NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 79, 30 September 1924, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(BY "VEDETTE.")

■When giving the racing fixtures of the currant week, the Pakuranga Hunt Meeting, to be held at Ellerslie next Saturday, was omitted. This is one of the most successful fixtures of its kind in the Dominion, and in point of stake-money an easy first. Although, the acceptances for the Hawkes Bay J.C.s Spring Meeting tomorrow are not available at time of writing, there is every reason to expect a really successful and interesting day's sport. Nearly all the horses who raced at Napier last Saturday are due to start, so that backers will have that form to follow. The fact that tho Hawkes Bay Guineas is included raises the programme above the ordinary, while a two-year-old handicap is another interesting feature. Ten were left in the Guineas when first forfeits had been paid, including the first and third in the Avondale Guineas, Tuahine and Lady Rewa. Tuahine will be penalised ?lb, bringing her weight to 8.12. Lady Rewa was so close up to Tuahine at Avondale at the finish that the penalty may turn the scale in her favour. Lady Joyce, although racing so far in handicaps this season, has been in winning form, and she should give a good account of herself. The remainder include some promising three-year-olds in Subjection,- Phoenix Park, King's Folly, Mount Marta, and Eoyal Diadem. Winning form, as represented by Tuahine and Lady Joyce, seems best, especially as R. Reed, who is riding very well at present, will be Tuahine's pilot if she starts. With Duo handicapped in the Spring Handicap, the weights took a wide range. Merry Singer was asked to mee,t Bumptious, Watchman, and Kalakaua on 171b worse terms, and Festivity 151b worse than at Napier Park. Bumptious should race a great deal better than he did last Saturday, while Festivity is evidently improving with his racing. Providing the going is not soft, and Tanadees is sent to race to-morrow, he should give a good account of himself.

With regard to the two-year-olds in the Nursery Handicap, last Saturday's form should be reliable. The Absurd filly Shirley was stated to be hardly tun-ed-up on Saturday, so that she should be the next best to Tiega. Landbird, who raced well at Avondale in much stronger company than he is asked to meet to-morrow, is not harshly treated even with 11.12 in the Tomoana Hurdles, for the distance is only a mile and a half. Lower down is the consistent Crown Coin. Those handicapped for the Glenaray Handicap include a number who have other engagements. Watchman-, if kept for this race, lias a good handy weight, and he should be ready now to be seen at his best. Mount Marta, who also has a Guineas engagement, has 'been awarded 7.3 in the Flaxmere Handicap. He divided two good average performers on Saturday, Lady Joyce and Gaze. Providing Wassail, 9.9, j 3 sent to the post for the Flying Handicap, there is no doubt what will start favourite, despite his defeat on Saturday. Barrier, 8.5, was unlucky in the running at Napier, and he is a solid customer.

Tutankhamen is to be given another chance to open his winning account in c! c Tri;ll stakes- The field includes Ihe Strand and Serene, second and third in tho Trial at Napier on Saturday. Tho two-year-old Master Mind is making a good recovery from tho cold winch he contracted a few days before the Avondalo Moeting. Ho is doing light exercise away from the track, and F. Gilclnisl hopes to have him working again soon. _ A Northern writer states that Lucirs is showing signs of coming back to his best form. • Tho son of Lucullus raced fairly well at Avondale. Sir Burnett has made a quick recovery from the lameness which he displayed at Wanganui. I£ o is doing light work at To Rapa.. b The threo-year-old Chairman was physicked dining the ' week. Chairman showed pace in the Avondale. Guineas in which he led for the first six furlongs, and, as that was tho best race he has run this season, ho is evidently coming on.

Clumip, who is engaged in hunters' ©vents at the Pakuranga Hunt Jlcotin", is a brother to Admiral Codrington being by Gazeley from Ransyl. Ho is trained at To Awamutu by V. Loomb. Golden Autumn, tbo second string to Autoimie at Avondalc, lias been sold to -Mr. W. Scholium. Tlio two-year-olfl will bo trained by \V. Kirk at Avondale. Automno accomplished his dual victory at the Avondalo Meeting in a style that loft no room for doubt as to the merit of his feat, and, with excellent roason to form the. view 'hat a^e will bring about further development, it can be said that his futuro i? full of promise. 'Writos "Phaeton." I contracted a liking for Autoimie when he c-,ire into the paddock at AvomVile, and in a subsequent perusal of M^e lines of blood coursing through his vci"s. such served to strengthen my tansy f m - Hie brown colt. The opinion can.'l think, be ventured with a reliable degree jf safety that Aulomne will extend his r.-coyd in a marked degree a? the season Pflvances. It is pleasing to find Automne well -ngiiged in events ahead, and his i.ext engaqoment is in the A.R.C. Welcome Stakes, which is set down for decision at F.llershe on Ist November. Despite Heroic's bad behaviour at the barrier in the Warwick Stakes, his connections backed him solidly in the Chelmsfor'd Stakes. The weight of money for Heroic was such that it brought Gloaming from edds-on. while Brillymena, who opened second favourite, eased several points, and started third favourite. Wallace Mortlake was also introduced into the market at tho finish, but the big money was all for Heroic. Heroic was still inclined to be fractious at tho post, but was movingup when the Inrrier lifted, and had to be steadied into fourth place in the first furlong. His improvement may havebeen due to the fact that during the week efforts had been made to overcome his aversion to facing the ■ starting barrier. On the previous Thursday.' with. A. Reed in the colours, the colt was taken to the barrier. Alongside was the starter, Mr. Mackellar, on a hack, while, to make it more realistic, H. Cairns donned the red coat of the clerk of the course. He was armed with a stockwhip. Several times Heroin plnved ur>. but eventually jumped off fairly well. It was nstonishinn- to see how smartly he a-nt info his stride., and he finished out seven luvlonsrs well, but pulled up in a perfect lather of sweat. Xext mornine. in another barrier lesson, the colt behaved very well. These lessons and work ejected a wonderful iimiruvcincnt, and he .stripped really well. • In the cable massage oubliaheH yesterday describing tho race between Epinard

and Ladkin in the international contest at New York it was made to read that Epinard won. This was not so. It was Ladkin who "won by a whisker."