanian capital. I'ivo of the jockeys riding at (he Australian Jockey Club's autumn meeting earned over .EIOO apiece in winning percentages during tho four days'' racing. Prior to winning the Great Easter Steeplechase nt Onknparinga on Easier Monday, the Valala gelding Vanguard had to his credit ten hurdle races and seven steeplechases, the whole of his cross-coun-try successes being scored in Melbourne, including three at Caulfield mid ono at Flomington. Vanguard did a Jot nf racing at country meetings in New South Wales, and his present owner bought him for IflOgns. Tt is stated that at one stage of his career Vanguard was sold for ,£ls. FIXTURES. April 21 and 25—Mnnnwalu ft.C. Autumn. April 24 and 27—Avnndnlo .).(.'. Autumn. April 24 and 25— youth Canterbury ,I.C. Autumn. May 1 and 2— Marlborough I!.C. Autumn. May 1 .mil 2—llankc's Hay J.'..'. Autumn, jlav 8 and '.)—Kgmont ]>.('. Winter. May !l and I(l—Ashburton County R.C. Autumn. Mnv 2.1 and 21-Wancanui .7.0. Winter. !\ln'v 211 and 24—North ')l;\go ,1.0. Winter, .luiio 1 and 3—A.U.C. Winter. Juno 1 nnd :5--Dunedin .!.('. Winter. Juno 3 and 4—Otnki Maori ,1.0. Winter. June m and 20-Ilawkc's May J.C. Winter, Junn 5(1 and 57—Napier Park E.C, Winter. July i and jTrGwboriM B.C. SboaDlocJiMo.