THE TURF.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 22, 26 July 1910, Page 2

THE TURF.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By Sir Bedivere.) Trentham is now its usual quiet, sleepy self. The rush and bustle of tiro past fortnight are but memories, and it remains only to repair the damage done. Though the course got a bad doing, it was pleasing to note that from first to last the going was perfectly safe, and it may be taken for granted that when the spring meeting oomCs round no sign of the rough usage it has been subjected to will be visible. All eyes are now turned towards Riccarton, and it is probable that by the end of the week most of the Grand National candidates will 'nave foregathered thei-e. No _ less than 1 thirteen of the Grand National Steeplechase field were ' seen out at Trentham, and of these Capitol and Waione earned a 141b and 101b penalty respectively. The former is now top weight, and on the form seen here, he can have no sort of chance of beating either his younger brother or Corazon. Of these Red M'Gregor is unquestionably the better jumper, and if he gets the country and is ridden anything like a decent race he must be very difficult to beat. Audax has fallen away in condition so much recently that his chance is now less favourably regorded than it was, for after his performance at Ellerslie, everyone "knew* what would win at Riccarton — there was no question about it. Loch Fyne will "have to show up much better than he did last week if he is going to be anywhere near the fighting line when the last fence is met with, and neither Lovell nor Sir Lethe can any longer be regarded as dangerous. Nero stiruck himself just prior to the local meeting, and for this reason it was deemed advisable not to start him at Trentham. It is now said that he will not be taken South, but I can only repeat that hi« owner assured me only last Wednesday that the gelding was all right, and, further, that he fully expected him to run prominently in the big event. It is now the popular opinion that Paisano will win the National Hurdles, and that he will have most trouble in disposing of Compass, Tauira, Prophet* and White Cockade. His recent displays were undoubtedly of a most convincing description, but it may be as well to bear in mind that whereas he will be carrying 12.1, White Cockade will only be burdened with 9.5. On the flat, Paisano's best performances were a second under 8.1 to Merrivonia (7.13) in the Manawatu Cup, leaving Koran (7.4), Waitapu (8.2), Osiris (8.1), and three others behind him, and a third in the President's Handicap at Awapuni under 8.5 to Sir Antrim (8.3) and Bridge {7.0) when he beat Sandstream {9.7) and six others. White Cockade won the Greymouth Cup as he liked mviex 9.1,, beating Nordoff (6.9), Lawn Rose (8.11), and dive moderates ; ran second to Armlet in the Metropolitan Handicap at Trentham, whilst ■ earlier in the season he won the Timaru Handicap easily; under 7.2, and ran the ten furlong course in2min lOsec; and on sth February he finished second to Genius, to whom he was presenting 21b in the Post Handicap N at Riccarton. Thi« form is, of oourse.^othing to boast about; but it is still sufficiently good to warrant the question being asked, can Paisano successfully allow the Finland gelding. 2st 101b? B Lady Lucy, 51 Han, Equitas, and Master Laddo (who clainlß z&r.. engagement in the A.J.C. Derby) will probably ba shipped for> Australia in charge of F. Tilley by next Friday's boat. CrucineU la, Gold Lace, Effort, and Iranui ar» likely to make the trip the following week. - Doggerbank and Ngapuka were railed back to Auckland yesterday. The latter did not show anything like his true form at Trentham, and though he looked well, it is evident that he was a bit off colour. The season of 1909-1Q is now number, ed with the past, and as usual "Pentagraph" publishes in the Referee a record of the performances of the most: successful riders both on the flat and across country. As will be gathered from the following table, H. Gray has had 60 winning mounts, or an averageof more than one a week, which is distinctly creditable in a country such <*• this, in which jockeys do not get anything like the opportunities enjoyed by; their contemporaries in other lands :— ON THE FLAT. Ist 2nd 3rd H. Gray ... 60* 40 49 A. Oliver ... 51 42 31 W. Ryan ... 39* 18* 17 C. Jenkins ... 39 '37 29 J..Beale ... 36 24 14 R. Hatch ... 31* 23 13 F. E. Jones ... 28 23 22 A. Whitaker ... 28 24* 18 E. Lowe • ... 27* 34 26 F. D. Jones ... 27* 22 15 CROSS-COUNTRY. A, Julian ... 19 10 10 T. Pritchard ... 15" 9 12 C. Cress ... 14 5 8* W. Young ... 14 8 10 H. Telford ... 13 13-6 Jer. O'Connell... 12 12 11 . * Including a dead-heat. KING HIPPO SCRATCHED. By Telegraph. - Presi Association.— Copyrlgli*,, OHRISTCHURCE, 25th July. King Hippo was scratched for aH tm* gagements at the Grand National meating- at 2.55 p.m. to-day. ATAAHUA BREAKS DOWN. MELBOURNE, 25th July. " Ataahua, has broken down and witt not start at the Australian Steeplechase \ meeting. j