NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8265, 30 October 1912, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “The Judge.”)

Mr F. Preston is considering the advisability oi mating his bne niare Equitas with the young staUion Antag onlsb. The latter is a very nicely bred horse, being by Souit from by Beaton Delaval—l'irst Love, Nordenleidt. In bis one start in the Middle Park Plate he gave evidence of the possession of phenomenal pace by running clear away from V ice-AU-miral, Orton and Droxxzo. i-ko progeny of two such fliers ought surely to be able to gallop.

The final payments for the New Zealand Cup fail due this evening, but xt is not anticipated that more than ow* or two will drop out, so that the ueia will be of average proportions and a fine face should result.

A very large number of horses, who were competing at the Trentham meeting, were shipped south by Mararoa and Monowai last night. There is also a big demand for berths on the ferry steamers this week, and it is quite evident the number of -North Island sportsmen going down for the C.J.C. meeting will bo as largo as ever.

Byron’s withdrawal from the New Zealand Cup did not come as a surprise, as on his showing at Mastcrton and Trentham the Martian gelding s chance of annexing the tivo miles event seemed very remote.

Royal Scotch and Broadsword wifi represent the Now Zealand contingent In tho Melbourne Stakes, of XUOO sovs, ono mile and a quarter, at Tiemington on Saturday." However, with Duke Foote and Lady Medallist engaged the Dominion bred pair hardly seem good enough to win this weight-for-age event.

The great spring meeting of the Victoria Racing Club will be commenced on Saturday, when tho principal events to be decided are the Maribyrnong Plato of 1500 sovs, and the V ictona Derby of 3000 sovs. The Melbourne Cup will be run next Tuesday. Quite a number of students of racing do not give Masterpiece a chance in the New Zealand Cup, because he is a Clanranald, and they argue that the Clanranalds do not stay. There is some truth in the contention, but it will not do to quite overlook the fact that on the dam’s side Sir George Clifford’s colt is not lacking in staying blood. His dam Madowla is by Trenton, who was not averse to a long journey, from the imported mare Azalea, whose sire was Galliard, another line stayer. Masterpiece’s second to Los Angelos in the Great Autumn Handicap, and his second to Counterfeit in the St. Leger, both races being run in fast time, seem to discount the statement that the colt cannot stay. The Derby winner was only a length beihind Vice-Admiral in the Canterbury Cup, of two miles and a quarter, so there does not seem any valid reason why, with 15lb less than weight-for-I age, he should not see out the journey in the big event on Saturday. Mira’s showing in the Pearce Handicap at Trentham will not please those who were inclined to give the grey son of Souit a chance in tho New Zealand Cup. Despite an oyer vigorous use of the spurs by his rider Mira finished last but one, and there seems to he not much hope for him on Saturday. Tho Birkenhead filly Imagination is reported to have contracted a bad cold and is hardly likely to bo seen at her boat at Xliccarton, even if she sees the post. It looks as though it was about time that Highdou bid good-bye to the race track, as his chance of winning a race seems a very remote ono. In the steeplechase on Monday the old Merriwee gelding waa nearly a furlong behind the field after going a mile, and McSweeuoy wisely pulled him up. King Torrent, who won the Spring Handicap, the big event of the Core meeting, is a six-year-old bay gelding by Legorton from Lady Torrent. Last season he started eighteen times, but only won on two occasions, although a" number of placed performances went to his credit.

When she gets a bit of experience, Secret Link should win races. The filly ran very green in tho Juvenile Handicap, but appeared to possess more pace than anything in the race. With a stronger horseman on her /back the filly would have won. Sho was bred at Waikanae, being by Bezonian from tho Chainshot mare Chainstitch. Tho race, indeed, was rather a triumph for Mr lan Duncan’s stud, as the three placed hoises were all bred there. Gladful, the full-brother to Formby and Glade, shaped very disappointingly in tho Juvenile Handicap. He was made second favorite,. but quite failed to pace it with the others, finishing absolutely last. The heavy going may have bothered him, but this is not nsual, as most of the Birkenheads prefer it that way. The colt will doubtless improve with time.

The death occurred recently in India of Forrest, winner of the Newmarket Handicap of 1899. At the Poona meeting on September 14th, trainer Byramje© and jockey Brown had a day out,- horses trained by Byramjeo winning all five races for which ho entered, and four of these were ridden by Brown. Tho Belgian sporting paper, the “ Sport-Beige,” mentions that in Belgium last year 1378 races were run at 243 meetings for a total of £155,288 in prize-money. It costs less than onefourth as much to race in Belgium as in England. Tho spring meeting of , the Marlborough Racing Club is to be held on November 20th and 21st, and offers an excellent opportunity for owners and trainers from this island to visit Blenheim. Nominations close with the secretary, Mr L. Griffiths, on Saturday next.