THE TURF.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 96, 23 April 1912, Page 2

THE TURF.

FIXTURES. April 24 and 25 — ManaWatu E.G. Autuma. May 1 and 2— Hawkesßav J.O. Autumn. May 1 and 2 ->- Marlborough R.C. Autumn. NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By Sir Bedivere.) MANAWATU AUTUMN MEETING. Special concessions have been mad© by the Railway Department for those who intend visiting Awapuni to-morrow, when 'the Manawatu Racing Club's Autumn Meeting will commence. Though, in view of the heavy campaign which many horses" engaged have recently come through, there are bound to be some withdrawals, large fields are promised, and if the weather only holds line the meeting should be one 'of the most successful yet held by the club. The race for the Mauawatu Stakes will in itself be worth a long pilgrimage to witness, for it will bring about another meeting between Autumuus, Ermengarde, and Prince Soult. Brown Owl and Bon Ton wilt also probably compete, and the event ' may be regarded 1 as one o£ the most interesting of the season. Excepting on his homo course, Autumnus has been fairly beaten by "Mr. Highden's" speedy filly, but there are reasons to believe the Awapuni course may suit him better 'than that at Wanganui. As between this pair, therefore, it is most difficult to, foretell how tho result will go. But there is Brown Owl to be considered. She ran a sterling good, race last week in the Challenge Stakes, and had ahe been better placed during the early stages thereof Bhe must have been exceedingly hard to beat. Bon Ton is a smart colt, and one, too, that appears to be improving. On Challenge Stakes form, Autumnus seems to hold him safe, however. Prince Soult gave <i most disappointing display on the only occasion hitherto that he hap journeyed' away from Ellerslie, but it is quite certain that when at Trentham he was nothing like himself. He appears to bo a colt that, needs racing, but when at his oest he is undoubtedly amongst i/ho first flight," as he amply proved, by decisively beating Wanning Way, Culprit, Antoinette, and Company in the Royal Stakes. _ Ifc will only be in accordance with his past records if he does better in the Sires' Produce Stakes, to be run on Thursday, than iv the Manawatu Stakes. Con the Shaughraun has earned a penalty for the Longbum Handicap, the distance of which is, in any case, rather beyond his tether. Masterpiece is the present favourite, and in view of his creditable displays in the Great Autumn at Riccarton and' the Sb. Leger at Trentham, he will probably retain this Sjsition. On Thompson Handicap form, oanerges should give a good account of himself, and Lady Moutoa reads dangerous. Silva won so easily at Feilding that he will not go short of friends for the Karere Hurdles, for which, however, the rather hare-brained Euroco may be fancied. Merry Frank will, have to put up a 101b penalty if ho start* for the Taikorea Welter, the winner of which promises to take, a lot of .finding. Otahu will meet Moahau on 91b worse terms in the Linton Welter than he did at Feilding, .^jvhere, by the way, Lady Volga, -,wno' is engaged in.-the* Woodhey Hack Race , to-morrow, made an exhibition of her opponents.,. The Telegraph, Handicap, wilj. .be chiefly interesting on .'account of Heatherbrae's inclusipn in the field. This filly has won each of the laet four races' in which she has competed .in hollow style, and 1 although she has not yet beaten anything of equal class to these she- Will meet to-morrow, she is already^ the nominal favourite. The club's grounds at Awapuni aie now looking at their very beet, and certain it is that there 'is no better course of a mile in circumference to be found in the Dominion. A series of keen contests is promised, and unless rain falls there should be a record attendance. With the single exception of Martian, Bronze is the only three-year-old that has won the North' Island Challenge Stakes, in which she earned more weight than any other winner except Achilles, who scored under 9st 81b in 1905 and under lOst lib in 1906. Bronze, too, ia the only on© of her sex that has- ever 1 j won the race, and she gave Oliver the first winning mount therein. Twenty-four horsea, many of which are quite unknown, are engaged in th© Maiden Plate at Awapuni to-morrow. Since the entry was made one of these,' namely, Ngakau, has won a race, and is therefore ineligible to compete. Each of the. contestants must be ridden by an apprentice who has not won as many i as six vaces, and owners will probably find great difficulty iv securing vid&rs. It is* good, however, to see young hor&srnen being given an opportunity. Whilst contesting the Autumn Handicap at Reefton last Wednesday, Featherstone broke ono of his fetlocks, and it was necessary to destroy him. He wae a six-year-old gelding by Birkenhead out' of Keepsake, and won three events at Westport laßt season. It is reported that Kilosteri has been sold. That he can gallop he has conclusively shown in private time and again, and as, in addition to this, he is one of the cleane6t-windcd horses in training, Price long hold hopes that he would provo ca-pable of landing a good stake or two over lengthy courses. Kilosteri seems, however, to have been bom under an unlucky star, for as sur© as there- is trouble around ho will get into it. Posaiblj a change of stablee may bring about a change of luck. We shall see* Semaphore has evidently trained oft, and her owner has .decided to allow her to forego her engagements at Awapuni. Naumai and Ceylon, who will carry Mr. 'Whitney's colours at the South Canterbury meeting to-morrow, were shipped South laet inght The toriner will be burdened with 10.9 in the Smithfield Handicap, but it takes a lot of weight to stop him over a half-mile course. It is eaid that Full Rate has bidden adieu to the Turf. Chorus of starters: " Oli, let us be thankful ! " There are others, that could be spared— Longstep, Cor instance. The Avondale Autumn Meeting will commence to-morrow. Csood fields' are promised, but tho class does not appear to be very (strong. ASHBURTON WEIGHTS The following weights have been declared by Mr, J. E. Henrys for the Ashburlon fiaeiug Club's Meeting :—: — Longbea-eh Hack Welter, ot 70 eovt> ; ,fcjx furlongs.— John Bunyunlo.3, Pleakui'e Bent 9.3. Eavly Mom. 9.12, Mount Victona 9.8, Colightly 9.6, Mademoi&ello \xe 9.5, Kilmeny 9.3, Susa. 9.2, Respond 8.13, QUt Edge 8.10, States

Hesione 8.3, Daylight Bill 8.2, Owne* toro 8.2, Wedding Ring 8.2, Silver King 8.2, Bridegroom 8.2, Reef Points 8.2, Berlin 8.0, Fairlio 8.0. Flatterer 8.0. Fair-field Welter, of 80 soys; seven furlongs.— Thistledown 10.9, Genius 9.13, Kilts 9.12, Grand Slam 9.6, Eagkstone 9-3, Aimwell 9.2, Clanmeua 8.13, Kimono, 8.12, Merry Lass 8.12, Ellerton 8.11, Crosbic 8.10, Miss Sylvia 8.8, Kine Try B J' E <fo , 8>3 > Red > Whi^ «'id Blue 8.2, Gohghtly 8.1, Nithsdale 8.1, a ,^°> Aema 8l0 > Probable 8.0. A&hburton Cup, of 175 eovs; one.mile, and a quarter —Rose Noble 9.2, Coroniform B.S Tikitere 8.1, Tui-na 7.13, Tonnv 7 a fl US n l' 1 ?'?^^; 7-9. True knight 7.8, Bel ah 7.6,-^irei^h 7.4, Gold Coin 7.3. Sant Rosaleer 6.7, Foam Flake 6.7. Trial Handicap, of 50 soys; cix furlonge.— Blytheboy 9.0, Stephanos 9.0, Hesione. 8.8, Maple Leaf 8.6, Ceylon8.6, lirmhold 8.6, Sapience 8.5, White Flag 8.5, Even Wave 8.4, Gunflash 8.4, Nanda Dcvi 8.4, Vanala 8.3, Rider 8.0 Stepenna 8.0, Amalgam 8.0, Orama 8.0 Gold View 8.0, Imatre 8.0, Loch Shiel 7 9, Lureland 7.9, Ariel 7.9, Fairlie 7.7, Flatterer 7.7, GlenowJ 7.7. • Grove Farm Handicap, of 100 sc-vs; six furlongs.— Stepmeter 9.0, Thistledown 9.0, PilgrimVWay 8.6 ( Gapon 8.6, iKille 8,5, Sea King 8.4, Tunnhauser 8.4 Blue Lake 8.3. Buff Gauntlet 8.2, Bel' Jah 7.4, Clanmeua 7.3, Kimoni 6.7, Crosbie 6.7, Pleasure Beno 6J, Red Wing 6.7, Millionaire 6.7.