NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 24, 29 January 1923, Page 11

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(W " SIR LANCELOT.") A good deal of rain has fallen at Trentham since the meeting. This has enabhd caretaker J. W. Scott to put the grass tracks and course proper, which gets hard quickly in the dry weather, iii good order. They have been brush harrowed the reverse way, and rolled, and in a week or so will look none the worse for the rough usage caused by the weather. Emerald Hill, winner of the Zealandia Handicap at Takapuna on Saturday, is one of the hardy Marble Arch tribe. He did not w,in out of his turn, as he has only been twice successful in two seasons. Ealston is showing improvement in his manners on the track, and N will probably be seen oat at the'Wanganui Meeting. On her form in the Metropolitan Handicap on the second day at Trentham, Astinome should have more than an outside chance in the Ruahine Handicap at Woodville. She will again be ridden by D. Butler, .who' will also be up_ on Indiana.' Tuipa ? winner of the Trial Handicap at Takapuna on Saturday ]ast, is eight years old, and had not won a race for over three years, when he was success- | ful in a Flying Handicap at Whangarei. The race was worth 70 soys to the owner of the winner, and as Saturday's race •was for horses tfeat had not won a raoe exceeding the Tmlue of 75 soys at time of starting Tuipa was eligible to compete. He was sired by Btinyan, the Pilgrim's Progress horse tint won the Wanganui Guineas when trained at Fordell. Sir Burnett, who carried top weight, and beat a good field in the Ferry Handicap at Takapuna on Saturday, had only scored one previous win in a Maiden 'Handicap at Te Kuiti a year ago. The best he had to beat was Flojrent, a New South Wales-bred filly by Bronzino— Bonnie Lily, who was also among the winners at the North Shore in the spring., J. W. Ayres has two recent' additions to his team from the Wairarapa district. They are a big bay gelding by Provocation—Sunfish, a full brother to Sardinia, that might make a hurdle racer, and the two-year-old brown colt Salamis, by Kilbroney—JKelUnois (dam of Astinome). The withdrawal of Explorer and Battle Song somewhat weakened the field in,the Orewa Hurdles Handicap at Takapuna on Saturday. The best part of the stake went to Mia Bella,.one of those horse* in with the lightest weight. She won a hurdle race at the Pakuranga Hunt Club's Meeting, and wai also successful at Botorua in DecemberC. Prrtehard usually takes a team to tie Nelson Meeting, and this season he will probably be represented by Esperance, Bayana, and Martinique, the King Mark gelding, who recently joined the Trentham trainer's «tring. ,' The brilliant Nassau horse Surveyor, who has been doing stud duty, made his re-appearance in the Stewards' Handicap at Takapuna on Saturday, but was cvi : dently not in any form. The winner turned up in Tactful, a useful gelding by Lucullus. He was attended at the finish by Golden Bubble. Both horses were successful at the North Shore in the spring. . • ■'' Most of the local Horses have been having an easy time since the meeting. Some members of E. D. O'Do'nnell's team are engaged at Egmoiit, and some of them may make the trip up. Contrary to expectations, Income wa« not produced in the Takapuna Cup. It is stated that. he is feeling the effects of the hard races at Ellerslie, and is being given a let lip. The race went to the useful Pistol gelding" Glen Canny, who ■was fortunate enough to get in with the lightest weight on account of recent failures. His previous success was in the Jellicoe Handicap at Ellerslie in the spring. The Stratford Cup winner Stork beat all tbe others. Kyoto is still enjoying a spell in the paddock. ■ Miss Barrett is keeping Man- ' Chester going, and he may go across to Nelson. At Trentham on Saturday, Manchester trotted two rounds on the tan i without skip or break, and appears i equally at home at that gait. The Trentham contingent for Woodville, consisting of Astinome, Deroulede, Rose de Val, and Indiana, will be vailed through to-morrow. L. G. Butler will ride Deroulede and Rose de .Vai. j