NOTES AND COMMENTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 January 1929, Page 3

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “Maecenas.”) The annual meeting of the Thames Jockey Club opens at Parawai to-mor-row and concludes on Monday next. Although the totalisator figures showed a decline of over £20,000 for the recent meeting of the Manawatu Racing Club, there was a good profit on the fixture, thanks to big nomination and acceptance fees and to excellent gates. Owing .to the high cost of travelling and the incidental charges connected with the management and upkeep of racehorses, owners are not now keen on going far from home, a feature that is going to prove a big penalty to small clubs that are to hold meetings from now on. Ohinemuri, a full sister to Te Monanui, raced well at EUerslie, and on this form is certain to be well supported for her Thames engagements. While she failed to gain place money at the recent meeting of the Auckland Racing Club, Flying Juliet ran good races, and in weaker class at the Thames may gain some prize money. The class of hack engaged at next week’s meeting at Foxton is extremely poor, and a good chance to pick up easily won races has been missed by owners of first-class hacks. Atereria has disappointed of late, but is now working well at Awapuni, and is expected to do well at Foxton next week. The southern-owned pair Night March and Sir Roy are still at Awapuni. If they race at Foxton they will b© a dangerous pair. Commendation is getting through solid work, in which he is being ridden by T. Green. Possibly this fine son of Limond may never again reach his best, buj he should win good races in the autumn. Whatever chance Glenstar possessed, at the recent meeting at Stratford was spoilt by his rider making too much use of him. Glenstar is useful, and should perform well in the welter races at the Thames meeting. Like all New Zealand trainers who visit Australia, E. Yuille, who returned with Mr. Higgins’s horses last Monday, was impressed with the facilities offering there to those wishing to chance winning big' bets. While still a maiden performer, Good Boy has run several good races, and, being well just now, may again be prominent at the Thames meeting. Leitrim is it promising hack, but in the past has not had the best of luck. , He is due to race at the Thames meeting to-morrow, and although opposed by some useful performers, should at least run good races. Prior to going to Australia, Pass Book had won only one race, carrying 7.7 to victory at Trentlmm in the ! spring. In contrast to the lenient treat- ; mont of Joy Bird, Pass Book was j awarded 9.4 at Meuangle, and although ( suffering from a cold she duly won, which does not show her opponents to he of any class. As a two-year-old High Finance showed brilliancy over short courses, and many expected her to do well in her three-year-old engagements, but at : that age she was a distinct disappointment. This season she has again failed to won, but her form has been consistent and encouraging, and in the moderate class to race at the Thames meeting to-morrow and Monday the daughter, of Paper Money should race well. , Glenartney, a two-year-old half- 1 brother by Hunting Song to the Eg- . mont-trained Vivo, was a competitor at the recent meeting of the Auckland Racing Club. As Glenartney showed speed in his race, but ra.n very “green,” an improvement may be. cx- ( peeted from him, more especially as lie j is under the care of the Fordell trainer F. Tilley. . At the Otaki meeting held in the ( last week of November, Joy Bird won in her only start under the substantial impost of 9.6. How Joy Bird got into j a poor class handicap at 7.7 at a small ■] meeting lie Id outside Sydney recently ; is hard to understand. Her Jong starting price is even more remarkable, and for a. small outlay the connections of Joy Bird won a tidy sum. That a mistake had been made in the mare’s handicap was revealed by a rise of 261 b for her next engagement. Originally the Foxton Racing Club held their annual meeting on the anniversary day of the Wellington province (January 22), but this season it was decided to abandon tliat day and bring the meeting forward a week, in hopes of securing a better class of per- i former. The nominations did not reveal the. improvement expected, and it is doubtful if the losing of the annual holiday date and its good attendance will be balanced by an increase oi visitors. The Aga Khan races horses extensively over England, and while he lias won a large sum in stake money, his presence as an owner has been a great | asset to racing in England. This« Indian sportsman also owns a big stable in India, and J. Robinson trains fifteen English-bred geldings for him. Many of these raced entire in England, but not being class enough for the Mother Country were shipped to India. Several of the team were bought for high prices when yearlings, among them being Blanchailles 6500 guineas, Three Cheers 4200 guineas, Prince Ferouze 3500 guineas, and Mario 3100 guineas.