NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 27 January 1923, Page 15

NOTES AND COMMENTS

f»I "SIR LANCELOT.") The acceptances received for the opening day of the Woodville Meeting, to be held on Wednesday and Thursday next, must be regarded as very satisfactory. The smallest field is six in the Sapling Stakes. . •• Although the price paid by Mr. Kemball for Insurrection did not transpire, it is reported to have been in the neighbourhood, of four figures. Insurrection, who was a gift to J. W. Lowe,, from Messrs. Riddiford, won over 3000 soys in stakes last season, and turned out a handsome present. Mr. H. Spratt, owner of In ah, who recently returned from a trip to the OH Country, nearly got one of the lots at the Waikanae yearling sale. Just as the auctioneer, knocked down the Kilbroney —Bonny Helen colt to Mr. W. Fuller, Mr. Spratt called out a bid of £25, but it was too late, and he missed the youngster. The presence of The Hawk, Tamatete, and Rational in the weight-for-age races at Egmont should ' make the contests interesting. Two or three good ones provide a better contest than twenty second raters. ' Kazzle Dazzle is not engaged in the Middle Park Plate, but will probably make her next appearance in the Champagne Stakes at Dunedin. Half of R. J. Mason's team returned home without waiting for the concluding day's racing at Trentham, and the balance returned South last night. On their form here, their prospects of winning a race at Eiccarton or Dunedin do not look too bright. The successful three-year-old filly Gold Light appears nicely treated in the "Dunedin Cup with 8.4. When she. dead-heated in the Oaks at Biccarton she -carried 8.10, and ran the mile and a half in 2min 35 4-ssec. She has since won in the best handicap company at Ellerslie, the distance being ten furlongs, and over a mile course at Trentham. ■ ( Mark Time (King- Mark—By By), the four-year-old brother to Maxqueteur, showed promising form early in the season, when he won at Marton and Wanganui, but did not go on, and may have trained off. However, he got the judge's verdict in the big race on both days at the Foxton Meeting, and if not raced too much should be a useful handicap performer next season, when he will be five years old. There are probably more horses in training at Trentham at the present time than on any previous occasion. With few exception, they are not very high class, and their trainers will find some difficulty .in placing them where they can win a race.

Trentham stables are not so well represented as usual at the Woodville Meeting. Mr. Ebb Simpson is taking up Deroulede and Rose de Val. The'former ran well in the Ruahine Handicap on the opening day- at Trentham, and should take some beating in the County Handicap, run over the same distance, at Woodville. ■-

J. F. Buchanan returned home to Auckland yesterday with the Australianbred gelding Alfort, who is useful, and, properly placed in the North, should win races. In.his last seven starts, he has finished three seconds and one third, and won 420 soys \in stakes.-'' Raceful was a good stake-earner last season in the colours of Mr. J. Frase*. Smith, who has purchased his half-brother by Solferino from Mr. Eric Riddiford at a slight advance on what Mr. Riddiford gave, for him at the Christchurch soring sales. The youngster accompanied Alfort back to Auckland, where he will be trained by J. Buchanan. Eldenholm (San Fran—Handsome Jack mare), owned and trained by J. Thacker, at Hawera, scored a lucky win in the Hurdles on the opening day at Fojton. He was only' penalised 61b for the win at Woodville, but his name is missing from the list of .acceptances. F. Davis engaged' Killashandra, Lucius, Fingoland, and Orofino at Wood•ville, but their names are missing from the list of acceptances. Some of 3. T. Jamieson's team have also been allowed to drop out. Any runners from the teams mentioned always have a good following at Woodville,' where they are trained. . - .'

Twelve.months ago, when The Hawk won the/Telegraph Handicap and Waterloo Stakes, his price jumped from 2000 guineas to 5000 guineas. He was unplaced in both events at the recent meeting. p

At each of the, principal meetings at which they have competed this season, Riccarton, Bllerslie, and Trentham, Gold Light and Razzle Dazzlev have won move than the purchase ttjoney (1100 soys) of themselves and their dam. There is a yearling full-sister to the last-namea running at Waikanae, on which Mr. Hazlitt seta some store.