NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 8, 4 October 1918, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

rm' GiracoE.i

Owners and trainers am reminded that first acceptances for the New Zealand Cup closo to-day. Nominations for tho Auckland Cup, Racing Club Handicap, and Islington Hate, to bo run at. the Auckland Summer Meeting* dose at 4 p.m. to-day.' The A.J.C. Spring Meeting will commence at Handwick on Saturday, when tho Derby. Epsom Handicap, and Spring Stakes will bo decided. Moro than the usual ambunt of interest attached to Australian racing has been shown in connection with this nicotine:, the! reason being the big teams of New Zealand-owned horses that will be competitors at the meeting. Horses aro often started twice a day at onc-dny fixtures, but it is rarely that a horso faces the starter in two succeeding ovents. However, at Gosford, on September 25, Kenverno scored in the ug handicap, one mile., and half-an-hour later ho camo out and won over the same distance. In both cases he started favourite, and there was only a difference •of half a second in the two gallops. Nominations for - tho - Stewards' Handicap and other important events at the Now Zealand Cup Meeting close to-day. Linden, who scored in the. big handicap at Kurow yesterday, is one of tho Martian tribe. Previous to yesterday his successes were gained in hack company. In the South Island ho has the reputation of being a very smart horse, though last season ho was successful in only two races. . , ~ , After being in J. "Bryres stable for several weeks. Oxenhopc has joined other members of Mr. Masham's team at <1. Pearson's establishment. This suggests that tho Obligado gelding will be tried at hurdle racing. _ Though Kilmoon, Kilhopc. and Gloaming all figure in the Trial Stakes at liandwick, it is not likely that they will compete. Killiopo is due to contest tho Epsom Handicap, in which no has tlio nice weight of Bst. Ifllb.. and tho other two arc to raco in the Derby. • A- leading weight-for-agc performer in Laniiis will be missing from the jU.O. Meeting. . Tho imported horse developed soreness after racing at Brisbane, so his owner decided to spell him. Mr. D. Campion, owner of Ararat (Advance— Ballarat), has sent the marc to Auckland on a visit to tho imported Thurnhain. • ~, 4 Thore.dicd in Sydney a fortnight ago the well-kuown Victorian trainer, .James Lynch. Lynch had cliargo of flniue good performers during his time. Towards tho end of her career ho trained tho brilliant mare Gladsome, but the best he ever had was' undoubtedly Comedy King, who won the Melbourne jOitp, Caulfield Futurity Stakes, and numerous # other wcight-for-age races. Peculiar circumstances were associated with the purchaso of Ccincdy King, says "Iroauois," >ii the Sydney "Sun." Mr. Sol. Green said, moro in jest than in earnest, when he took Lynch Homo with him to secure the mares for tho now disbanded Shipley Stud: "We will get a Melbourne Cup winner whilo we aro licre." Mr. Green selected Tragedy Queen witli her colt foal, by Persimmon, at foot, giving 1700 guineas for the pair. That foal was Comedy Kin& who carried out his owner's desire. Of late years Lynch 1m l kept tho ftacecoum* Hotel, overlooking Plemington racecourse. Should Mr. T. H. Lowrv decide to start Desert Gold in the Melbourne Cup, tho, rnaro will probably carry number «.one saddlo cloth. A horse carrying this cloth has not been successful in the race in oupstiou sinco Carbitio won in 1890. ■ When tho last mail left England tho loading winning owner was Lady .lames Douglas,-with three wins, of, a valuo of £10,060, all of which tho champion colt Gainborouirh had been responsible lor. To be added to this amount is a sum of about £2000 for Gainsborough's win in the September Stakes. The death took place in Ireland in August of the sire Symington, by Ayrshire from Siphonia. Symington, who commanded a considerable patronage in Ireland, was the sire o» M winners of 383 races of a value of £88.853. The defunct sire has a representative racing in Australia in TUsdon (from Illectra), who won the Adelaide Cup last season.

The well-known American ruoeliorse Sun Briar was credited with running a mile in lmin. 36sec. at Saratoga last August. This is ,a world's record for a circular track.

From Auckland comes the news of '(lie (loath of Lady Hunc, who at the A.1'.0. Summer Meeting of 1906-07 won tlic Grafton Hurdlo Eaco miller 9st. 61b.; on the second day she carried 10st.' 61b. to victory in the Ponsonby Hurdlo liaeo, and finished up with a. win in the "New Year Hurdle Kaeo. which event she won easily under list. 71b., her feat heinr highly extollod. In the winter of 1908 she won tlio double—Eenmcra, Hurdle 11300 and Campbell Hurdlo liace, respectively, under JOst. 911). and list. 21b., and that marked her last appearance under silk. As a brood mare .Lady Hunc was a failure.

THE A.J.C. DERBY CAN NEW ZEALAND DO THE HAT THICK? In 1916 and iu 1917 New Zealand horses captured the A.J.C. Derby, and if a New Zealander can bowl the Australians out on Saturday this Domitiioii will havo accomplished the hat trick. Numerically we aro well represented in the race, but the quality of our representatives has yet to bo proved. None of them may be as good as Kilboy (who won in 1916) or Biplane (the 1917 winner). Furthermore, there is no certainty that some one of the Australians will uot turu out a- topnotcher. Nevertheless, with so many highly promising representatives iu tlio race, New Zealand seems to have a good chance of annexing the coveted classic for the third year in succession, The New Zealand horses engaged are:— Mr. T. If. Lowry's Finmark, by Finland—

Warscare. Mr. T. 11. Lowry's Killowcn, by Kilbroney

—Success. Mr. G. L. Stead's Almoner, by Boniform—

Cassock. Mr. G. L. Stead's ICilmoon, by Kilbroney—

St. Sophia. Mr, G. p. .Greenwood's Gloaming, by The

Welkin—Light. Finmark was New Zealand's best two-year-old last year, and invariably ho, stayed'well in his races. In Australia the other 1 day he failed partly through having to make all his own running. Ho will be the elect of the Lowry stable, and it Is unlikely that ho will be left to such a fate on Saturday. Finmark is bred on "staying" linos, and is very game. Almoner also inherits the blood of great Bt.aycrs, and he raced well in Australia last year. Gloaming, judged by his form in Australia, recently, is brilliant, but it remains to be seen if he will stay. .His sire. The Welkin, is not noted , for producing stayers. Both the Kilbro'ncy colts havo bright prospccls, so altogether it may turn out that New Zealand lias a strong team in the field.

Among tlio Australians arc Outlook, for whom £5000 was paid last autumn, and Woorawa, who beat Finmark in the Hosehill Guineas. Outlook may not. stay well, but Woorawa has been developing well in that direction.

New Zealand has taken :t handsome cut out of Australian Domes. As far back as 1,885 (33 years ago), Nordenfeldt won both Derbies. Bonnio Scotland won the A.,T.C. Derby In 1894, Bob Hoy in 1895, moon accompanying the Iloniform colt for Biplane in 1917. The result, which will show how we aro to fare this year, will bo awaited with deep interest.