NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 270, 9 August 1920, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Bt Glencoe,

The boats leaving for Lyttelton on Friday and Saturday wore both crowded with excursionists to the National meeting, which opens at Riccarton to-morrow. The Wahine, which leaves this evening, has also got all her accommodation booked. The Wangauui Jockey Club is putting a weight-for-ago event on its Epring programme. It will bo known as the Eclipse States, and will be worth 500 sovs, whilo the distance will bo nine furlongß.

The Blenheim representative Jean Gluten and tho Gisborno steeplechaser Gay Boy were Bhipped to Lyttclton at the week-end. Brackenfield has not been set any re-cord-breaking gallops on tho tracks, but he has got through all his work very attractively. He is one of the 'popular picks for tho Winter Cup. Th list of acceptances received for tho CJ.C. National meeting should assure the success of tho Riccnrton gathering. ' Only First Line, Morecambc, and Sturdeo fell out of tho big steeplechase, leaving a very high-class field of ten to dispute its possession. With every probability of the track being heavy, the taßks of'the four top-wcightß will be made all the harder. A very interesting race at Riccarton should bo the Jumpers' Hat Handicap. No fewer than 11 Grand National Hurdlo candidates, in Paraoa, Kauri King, Hylans, All Talk, Thrace. Deviation, Fisher, Kohu, Gaylight, Jack Symons. and Achilleus are eligible to contest both races, and the form displayed on Tuesday should throw a good deal of light on Thursday's prospects. With a high-class field of 20 standing their ground in tho Winter Cup, there seeniß every chance of past traditions of tho popular mile raco being fully maintained. The withdrawals comprised Kilrush, Almoner, and Good Hope. Thero wero no notable defections from tho Grand National Hurdles, tho only ones to have the pen put through their namcß being Loyal Arch, Meltchikoff, Pendoon, Calma, Warfarin, and Wild Pilgrim. This leaves 16 likely starters, of whom Lochella, Slowcoach, and Waimai also stand their ground in the big steeplechase. Word from Now Plymouth statca that the Campfiro gelding Generalissimo died there recently from an internal trouble. Owing to the rain during the night making the tracks too heavy, there wero no grass gallops available for.work at Riccnrton on Saturday; and the few trainers who did show out did what littlo work they carried out on the old sand, but it was merely gallopiug through mud and slush. , , , Only two fast .gallops were recorded-a good 'performance registered by Heathersprig and Gold Kip over Bix furlongs. Jumping off together, they rattled over the first two furlongs in 25 3-sscc, and tho last four in 51 l-ssec. Tho wholo journey occupied lmin. 16 4-sscc. As Heathcrsprig was on the outßide, and finished BMghtly in front, the gallon was in Jus favour. Clean Sweep rattled over tho last four furlongs of- a working gallop in 52sec, finishing on very well. Ormesby, with W. Fielding.■ up, was sent a round of the big fences, but, owing to tho heavy state of the ground, went very carefully. Ho negotiated the obstacles safely. Fireater was sent a round of tho steeplechase fenccß. and made no mistake. He whb afterwards sent over the double a second time. About half a dozen others were worked at strong and half-pace work on tho sand. i J. Campbell is to ho-vo tho mount on { Brackenfield in the Winter Cup, and J. Olßen will bo on Killowen. A. J. M Fhun will be on Hcathcrßprig, H. Robinson on Gold Kip, A. Reed on Dainty Step, 11. • M'Arten on Hurry Up, and W. Bell on Roso Pink.