NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2272, 5 October 1914, Page 3

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[Br GlEncoe.]

The Australian Jockey Club's Spring Meeting -will be continued at Randwick to-day, when the Metropolitan Handicap and the Breeders' Plate are- the two principal events to be decided. Mountain Knight, who won the A.J.O. Derby, is not engaged in the Metropolitan Handicap, but his owner has another representative, Moonbria, in the event. Mr. E.-J. Watt's Derby success with Mountain Knight at Randwick on Saturday will be extremely popular in New Zealand and in all the Australian States, as the New Zealand sportsman races extensively in the Dominion, New South Wales* and Victoria, and in a lesser degree in Queensland and South Australia. Mountain Knight was bred by Mr. John M'Donald, of Mungie Bunclio, Moreo, and was selected n'y Mr. Watt at the yearling sales at Randwick in 1913. As showing what a romarkably good judge of yearlings Mr, Watt is, it need only be mentioned that his other purchases in Australia in the last few years included those brilliant performers Ventura and Athenic. ■ The pedigree of Mountain Knight makes interesting reading. He is by Mountain King (Wallace—Bonnie Rosette, grand-dam of Signor) from La Vielle (sister in blood to Dreamer, the dam of Bon Reve), by Mostyn from Vigil (half-sister to Wakeful's dam), by Trenton (siro of Wakeful), from Nightmare (dam of Mentor, Dreamland, Class and La Tosca, and grand-dam of F.J.A., Nightfall, Noctuiform, Midnight Sun, Bon Ton, and Eyeglass, imp.), by Panio from Evening Star, by Lord Clifden (sire of '_ Hampton) from Maid of Derwent (half-sister to Maid of Masham, the fifth dam of Cyllene), by Flatcatcher from Miss Lydia, by Belshazzar from maro by Comus. Although tho Jockey Club Stakes is ono of the most valuable races of tho English season) this year's race did not attract a very high-class lot, for a recent number of "The Field" spoko of those left in as a poor lot. ' Trois Temps, tho winner, only ran once as a two-year-old, failing to secure a place. This soason, up to the time tho last mail left England, he had won tho North Derby at Newcastle, but otherwise his form was distinctly moderate. At Hurst Park iu July he ran third to

Anglosey and Armant in tho Duchess of jYork Stakes. Mr. R. H. Skipwith has been appointed starter for the South Auckland Racing Club. Foalings to date at tho Waikanae stud are as follow:—Prelude (dam of Peronilla and Peroneal), colt (dead) to Achilles; Kilwiunot (sister to Kilwinning), bay filly to Achilles; Satisfairo, ibay colt to 'Achilles; Lady Principal, ch. filly to Bezonian; Mallaig, bay filly to Birkenhead; Strathspey, brown colt to Birkenhead; Chinwag, twin foals (dead), to Achilles; Madeira (MaltsterMadura), ch. colt to Achilles; Vicereine (half-sister to Rosclla), bay filly to Achilles; Snowstell (sister to Fleetfoot and Broadsword), bay colt to Bezonian; Sister Frances (dam of Lady Menschikoff and Epsom Lass), bay filly to Birkenhead; Crimson Rose, brown filly to Rokeby; Faux Pas (sister to Vladimir), bay colt to Rokeby; Sonoma twin foals (dead), to Birkenhead; Spring (dam of Mahuta and Rill), bay filly to Bezonian.

Mr. J. Chambers, who won the Epsom Handicap with Portrush on Saturday, is the ownor of Posinatus, winner of the last Melbourne Cup. Portrush ls undoubtedly one of the most fashion-ably-bred horses racing in Australia to«ay. His sire (like Bezonian, Traquair, etc.) is a member of th© Pafaffin branch of the No. (1) family, and his dam is a sister to that great performer loseidon, and consequently a descendant of Queen Mary (the dam of Blink Sonny). '

_ &. Murray-Aynsley left Riccarton for Dunedin on Saturday with Warstep, Ohrysotis, Skene Dhu, Marsa, and bpangle. The horses named are engaged at the Dunedin Jockey Club's Spring Meeting.' which commences on Friday next. Two other Riccarton horses to leave for Dunedin on Saturday were Encore and Down Steepa. ■_ Owners are reminded tha tnoinina•umsJo[ tho "Waverley-Waitotara Racing Club s meeting close to-morrow night. • i The imported horse Hallowmas who was purchased in Australia by Mr, G. ■F. Moore early in the present year, has built up nicely since arriving at Bushy Park, and was greatly admired by visi-; tors during tha week of the Wanganui ■Spring Meeting. The British Blood Stock Agency (England) wrote to Mr. Moore recently complimenting him upon his purchase, and saying' they could not have 'placed him a horse more suitable for colonial mares. The deeds of Eapsburg are of course keeping Hallowmas's family to the foro in England during the presont season. It is not therefore to be wondered at that the services of the imported horse are being eagerly sought by breeders. . The following mares are alrcad yat Bushby Park to be mated with him during the present season:— Pas Seul (Soult—Parera, dam of Nyland), Adelicia (Charlemagne ll—Ahgele), Bradamante (Oharmagne ll— Hamathan, dam of Samiol), Merrivonia (Merriwee—Livonia), Happy Maid, (dam of Ladoga), Lady Nell (Birkenhead— Lady Helen), .Pangaroa (Seaton' Dolaval —La Daupliine), Ora (dam of Clemora). Fairwind (dam of-Leonta), Mon Ami (half-sister to St. Paul), White Crano (Royal Artillery—Stressa), Blue Ribbon (half-sister to Paritutu), Billingsgate mare (dam of St. Bill), Vivaudel (dam of; Patronale); brown'mare by Insignificant—Tonga, Sea Spray (half-ister to Gold Crest), bay mare by Malachi—Sea Spray ,_ Fairy Gold (half-sister to Ikon), To Puia (San Fran—Quilt mare), Amyris (Gold Reef —Balm); Crucinella (half-sis-ter to Nonette), Ma Mio Rosette (dam Sigiior and half-sister to Mountain King, the sire of .Mountain Knight, winner of -this year's A.J.C. Derby), Helen Portland (dam of Bonny Helen), Simonia (dam of Denise Ormc), Rau Rau (dam of Coronetted), Armistice (Mahaki—Malinito). and St. Evangeline (Hotehkiss —St. Evelyn). Ora, mentianed above, ha salso been. ; booked to Hallowmas for next year, as have three of Mr. W.'E. Bidwill's mares, including Vhe great Stepfeldt.

, .FIXTURES. , . Oct. 9 and 10.—Dnnedin J.C. Spring. Oct. '10-Hawfce's Bay J.C. Spring. Oct. 15—Masterton B.C. Spring.

Oct. 15 anil 17—South Canterbury J.C. Spring. ' ' ■ Oct. 24 and 2G.—Wellington B.C. Spring. Oct. 28 and 27.-Gore B.C. Spring.

October 27 and 28,-Groymouth J.C. Spring Oct. 23 and SO—Poverty Bay T.C. Spring. Nov. i and 7.—Auckland B.C. Spring.' Nov. 7, 9, 11, and 14.—Canterbury J.C. Metropolitan. • Nov. 18 and 19.—Marlborough 8.C.-Spring Nov. 28 and 30.—Feilding J.C. Spring.