NOTES ON THE RACING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 95, 22 April 1912, Page 3

NOTES ON THE RACING.

THE NEW ZEALAND ST. LEGER. (By Sir Ikdivere.) At one time it seemed doubtful whethex* anything would oppose Sir George Clifford's redoubtable pair in the St. Lcger, and it was pleasing to note, therefore, that both Byron and Sir Knox jemed the parade. In the pieliininaries nothing went down so well as Counterfeit, but Byron also moved attractively. Sir Knox, who looked light and jaded, moved in rather .scratchy style, and Masterpiece's action also lacked freedom, fry he failed to get his hind legs under him in the manner that 'Counterfeit did. The event was, of course, regarded' -aa a certainty for Counterfeit, who stripped really well, and bo it proved. On returning to scale, however, she was markedly lame, this as a result of having torn a shoe- off that split hoof of hers. She will not, Sir George Clifford tells me, be raced again thie season. Byron, who had not been prepared for bit long a- journey, ran a good race, and it would seem that he can stay. lie pullad up quite sound, and must have been v, cheap horse at the price llr. Harlo gave for hini. The time registered, via. i 3min 7sec, has only been beaten twice during the history of the race, lngoda put up the record the year before last by getting home in 3min 2soc, whilst Counterfeit's sire, Treadmill, won th« i race iv 3min ssec in 1904. THE AUTUMN HANDICAP. Boanerges and Sir' Solo were t the only withdrawals from the Autumn Handicap, for which Bronze was slightly better fancied than Midnight Sun. . Bronze's success, which was undoubtedly one of the most popular wine of the meeting, stamped her as a filly of the highest clase, and she does her sire, Field Battery, whose services have been far too neglected by breeders, infinite credit. Writing without the book, I can call to mind no other three-year-old filly that has carried so much weight to victory in an important handicap except Cruciform, who won th© Great Easter under 9.9. Oliver handled her with maeterly judgment, and never allowed her to run over an inch of unnecceesary ground, and on their return to scale both he and his mount were loudly cheered. Undecided failed to stay on, and unlese he may have trained off, of which his appearance gave no evidence, he cannot be quite so good a horee as many people who caw him win at Feilding were inclined to believe. Merrivonia ran an astonishingly good race, the more so seeing that she has always been regarded as quite hopeless unless the going were firm and fast. Midnight Sun once again disappointed his admirers, and never looked dangerous. He appears to be a colt that is not always inclined to do his beet. Considering the state of the going, which was certainly not fast, the time regifitered t by Bronze was remarkably good, and beaie ample testimony to the cound pace at which the race was run. , THE MINOR-EVENTS. Wednesday's form pointed to Dorando as the most likely winner of the opening event, but the public went solidly for Beeline's stable-mate, Glenmore, and in this they were right. Dorando completely spoilt his chance by his faulty jumping, and it, is plain that, although he fenced beautiftdly on the* opening day of tho meeting, he has still a lot to learn about the business. • After his bold showing in the Thompson Handicap, it was not surprising that Sir Solo should be made favourite for the Hutt Handicap, more especially as Deeley had the mount. Ngatiranui went down so attractively in his preliminary that many people decided to support him, but whilst he has a line actiou^and can go fast, he cannot stay. Mira, who was gjving away weight to each of his opponents, ran a good, honest race, but he appears to be lacking in brilliancy. After the decision of this event., some blacli-whihkered gentleman amongst the crowd in the straight angrily demanded that the time registered should be posted. His desire was eventually gratified, and in truth the information, so far as the outside public was concerned,' was not available as early as it should have been. That Toney's form on the opening day_ of the meeting was wrong he plainly proved by rushing to the front early in the Muritai Handicap and winning in hollow atyle. In tho Silverstream Handicap he was conceding Lady Kilcheran 31b, and finished "two and a half lengths away. To-day he met her on 71b better terms, and on form the pair should have finished close together. Instead, however, he outpaced the filly fi-r-m the word go, and beat her by a margin that was not easy to estimate. The public apparently anticipated an improved display on* Toney's part, and made -him a good favourite. Manitau, who was also well supported, did better than on Wednesday, whon he finished laat. Lady Kilcheran is of course a flighty little tdly, and probably her effort eat her in the week had <aken something out of her. This being so, with Mouton out of the way, it \uu> due to Toney to win. Bon Ton, who won the Pacific Handicap, is evidently a, smart coll, for he did not get well away, and- was forced to cover extra ground through having to go up on the outside. How Huskayne might have fared had he left the mark smartly, it is impossible to say, but he made up very little lost ground, and his performance was a disappointing one. Obligant, on the other hand, did wonderfully well. With two furlongs gone he was last but one, and as he battled his way into third place in the drenching rain, hb may be credited with having put up a game and attractive- effort. Thick, misty rain fell as the Suburban Handicap was decided, and only those with an intimate knowledge of the colours could determine the respective positions of the various candidates. Full llute made a perfect nuisance pf himself at the barrier, and lepeatedly interfered with his opponents. Unless his behaviour improves clubs would bo fully justified in refusing his nomination. Having the advantage of mi-ide positions Kootle and Msikara had ,a lot in their favour, and, remembering iij 5 performance in rainy weather at Wanganui, many people were quite prepared to gee

the former lead all the way. He was done* with after about four and a-half furlongs had been tiaverstd. however, and Maka.ru, to. whom ;i win was well due, -.vent on to>coi'<? decisively. Theodore wa.s quite handy as the turn was negotiated, but lie has not yet recovered hij form, and as the final bend was made j ho faded out. Gipsy ISelle, who was ! fidjretv at the post, was ne\»r pioininent, find Ba-ndiera. left the mark too slowly to have any chance. By the lime the concluding event wus run the going hud become slightly holding, and in this condition it admirably suited Dirge. Semaphore was tha slowest to move, and finished lust. GENERAL NOTJitf. A special train with racehorses and attendants engaged for the Manawatu meeting on Wednesday hit for Palmerston North yesteiday. * Among those who availed themselves of it were H. Cutts, in charge, of Masterpiece Heatherbrae, Antunmivs, and Brown Owl : It. O'Donnell. with Lcs Angeles, Bandiera, Culprit, Bon Ton. and Kon .Soir ; and G. Price, with Bronze, Boanerges, and Blakeney, E. Cutts leturns South to-nighfc with Counterfeit and Gienh'nnaii. G. Price lea-yes for Australia on the 7th of next month, in charge of Boanerges, who is to be entered for the A.J.C. Juno Meeting, and offered for sale. New 6 has been received from Mr. George Currie to the effect that Bronze's yearling half-brother was not cold at the Randwick salee. MARLBOROUGH RACING CLUB. AUTUMN MEETING. Mr. ( Ceoiig^ Morse has declared the fdllowiiig weights for the first day's events at the Mavlborough Racing Club's Autumn Meeting, to bs held on Ist and 2nd May :— Electric Handicap, five furlongs.^Dirga 9.7, Gay Lawless 9.2, Portland' Lady 8.8. Emma. 8.7, Allurement 8.6, Mount Victoria 8.4, Rector Girl 7.12, Katua 7.11, Uauntou 7.10, Wee Roee 7.10. Miss Vina 7.5, lndra 7.4. San Port 7.3, Euaparj. 7.1. Excitement 7.1. Ab^rcced 7.0, Mary 7.0, Ruination 7.0. Flying Handicaps six furlongs.—Glenspring 9.6. Blua Lake 8.7, Mon Ami 7.8, Boa-con 7.7,' Merchantman 7.7. Deploy T. 5, Moreo 7.0, Longstep 7.0. Autumn Handican, six furlongs. — Dirge 9.6, Leapuki 9."1, Toney 9.1,' Portland Lady 8.7. Allurement 8.5, Daunton 7.9, Katua 7.9, Amberstone 7.3/ lndra 7.2, Bridegroom 7.1, tady Volley 7.0, Abwcocd 7.0. * ' Marlborough Cup^ one mile and a quarter.— Undecided 9.13. Sir Knox 8.6, Sea Queen 8.6, Coromandel 8.5, Waipunui 7.13, Martiue 7.11, Sinapis 7.8, Seraphic 7.7, Odessa 7.7, St. Felix 7.5, Beacon 6.13, Matlow 6.13, Llanwern 6.12. Opawa Welter, seven furlong's.— Ton#y 9.13, Aloha 9.10, Astonishment 8.8, The Nut 8.7, Mediterranean 8.4, Foreshot 8.1, Bridegroom. 8.0. Stockad-e 7.13. Ugbrooke Welter Handicap, seven furlongs. — Waipunni 9.13, Curator 9.12, Heraphic 9.6, Merry Frank 9.4, Bally Shannon 8.11, Merchantman 8.10, Beacon 8.10, Mallow- 8.8. Negative 8.7, Llanwern 8.5, Longstep 8.5, More© 8.5, Parawanui 8.3, Moloch 8.2, Aetna 7.12.