NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 32, 15 October 1912, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By Sir Bedivere.)

In view of the decisive manner in which she defeated BobHkoff .and Los Angelos over a mile in the Islington Plate at BUerslie, Equitas waa pvac tically certain to be awarded top weight in the Stewards' Handicap, and, substantial burden though 9st 131b is, she cannot be written out. Last November she made small work of beating a good field in the Members' Handicap under 9st 91b— this over seven furlongs. Los Augelos was racing over lengthy courses I last season and probably its not now quite so dangerous a sprinter as ho used to be. Nor can Bobrikoff's chance be very highly estimated, as he is much too slow a beginner to shine over a Bhorter distance than a mile. Gipsy Belle finish, ed unplaced in the Stewards' Handicap last year under Bst 91b, but she subsequently won the Railway Handicap at EUerslie under Bst lib in decisive fashion, the Flying at Wanganui under Bst 61b 4 and the Thompson Handicap under bst 4lb. In the last-named event Los Angelos (9st 111b) was beaten out of a place, and he is now handicapped to meet Mr. Monk's mare on 91b better terms. This, over a shorter course, seems fair enough. At first glance Cul« prit , may appear to be harshly dealt with, for in the Railway Handicap at EUerslie she finished third to Gipsy Belle under oveh weights. She .was then ft three-year-old, however, and in the interim she should, according to the weight-for-ag6 calculations, have improved 81b; moreover, she subsequently finished third, under Bst 71b, in the Great Easter at Riccarton, whereas Gipsy Belle, Bst 121b, was unplaced. Obsouo raced in Australia throughout last season and showed smart form more than once. He is a capable sprinter and Mr. Henrys has not been at all hard on him. Theodore, on the other hand, seems to 4 have received bis full deserts, for he did not manage to win a single race last season and was only once placed, viz., in the pourtenay Welter at the C.J.C. Autumn Meeting 1 . It is, however, to be admitted that since he became cut about in some barbed Wire about twenty months ' ago he 'has not really regained his form. In ,1910-11 he won the Criterion Handicap under 7st 101b, ran second in the Members' HandiCa Pi beating JEquitas (9st 41b), ahd won the Visitors' Handicap at EUerslie under 88t 41b. Last month he ran second in a field of twenty-four for the Tramway Handicap at Randwick. Peirene has also given her latest displays at Randwick^ where she finished third, under Sat 21b, m the Suburban Handicap. Last year she ran second for. the Stewards' Handicap under 7st 13lb, and many people are ftf opinion that she was unlucky to lose. She should now be a 121b better filly and may be regarded therefore as being in her right place. Though. Soldiers' Chorus has done all his racing in Otago' and Southland, and has yet to meet the "town hall" division, Mr. Henrys haar "evidently been impressed, for he 'has "treated luJtf'tis a good one. He won under big weights up to the middle of last season, but was subsequently tried, over lengthier courses and failed to distinguish , himself.' • A good three-year-old is always dan^' gerous in the Stewards' Handicap, which fell to four colts of this age in Pampero, Royal Artillery f Vladimir, and Machine Gun in successive years. Machine Guii carried 8.9, but he was a veritable smasher, and in awarding Autumnus a similar impost Mr. , Henrys has paid Sit George Clifford's colt'a high compliment. With Equitas, Los Artgelos, and Bobrikoff handicapped to carry 171b, 131b and 101b more than w.f.a respectively, last season's crack two-year-old was bound to be well looked after, and in being allotted 71b over his w.f.a. allowance he cannot be deemed harshly used. Bon Reve, who holds ah unbeaten record, is in receipt of 3lb from the Chokebore Lodge representative, and Ermengarde is conceded 71b } or 21b beyond her sexual allowance. This seems scarcely as much as she was entitled to, for at' the back end of last season Autumnus met her under w.f.a conditions twice, and beat her on each occasion. In comparison with Ermengarde, too, Winning Way is favourably placed, for ghe beat "Mr. Highden'ft" filly in both the Great Northern Foal Stakes and the C.J.C. Champagne Stakes. Haskayne would have a chance if specially prepared for this event, but he will probably, in com-* mon with Obligant, 1 be trained for lengthier jonrneys. ' Beldame^s owner has nothing to complain about, and the last, but not least in any respect, of the three-year-olds that calls for mention is Mr. Watt's filly Ventura,' who has, go far as memory goes, been awarded a record weight for a filly of her age in connection with this event. In having assessed hor as 51b superior to Autummts Mr. Henrys plainly tells us that he considers last season's Australian form to be of a higher character than that c*« hibited by juveniles in this country. Recent .results tend to bear him out, but it is difficult to get an accurate line m to this, and Ventura's first appearance under silk in New Zealand will be a most interesting event. Of those of which mention has ' not been made m .these notes. Crown Pearl and Orladiole strike me as being a likely pair. The handicap will take * lot of picking to pieces, and although there are certain to be differences of opinion between its compiler and his critics, Mr. Henrys is, I thihk, deserving of compliment upon the manner in which he has endeavoured to bring the big field together. So Sir Lethe has not changed hands, and is now on his way home. It seems rather strange that he was not allowed to take his chance in short distance cross-country events, in Victoria. There is nothing for him to do here until May, and probably he will be turned out for a spell. ■ The Egmont Racing Club has decided to increase the value of the stakes for the Summer Meeting to the extent of £500. At a meeting held last week, the club's paid officers, Messrs, Hartgill, Moore .and O'Connor, Were re-elected, and it was decided that both Mr. Geo. Morse and Mr. J. A. Turton should be granted^ an increase ih salary. The field for the Caulfleld Cup now numbers thirty-three, and is not likely to be very considerably reduced. Royal Scotch is, fortunately for his hew owne^, a good beginner, and should, therefore, be able to get a prominent position early and avoid trouble. Acceptances for the events to bo decided on the opening day of the Wellington Spring Meeting are duo next Friday. Beldame'B knees have recently been causing her trainer, F. Davis, some anxiety, and it is thought to be un-

likely that she will Burvive a thorough preparation. She will probably bi mated with Royal Fusilier. That expensive failure Golden^Slip' per has foaled a browu filly to Wallace. Australian critics now regard Paisano as the best hurdler in the Commonwealth. When the barrier rose in. connection with the Epsom Handicap, says am. exchange, Irish Figure, Sandbath, and Blakeney wore loft standing, whilst Shuja and Cisco got off too badly to have any chance of success. In the circumstances Cisco did well to finish fifth. To the «urprise of most racegoers R. Lewis was given the mount on Duke Foote in the Metropolitan, His ingteiuc^ tions were to take no risks, and to keep well away from the rails. There was a bad accident at the first turn, Hartfell, Ocean Blue, Simla, and Irish Figure all comihg down. There wo* a yell that Duke Foote was down, but he was in front of the fallen lot. Of the horses which fell, Simla was internally injured, and was taken off the course m an ambulance. J. E. Pike, rider of Hartfell, had his head badly cut.