NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 121, 26 May 1925, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(BY "VEDETTE")

Acceptances for the Otaki Maori Winter Meeting close on Friday at 8.30 p.m.

Acceptances for the Levin Winter Meeting close on Friday at 8 p.m.

Nominations for the Waverley Winter Meeting are due on Friday.

At Epsom to-morrow will be decided the race of the year, for the Derby still remains easily the most discussed racing event where Britishers are to be found. From what one may read in the recent cables, the Derby this, year is to be of an international character. Ptolemy 11., the hope of France, was beaten last week by Faraway in the French Two Thousand Guineas. If he should win at Epsom the .pessimists in England will score indeed, and it is significant that Donoghue has elected to ride the Frenchman. In 1865 the redoubtable Ghdiateur won for France, but it was not until 1914 that Durbar 11. was awarded the Blue Ribbon of the Turf, he being the next French victor. Not a great deal of news has filtered through the cables about the English colts and fillies, but there is an idea abroad that the best -this year are above the average. Picaroon has been withdrawn and Saucy Sue was not entered, but Manna, St. Becan, and Oojah, the placed horses in the Two Thousand, are engaged, together with Cross Bow, the King's colt. Runnymede, and other well-performed three-year-olds. Oojah, owned by the late Sir Edward Hulton, is now ineligible, owing to the death of his owner.; In every way this year's race at Epsom should at least rival the most interesting of any of its predecessors.

Some little time ago F. D. Jones and M. M'Carten applied to the Australian Jockey Club for the remission of a part of their sentence of twelve months' disqualification. A reply has been received from the chief stipendiary steward giving a fiat refusal.

' The Auckland Racing Club has received excellent acceptances for its winter meeting, and with 47 left in the Jervois Handicap, that race as usual will - have to be run in divisions: A good response-has been received from owners in the big races of the meeting, for 24 horses have been left in the Great Northern Hurdles, 26 in the Cornwall Handicap, and 21 in the Great Northern Steeplechase.

Notable absentees from the Great Northern jumping double are Lochson, Oakleigh, Sea De'il, Charlatan, Gaze and Brigadier Bill. Omahu has been taken out of the Hurdle race, but remains in the post of honour in the Steeplehcase.

The Southerner, Frisco Mail, has been paid-up for in both the Great Northerns. Fit and well, he will be a tough mit to crack, always providing he is not upset by the reverse way of galloping-at .Auckland. Archeen- was taken out of the Cornwall Handicap at the Auckland Meeting, but is. an acceptor for the Members Handicap (six furlongs) on the opening day. Lady Comet, who ran. a great race into third place behind-Bonibrook and -Sansahno in the Hack Steeplechase at Wanganui, looks well in the Hunt Club Hurdles at .Ellerslie at; 9.11. . Euphonium has now won four races on end, and has worked his way out of hack "company. He is a good cut of a galloper, bat a little -lucky to will at Wanganui both days. On the first in some ways matters were made easy for him, while ,on Saturday with a little better horseman on Rowley the latter would have cantered home.

Glument is improving in his jumping, but he is still a little too slow at bis fences to win races. There was a vast improvement in his -second-day exhibition at Wanganui as compared with the first day, and if it was any guide he should quite pay his way over hurdles. San Forte is engaged in the Great Northern Steeplechase, and it is seen that he is amongst the acceptors in the Penrose Hurdles on the first day of the Northern Meeting. San. Forte looked very well at Wanganui, and the two gallops he had, last week should do him a vast amount of good. His form last year with Passin 1 Through was a good deal above the average, and it is worth remembering that he has only 9.12 in the big 'chase at Ellerslie, with a chance of W. H. Bowden being in the saddle. Nothing would be less surprising than to find San Forte making matters difficult for a large number of horses who are being discussed a great deal more than he is at the present time.

Although Admiral Codrington let his backers: down on the second day at Wanganui, he should soon make amends. He raced very well on the first day, but is apparently not thoroughly seasoned, and it is reasonable to assume that one race found him out for the time being. Apparently there has been a change of plans in regard to Black Art, and it is now announced that he will race at the Northern Meeting. He may then go on to Australia. •>

Alaric will soon win a hurdle race. Considering he had not had a race over fences since last September,, and was giving weight away to Comical, Vagabond, Black Art, and the others in the May Hurdles at Wanganui on Saturday, he far from disgraced himself. He was in the picture all the way, finishing up in third berth.

Puwliero's fencing at Wanganui on Saturday was worth going a long way to see. -It is unfortunate that lie is lacking in stamina, for with his speed, combined with brilliant jumping, it is difficult to know how well he could perform over country. He will always have to be reckoned with in a short-distance steeplechase, and might even win a race like the Beaufort Steeplechase at Eiccarton.

A few months ago a suggestion that Imperial Spark could give Hipo lib and a beating at a middle distance would have been received with derision. Yet at Wanganui on the concluding day Imperial- Spark, 8.9, finished a length ahead of Hipo, 8.8, in the Empire Handicap, both being beaten by a good galloper in Fool's Paradise, 8.5.

J'ononul and Tenlerfield are being schooled in company at Riceartou. Tentsrfield is s:iid to be improving, and last Thursday morning shaped belter than Jjonoimil. (!n tile previous morning, however, ho jumped very. badly, crasl'iin'j riqhl lliioii'^h one fence. The" Iwrt-yoiir-iild filly by Absurd from Ornlres-s who was shipped to Sydney by mistake, some months ago, and who subsequently went into O. Price's stable at Jlfindwiek, will probably be returned to New Zealand in the near future, and will have a- spell before .going on with her racing preparation.

Auukhinders are very keen on the chances of Sir Roseberi-y for the two Great, Northerns. Lust week lie acquitted himself well in a schooling gallop at Ellcrslie over the big fences, including Lhose on the hill. Irish Jig was one of the party to go with Sir Roseberry. and he did not disgrace himself in this good class company.

I'empc. a four-year-old filly by Elysiaii '■«»■ KjJjujiu. ]iaj Jinishsd Jior racing

days, and has been retired to the stud. She has shown some very fair form this season.

A Southern writer states that En Route is not to race at Dunedin, but will be seen out next at Ashburton next month. It is said' in the South that Mr. W. Stone contemplates having Master Sandstone operated upon for his wind troubles. Thistlecrown and Twinkle are being, schooled over hurdles by T. G. Pollock at Gore. The former is due to race at the Dunedin Meeting Charlatan's trip to the North Island meetings has been cancelled. He is steadily improving, and will be seen out in some of the minor steeplechases at the country fixtures in the South. Since Dubious won the Century Hurdies many people are just becoming alive to the fact that La Notte, his dam, produced Noctuiform, Nightfall, and Midnight Sun. Dubious was bred by his trainer, T. F. Quinlivan, and, though in Aujust he will rank as five years old, in reality he will be only four .and a half, for he is a late December foal. Peter Amans is a. mass of condition, and is putting plenty of vim into his work, writes " Archer." His schooling effort last Thursday was very fine, and left a favourable impression concerning his winter prospects. Last year Peter Amans finished third in the Great Northern Hurdles, and with only lib more to carry this year should again be equal to making a bold bid for honours. That consistent ancf improving mare Arch Amie is a regular worker at Ellerslie, and her splendid condition has been the subject of favourable remark among the track watchers. This mare relishes soft going, and her recent form suggests that she will perform creditably in her engagements at the Auckland Winter Meeting. . While executing a schooling task a few weeks ago Knighthood sustained a slight injury, but quickly recovered, and has been doing good solid work, states the Auckland " Herald." His condition is excellent, and he may be worth keeping in mind for hurdle events during • the winter. He showed fine promise as a hurdler towards the end of last year. It is reported that that good two-year-old Gold Bon has contracted strangles. Runnymede is a possible A.J.C.- Derbycandidate if he winters well.