NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8559, 23 October 1913, Page 11

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By "Finland.’') Most of tho horses engaged at the Wellington spring meeting have now put in an appearance at headquarters, and judging by the acceptances received tlie club is going to have a very successful gathering, the raco for tho Champion Plate is already the sunjeet of much discussion, hmperador, Bronze, Soltauo, Bonny Helen, ana p. couple of others are most talked of. Bonny Helen had not put in an ap: poarace yesterday, hut she will proivably arrive from rordell to-day along with tho other members of Tilley’s team. The first three-named are going along satisfactorily in their work. By the Sydney boat ycsterday_ came the hurdlo horses Beacon and Whakaweira, in charge of Turner. Beacon will bo taken back tjj his owner at Uleuheim on Friday, while Whakaweira is going straight home to Hastings. Tho latter broke down after jumping the first hurdle while contest-, ing tho Hurdle llaco on the opening day of tho recent Ilandwick spring meeting. Prince Eddie also went amiss. Glenmoro, Martou, and Lock Mabin were taken to Melbourne last Saturday. H. Hickey, who took Whakaweira and Beacon across, will return to tho Dominion on Saturday' next. Now Zealanders who stuck to tho Maoriland horses must have had a dis-. astrous time, for out of the contingent which wore taken across only three scored, and it. is stated that several 'of them have returned in search of work. 11. O’Donnell arrived at Trentham yesterday in charge of Messrs Stead Bros.’ horses. The Hon. J. D. Ormond’s team were expected on Tuesday night, but were unable to get, through until last evening. T. Quinlivan arrived with four, vn.. Culprit, Cheddar, Sea Pink, and, th«j tv')-vear-o!d Football. The remainder* o his team, Downham, Tattorles, Ventura, and Co., will ho brought down from Hastings on Satuvdav ana shipped to Lyttelton at the beginning of next weekThere is a likelihood, says a Sydney cable, of Midnight Sun being sent back to Now Zealand. This means that hii, name may not be missing from the' Cup list when the next forfeit falls due on Friday night. Tho Multiform horse I. is reported to have had a bad passage,. in tho Caulfield Cup, and prior to being taken to Melbourne, after the, A.J.O. meeting was considered to ■ have an excellent chance in the Caulfield race. When Hunekaha got rid of R. Percival while schooling on Wednesday morning, it appeared as though the Auckland horseman was badly hurt. The Powerful gelding struck .him‘on tho shoulder which was recently dislocated, and it is thought that tho (imb is again broken. Percival has had his share of bad luck lately. The firm of Messrs Chisholm and Co., of Sydney, have been advised by cable from their London agents, that the 'well-known horse Catmint, ny Spearmint (son of Carbine) from Ret Lily (dam of Bernard, now racing 11 Svdney), by Persimmon— Melody, b; Tynedale from Glee, by Adventure etc., can he secured at a figure wel within tho reach of any of that 'State’s (N.S.W.) . leading etudmasters. Catmint, it will be remembered; von, the last Goodwood Clip. I Peg is looking really well at present, (and appears to have quite recovered from the ailment which laid her aside [prior to the last Great Easter Handicap. and that she retains all her old 'dash was evident by the manner in which she disposed of Ogier in a gallop on Saturday at Riccarton. Rinaldo, which lias been down with an attack of strangles, has been isolated at Grasslea for some time past, but it is pleasing to state that 'the Charlemagne 11. colt is making rapid progress towards recovery, although there is little chance of his being seen under silk in. the New Zealand Derby, Murray Hobbs has an addition to his team 'in the shape of the two-year-old colt Cincinnatus, by Varco— Ploughshare, the property of the Blenheim sportsman, Sir C. de Vero Teschemakcr-Sh'ute. Ploughshare was bred by Sir George Clifford, and is by Treadmill —Golden Vale, by Stonyhurst—Golden Crest, by Apremont, and is a, full-sister to Husbandman. Cincinnatus is a shapely customer, but is not likely to be raced until next season. [On his return from Dunedin recently, Hobbs also brought back the three-year-old bay gelding Crib, .by Sant Ilario—Cryde, a useful-looking sort. King’s Way. which claims an engagement in the Hack and Hunters’ r Steeplechase on the first day at the Wellington spring meeting, has been getting through his schooling tasks at Riccarton In a most satisfactory manner. W. Davis, of Trentham, was only able to dispose of two of his brood mares at the Randwick sales on Monday last. Yosami brought 90 guineas, and Companion 50 guineas, Gigandra was also auctioned the same day, but failed to find a new owner at the re-i serve, 1500 guineas. Thei highest class hurdler (says the Sydney “Spectator”) that has started at Randwick for years past is Wirani ora, who lobbed home on Saturday with 12.4 aboard. At Longlands, Mr W. E. Bidwill’s Culmination has foaled a filly to All Black, and visits him again. Owners from the North Island visiting the New Zealand Cup should seriously consider tho idea of returning from Chrhtehurch to Picton by motorcar, doing tho Marlborough meeting en route. The road is a splendid one, and the scenery is not surpassed in Now Zealand.