NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 8 March 1928, Page 3

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By “Maecenas.”)

With the appearance of the Thompson Handicap weights', students qf form and figures will have something to ponder over during the next few days. If J. T. Jamieson takes the two-year-old Mithra to Trentham, that youngster will fully extend horses in these parts. Those who have seen Paganelli race held the opinion that the three-year-old will not run out a solid mile, and on public essays it is only logical to class Paganelli as a sprinter. Yet trainer Carroll is confident about Paganelli’s ability to run a mile. 'Scat was tried over hurdles at To Aroha, but did not impress one iri this department, so lie may be kept to flat racing. After being kept at flat racing for a long time, Lord Star made liis debut as a jumper when lie-competed in the hurdle races at the Wellington Racing Club’s winter fixture. He was afterwards raced again in long distance handicaps, but last December again raced over hurdles with success. Lord Star has now been nominated for f,teepleehases at Paeroa. Unlike most horses, capable- of winning over a two-mile course Rapier sprints well. After winning the Wellington Cup of twelve furlongs, Rapier went south, and won races of six furlongs For this reason some think that. Rapier will run well in the coming Thompson Handicap. in the early part of the current season trainer J. T. Jamieson held a high opinion of In the /Shade, and considered he was np to Derby form. While this three-year-old ran some fair races, he hardly fulfilled the high opinion held of him. At 7.5 in the Thompson he may run well. As Paganelli has not been nominated for the six furlong event at Trentham it is clear his trainer expects him to run out a mile. If he does see out this solid race many will confess to bad judgment. , , . When the W aikato Racing Club de- { leted steeplechases from their autumn programme (after a lengthy and disappointing trial) there was the usual ■outcry. That the move <sn the part of tbe Waikato people was timely is shown by the fact that only nine entries were received for the L2OQ steeples at Oliinemuri.

Bonhomme’s name appears amongst the hurdlers at the Rangitikei meeting, but as he raced well in the welter races at the recent Dannevirke meeting, trainer Webster may decide to give him a further chance at flat racing. * The English-bred Royal Picture lias at times shown some brilliancy, but in the past lias been most unlucky. He is now under the charge of T. F. Quinlivau, and if that trainer works the same imp rove me lit in Royal Picture as lie did in Tresliam, the imported horse will win faces.' . I/ike the Winter Cup, the eight furlongs of tho Thompson Cup, with its two long straights, is looked on as a difficult mile to race over and win. Yet in face of this contention many horses have succeeded in the event that (ouhl bo classed as decidedly more brilliant than solid. Some that have won the Thompson that come under that category are Ostiak, Full Cry, Annlet, Gipsy Belle, and Arrowsmitli. Reremoana has won the. Thompson Handicap twice, and at 9.6 this great “miler” has been given a chance to equal the record of a once great performer, also trained in Tai*anaki. The horse referred to is Waiuku, who captured this race in the seasons 1895-97-28. While Waiuku was quite capable of holding his own with the best of sprinters and milers of his time, he was also great enough to win Zealand Cup (two miles) in 1897.