NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8258, 22 October 1912, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “Tho Judge.”)

Duke Footo is a very prime fancy for the Melbourne Cup. In this connection it is of interest to note that the only horse to win the Metropolitan Handicap and Melbourne Cup in one year was 'Jim Whiffler in 1867. The Barb won the Melbourne Cup in 18C6 and the Metropolitan in 1868. Lady Volga and Hamurama have reached Trentham from Opaki, and M. King has the pair in good condition to tackle their engagements at the W.R.C. meeting on Saturday. J. H. Prosser will have a big team in action at Trentham, included in the list .being the three two-year-olds Hoopae (Achilles —Bulbul), Dithyramb (Achilles —Strathspey), and the tilly by Charlemagne ll.—Stcpka.

The tracks at Trentham were rather soft last week as the result of the rain. If wo have a spoil of fine weather this week they should ho in perfect order for the W.R.C. meeting, which opens on Saturday. __ Four of Mr Whitney’s team, viz., Naumai, Mt. Victoria, Aema,and Turna have reached headquarters. The Karamu team of ton are duo to arrive from Hawke’s Bay this evening. Mr G. D. Greenwood will not be represented in the Wellesley Stakes, his pair, Cherubini and Historiette, having .been allowed to drop out. Tho Champion Plate, to be run at the W.R.C. meetiongj carries with it what is probably tho finest trophy ever given for a race in the Dominion. It has been on view at Messrs Stewart Dawson and Co.’s, and many have been the expressions of praise of this truly magnificent cup.

■The spring meeting of the Poverty Bay Turf Club will take place on 'Thursday and Friday. As quite a number of horses from both Auckland and Napier are to run it seems probable that the fields will bo larger than usual.

At the recent A.J.C. meeting tho attendances on each day were very large. The figures were as follow: First day, 43,000; second day, 50,000; third day, 20,000; fourth day, 30,000. Total, 143,000. It is not surprising to learn that the club is considering the possibility of increasing the accommodation in the enclosures.

Owing to the good deeds of Duke Foote, and in a minor degree Sunlike, Mr “J. Baron” won £6237 in stakes at the A.J.C. meeting. It looks as though his cheque at the finish of the V.R.C. meeting will not be a small one.

Duke Foote, who is apparently to be the hors© of tho year in Australia, although in his fourth season, has only started seventeen times. As a two-ycar-old he ran twice unsuccessfully, as a three-year-old he won a maiden, while in the following year his solitary win was in tho Williamstown ‘Cup. This season he has won four races and run a dead-heat. His winnings amount to £BOSB 10s.

Trafalgar, who it would seem has bidden farewell to the turf, has started in fifty-nine races for 24 wins,, 11 seconds, and 6 thirds. Ho has accounted for £22,111 in prize-money, which puts him second on the list of great Australian winners, Carbine being on top with £29,476.

After referring to the fact of Bellhouse coming ?>ver from France to England to ride Tracery, who won the St. Reger at Doncaster last month, tho London writer “ Vigilant” remarks that, so far as English talent is concerned, it is, to say the least, humiliating to reflect that »of the season's classic races the Two Thousand Guineas winner, Sweeper 11., was ridden by an American, that of the One Thousand Guineas (Tagalio) by a New Zealander (L. Hewitt), that of tho Derby (Tagalie) by J. Reiff, from Franco, and that of the Oaks (Mirska) by J. Childs, from France.

The Middle Park Plate, which yesterday’s cable told us was won by Mr C. B. Ism ay’s bay colt Craganour (Desmond—Veneration), was founded in 1866. Some great names appear among tho list of winners, such, for instance, as Pero Gomez, Prince Charlie, Petrarch, Melton, Minting, Donovan, Orrae, Isinglass, Ladas, St. ■ Frusquin, Gal too More, Pretty Polly, and Bayardo. The latest winner, Craganour, must be a good one, as ho defeated Shogun, who was generally looked upon as the best two-ycar-old colt in England.

Ireland’s champion colt this season is Sloipner, a son of His Majesty (Melton—Silver Sea). He is said to' be one of tho best seen out for a long time past!

Warlingham, who is said to have won a fortune for Mr R. Sievier last week, was successful in tho Harrington Plate, run at Derby just prior to tho last mail leaving Home.

The Champion Breeders’ Plat© of 1000 sovs, run at Derby (England) last month, was won by Aldegond, a handsome colt by Eager, out of the St, Simon mare St. Aldegonde. The colt, who won with ridiculous ease from a good field, is engaged in next year’s Derby and St. Leger.

Some very high prices were given at the ‘Doncaster yearling sales, no less than eight topping tho 3000 guineas mark. The following were the highestpriced youngsters: Eilly by William the Third—Game Chick, 3800gns (F. Lynham); filly by St. Frusquin—Lady Linton, 3500gns (Lord Mickleham); colt by Desmond —Little Eva, 3400gns (F. Lynham); colt by St. Frusquin—Hackler’s Pride, 3900gns (B. Fitzgerald); oolt by Desmond—Aitesse, 3200gns (Sir E. Cassel); filly by Your Majesty—Simplify, 340Ogns (Captain Herbert); filly by Desmond—Veneration, SOOOgns (G. Lambton). A filly by Carbine’s son, Spearmint from Starling, realised 1350gns. It was the most successful sale ever held.