NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 35, 10 August 1923, Page 11

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(BI " SIB LANCELOT.")

The number 'of horses . left in the principal events at the Grand ■ National Meeting are quite sufficient to provide good contests. ■ The dozen left in the Grand National. Steeplechase' include most of the best 'chasers in commission. The defections were General Petain, Paleneia, Gleuotus, Multive, and Birk' wick. The three last-named raced at the Christchurch. Hunt Club's Meeting, and were probably allowed to drop out because they were not considered class enough. There are twenty-one left in the Winter Cup, in which the South Island is better represented than usual. Thbsa that dropped oiiti were Kilbird (previously scratched), Avispado, Mythology, Santiago, Fabrinade, Dame Straitlate, and Dominant. Santiago and Straitlace are in the Avoribead Handicap, seven furlongs, which will probably suit them better. Twenty-two have survived the full payment oi seventeen soys for the Whiter Hurdles, run on the second day. Those that failed to keep their place in the field are—Rolke's Drift. Biue Sbcksf and Jazz. Eorke's Drift failed to train on, and the other pair are. probably considered not tip to National form.

English files to hand give particulars of the success of His Majesty the King's Knight of the Garter (by Son-in-Law— Castelline) .in the Coventry T.Y.O. Stakes, of i 925 soys, 'five furlongs, at Asisat, on 19th juiie. Knight of the Garter .is a half-brother to the.successful South Island performer Glentruin. Rbfcn'ihg to the Royal victory, tile "'Sportsman " states that there was a great scene in the paddock at Ascot when the-Queen and Princess Mary accompanied the King to see Knight of the Garter unsaddled, the Queen going into the enclosure and congratulating Herbert Jones. Long before the distance was reached in the Coventry Stakes the crowd had realised that A Royal, victory was in store, and Knight of the Garter completed the rest of the course to. ringing cheers, which In* ireased in Volume ac the hdrss Seared the winning. post. Knight of the Gais ter is the best t\ea;year'-old that has carried the Royal colours. He was bought a foal for a few hundred soys from his breeder, Sir Abe Bailey, and, aeing by Soh-in-Law, is likely to develop into a stayer. Although he was allowed to drop out of the Grand National Steeplechase, Ranui has been taken down for the shorter' distance events oh the other days. On his good showing in the Wellington Steeple^ chase for two and a half miles, he Ehould take beating in the Beaufort Steeplechase, run over the same distance.

L. G. Butler, who recently finished his apprenticeship -with A. Goodman, has taken service with j; H, Prosse'r, and will ride Auckland, Martial Dawn, diid Pavorangi iv their ' ehgagehients at Eiccarton. ...

Pluto was awarded top -weight in the Mornington Welter, a mile race, vun at Caulfield oil Saliirday last, but Was immediately withdrawn.

China Egg (Sahtoi—Paee Egger) had a. death .when the steamer Maidah struck a rock in the Red Sea last. iriontK, arid sank. The pr.Bsengers were -lauded cm a coral reef about 500 yards from- the wreck,-and China Egg, who had been released, started to swim for the .isame,point. He had not got far, however-, before he- was attacked by sharks and torn to; pieces. China Egg. who represented top steeplechasing form ir. India; .was being taken to England with a view tv competing in the tiest u-rand National.

H. Hickey allowed both his National candidates, Birkwick and Multive, to drop put of the big race, and paid up with tliem in the Enfield Steeplechase, in which the class and distance 'will suit them, better.

The two-year-olds Ilka (Demosthenes— Gold Bdiiid), half-sister to Dtlo, and Heatherford (Heather Mixture—Formality), half-brother to Informal, were railed North yesterday, and will'in f u . ture%bs trained by N: Cuhhinghaiii at Eherslie. ■ . • . ' ••■

When Weathervane (Lemberg^Vaih Aif) wdh the Royiil Hunt Cup,, of 2260 soys, in His Majesty's colours at Ascot dti 20tn June, Edck Fire, ridden by the New Zealand jockey F. Voiglit; Was second.

_ Mr: W. Higgins, the local owner, has both Auckland and Parorangi engaged in the Avonhead Handicap 6n the opening day- at Riccarton. Blazes, who is among those in with the minimum weight, is a lull brother and stabiematb of ths winter Clip candidate Guncase. _ Tite Indian sportsman, H. H. AgaKhan is having a, successful season on the English Turf. At Ascot on 20th June ho ran first and second in the Coronation Stakes, of 3225 soys, with Paola (The letraroh—Pamfleta) and Teresina (Trac-ery^-Blue. Tit), and- won the Feriihill Stakes, of 700, soys/with Coz (Flying Orb—Renaissance)^' The Monk.will probably make his first appearance this season in ths Chat* worth Plate, fi 'mile race foi three-year-oids, to be J-Un. at Gaulfield tcmbrrow At Ascot on 19th Juhs Mumtaz Mahal won the Queen Mary Stakes, of 2850 soys, fiy e furlongs, from fourteen others She won; by.teji lengths, pulling Up, in oi 4-ssec. .The Tetrarch got another good advertiflement tlie same afternoon When four-year-old grey son Puttendeh won the Gold Vase, ,of 1020 soys two miles.- Not ■ since. Pretty Polly (the ■sportsman" states) have we had such a flying , two-year-old filly as.Mumtaz Mahal The official vefdict on her Queen Wary btakes. success yesterday was ten lengths but it, looked much more than that She Jim aIJ the easj" style of her sire, Ihe Tetrarch, and if she develops itarama, she will be a great three-year