NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 80, 4 April 1923, Page 12

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(»I "SIR UNOILOI.")

. The-unsettled state of the weather in Wellington, on Saturday morning stopped many from making the journey to Featherston, and no doubt the decreased attendance was responsible for the falling off.in the totalisator receipts. The weather' was threatening until late in the afternoon, when rain set in steadily. The conditions prevailing were much more pleasant on Monday, when 'a heavy shower fell while the horses were at the post for the big event. Afterwards the sun shone out and the conditions were most pleasant. Fast times were registered in several of the events. The state of the racing track reflected credit* on Caretaker H. Blake. The starting generally was the best seen at a Wairarapa Meeting for a long time, and certainly the best Mr: Harley has done there. The efforts of Mr. E. G-. Robertson, the club's caterer, gave every satisfaction. Secretary C. J. Carlyon had the assistance of Mr. J., Griffiths, from Wellington, and the arrangements made worked smoothly. The success of The Monk in the A.J.C. Sires' Produce Stakes, of 5020 soys, will be very pleasing to his owner, Mr. George Tye, also the colt's breeder, Mr. George Carrie. There is only one Absurd yearling to be sold at the Sydney sales, the filly from Happiness, owned by Mr. Lan Duncan. She will no doubt fetch a fair price when she goes in to the ring next Monday. The fall that Prince Hal had on the first day at Tauherenikau evidently affected the hardy Marble Arch gelding. Although he came opt and won the same afternoon, one of his legs filled, and he had to be withdrawn from both his engagements on the concluding day.

It was perhaps just as well Solfanello was not sent to Auckland, where he was handicapped to concede his full brother (Eoseday) 121b over a mile course.

Mr. W. R. Kemball was present at Tauherenikau to see his team race on Saturday and Monday. The only members to Bcore were Kilceit and Kilris, two of the progeny of Kilboy, who were first home in the two-year-old races. Sir. W. Stone must now be feeling pleased he did not dispose of Silver Peak at the Wellington Summer Meeting. Since she ran second to Merry Day in the Wellington Bating Club .Handicap, she has won 1750 soys in stakes.

Mr. Charles Elgar had sufficiently improved in. health to enable him to witness the racing each day at Tauherenikau. Zouave, the full brother to Baceful, shaped disappointingly on the opening day, but when ridden by an apprentice rider on the concluding day was always well placed, and managed to stall off a late run by Barrier, who is at the top of his form at present, and is most consistent. In his last four starts he has scored two firsts and two seconds.

The Gisborne representative Scotch Mixture won the principal event each day at Feilding, and on each occasion Dainty Step and Orawia filled the places. Scotch Mixture will probably be given further chances of earning more stake money at Trentham and Awapuni before returning home.

Mr. J. J. Corry, of Blenheim, was among the regulars who put in an appearance at the recent Wairarapa Meeting, although he did not have any of his team racing thereat. Trentham trainer J. Ayres, who went to Feilding with Dainty Step and Halifax, had not missed a meeting since he left there to reside at TVentham many years.ago. Gisborne..owner-trainer W. Howard picked up a couple of stakes, at Waipukurau on Monday with Kahikatea and Joy Ride.

It was hard luck for the owner of Elmorz to be deprived of the stake in the Farewell Hack Scurry at Tauherenikau, and backers of their dividend through no fault of their own. She scored one .of the easiest wins at the meeting. After the dividend on Elmorz was posted most of the people hurried away, and very few were aware that the winner had to undergo "a protest. In every race at Tauherenikau at. least two stewards accompany the starter to the post. One makes a rule of standing behind the'field to see that they jump out straight. It is not possible to see what happens from the stand at the back of the course) and in such cases the evidence of an official on the spot would be of great assistance in arriving at a,decision. Mr. E. Riddiford started his two jumpers on the first day at. Tauherenikau, and both ran well. En Boute looked the fitter of the pair, and might have won the - Maiden only for Bonnie Sox being allowed to walk in while the otherß stood flat-footed. Bonnie Sox is a three-year-old filly by Boniform—Puttee, trained by H. E. Telford for Mr. B. L. Joll, who was not present to see her win. Tigerland did not look nearly so forward as his stable mate. Blackhead headed him inside the distance, but Tigerland came again, and beat his opponent in the run* to the box. Auckland trainer N. Cunningham went to the Waimate Plains Meeting with some of his trotters, and Pebble 11. and Musketoon came through to Wairarapa in charge of W, Ryan, who rode them. Pebble 11. was sore arid was only produced on the first day. Muskotoon did not appear to like the leit-handed going, but was lucky to get the stake on the second day. Elmorz would probably have won just as easily had she jumped out straight. Three of Mr. W. Ballinger's team finished in the money on' the concluding day at W.iirarapa. Axle might have won but for taking charge of his light-weight rider and galloping the distance before the barrier rose. He was also giving hie opponents a good start when they jumped oft. Besides the winners/ some promising juveniles were seen out at the Waii'Rrapa Meeting. The Magpie colt Black Ronald looked fit enough, and the writer expected him to make a better showing than he did. Perhaps he requires more time. His stable mate, Popoff, by Kil'boy—Ararata, beat all but the winner on the opening day. Sunshot is the Kilbroney—Suyrfcird colt purchased by Mr. B. L. Joll at the Waikanae sales. He and his stable mate, Liffey, were running along nicely on the second day. The latter is a filly by Boniform— Thames, but is small. She runs in the colours or her trainer, H. R. Telford. The Exile is the colt by Kilbroney—Neirene, purchaned by Mr. B. Speedy at the Highden sale. Last Crust is a gelding by Bezonian—Elevonia, who carries the colours of his breeder, Mr. J. Tocker. Kuhio and Panorama are two of H. Lorrigan's tsj'.ni. Some of them have not been hurried, and will probably not be seen at their best until the spring.

Handicaps for the opening day of the Wellington Meeting appear in this issue. Owners and trainers .ire reminded that acceptances closD on Friday at 9 p.in, .with Mi. A. E. .Wbyte, secretary.