THE TURF

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 288, 24 August 1918, Page 9

THE TURF

—~4 NOTES AND COMMENTS

fBT GILKCOE.I

Entries for several of the spring meetings elose next week. On Wednesday the Dannevirko nominations close, antl on Thursday tho Egmont entries are due. Acceptances for tho Morton Meeting closo on Tuesday next at 8 p.m. Colonel Soult is gradually getting down in Ihe estimation of the handicappers, and tho Auckland, horse is in tho Jlarton Handicap with Bst. He has not shown any form for a. long time, and went through last season without a win, though ho started seventeen times. Hin owner has evidently abandoned tho idea, of trying lo convert the Soult gelding into a jumper.

ICauri King has a groe.t record over fences. His first start was in tho Kaitoke Hack Hurdles at Wanganni in May, when ho finished oul. of a place. The next day he ran second to Puraeflller in the May Hurdles. From there he went to Gishorne, and after running third to Pursofillcr and Con on the first day ho came out and won at his next attempt. The following week he scored in tho Poraite Hurdles at Napier, and was not again produced till the National Meeting, where ho took both big events. His record thus reads:—Seven starts, four wins, one second, one third, and once unplaced.

In the south it is considered certain that li. O'Donnell will take Almoner to Randwick for the A.J.C. Derby and tho Bteeplocliaser Collector, and a couple of two-year-olds will accompany him. Almoner has wintered wcil and is very forward.

It is not likely that fit. Elmn will go to Sydney. Tho National winner was vory soro after his fall at Eiccarton, and he vail be given a long 6pell.

Soinobody in Sydney expects Killnjpe to make a big improvement as a three-year-old, and recently Mr. Lowry'n liorse was backed for a food sum to win the Epsom Handicap. Ho has also been coupled in doubles with Estland for the Metropolitan Handicap. Kilhope, who is by Kilbrouey, from Angele, only started twice as a two-year-old. Ho won the Maiden Plato at Woodville, and finished unplaced in the Great Northern Foal Stakes won by Demagogue.

Tho New Zealand-bred Bunting, who recently defeated Lanius and Amberdown at weight-fur-ago in Brisbane, is engaged in the Metropolitan Handicap and Caulfield Oup. Fit and well on tho day the Wellington Cup winner would liavc a good chance in either race.

In a recent articlo in the "Australasian," "Chiron" discussos at longth the faot that very few great racing maa'es ever did much good at tho atud. His views are borne out by the Eldorslio breeder, Mr. J. B. fleid, who, in a letter to a friend, states that mares which have never raced are better milkerß and in consequence do their foals much bolter than jjiaros wlilch havo raced much. Mr. Iteid stateß that Mb experiences are moßt convincing, and he should think a lot before ho purchased for breeding piirposes tho very bestperformed mare. The Oamaru breeder otatos that the progeny of tho marcs he Eold at his dispersal sale in 1912 have already won over £100,000 in Btakes, and Oarlita, who was out of Oourorino, won more than he got for the wholo of his mares.

Sydney papers mention that Biplane has been off colour recently, but a prominent veterinary Burgeon stated that there was little amies with him.

E. D. O'Donnell, private trainer to Mr G. L. Stead, waß examined by the Medical Board this week, but failed to pass the necessary teßt.

In his second schooling effort over the big fences at Eiccarton Gladful gave a very satisfactory display, and ho is cxpectod to race ljoll at Marton. He is engaged in the Hack Steeplechase, with 12st. 1311)., and in the Eangitikei Steeplechase with list. 51b. He will most likely contest tho latter event.

The annual report of the Taratahi Uncing Club states that owing to the Government's curtailment of racing during tho continuation of tho war, tho club's day was taken away, and therefore no meeting waß hold during tho past year. The club's property was worked as a farm, and showed a profit of £213 10s. Id. There is also thirty acres now sown with oats,' which aro looking well. The bank overdraft has increased. The District Committee has lo provide funds for the upkcop of the course, interest on mortgage, hank overdrafts, ctc., and an application is being made to the committee for an amount which will nlacc the club in the same finnnnial position as it was last yenr. All the honorary officials, with the exception of six stewards, retire at the forthcoming annual meeting, but arc eligible for re-election. The retiring stewards are: Messrs. A. 0. Feast. AV. 0. Deller, W. J. Denbce, G. H. Eaton, H. A. Bunny, and B. G. Kemblc.