NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1788, 28 June 1913, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

UJT Olincoh.3 The appearance of the weights for the Wellington mooting attracted a great deal of attention yesterday. Most interest centred in the big steeplechase, for 1 which thirty-six horses are weighted. With any luck at all the handicapper should get an acceptance of nearly half this number, which will be nioro than satisfactory. The first half-dozen are all likely starters, and so' are The Spaniard and Dorando. With lOst. 111b., the Hawkc's Bay and Napier winner (The Spaniard) is not badly treated, and the two races which ho had will improve him considerably. Very often the case happens of a horse going right through the season carrying all before him, as Captain Jingle did last year. The extra few pounds which ho receives in consequonco of his wins at the minor meetings are more tfopn compensated for by the condition which the racing puts on him, so that, by the time that tho Nationals come on for decision, ho is better able to go the distance than horses that have been "laid up in lavender." The owner of The Spaniard has picked -up iGOO in stakes with tho Torpedo gelding, and he is still in the Wellington Steeplechase with a reasonable weight. Probably by tho time that tho winning post is reached ho will givo proof in support of tho contention which tho writer is now putting forward. Of tho light-weight division—say, those Tinder lOst.—nothing reads so attractively as sir. C. F. Vallanco's maro Ncdra. She seems to stay on well, and, in addition, is a fino jumper. The Napier handicappor put lOst. 131b. on her in the Park Steeples on Thursday, so that, she is woll in with 9st. nib., after making duo allowanco for the difference in class. Sunray gave such a splendid exhibition of jumping when ho won the Park Steeples at Napier that he is now being spoken of as a likely "National" hor6e. T. Jlulcay, who rode him. kept him on tho outside the whole way, to prevent him running off, and, after Waitarcro had been disposed of, the Lctho gelding took up the role of pacemaker, and flew each jump in his stride. When out in front ho seemed to go much better than he did in behind, and it will be no surprise to find the same tactics pursued with him in the nest races which ho starts in. Otupai, winner of the Hunt Cup at Napier, might have got on the winning list ere ho did, but for tho fact that his riders wero all "crouchers," and had their knees up to their chins. In consequence, when the horse overjumped, and stumbled, or struck a fence hard, they were unable to get back into tho saddle. Tho clicstnut gelding sometimes punches his fences very hard, but, on Thursday, ho was ridden by W. Adains, one of tho few present-day jockeys who belioves in having his lengths down. When Mr. Donnelly's liorso hit a fence tho Marlon jockey did not leave the saddle. It is a noticeablo fact that tho successful jockeys over steeplechase courses at Napier wero all of the saino typo as Adams. These wero Julian, M'Swecno.v, and Mulcay. Our jumping horses are not: too good at tho present time, and owners will sooner or later decide in favour of the old stylo of horsemanship. Tho Grand Prix do Paris is to bo decided to-morrow. When Ifnutsford fell in tho Park Steeples at Napier, it appeared as if ho was badly hurt, as ho remained down for a long time, but, eventually, ho was got on his legs again, and,. though looking very sorry for himself, ho was got home safely. Yesterday the locallyowned horse was railed homo to Trentham, anil, on landing Hiero last evening, C. Pritchard reported that ho was liltlo tho worse for his mishap. Ainsdalo pulled up very lamo after winning the Ncwstoad Hack Handicap at Napier. Tho winner is a four-year-old bay gcldiug by Birkonhcad from Eona, anil, as a two-year-old, gave much promise, but l-imfnituftatolj. wejit tfufj

much on tho big 6ido at Napier, ami, had ho continued to tmin on, lio was euro to liavo won again. It is very probable that tho stipendiary stewards present at Napier this woek will havo an adve/so report to make ro tho ambulanco arrangements for tho mooting. At this time of tho year, when tho junliving is in full 6wing, falls aro numerous, and it behoves every club to make preparations to meet any demand, At Napier on Thursday, while tho big steeplechase ovent was being run, no fowor than six riders wero on tho ground at ono time, with no one to render them assistance. Tho Wnnt'imui Jockcy Club has about tho best ambulance arrangements in tho Dominion, and its up-to-dato methods might advantageously bo copied by other racing clubs. Tho Gisbornc Racing Club's winter meeting takes placo on Thursday and Friday next. Acceptances for tho first day's events at tho Wellington Racing Club's winter meeting close on Monday week, July 7. Tho Now Zealand supporters of tho A.J.C. Derby of 1914 arc:—Sir Goo. Clifford, Mr. L. J. Watt, Mr. J. B. Reid, Messrs. W. G. and G. L. Stead, Mr. G. D. Greenwood, Mr. T. 11. LowTy, Mr. F. Hall, Mr. F. W. Allen, and Mrs. W. E. Bidwill. < . An unfortunate accident, which led to tho death of a pedigreed hunter, markod tho final stage of the proceedings at tho Birchwood Hunt meet at Riverton on Wednesday. At tho last fence Menziea Ferry, a four-year-old gelding by Mala-kofF—Pea-adventure, by Phaeton—Adventuress, came to grief, breaking his neck. The rider was unlimt. Menzies Ferry was owned by Mr. H. "Windleborne, of the Wyndham district, tho sportsman who originnlly raced that good jumper Silver Blaze with conspicuous success. Tho loss of tho son, of Malakoff is a Berious ono to his owner, as it was anticipated that ho would turn out to bo useful between the flags. Menzies Forry had been railed from homo to Eiverton on tho morning of tho hunt, and being a green horeo, it is thought that ho became upset owing to tho hurry and bustle of this unaccustomed outing.—"Southland Times."