NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 42, 18 February 1918, Page 5

NOTES AND COMMENTS

<BI "SIR LANCELOT.")

New Zealand followers, of the sport received with the greatest satisfaction the news that the Dominion's champion mare, Desert Gold, had made a- successful first appearance under silk in- Australia-. Apparently the mare did not have a great deal of difficulty in accounting for the St. George's Stakes. The complete list of starters was not cabled, but several well-performed Australian horses finished behind the New Zealander. It was curious that Kilflinn, one of the comparatively few horses to gain the distinction of having beaten Desert Gold, should also have captured an event at the same meeting on Saturday. It is gratifying to note' that there was never a more popular win on the course than Desert Gold's, and that the mare put up a new track record in the

The Wellington-owned Miss do Val came in for a lot of support in the Dunedin Jockey Club's Handicap on Saturday, but did not get into the money. The winner, Killard, is one of Mr. J. B. Reid's breeding, by Kilbroney, out of Siberia. He scored in the Summer Handicap at the C.J.C. Grand National Meeting, and at the- Kurow Meeting won a welter event over a. mile and aqnarter, in which he was followed home by Crib and Whipcord. Although North Island stables were more strongly represented at the Dunedin Cup Meeting than usual, only one win was credited to them—that of Torfreda.

The Stepniak mare Tinopai, which has a great record as a winner of country cups, added yet another trophy to her owner's collection by carrying off the Hamilton Cup on Saturday from a field which included such well-known performers as Mullingar and Colonel Soult, who were beaten out of a place.

When the Auckland Cup winner Fiery Cross. contested the Hazlett Memorial Plate on Saturday it was his first appearance in. a classic race. Although the Glenapp gelding had to carry the full 141b penalty he was made a good favourite, and he succeeded not only in winning but in establishing a new'track record. , .

Adjutant was made" favourite for the Dunedin Cup, but gave his supporters a. rather pool, run for their money. He was under pressure at the turn into the straight, and failed to finish in the. first half dozen.

Although Multicipal ran very disappointingly at Dunedin, his stable- mate, Torfreda, the two-year-old brother to the .speedy Hymestra, made amends by winning the Hopeful Handicap on her only appearance at the meeting. Apparently she scored in Hyihestra-style and led from end to end. It is disappointing to read a report from AVanganui that the accommodation booked for Hymestra at the riverside town has been cancelled, as keen interest was being taken in the meeting of the colt with Biplano and Estland. Biplane is doing splendid work on tho tracks at Wanganui.

The sale, of Mr. E. J. Watt's brood maresj yearlings, and two-year-olds is announced to take place in Hawkes Bay next month.

Gay, a five-year-old mare by Gazeley— Amusement, in foal to the imported horse Heather Mixture (son of the St. Simon horse St. Serf), was 6old in Gisborne a few days ago for 100 guineas. As the mare is a half : sister to Chortle, the price seems • very reasonable. Mr. E. J. Watt has purchased from Mrs. M. A. Perry a colt foal by Demosthenes—Lady Delaval for 300 guineas. This,is a big price to pay for a foal, and the youngster mtiet show considerable promise.

Sir. George Clifford has a splendid record in connection with the Dunedin Champagne Stakes, which he has now ■won twelve times. He scored his first viotory in. 1889 with the. aid of Cyhisca, tut was not succesdful 'again until 1904, when Stronghold won, while in 1905 Glenowlet was successful. Husbandman and Sharpshooter scored in 1908 and 1909 respectively, and. Counterfeit, Brown Owl, and Night Watch in 1911, 1912, and 1913. Angelina broke the se<quence of Chokebore • Lodge victories when she won the race, for Mr. J. B. Reid in 1914, but in 1915 Adjutant began another series of successes, which has. 'been continued by Good Hope in 1916, by Gamecock last year, and by Heathercote on Thu-rsdav.

Starshot, the dam of Margerine (this year's Dunedin Cup winner), won the Dunedin Cup.in 1898, while Stepdancer, the dam of Wardancer, was successful in that event in 1906, and again in 1907. Margerine was ridden an altogether different race in the Cup. to that in the Midsummer Handicap., ""and there was a corresponding difference in her two performances. On Thursday she was kept well bshind the leading division till heads were in line for home. Then she commenced a 1 well-sustained effort that, despite a bump, landed her a winner in the last few strides. Her time, 2min 33 4-ssec, has only once been bettered in the history of the race, that .being- accomplished by Flora Macdonald, when, in 1914, she, cut out the journey in 2min 33 2-ssec.