NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8365, 27 February 1913, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Mr M. Evans, who won the Dunedin Cup in 1910 with Oiyoi, and who was well, known in Southland some years, ago as a trainer and horseman, is leaving for Ireland on March 6th. Mr Evans intends to see some racing in England, but will probably settle down in Erin’s Isle for good. Mendip, who has been troubled in the wind of late, has been sent to his ■ owner’s farm. The St. Raul gelding will: probably be operated on tor the said trouble in the near future. Sister Radius, who won the Flying Handicap at the Dunedin meeting on Saturday, made,a big impression when she won in hack company on the same course at the summer meeting, and since then she has been credited with sprinting ability far above the average. She failed to run up to expectations in her earlier engagements last week, and there was nothing impressive about her performance on Saturday, as she was handicapped very leniently. She had, however, been suffering from shin soreness for some time prior to the meeting, so that she may yet prove herself a good deal better than her latest form would suggest. Cider's latest win (the St. George Stakes) brings his record up to sis wins, three seconds, and two thirds, • the total prize-money credited him being slightly over £9400. That he will join the ranks of Australia’s fivefigures winners is now fairly certain. According to all accounts, Cider did not commence well in the Stakes, and was later very freely used by W. Barnett. But then Cider is a hard puller, and his rider may have deemed it wiser to let Mm sail than attempt to fight with him. Barnett will be on him in the St. Leger, and that jockey shines on a free goer. Of the horses behind Cider and Wolawa in the St. George Stakes, Almtssa and Piastre did best. Almissa’s showing made a very favourable impression, and. as MdLachlan was on Mm, presumably he will also ride him in the ‘Australian Cup. In the “ Sportsman” reference is ’ made to the fact that the three oldest sires advertised for stud duty in England this year are Sheen, Noble CMeftain, and ' Carbine, each twenty-eight years. However, that reckoning is to English time, for, as Carbine was not foaled until after the commencement of August, 1885, he is still some months short of twenty-eight. Among famous English sires, it may be mentioned that Matchem was thirty-three years old when he died, Henflit twenty-nine, St. Simon twenty-seven, . Minting twenty-six, and Galopin twenty-seven. As questions concerning the ages of leading stallions in Australia often ' come to hand, especially in reference to Positano and Wallace, a writer in the “ Referee” states that each of the two is twenty years old, though Positano, consequent on being foaled to English time, is actually a few months younger than Wallace. As Malster is only fifteen years, ho should be good for many more years of Stud usefulness; while the Carbine horse, Pistol, who has done so well in South Austro-, lia, is just fourteen. Bobadil is seVen- ’ teen, and imported Flavus eighteen, while other ages are as follow ; United States, (sire of Uncle Sam), fourteen; St. Alwyne, thirteen; Grafton, nineteen ; Prudent King, eleven; Orzil, eighteen; , Fortunatus, fifteen; Sir Tristram, sixteen; Merv, twenty; Ruenalf, twenty-three; Hant Brion, twenty-three; Ibex, fourteen; Earlston, nine; qnd True Blue, twenty. Burri, who won the Oakleigh Plate, was a cheap yearling, costing Mr A. W. WMtney only 70 guineas, and it is stated that the black colt’s relationsMp to Gaby on the maternal side influenced his owner in purchasing Min. Burri, who was bred by Messrs H. - and L. Bourne, is by imported Mimer (Mimic —-Flowerdale) from Black Bess, by Hindoo from Mab (dam of Gaby), by Sweet William from Queen Mab, by Goldsbrough. Early in his two-year-old career ho showed marked galloping ability, and in the trial spins which took place at Rand wick prior to the Breeders’ Plate and Guneraok Stakes of 1911 ran away with one division in fast time, though Ms perform- ' auca was generally discounted because of the fact of a very light boy being in the saddle. He did not win at the age mentioned, Ms .best performance being to run a close second with 8.6 to RatMea (8.12) in a five-furlongs race at Randwick. _ Early this season he woh the RoseMU Guineas. Mr S. Tapp, of Blenheim, acting under instructions from Mr J. Colvin, M.P., journeyed Up to Mr Donald Fraser’s station at Parewanui last week and picked out a likely-looking three-year-old mare by Advance from Seagull,- and later on she will join Tapp’s team at Riverlands. The mare is to take the place of Merchantman, who was burnt to death by a stable fire at Reefton at Christmas time. It is rumoured that Mr J. F. Buchanan is going to sell out his team of horses in training and confine his attentions to Ms stud farm at Kinloch. If Mr Bnchonan has any such intentions it is to be hoped that his successes at Dunedin will encourage him to alter his decision, for we can ill afford to lose such a fine sportsman, there being already too few horseowners who maintain such establishments as “ Gladsome Lqdge.” J. B. Reid has placed a couple of two-year-old fillies, one by Charlemagne ll.—Savannah and the other by Bezqnian—Pedometer, in M. Hobbs’s hands. Both are beautiful fillies, and compare favourably with Mr Reid’s other well-known two-year-olds.

Canterbury horses put up a great .record at the autumn meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club last week. They were credited with six wins on the first day and a like number on the second, while the third day produced four more,, or a total of sixteen events out of Wonty-four on the programme, in addition to which a race was won by ftlie West Coast horse Wajkehua, who has been quartered at Riocarton for : some time. Eleven Canterbury own- 1 ers had a share in the winning honours. Bulletin showed attractive form in tiio Henley Handicap at Wingatui on Thursday. As a result bo was greatly fancied for the Warrington Handicap ■on Saturday, .but he was left at the .post. He made a favourable impression when ho commenced racing, four years ago, and in his first season lie won three races out of four starts. His form in the following season was disappointing, and he has been off the, scene altogether for more than two years. It is evident, however, that he is now a useful sort, and he may not be long before he wins a good race. He is by Pilgrim’s Progress—Gossip, and is thus a half-brother to Bobriioff.

A bit of news has recently, leaked out in respect to Cruciform’s great rival. Wakeful, for whom it seems on English Sportsman offered 6000 guineas. The ,'mare’s owner (Mr McDonald) would have accepted this had there been no contingencies, but as the offer was made subject to the mare passing a Veterinary examination on arrival in England, it was refused. The price ■mentioned is the biggest ever offered lor a mare bred in Australia, the next 'largest sum being 4500 guifieas that was paid for Golden Slipper at the dispersal sale of the late G. G. Stead’s [horses in August, 1908. There is a probability of Manitau, who was purchased by Mr W. Cooper l from Mr A. F. Douglas at Christmas time, joining a Palmerston stable. Mr F. Hall, the owner of Bleriot, Mira, and Obligant, has purchased Montiform. Sea Pink, who baa been resting since Mr E. J. Watt bought Mm at Auckland in the early part of the year, nas been put into commission again by T. 'Qninlivan. Captain Jingle is still enjoying a holi-. day on Te Mahanga station. When the. [tracks have lost the sting so apparent: t in them at present, it is Hennah’s intention to bring in the ’chaser and get him ready for battle. Football, a rising two-year-son of Float’s, by All Black, and a colt of the same age by All Black—La Notte, have been put into work by T. Quinlivan. The latter oolt is a half-brother to Nightfall, NootMfonn, Midnight Sun, and Moonbria. * The Trentham owner-trainer, W. Davies, who contemplates a trip to Australia With SoMte shortly, has placed several of bis brood mares under offer to a Victorian breeder. The imported horse Fortafix (Rock Sand—Full Cry), who has done all his racing in West is to be sent to Sydney for the Easter sales. Nominations for minor events, forfeits for G.N. Champagne' Stakes and G.N. Oaks, to be run at the Auckland Racing Club’s autumn meeting, are due with the secretary, Mr J. F. ShortLand, by 9 o’clock to-morrow evening. Fees (1 sov in each instance) must acoompasy nomination or declaration of forfeit. ■