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Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 139, 9 December 1918, Page 3

(IX "SIB UNCBLOI.")

NOTES AND COMMENTS

The Summer Meeting of the Wellington Racing Club will be held on Anniversary Day and the following Saturday. The stakes offered in the different events remain the same as last year. The distance of the Nursery Handicap on the opening day has been increased from four to five furlongs, and the distance'of the Camp Handicap on the second day from five to six furlongs. The order of events on the concluding day has undergone some alteration. The Kelburn Plate follows the Racing Club Handicap. Then come the Douro Cup, Metropolitan Handicap, and Camp Handicap. In all events with hack conditions the amount of acceptance fee has been reduced from two soys to one.

Of the fifty-seven horses handicapped for the Auckland Cup twenty-three remain in the race after first acceptance. The top-weight (Desert Gold) and other members of Mr. Lowry's team were allowed to drop out. Gazique and Bedford, who are among the defections, have been left in the principal sprint race. The three placegetters in the New Zealand Cup have all been paid up for, also Snub (winner of the Canterbury Cup). Trentham stables are well represented by Menelaus, Bonnie Maid, Rose Pink, and Mascot. So far it has not been definitely decided whether Menelaus and Mascot will go to Ellerslie or Awapuni. The South Island is well represented by Kilmoon, Heathercote, Kilrnsh, Killard, and Melee. The horses down to compete include several that have shown up prominently on previous occasions in the race. Depredation won the event two years ago. Blackall and Snub were placed behind Balboa when the latter scored three years back, and Red Ribbon acted as runner-up t<> Fiery Cross in the 'last contest. Mr. D. H. Roberts, owner of the last named, will be represented in the forthcoming race by Glen-, dower, winner of the Great Autumn Handicap.

The same number (23) remain in the Railway. Handicap, in which there was a big weeding out. Of the thirty horses with 6.7 opposito their names only six were considered good enough to pay up for. The successful Auckland sprinter King Lupin, who has won the race once, and last year dead-heated with Hymestra, is top-weight The Waikato ownertrainer, R. Hannon, has two others engaged in Mill o' Gowrie and King Abbey (half-brother to King Lupin). Another previous winner of the race engaged is Downham, who also acted as runner-up to Bisogne. Sir George Clifford has left in both Onslaught and Lionskin. The first-named scored in the Jockey Club Handicap like a good one, and he will probably be one of the mostfancied runners on the day. They are the only South Island representativesleft in the race.

Acceptances for the first day's handicap evonts at the Manawatu Racing Club's Meeting on Boxing Day close on Wednesday next at 8 p.m. At the same time final payments must be made for the Thirteenth Palmerston North Stakes.

The trial p-ass and tan tracks were available for trainers at Trentham on Saturday morning. Rose Pink went a mile with Arihia, the Cup candidate holding her stablemate at the end. Risinghani and Dick were sent the same distance and finished in the order named Philomela arid Fulica sprinted six furlongs pleasingly. Cooing, Courtfield, and Seance were companions in an easily-run six furlongs. . Active was restricted to trotting and cantering work. Bonnie Maid, andi Battle Song went nicely for a. mile and finished, together. Probably some of the horses accepted for Auckland that are engaged at Manawatu will also be paid up for at Awapuni. Taking the Auckland acceptances as a guide it looks as if the majority of those handicapped at both places will be at Manawatu. BJenelaus, Snub, Bonnie Maid, Rose Pink, and Mascot remain in the Auckland Cup. while Client. Nobleman, Detroit, Bagdad, Scornful, Dusky Eve, and Risingha-m dropped out. Of nine horses engasjed to run in the sprint event at both' ulaces, Hymestra, Nanna, and Slriela will be at Ellerslie. It may be concluded therefore tliat Croesus. Nystad, Acre. Bo Peep, Torfreda, and Kipling will be at Awapnni. There are enough horses engaged <rt both places to provide good racing.