NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 15 May 1922, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By "Maecenas.")

The winter meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club takes place on Thursday and Saturday next. Acceptances close to-night (Monday).

Oakleigh went wrong during the running of the Opeke Steeplechase at Egmont, and was lame on returning to the "bird cage. 'This would explain the poor showing made by the son of St. Amans,

The injury received by Petunia duft ing the running of the Telegraph Ha.ck at Egmont may keep the son of Absurd off the track for some time to come.

After trying to win a scurry for about eighteen months P. Cofl'ey tiied Kato over "sheep hurdles," and, after doing moderately well in hack hurdle races, Kato was tried over "big country" with excellent results, as he proved at Egmont that h© was a clean fencer.

How Kato will shape over the stiffWingatui course at Dunedin remains to be seen, but over moderate "country" Kato is a A^ery clever jumper, and should win plenty of steeplechases. ,

Patrons of D. Moraghan's stable threw in for good wins over the successes of Irapuka and Crossfire. Moraghan deserves success, as he can get a horse well and knows when it is so.

Mr. A. Symes has disposed of Hyginas to an Auckland sportsman. At times Hyginas has shown fine form over hurdles, and well placed his owner should soon regain purchase money up north.

Guianform, which gelding was formerly trained in this district, has been sent, to Wanganui for the Century Hurdles. When trained in Taranaki Guianform went well in private, but invariably failed with colours up. Last season General Raven jumped most erratically at times, and, judging by his displays at Hawera last week, he is little better now. With a less experienced rider than Wormald, General Raven may not have finished either day at the E^mont meeting. The brown gelding Halcyon has been leased to Mr. D. Hughes, and the son of Hallowmas has again been taken over by P. Cogey. As their trainer is taking ICato to the Dunedin meeting, it is possible that Halcyon will also go south and compete in jumping events. Halcyon may be tried at cross country work in the near future.

♦Consequent on a breakdown Oakleigh has been sent back to Auckland. On his showing in the Egmont Steeplechase, Oakleigh must have had an undeniable chance in the Wanganui Steeplechase had the mishap not occurred.

The lease of Irapuka held by Mr. O'Donnell will expire very shortly, and it is stated that the owner of the gelding is anxious to get possession, which is not surprising,. as trainer Moraghan has worked a wonderful improvement in Irapuka.

/The jockey Warner, who was suspended for three months for allowing Oakleigh to miss the last jump in the Egmont Steeplechase, is not in very robust health, and was in hospital the week previous to the meeting. Without trying to excuse Warner over his nding of Oakleigh, it is possible that iiad this rider heen in better health the incident would not have happened