NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1927, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(BY "VEDETTE.")

RACING FIXTURES.

February 10, 12—Taranakl J.C. February 10, 12—Dunedin J.C. February. 10, 12—Poverty Bay Turf Club. February 12, 14—Rotorua K.C. ■February 16—Cllfden B.C. February 17—Tologa Bay J.C. February 17,19—Wanganui J.C. February 19—Canterbury J.C. February 23, 24^—Gore S.C. February 23, 24, 26—Nelson J.C. February 24—Waiapu R.C. February 25, 26—Woodville District J.C. February 26, 28—Te Aroha J.C.

Nominations for all events at the Woodville Autumn Meeting (including the Maiden Stakes and Novice Plate) close on Friday at 9 p.m. Of the six horses now on the schooling list five are North Islanders.

The official organ of racing, the "N.Z. Beferee," comments at some length on some of the rather striking reverses. of form of recent date. It takes the timely opportunity of urging, jaore inquiry into suspicious and in-and-out running, and points out that at both the 1923 and 1924 conferences, the president, Sir George Clifford, urged the extension of the powers of the stipendiary stewards. In the words of the president: "An extension o£ their authority, is greatly to be desired." Jack Homer looked very well in himself when saddled for ; the Pegasus Handicap Steeplechase at Gatwick in the middle of December, says the "Sporting Life." He has more muscular development on his quarters and ■ second thighs than most horses, and; viewed in the paddock, looked fairly straight in condition. In the race, however, he showed himself to be more backward than even his trainer suspected. Last year's "National" winner jumped in approved Aintree style, but had "bellows to mend" a ' long way from home, and blew quite a lot after his race. This goes to show that it takes more than long, steady work to fit a horse for a three-mile contest. Jack Homer runs, next at the end of January, and twice after that in February before he endeavours to follow up his victory of last March in the Grand National.

The December sales'at Newmarket were a record. More horses were sold, a bigger aggregate was obtaind, '. and the nearest average to the present one, 580 guineas, was the 520% guineas of 1920. The fourth, and fifth days were the extraordinary ones. These, especially the latter, are often looked upon as the worst of the sale, but in this case they topped the. averages, and only go to prove that if the stuff is right the position in the, catalogue is immaterial. In all 789 lots were sold, for a total of 433,856 guineas. Once again it has to be remarked that the betting tax and coal strikes to the contrary, racing and bloodstock breeding appears to be on an exceedingly sound basis in England. The new grandstand at Epsom will be ready for the City and Suburban Meeting. The new stand will be 678 feet long, it will have three tiers of boxes, and ample accommodation for the public. R. W. MTavish, the Ellerslie rider, was in good form at the Te Kuiti Meeting on Saturday, winning on Town Guard, Day Guard, Pegaway, and Macroom. ' _Mr. J. S. Barrett, of Christchurch, has disposed of his English-bred mares Prophet's Mark and Violet 11. to the Westmere studmaster, Mr. J. Donald, and they left Riccarton for their'new quarters last Friday. - , ... Saxette will not be a competitor at Dimedin, having developed shoulder soreness. •■'.,■

J. Boyd, the Kiccarton mentor, will recommission Tarleton and Carnot on his return from Dunedin. He has recently added to his string the five-year-old Golden Image, by Treadmill from Gold Top, by Soulfc from a Gold Reef mane.

At Cheviot on Saturday, J. Bryce, driver o£.Katute';iti the: Parnassus Handicap, was called before the Judicial Committee to explain his conduct during the running of the race. It was alleged ■by H. Frost; driver of"Royal Audubon, that Bryce advised him "to ease up as he had no chance." Owing to lack of corroboration.of the allegation, the committee took no action.

Owing to prior engagements at Taranaki, B; Hi Morris was unable to accept an offer to ride Footfall in the Dunedin Cup. The Riccarton apprentice A. Brown will have the mount on Battlement in the Dunedin Cup. A. H. Driscbll was to have piloted him, but his suspension by the Egmont Club will keep him out of the saddle for another three weeks.

Mr. H. P. P. Bluridell, of Wellington, 5b enjoying a fairly successful time with his team, as at'the end of the first half of the racing year Diogenes, Sottano, and Star Shell had earned for him £1802 10s. Only for the first-named going amiss on the eve of the holiday meetings, the total no doubt -would have' been larger. F. P. Claridge, of Riccarton, has made a good recovery from his recent operation, and will take Thorndale, Waterloo, and En Route to.Dunedin to-day. With the near approach of the Midsummer Meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club, Riccarton trainers have been busy of late ■with horses destined to be produced on the 19th instant. Judging by the number in preparation, the fields for the one-day gathering should be strong numerically. Entries close to-morrow (Wednesday). : W. Hawthorne/ one of Mr. W. R. Kemball'e trainers, wag at Riccarton yesterday, and purchased from Mr. C. G-. Dalgety a two-year-old filly by Thurnham from Nantville, therefore a half-sister to Revel and Joyeuse. Hawthorne and his charge arrived in Wellington this morning, en route to Masterton.

Limerick has completely recovered from the ailment which prevented him from showing his_ best form at Randwick and !Fleming.ton in the spring, and in a gallop at Riccarton on Saturday covered'five furlongs in lmin i "2-ssec. He was not off the bit to do it, and ¥. D. Jones will have him cherry ripe for his invasion of Randwick in the autumn. ■ ■

Mr. H. Spry, of Melbourne, who was a free buyer at the Trentham yearling sales, has purchased the three-year-old Tea' Tray colt Tea Bell from the Auckland sportsmen, Messrs. J. C. and P. S. Gleeson. Tea Bell was a good stake-earner last season, and at the recent Takapuna Meeting scored * first and two seconds. <

At the Ashburton Meeting last month En Route started in and won the Moreton Hack Handicap, for which he was not eligible, having won more money than is permissible for a competitor in hack events. The stake was paid to Sir Charles Campbell, owner of the gelding, but on becoming acquainted with the facts of the case he returned it. The amount has now been paid ov&r to A. M'Aulay, owner of Sir Roy, who ran second in the event.

The Kilbroney—Black Ada filly, Piuthair, is more than paying her way this season, as the three wins, a second, and a third to her credit have returned her owner, Mr. R. A. M'Kenzie. of Palmerston North, £2130.

C. Emerson has been engaged to ride Glentruin, Set Sail, Jericho, and Master Clarence at Dunedin on Thursday. J. Beale will be up on Rapier, Bon' Jose, Coch-y-Bondhu, and Gold Mint, while C. Eastwood will pilot Pink Note, Countersign, Wild Work, and Waterlow. M. B. Edwards, -who now trains his team o£ pacers at Yaldhurst, once the training quarters o£ R. J. Mason, is contemplating a trip to Otahuhu with Firpo and Logan's Drive. A Christchureh journal makes out that Count Cavour is a flying machine, for it chronicles that he covered a mile and a quarter at Riccarton on Saturday in lmin 10 2-ssec. Needless to say that the horse has not yet been foiled, and never will be, who could accomplish, such a journey in such a time. T. ]?. Quinlivan, who was for some years private trainer to Mr. Eric Riddiford, but has been. enjoying a holiday since he retired from the position, evidently intends to resume his occupation, for he has been granted a license on the recommendation of the Hawkes Bay District Committee.

Cave Rock, who broke down badly at the Christmas Meeting of the Westland Eacing Club, was destroyed at the weekend, as there was no hope of him making an effective recovery. R. Emerson intended to take Assurance to the Dunedin Meeting, but Dr. Louisson's gelding has been troubled with soreness for a few days, and it has been deemed advisable to ease him up. The

trouble is not serious, and he should soon be himself again. . The injuries received by N. C. Dwyer at Takapuna are rather severe, and this promising young lightweight, who recently completed his apprenticeship, will be out of the saddle for some weeks.