NOTES AND COMMENTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 20 July 1928, Page 5

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “Maecenas.”Present indications suggest the coming Grand Nationals being confined to limited sized fields, which may be equally weak in quality. Had L. G- Morris been more vigorous on Chelone at Trentham last Saturday he, and not Duke Abbey, woulct have won the open six furlongs event. In the past many “hacks” have run well or won the Winter Cup decided at Biccarton in August. On his Trentham form Chelone is one from the hack ranks that may do well in the big mile handicap. This year’s contest for the leading position amongst jockeys of the Dominion is arousing quite as much interest as that of H. Gray and the late A. Whittaker. Dishonoured, from J. H. Jefferd’s stable, will be a- competitor at the coming meeting of the Gisborne Racing Club, and those that profess to know say that Dishonoured will give Reed a rise in the jockeys’ championship. Although Duke Abbey ran three good races at the recent meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, lie did not finish as generously as he should have on the first and second days. On the third day R. Reed waited till the last few strides before calling on Duke Abbey for a supreme effort. When Reed made the call he literally lifted

the gelding. It was a line bit of horsemanship on the rider’s part. Raasay was recently priced by a prospective buyer, but as 3000 guineas was asked for the two-year-old no business was done. After Brigadier Bill had won the Kgmoiit and Wanganui Steeplechases it certainly pointed to liis playing a prominent part in tlie season's leading "cross country” events, but after his poor displays jat the Auckland and Wellington meetings Brigadier Bill lias lost many admirers. Although Bisox did not win by a big margin at Trentham last Thursday, slie scored decisively, and has now reinstated herself as a promising mare. While Bisox may not begin quickly enough to win a Winter Cup, sliei should make her presence l’elt in longer distance races. Of this season’s recruits to steeplechasing, Radiate strikes one as a gelding that may develop into a good performer next season. If taken in band early next year and given a good preparation, Radiate should compensate his owner for this season’s bad luck. While he failed to pay a dividend at the recent Wellington meeting, Royal Damon ran well enough to bring him before the public .as a gelding likely to play a prominent part at the Grand National meeting. Even if incapable of winning the Winter Cup, tlie chestnut should pay his way in some of the races to he decided over a shorter course.

The handicaps recently declared for the leading events to be decided at the coming meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club will give racing students plenty to unravel. ...The owner of Glendowie would not send his gelding to the Wellington meeting because of the weight allotted, but gave it out that Glendowie would go down for the Grand Nationals. Now that the handicaps are out for the Grand Nationals, and Glandowie has been allotted more weight in those races than was the case in the Wellington Steeplechase and Winter Hurdles, the said owner will be in a dilemma. Up till the time he fell at the penultimate jump in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham last Saturday, Aberfeldy Was galloping and jumping as well as any runner, with the exception of Beau Cavalier. At the fatal jump Aberfeldy turned a complete somersault, and in addition to losing a lot of skin off his legs, this unfortunate gelding was badly injured by Kilburn jumping on his head. Aberfeldy was bleeding freely from the nostrils after the mishap, and it may take a long spell to bring him back to his best. It is surprising how quickly some people decry a defeated candidate, be it man or beast. After Beau Cavalier lost his rider in the recently run Wellington Steeplechase, one beard many remarks about his being overrated, but for the sake of the reputations of these alleged judges it was a pity such remarks were made so hastily, as had they waited till the Winter Hurdles was decided such foolish remarks would not have been passed.