NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 148, 24 June 1915, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By "Sir Lancelot.") The Napier Park Racing Club's Winter Meeting opens to-morrow, and will be concluded on Saturday. In the Moteo Hack Hurdles, one mile and three-quarters, Ruatangata meets Hurakia on 171b better terms than at Hastings, when the first-named came to grief. The field also includes Brunswick and Scrutineer, who were among the place-getters at Hastings. Fond Memory and Merry Lad, who are down to contest the Petane Hack Steeplechase, won at Hastings. They will probably meet with strong opposition ior the Aucklander, Dogger Bank, winner of the Tamaki Hack "Steeplechase at Ellerslie. Ardent has been raised 101b for his win at Hastings in the Stewards' Stakes Handicap. The class is rather better, including as it does Hyettus (winner of the Prince of Wales' s Handicap atEllerslie) "and Achilledes, a good horse under welter weights. In the Napier Steeplechase, Glenmore meets Soporific on 181b better terms than at Hastings. Sandy Pau^ (runnerup to Ngatoa at Ellerelie) and Bollin (second to Fond Memory at Hastings) may keep the top weights busy. Red Book, who has been going to do something since Easter, may break the spell of outs in the Ladies' Bracelet Handicap, for gentlemen riders. The form, of Hymettius at Hastings entitles I him to consideration. For his win at Hastings, Aratiatia has ! been raised 111b in the Ahuriri Hurdle Race, and must be considered well treat,ed. Maniaroa and Beldame are set down to make their first appearance in the race. Mandoline won very easily at Hastings, and although she has been raised a stone in the Settlers' Hack Handicap, should be one of the fancied candidates. Hush-a-bye, Achilleus, and Irish Fusilier who showed up well at Otaki; are included in the 'field. The Pole's win at Aspendale Park brings his winnings for the season up to 630 soys. Sauci _s success at the meeting named and his third at Caulfield last Saturday increase the Charlemagne 11. gelding's earnings for the season k 1335 soys. Tim Doolan's third at Caulfield is the first he has earned since the Grand National, -and brings his amount up to 1075 soys. Mr. G. L. Stead's three jumpers have won "over 3000 soys in stakes this season. Good nominations have been received for the Hutfc Valley Trotting Club's Patriotic Meeting to be held at Petonc Recreation Ground on Saturday next. Among the competitors entered are sucl well-known performers as Jewel Chimes. Fashion Wood, War Cloud, and Bobalink. < Heather Mixture ran a good many times in England, without -showing any form. He also 'competed unsuccessfully at the Hawkes Bay Cup .Meeting, at which he made bis first appearance in the Dominion, also at Auckland. However, he was made first favourite- for the Winter Handicap at Hastings, and scored from Plunder. Heather Mixture was imported by .Messrs. N. L. Rutledge and E. R. Murphy, of Gisborne. He is a good-looking bay horse, by St. Serf (Son of St. SimoD) from Sprig of Heather, by Ma-cheath, Panache, by Morion, and is trained by H. Hickey- at Hastings. - The steeplechase events at Hastings on Saturday were sorry exhibitions. Only two horses completed the course in the Havelock" -Steeplechase, and Morning was the only one- of the five runners in the June Steeplechase to complete the course without mishap. E. Goodwin, who rode Morning, is a son of the trainer for Mr. Frank Armstrong. After Winning the Trial and 1 Grand National Hurdles ' two years ago, Morning did not start again until the end of the season, when he ran unplaced in hack fla6 races at Napier Park and Trentham. He was among the unplaced division in the Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton last August. 'Merrimax is considered well in in the -Victorian Grand National Hurdle Race with 10.3. His owner, Mr. W. Ryan, of Auckland, has gone across to see the horse compete. • The Hawkeis Bay Hunt Steeplechase winner* Bandalero, is an aged gelding by Daunt — Waimariri, by Captain Webb • — Violet, a successful performer in Mr. S. f H. Goflan's colours. 'According to the Stud Book, the only progeny oi' Waimariri were a filly by Sylvia Park named Tohupai and a filly by Ahei. Mr. "Wire Tokena" appears to have got hold of a useful sort of galloper in Ai-dent (Royal Fusilier — Sanguine), the full brdther to Royal Mary and haifbrother to Sanguinary. He ia a good beginner, can carry weight, and the writer would not put a race like the Winter Cup pa&fc him. He was at Riccarton in the spring, and won the Randolph Handicap, six furlongs, from 23 'others, pulling up. At Hastings he won the Heretaunga Handicap on the first day, but Hymettius turned the tables in the Final Handicap on the second day. Until this year Mr. Duncan Rutherford had never won a Wanganui Steeplechase. The 'Canterbury sportsman has made several attempts to win the Hawkes Bay Steeplechase, but has never been successful. Had Daylight Bill been sent up this year he might have won. He was meeting Soporific on 131b better terms than at Wanganui. The last time this pair started on the. second day at Wanganui there was 221b between them. It will be interesting to see how they are handicapped at Wellington. Hurakia, runner-up to Doon on the first day at Hastings, scored on the second day. He is a six-year-old gelding by Sylvia Park — Patupaearehe, by Sfcrephon — Swindle, dam of Morag. a Hawkes Bay Steeplechase winner. Hurakia is one of .Mr. Frank Armstrong's breeding, and is a first foal. Patupaearehe also had a colt by Lethe, a filly by Tribulation, and a colt by Sylvia Park. The latter is lising one year, and is a full brother to Hurakia. wtfo is trained by H. Hickey for the Gisborne owijer who races as "L. Ftirr." The Manawatu Trotting Ciub has applied for 19th February as the date of its meeting next year. Entries for events at the Canterbury , Grand National Meeting close on Friday ■evening.