NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 40, 16 August 1916, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By "Sir Lancelot.")

In the Jumpers' Flat Race, the wellknown South Island performers Art and Crib were separated by Master Regel at the post.. Art and Crib have been very successful and consistent at Riccarton during the' past twelve months. Last August Art won the Spreydon Hurdle Race and Styx. Hurdle Bace, and Crib the Hunters' Plate. At the Spring Meeting Art ran second in the Spring Hurdles and Port Cooper Hurdles, and won the Suburban Hurdles. At the Autumn Meeting Crib won the Kildare Hurdles, and ran second to Art in the Peerswick Hurdles. Art failed at Wanganui and Trentham, but may have to be reckoned with at Riccarton track, where he shows his best ,form. He is well in with 9.10, in receipt of 201b from Crib. The latter was defeated at a difference of 61b on the second day of the C.J.C. Autumn Meeting. The Auckland contingent has now won the Grand National Steeplechase two years in succession,' with Ngatoa and Waimai. Prior to that they had not won the important event for ten years, when Inniskillen wa3 6uccessftd. Wairaai was unlucky enough to bump against El Gallo in the Great Northern Steeplechase, and although he had only the Maiden Steeplechase at Ellerslie to his credit, he was yesterday conceding all his opponents weight, except Braeburn. With one exception (Te Arai) the weight carried to victory by Waimai was the heaviest borne, successfully, since Levanter, ridden by E. J. Rae,' trainer of Waimai, won in 1897. The trainer named had a successful record in jumping races in New Zealand and Australia. Besides Levanter, who also won the Great Northern Steeplechase, he steered Orangeman, Titokowaru, Donald, and other good ones. Waimai was ridden by Bert Rae, who a few seasons back had one of his feet cut off in a railway accident. This handicap of the rider makes Waimai's victory all the more meritorious. He was conceding the other place-getters two stone apiece. The^ victory of Cherry Blossom in the Winter Cup would bo the most popular of the day, because everyone would be glad to see Mr. Frank Armstrong's luck, which has been exasperating of late, take a turn for the better. The cherry jacket is well known at Riccarton National Meeting, having been carried successfully by Morning and other performers. Since she won at Waipukurau on Easter Monday, Cherry Blossom was placed on eight occasions, so did not win out of her turn. She is by San Fran—Prize Bloom, by The Possible—Primula, by Torpedo— Primrose, a well-known Hawkes Bay. family. ' \ Despite rumours persistently circulated about Heeltap not being himself, the Blenheim owner, Mr. John Corry, was quietly confident that he would land the stake with the half-brother to Memo Zealand, who won some good races for J. S. Adams. The Blenheim representative beat everything except the winner, while Seddel-^alu- beat all the others. The writer's opinion that none of tho lOst or over division would be in the money was thus fully borne out. AVar Tax, who had won when expected to at Gisborne and Napier Park, was considered something like a certainty in the Avonhead Handicap, but the good thing was- beaten by Varnish (Varco — Prudish), winner of the Farmers' Plate at Amberley last month. Acceptances for all handicap events and entries for the Trial Plate -at tho Dannevirke Racing Club's Steeplechase Meeting close to-night at 9 o'clock with Mr. R. Takle (secretary). Kooya's success in the Trial Hurdles yesterday will increase her impost from 10.9 to 11.3,- which places her head of the Grand National Hurdle Race field. Prior to the meeting she was one of the most disenssed candidates, as, on account of her schooling not being of a satisfactory nature, doubt existed as to whether she would start in the Winter Cup or big Hurdles. She satisfactorily negotiated the Riccarton hurdles yesterday, but will be up against much more solid opposition to-morrow, Previous public form points to Leonta, Master Regel, and Art as likely to get to the end oE the long journey.