NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27, 2 February 1915, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By Sir Lancelot.)

The West Coast Autumn Camivaf starts to-morrow and will be continued the following day. At Egmont proceedings open with the Ohawe Hurdles, one mile and a-half. The top -weights aie the Fardell-trained Kew, who meets St. Gate on 111b better terms than when they ran first and second at Wariganui. The latter has twice won at Feilding. Styrax won a. double at New Plymouth at Christinas time. Naapata (the Mahaki gelding, trained at Porirua) will probably command attention because Profiser's stable is in such good form at present. The field engaged in the Plying Handicap is a cnt above the ordinary for a. West Coast fixture. Wisebird, Bimeter, and Beldame showed/ good form at Trentham The latter is allowed 21b from Wisebird for a beating in the City Handicap. Sir George Clifford's representative may be sent out favourite. She is nicely in with 7.3, is only 41b more than she carried when beaten in record time by Emperador. The Meremere Hack Handicap' field, five fnriongs, is headed by The Dodger, a double winner at Stratford. Toa Tere, Zion (half-sister to Playoff) and Improve, are recent winners engaged. The top weight in the Egmont Cup, Sea Pink, did not accept at Taranaki, and has not beep entered at Wanganui. He looked on the pretty side at Trentham, but it is surprising how a race or two sharpens a. hov6e Up. Emperador will probably dispute favouritism with Mr. Watt's horse, because he won the race last year, and has recently been showing good form. Marshal M'Donald ran a good race on the concluding day at Trentham, and if he could be relied on to do his best might trouble the top weights. Court Martial, with a such a light impost a« 6.10, looks well among the bottom end of the handicap. The field engaged in the ' Ladies' Purse, for gentlemen riders, include Harbour Light, Idol, and Ngapoto, who were placed in the trophy races at Stratford. , Crawford, who has won four races since Boxing Day, is top weight in the Waipapa Handicap, seven furlongs. He is only a pony, and 9.3 and the extra furlong may find, him out. Patronymic and Draft can both stay fairly well. The concluding event on the opening day is the Whareroa Welter, also run over a distance of seven furlongs. Wild Lupin will be freshened up with the spell he has had since Christmas. Sunbird, a double-winner at Manawatu, may be the best of the top weights. Te Hou Hou won an open welter, seven furlongs, on the second day at Foxton, carrying 8.9. With 21b less at Hawera she appears nicely treated. The Gisborne Racine Club's Meeting opens on Thursday, and will be concluded on Saturday. The Poverty Bay fixture is on the' same days in the following week. This year the Gisborne Cup has been increased in value to 400 soys, which includes a trophy presented by Sir James Carroll. Of those engaged, Multiply is in a class by himself. St. Elmn and Self go to make up a useful field. The Matter's poor form at Takapuna does not make her chance at Gisborne look a rosy one. In the Flying Handicap, six furlongs, the grey horse Ruapani is conceding some weight to Waiorewa and Evadne, and in the Park Stakes, seven furlongs, Birkline is placed above the performers named. Three Wairoa winners in Watchful, Brunswick, and Hymen meet in the Railway Hack Handicap, five furlongs. Wairoa form may be found worth considering in the Te Hapara Hack Handicap, seven furlongs, in which Rigo Park and Perhaps are engaged. The distance of the Welter Handicap, one mile, should suit Gazette, who is conceding weight to all his opponents. J. Hughes, who for some time haa looked after Rerehau, has gone to Carterton to school the jumpers in J. Gravestock's stable. Rerehau lias been engaged at Wocdville. Altcar, who recently went into Telford's stable, is nice and big in condition and should be useful in hack hurdle races later in the season. C. Pritchard leaves for the South tomorrow with Roumania, Mount Victoria, Immer, and Cyra. The most popular win at Wairoa was that of Hikahakeke in the Ladies' Bracelet. He is a four-year-old by Zimmerman — Hinewhata (Vasco di Gama — Frederica), dam of Hinetaura and Mouru, who carried the colours of Mr.' G. C. Ormond to victory in the Trial Plate at the old Hutfc course some Beasons back. Mr. Ormond is president of the Wairoa Club, and the Bracelet winner ran in the nomination of Mrs. Ormond. Mr. Ormond was also represented at the meeting by Ngaitu (Coeur de Lion— • Hinetaura.), H. Kingan has a recent addition to his team in Try Hard (the three-year-old sister to Expect), who competed at Trentham recently. When she next sports silk it will be in the colours of Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P. J. W. Scott is working a. three-year-old bay gelding by Lares from Nordene (by Lethe), who competed successfully in the pony ranks a few seasons back. Merry Guy and Rongora are to fulfil their engagements at the Taranaki Meeting. They will be railed through on Saturday next. After a lengthy spell on hip owner's station at Waikanae, Odessa ha*, again joined C. Pritchard's Trentham team. At Takapuna on Saturday B. Deeley increased his number of winning mounts for the season" to forty-nine. Sutala is still in his box at the course at Trentham. When seen on Saturday ,in his confined quarters the colt appeared contented enough. He will probably remain in the slings until his injured leg — at present encased in plaster of paris — gets better. That will probably take a long time, judging by present appearances. The Blenheim-owned horses Killaloo and Heeltap, formerly trained by F. C. Porter, are now quartered at J. Scott's stable at Trentham. Ulysses (the full brother to Achilles) has been sold and was on Saturday railed through^ to Carterton, where his new owner resides". The weight carried by Di Gama in the Plate at Sftndown Park on Saturday last was not telegraphed. He wu enter-

ed in a similar class of event at Aspendale the previous Saturday, an^ was asked to concede some of his opponents as much as four stone. 11l his present condition he is able to sprint as well as stay. Probably his owner thought it advisable to give him a race over a short course to sharpen him up for the important meetings, which open at Caulfield on tho 13th instant. The presence of Flying Start (the Wellington Stakes winner) may have the effect of reducing the field for the Egmont Stakes, to .be run to-morrow. The other starters will probably include Gladiole, who acted as runner-up to Rewi Poto last year, and Lord Lupin who was then among the unplaced division. The two year old (Flying Start) has a good advantage in weight. The District Committee of the Wellington Racing Club met yesterday, when the appeal of C. Emerson against his suspension was heard, and dismissed. It was decided to return the deposit lodged in connection with the appeal. It is stated that Emerson will take his appeal on to the Racing Conference. The second day of the Takapuna Jockey Club's Meeting takes place tomorrow.