NOTES BY OBSERVER

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9468, 15 October 1907, Page 6

NOTES BY OBSERVER

Owners are reminded that the nominations for the Waverley Waitotara meeting close on Thursday, October 17, at 8 p.m. ' Race meetings at Napier, Dunedin, and Otaliji during the past week supplied abundant occupation for the minds of turf speculators, hut the remaining days of the Australian J.C. spring meeting at Randwick probably provided the most absorbing quarter of interest to the general sporting public. Equally in regard to the number and quality of the fields engaged as well as to the interesting and in many cases exciting nature of the sport, both in ' handicap and weight-for-age events, the A. J.C. meeting of 1907 )<n-jears to have equalled if not actually excelled any of its predecessors. The interests of New ZeaUnd haze been well although not successf I'ly t§r tamed as in some past years, the splendid performances of Armtft, Pbaetonitis, and Apologue being especially worthy of mention. The Craven Plate of Wednesday last unquestionably established Mountain King's pre-eminence as the crack three-year-old and hero of the meeting the registration of his fourth « ;cnss ; Ive victory being heralded by a genuine display of grit and brilliancy, so well befitting the inscription of his name to the page already adorned by many illustrious performers. Without prejudice it may*£be considered that Mr Stead was unfortunate in not again supplying the winner of the liberally-endowed Breeders' Plate. His filly Armlet, who was sent out second favorite to Borodino in a field of fourteen runners, occupied a prominent position from the start, but McCombe, unluckily electing the suicidal tactic of trying to win three furlongs from home, was collared by the favorite at the dis J tance, and although gallantly resisting his determined cKallenge, the overtaxed filly could not respond to a samrt rattle put in by her half-length conqueror Baw Bee in the final strides. Altered tactics on the third day secured for the brilliant filly a comfortable win in the Gimcrack Stakes, and although not in any respect commensurate with the Breeders' Plate, it is at least a crumb of comfort to the absent sportsman for the many features of ill-luck attending his visiting team of 1907. Eastmere, son of Westmere and Hagar, is being prepared for coming fixtures by Gr. Clout. Eastmere, who was bred by his owner, Mr James Davidson, is a brown gelding of powerful mould, like many of his relatives, the Painter family, may find the battens and timber of cross-country contests a hospitable field for future honors. Mr Davidson, who is one of the oldest existing sinews of sport in Taranaki, has long associations with the breeding of blood stock and racing, and is one of the few whose increasing years are not attended with a corresponding inactivity towards the devotion of sport. Among, his blood stock Mr Davidson owns the well-known stallion Chasseur. At the kind invitation of Mr H. Vine, of Manaia, I was afforded the opportunity or renewing an old existing acquaintance with his stud sires Coronet and St. Clements, who both appear but little altered by risiilg years. Their respective turf careers are already widely known, and their lengthy attendance ■for many following seasons to the rollcall of their track monitors speaks ' volumes of physical and constitutional importance. St. Clements, by his singular power of transmitting pace through all and sundry classes of mares, quickly asserted a strong position among coastal sires. Coronet, who had but few privileges shown him during his first seasons, has by the merit of good-looking stock gaineed the approbation of many important breeders in this district. This recognition gives the son of Castor and Necklace a more liberal chance of building up a stud reputation. Among a number of mares booked to Coronet is a full sister to Halberdier, Mr A. Goodson's Ora, Gavotte, and a daughter of Tamora; also from other stivJs Gir^sv Queen, St. Ada, Stayboy's dam, Ebb old gelding, brother to The Dane, tion. A remarkably well-crown two-year-old ereldini;, brother of The Dane shows, shows tho advantage of early nourishment. This customer, though not yet broken, is amply developed for two-Year-old racing, and is the property of Mr A. W. Budge, of Stratford. E. Vino, the trainer of St. Bill, has a. full brother three-year-old in hand, but not yet broken. Though not so commanding-looking as St. Bill, he is built on powerful lines and shows plenty of quality. This horse's dam will -visit Coronet this season. The success, of supplement in the Trial Handicap at Otaki waa the foundation for a local deal in bloodstock, a full-sister, six-year-old, changing ownership at a satisfactory figure. This chestnut maxe, known as Grizel, has gained a good name in minor sport. By St. Clements, her dam Fan is by Puriri — Far Away. Tt'ambour Major, who showed greatly improved form last season, is located at Okaiawa, and is the subject of light hacking. His owner, Mr G. Ayre, who owned .his dam, the fertile Linnet, considers that his brown gelding will race best on a light preparation. A seven-year-old chestnut and fullsister to Tambour Major, who is also Okaiawa owned, is the property of Mr J. Bailey. She is strongly and evenly proportioned, and has already sco Ted at unregistered meetings under the name of Union, and is in bright and muscular condition, the production of useful hacking. The ex-New Zealand horse SubterraTwan, who has been staunchly supported for the Melbourne Oup, ran a dead heat for second place in the Caulfield Stakes on Saturday, which performance somewhat justifies the- confidence bestowed on him. , . The tone of intelligence Teceived from England from time to .time conveys Strong suggestions of' existing coolness towards the services of the New Zealand crack, -L. H. Hewitt: That the origin of; the unpleasant feeling is not attributable

to any lack of proficiency on the part of New Zealand's "Sloan" has (during his short sojourn in the Mother Country) been too frequently decided by his incomparable success at creating surprises in association with Tough mounts. Recent advices state that at the Lewis Meeting Hewitt won an exciting race on a pTactically unbacked filly, beating two xedhot favorites in the largest field at the gathering. Although Hewitt's brilliant career in Australasia was much assisted by the patronage of leading owners, it is well recognised that he earned the distinction purely through his display of talent during the haphazard influences common to most beginners.

Going to Australia for a short visit early in his career, one of Ms first mounts was a 50 to 1 chance on Alva, in the Toorak Handicap (the corresponding Tace of Saturday last, won by True Scot), which he won, and immediately on his return to New Zealand he piloted Motto to victory in a hack race, paying the sensational dividend of £83.

Amidst his many notable engagements in the higher sphere of equine sport may be quoted the memorable encounter between Australia's deservedly idolised Wakeful and her powerful New Zealand rival Oruciform, who, after an exciting race under the pilotage of New Zealand's crack, decided an oft-questioned supremacy by winning the Craven Plate by the admitted advantage of a head.

As Hewitt started in England amid favorable influences, it is open to inference that his unpopularity -with, leading stables has arisen through some act of indiscretion.