NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8612, 24 December 1913, Page 14

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “Finland.”)

A telegraphic message yesterday from Auckland brought nows of tho death of that brilliant colt Soltano. A post-mortem examination revealed that death was due to a greatly enlarged spleen. As a two-year-old he did not show Up until fairly well on in tho season, and the first raco to fall to his credit was the Pioneer Handicap on tho concluding day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Metropolitan meeting. In his next four starts ho only sutfered defeat on one occasion, when Salzburg (which was in receipt of 311 b) beat him in tho Nursery Handicap at Wellington. Hia other successes as a two-year-old included the Great Northern Foal Stakes, Eighteenth Royal Stakes, Sapling Stakes (Napier Park), and the Great Northern Champagne Stakes. When recommissioned he showed such promise of developing into a highclass three-yeax-old, that Mr Lowry was encouraged to send tho son of Soult to Australia to compete againot tho three-year-olds there, and although ho was beaten in the Derby Mr Lowry must have been more than pleased at having taken on such a trip, for Soltano in his first outing in tho Commonwealth capttured the Spring Stakes at Rosehill, and had such a good one behind him as Gigaudra. His next attempt was in tho Derby, but he ran disappointingly, and Beragoon, Radnor, Diva’s Isle, and Andelosda finished in front of him. Re, however, turned the tables on the three last-named when he met them in the Glibborn Stakes, one mile and a furlong. Soltano was not started again at the meeting, but was brought back to New Zealand and raced in the Champion Plate at the Wellington spring meeting. In this event his defeat probably came about through his trainer being too easy on him after his Randwick exertions. He made amends, however, when he was sent to Auckland last month for the Great Northern Guineas, extending over a mile course. True, the opposition, with tho exception of Sir Mioseley, were not a very brilliant lot, but by tho way the eon of Monoquil downed the field it stamped him as a colt of more than ordinary merit. It is most unfortunate .for Mr Lowry to lose tho, services of such a good one, morel especially as he had just recently been compelled to pension his old champion Bobrikoff off. Soltano, which was engaged in the Auckland Railway Handicap, to bo decided on Friday, was a hob favourite for that event, and had been coupled with almost every horse in the Auckland Cup. Mountain Knight, which ran third in the Nursery Handicap at Sydney on Saturday, is by Mountain King— La Voille, and was purchased by Mr E. J. Watt as a yearling for 200gns. Visitors to Awapuni on Friday, says a Palmerston writer, will notice many improvements since last meeting, the club having laid out about £3060. A goodly number of carpenters and painters are hard at work on tho stewards’ stand, the extensive additions to which will, if the weather continues fine, ho in readiness for the opening day's iraoing. The jockeys’ room is now on the ground floor, measuring 48ft by 24ft, and attached to same are two shower baths with locker and lavatory accommodation. The old jockeys room will be mado use of as a weighing-room, whilst tho old weigh-ing-room formerly in use is turned into offices. The second storey is faced with a balcony measuring 16ft by 30ft, and a narrow balcony will run round the northern end and the hack of the building. On the second floor is a stewards’ room and a visitors’ room, each 22ft by 18ft, a members’ room 26ft by 22ft, and a press room 22ft by 12ft. Trainers and jockeys have a special balcony on a mezzanine floor immediately below tho press gallery. Tho roof is flat, and forms a third floor, measuring 52ft by 14ft. All the fences, grandstands, and other build-

ings have received fresh coats of paint. The new structure commands an excellent'view of the racing track, and altogether it is a decided ornament to the already picturesque grounds. A Sydney message says that Hammond, part owner of Marton, has lodged an appeal against his disqualification. Jan, which recently had one of his front fetlocks fired, has again been taken in hand by Trainer Hogan, and now forms one of tho active brigade. His trainer is very hopeful that he will stand another preparation. Tho New Zealand-bred Gold Seal 11., by Gold Reef from Seal Brown, by Ascot from Last Chance, by Tho Painter, won tho Blackberry Selling Handicap Steeplechase, two miles, in which he carried 12.3, at the Lingfield (England) November meeting. Ho started second favourite. During tho season 1912 Gold Seal 11. won half a dozen races in England, worth in tho aggregate £302 10s. Coup d’Or, a three-year-old halfsister by John o’ Giaunt to Tho Tetrarch, has proved herself tho best of her age in Russia. First Principle, which acted as run-ner-up to Popinjay in tho Villiers Stakes at the Australian Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday, is out of Field Rose by Hotchkiss—Rose of Wellington, by St. Leger—Fleuretto. Field Rose is, therefore, a full sister to Royal Artillery. Twelve months ago, at MaisonsLaffitte, a. three-year-old, Flush Royal, belonging to a lady owner (Mrs Green), was being exercised with tho string of Campbell, a public trainer. Hiawatha, tho property of M. Pfizer, was also in the rides, and (says the Paris correspondent of the “Sportsman”), getting away, galloped into Flush Royal, who received such extensive injuries that ho had to bo destroyed. Mrs Green sued M. Pfizer for the value of the horso (£1200) under the Master and Servants Act, arguing that the owner of Hiawatha was liable for tho damage caused through his servant. Both Flush Royal and Hiawatha were in the hands of public trainers, and on the first hearing a verdict waa given in favour of tho plaintiff against 3M. Pfizer. On appeal, the court laid it down that a man who made training a profession could not be considered as the servant lof any particular owner, and was alone for any damage caused by horses under his care. Dustin’s, Ltd., the well-known caterers of Palmerston and Wanganui, have been appointed caterers at the Manawatu and Marton races. Patrons are thus assured of tho best. *