THE TURF

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 71, 17 December 1919, Page 10

THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS (By Glencoe.) Nominations for all open events at the Wellington Racing Club's Summer Meeting clow with Secretary A. li. Why to at 9 p.m. on Friday. Acceptances for the Marton Meeting close on Friday next at 9 o'clock. Up till 5 p.m. on Saturday Secretary C. J. Carlyon will rcceivo acceptances for the Wnirarnpa Summer Meeting. The services of A. Oliver have been secured for Punka in tho M&nawatu Cup, and J. Olsen will ride Kilrusli. Tho lastnamed is tlio present favourite for the raco. Accommodation at Palmcrston North lias been fully booked for tho holidays, and it looks as if tho Manawatu Cup Meeting will eeo a very big gathering at Awapuni. Wellington sportsmen will be glad to know that on Boxinj* Day a fast train will leave Awapuni after tho last race, and Thorndon station will be reached fcy 10 p.m. Simonides was entered for tho Tnranaki and Stratford meetings, but tho Demosthenes gelding is not likely to he soen out at either place, as he has more valuable stakes to competo for at fillerslie at tho snmo time. ■Aceptances for the Stratford Meeting close on Friday next at 9 o'clock. The latest feature in connection with the Auckland Cup is tho strong support forthcoming for Vagabond, who, it is thought, will be ridden by 11, Gray. Yesterday the Martian gelding advanced to tho position of first choice, and lie was also coupled with Simonides in the Railway Handicap. The last-named will also be riddon by Gray. It is an extraordinary fact that top weights have won the Auckland Cup moro often than any other race of similar note, and some great weight-carrying performances have been put ui) in the big Ellerslio event. Last year Sasanoff, 9st. lib., just failed to concede Mascot 371b. All Red won with 9st. lib. in the saddle, Wairiki with 9st. 81b., and Nelson with 9st. 121b. The success of the top weights mav be duo to the fact that there is generally no pace in the early part of the lace, and the nature of the track would contribute to this. If Gray is to rido Vagabond, it probably means that Alteration will bo a nonstarter at Ellerslie. There is likely to ho something behind this, as ■ Alteration has been accepted for at New Plymouth on Boxing Day, but as he is not in any other races at the Taranaki Meeting it was thought that his owner was merely assisting his own club. However, it now looks as if Alteration will take his place in the field, which will bo a weak one. Sweet Memory has been a most consistent nerformer this season. Her win at Woodville has made her incur a 71b. penalty for tho Stewards' Handicap, six furlongs, but ns she is in a race with set weigh Is the'same day, slio is not likely to raco in the Stewards' Handicap.