NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7447, 23 May 1911, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

fßy r 'Xho Judge.") Handicaps for tho first day of the Otaki Maori meeting aro duo from Mr Pollock on Friday next. Tho winter fixture of tho North. Otago i Jockey Club will commence to-morrow at Oamaru. The ISngllsh Derby will be run on Wednesday. May 31st. At Easter tho Two Thousand Guineas winner, Sunstar, was a strong favourite. A Hawke's Bay paper, referring to the recent meeting at Hastings, says that bookmakers were supposed to be absent, “but otic gentleman who hns never been a licensed bookmaker, was laying totalisator odds on both days, and on one race held as much as .-£100.” A new candidate at the hurdling business has made his appearance at Ellcrslie, this being Okura, who is said to bo shaping like an old hand at the game. Ho is in D. Bannatyne’s stable. Another aspirant to hurdling honours is Rambling Rose, one of P. Conwav's team, and the rnaro is reported to bo showing a liking for tho game. Tho Auckland “Star” says that Crcnsot. which won tho C.J.C. Grand National Hurdle Ilace of 1905, was disposed of at Messrs A. Buckland and Sons’ yards on Friday for 16gns. Mr T. Wise was tho purchaser of tho .son of Torpedo. At the same yards Miss Lenoro was sold for 132 gns. The death is reported of the well-known i brood in aro Lady Moth, tho dam of Hohoro. Her foal by Pukaki is also dead. Tho accident to tho jumper Montigo proved to bo rather serious, tho veterinarysurgeon having to put ten stitches in the wound. Ho hns been scratched for all engagements at the Great Northern meeting Handicaps for tho minor events on the opening day of tho Great Northern meeting are due on Thursday. Waiju has been scratched for all engagements at tho North Otago meeting, tho chestnut son of Waiuku having injured his stifle, Tho winter meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club will bo brought to a conclusion to-morrow. There was a curious happening in a race at Dubbo (N.S.W.) last week, there being a dead heat for first place and a dead heat for third place in one race. It was In tho Flying Handicap when Simraorson and Cable News, and Coachman and Mary Olivia ran home in couples too close together to bo separated by the judge. Iron Mask 11.. who is an American candidate for tho English Derby, was a startler in tho Threo-year-old Handicap at Nowmarket on the 6th ult., but finished out of a placo. Ho would, however, bo hardly in proper racing condition at the time. It is rather interesting to compare tho cost of running a horse in any of tho big races in England with tho amounts required for similar races in Australia. For instance, each starter in the Two Thousand Guineas and Ono Thousand Guineas

has to subscribe 100 sots, and in the Derby and Oaks 50 sovs each, tho last forfeit m each case being halt the amounts stated. Entrants can certainly b© retired from tno Derby and Oaks on payment of 5 sovs, bUo that has to be declared upwards ol a,?’ e ? r before the race, so that it may well be said that those events are far outside tnc reach of tho man whose means, are limited. Even tho Newmarket Stakes, which Sunstar won the other day, is a very dear race. Tho added money is only 1000 sovs, yet a starter's fee is 33 sovs, whllo in order to get out of the race for 10 sovs declaration to that effect was necessary by tho first Tuesday in July last. The A.J.C. added tho other day 4.00 sovs to tho Sydney Cup, and horses could b© retired on the Thursday prior to tho race for 5 sovs, while the conditions governing the next A.J.C. Derby aro similar. Tho added money is 4000 sovs, a starter's feo 20 sovs. and a retreat can bo purchased two days prior to the race for 5 sovs. The New Zealander Golden Cairn is not being allowed to cultivate laziness. The other day ho was sent the long trip from Melbourne to IVarrnamhool, was started < on all three days of the meeting, was railed back and then sent out for two races in ono day at Caulfield. This seems a fairly busy week for the son of Clanranald. Merrivonia and Lady Kilcheran, in charge of their trainer, J, Ayres, wore railed through to Wanganui yesterday morning. The pair arc not very partial to heavy going, but provided the course is firm they should run well in their engagements. Naumai is being hacked about by his owner, Mr W. Bcvan, at Manakau. The Conqueror gelding is reported in very fair trim, and will probably bo a competitor at tho ’VV’.B.C- winter meeting. St. Bees has been moving along in. an attractive stylo on tho Levin tracks- At tho Trentham meeting he looked to be capable of considerable improvement, and when fully tuned up should prove useful. Tho Trentham trainer, J, Cress, is keeping Lady Volley busy on the local tracks. Tho chestnut is getting through some satisfactory work In view of tho Otaki meeting. F. Higgott. at tho Lower Hutt, is hard at work with, Big' Blast, Undecided, MerryPrank, Aimweli and Emma. Tho Hutt trainer’s team aro all reported to bo in capital trim. Elfbolfc, tho Birkenhead gelding who gave such a meritorious display at tho IVaipukurau Easter meeting, is now a stable-mato of. Toanga at tho Lower Hutt. He gives promise of proving a good investment for his new owner. Egypt is being schooled at Tauherenikau, and so far the Fratemito gelding has done exceedingly well. It appears as though Mr P. Rogers will have a capable jumper to carry his colours. Reports from Grcenmeadows state that Perceler is training on satisfactorily, and is almost sure to fulfil his Otaki engagements-