NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 55, 2 September 1924, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(BY •"■"VEDETTE'.")'

The Mnrton Spring Meeting to-morrow opens the fiat-racing season in tho Dominion, and marks the return to the lighter scale of weights. Given a fine day, the fixture cannot help being a success, for ( largc and representative fields will bo seeh out, and the club must have found the nomination and acceptance fees go a long way towards providing tho stake money. The track should be in fair order, as when rain fell last week the. horses were debarred from working on any part of the course. , Twelve have been accepted for in tho Marton Handicap, representing fair-class,. the five at the head ,of the handicap and Helen Itufus being New Zealand Cup candidates. Arch Salute, Musketoon, and Helen Kufus should bo the most forward of those iv condition, but Correspondent and Diamond Ring should bo suited by the distance and have good handy weights. At this period they migW , db better than any of the Cup candidates. . j Some speedy sprinters are engaged in the^Railway Handicap, in which the weights take a very small range. There are a number of Trentham-trained horses engaged, but the best of these is Royal Divorce, who should run well bar accidents. Lady Bentinck,- who wound up last season with a very creditable two-year-old record, is a brilliant filly, and her running will be watched with interest. , With thirty-seven loft in the Trial ' Plate, an' unwieldy field seems likely Over such a short course the luck of the draw and in the running iare of paramount importance, but a trio that may run well are Tutankhamen, Slump, and Weeta. , Nineteen have beon left in the. Hack Hurdles, including two recent winners in \Alaric and Miss K^ickey. Brigadier Bill 10.7, if fancied by, his 4s'iU^e owner> will be dangerous, for he showed that he could gallop at Trentham in July.' Demand, 10.4, has a good handy weight,

and his running at Riccartbn last month suggested that ho "would scion earn, a winning bracket. Demand, Brigadier Bill, or Alaric may do best. If Waetca runs up to Riccarton Hunt Club form she should be seen to advantage in the Spring Hack Handicap. Mountain Signal, who was unlucky to Be beaten on the concluding day at Riccarton, is not badly treated, while Lady Comet won amongst >kho hunters at New Plymonth on Saturday. It is to be said in: her favour that Bho'is seasoned and stays well, but whether she is class enough is open, to question. On Trentham running Guanaco seem° well placed in the Hack" Steoplechaae with 10.10. ,If Gameco.ck could be relied on to do his best he would lead the field a merry dance," but it is a big "if" iij hia case. Providing the day is fine Militaire may do the best of.the remainder.' Trentham-trained, horses should play a prominent part in the decision of the Electric Hack Handicap. Pool's Paradise, 8.2,. is.iEuch a good beginner that he should be well placed early, which will be an advantage in this big field. Further down the list Ilka, 7.11, will I see out every inch of the journey, al- . though sho may not begin as well as Fool's Paradise. Quiescent has been galloping well at Trentham, but doe's not appeal so much as the other pair. Another large fields is down to compete in the .Tutaenui Welter. Recent good form is represented by -Mountain Signal, Peut, Etre, and Knighthood, and of theso the last-named appeals most. He was improving at Tcentham /in July,, and .was narrowly beaten by Kilfaire tin the concluding: day. On this running, he should^ stay out a good seven furlongs. '.The form displayed in the hack races on Saturday at New Plymouth seemed quite good, and would suggest that Taranaki continues to hold the reputation of turning out smart hacks, who rapidly pi-omote themselves to open company. The Banker, the three-year-old gelding by Kilb'roney from Bonville, probably made^the best impression of all. . There was a great deal of merit in his win in the last race of the day. ' after the ground he lost at the start, and the extra distance he covered iround the top turn. He is engaged in 'the Avondale Guineas, and H. Gray will be his pilot. Shut Eye, third in the Hack Scurry at New Plymouth on Saturday, is one to keep in mind. This is another useful three-year-old who under some circumstances might have done much better.than finish,third on Saturday. ' , ' ■ The nortjjprn, writer "Whnlebono" | Sanies the report; that Oakleigh is id bo , retired. At present the old 'chaser is working regularly at Ellerslie, none the worse for his exertions at Riccarton. An inquest was opened;on Sunday at New Plymouth \iiito the' cause of the. death of the jockey P. Webby, who received fatal injuries when Uncle Dave fell with him in the Hunt Cup. After taking the evidence of H. M'Swceney and C. Bracken, other riders in the race, and a bystander at tho fence whero the accident occurred, tho inquest was adjourned until Thursday. The two-year old .parade will bo held at Ellerslie at 2 p.m. on 9th September. •Mr. C. O'Connor will act as starter. No. 3 grass track was open on Saturday morning at Ellerslie. Gold Piano finished ahead of Pelham over six furlongs in fair time. Marble Bell went nicely over a round, -while Master Doon and Kamchamehn. worked over six furlongs. Royal Present did a round, being brought home by Nnmutere over the Mast four furlongs, which he covered well. Joy Ride did a useful four furlongs, while J?ompey van niecly over six furlongs. Vinnole and Gala,' Day moved pleasingly ovor halt a mile Dorinda and Passionate finished together at the end of four furlongs. Chans had a start on Lomint over three furlongs, and they finished together in 40 3-6 sec. The Romeo—Cadence colt was just ahead of Samson (Absurd —Moira Machvoe), with Jeanette last, at the end of three furlonsrs, in 39 2-ssec. Thuvsby and Queen ißewa covered a similar distance on the two-year-old track in 38 2-ssec. Bom'arijtic and Bizarre ran throe furlongs on the same course in 38 3-ssec. Vice Versa (E. Stanway) jumped two hurdles, and-then went oven the fences on tho flat. He cleared the stone wall, then all the fences, and afterwards wns

put ; ,ov^r . the. stone wall again. With the exception of tyie second fence of the double, 'he ..performed. 'pleasingly. Tnntanpola went over four hurdles well. A Sydney message states ' that the fiTst\acceptors for : the 'Epsom ■■Handicap1 number IT, and include '-Glantrum, The '-Monk, Farceur, jUfort. Bathos, (3pld- Steel, Red Wink. Lascelles. Director, Danger Zone, Spook, jStußcari, Mountain Lion, \Th e Harp, and Guncase. For the Metropolitan Handicap there were 88, including .Farceur The 'Cypher, Parody. Cold Steel, LasceUes,: Rod Wink, Highlander, Spook, Muscari, ■Mountain Lion, rind "Gunca.se. After l.ho ;!MU.o of thVac'ccplorfl n: cable u'tj«a.»» via* ywniiiarl «r:rs.tohinff,Gold Steel.

Mountain Lion, The Harp, and/Guncase from the Epsom Handicap, and Cold Steel, -Mountain Lion, and Guncase from the Metropolitan: ■ A Press Association cablegram from Sydney states that Gloaming has 'been entered for the Spring Stakes [weight-for-age, one and a. half miles), and Craven Plate '„ (weight-for-age one and a quarter miles) at .Randwick,: and for the, Chelmsford Stakes, run at Tattersail's Meeting on 13th September. Gloaming has been gallopingV "so well on the track that there is every chance of-his carrying off one or both of the races at Randwick; the added money for which is 2500 soys and 3000 soys respectively. . ; : '„'■■ .. •" ■ . . . ;■-.

A "Press Association ' message from Sydney, yesterday states that.- J. Williamson; sailed homeward- on .Saturday, and G. Price' had taken over 1 - D. Jones's team, pending tho arrival of -Mr. H: A: Knight from New Zealand. Amongst the first acceptors for the -Epsom' Handicap "appeared the. name Glentruin, one1, of Jones's team, also Ballymena for the \ Melbourne Cup. Ballymena had also been-entered for the Craven Plate and Randwick Plate, the latter a standard weight-for-age race v of two .-miles.'. 7" In addition, lie liacl been accorded a: nomination in the Chelmsfprd Stakes.;; .'. '■''•'■'. ■'-.-" 7 ,' -Amongst those left in tho A'.J.C. Derby after the first payment jiad been made were ■.Nigger .Minstrel, .Killocra,, Father's Voice, Windbag, and Giggle.' -.'• The nominations. received,, for tho minor events at : the' 7 Avondale Spring Meeting are. of the ample .dimensions =customary in the Auckland Proyinpe. A glance; through .the list, reveals ;' that Auckland-trained horses predominate, but that there is a sprinkling frompther provinces, mainly Taranaki. - Samson is the name 'claimed for... .the colt by, Absurd—Moira Machree, brother,to Loyal Irishy. trained at Ellerslie. The Limond—Holyrood.'filly is to be called Gold Leaf if this name is allow■ed..:^ The' Lucullu's—Avon; Park two-year-old willbe known as Master Mind. J. Buchanan trains the first-mentioned two, arid F. Gilchrist has charge of Master Mind. By the English papers to hand by the last mail it is learned that the French champion- Epinard and a stable com'pan)ion left. Southampton on 4th July for America in the CunArd liner BerenRaria.- Elaborate • preparations were made for the comfort of the two horses, who were in charge of their trainer, Leigh. Entries were to close'on 15th July for several international, races, in which Epinard will participate, but it1

was not^kndwn when the . mail ; left whether; any 'English-horses would :be nominated. , : Major.' Belmont, who ar-■ ranged the -Papyras^Zev; contest, appears to he the ; managing director of the forthcoming events. These are weight-;for-age' races or .three-year-olds: and upwards... Geldings, are'bavred in'those at six furlongs and one mile,. but are eligible for the" mile and a: quarter. Why the ,distinction it, is hard ;to Bay. - The six furlongs race and the ! niile .-■■ eachcarry,: 25,000/ dollars' added :money, '\ and the1" niile arid a: quarter event 50,000 dollars. •_. -At ithe .present- rate of exchange' these .. fimbunte .exceed ' £5000 '..and £10,QOO;respectively.; The races are to be run in September and October, . at Belmoht Park, Aqueduct,' and Latonia...•' ■.:Although, the nominations^ ;for the Otaki Maori Spring,; Meeting are. not strong numerically, the 'class of horse engaged is ;quite fi air; ■ In, the principal .handicaps are proved .horses, like.- Sunart, :; • Correspondent, . Eouex, :.-;.'■ Helen Ruf us,, Lady Fingers, Eouex/, and -Last Crust.; -Handicaps'.for-: the . first • day :are due next Monday. ':■■■;:•'. '„'■■'■ •-■•; ■"■ "■;■ W.-H. Bowden, or-Otaki, has now inj! •hand -ay fine filly by Rangitero. . She may be seeii sporting silk soon after the Otaki .Meeting; ,:i :.;...-,';. ;' ; ;•• ,-The. stewards-of Saint Cloud, \ where the . V famous _; Sir,- .Gallahad-Epinaixl match, was contested, have,', presented souvenirs to ' the owners, trainers, and jockeys: of two horses. Messrs. Cohn arid"Wertheimerl received bronze statuettes of., their ..horses, the' trainers Denmari_ arid Leigh werovpresehted with silver gilt: plaques commemm-ating the iriatch, and the.Jockeys received goldmounted whips, suitably inscribed. ,■ Nominations .for the Manawatu .Hunt /Steeplechase -Meeting,' to1 be held on the Awapuni Racecourse on Wednesday 24th September, close on Friday: next, at 9 : pirn., with the secretary,. Mr. -William M'Kenzie, P.O. Box 186' Palmers'ton North: ;:, . : -.-. ' -