NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9093, 12 July 1915, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Fagot, who did so well at Gisborne, is not by any means a fast horse on the flat, but he scores when negotiating the fences. He is a fine stamp of a'cross-country horse, and flies the obstacles in great style. In his events at Gisborne he was caught between the jumps, but in the take-off and landing ho gained ground at every fence. This is how he beat The Mouse and Golden Glow, both of whom showed better pace on the flat, but when it came to jumping Fagot was over the obstacle and well on the way to the next when the rest of the field were struggling with the jump. Fagot has a great dislike to being placed in a loose box. and a shed is placed in a paddock for his convenience on this account. He is to go south, and will have Potentiality as a travelling companion. In his engagements at the Grand National meeting he will bo ridden by G. Marchant. It is almost certain that Chortle will not be taken to Riccarton for the Grand National meeting, but that Multiply will make the journey and represent the stable. It is understood that B. Deeley has been engaged to ride him in the Winter Cup. The Gishorne-owned Multifid gelding Raupani is stated to be in fine form at present, and is .already advancing in favour for the Winter Cup at the Christchurch meeting. He is a hard horse to handle in a race, and is as likely to tako charge as not if he is not kept in check by an experienced hand. B. Deeley rode his at Gisborne, but even this experienced horseman found a difficulty in keeping his mount in the position ho desired m the race. RaUpam is anxious to get on with hn> task from the fall of the flag, and it he is not steadied he is apt to race himself out before the straight is reached. This is what practically happened in the Farewell Handicap at the Gisborne meetiner. and after leading all the way was “snuffed-out”- on the post by Birklino,

Mr J. H. Tomkins has been reappointed starter to the Oamaru Trotting Club, and Mr F. C. Thomas has been appointed handicapper.

A private cable naa been received in Christchurch stating that Mr G. Stead’s horse, The Pole, had won another jumping' race in Melbourne on Wednesday last. It is understood that the race referred to was the Kensington Steeplechase run on the second day of the V.R.C. Steeplechase meeting.

Daylight Bill is reported to he standing up to his schooling work pleasingly and recently negotiated several obstacles without the slightest trouble. During the week it is intended to give him harder tasks, when he will be sent over country in company with several companions.

Sid Reid has been engaged to ride Raupani in the Winter Cup at the Grand National meeting at Riccarton next month.

The form showed by Carhuretta on the track and his display in a race are very different. On the track he will put up a gallop that will gladden the heart of the moat exacting trainer, but when ho is asked to gallop in a race he is most unreliable, and may throw up the sponge at any moment. On the track he has shown that he has quality enough to win a New Zealand Gup, and it is quite likely that he will spring a great surprise when least expected.

Mr F. Hall has some promising yearlings at “The Willows,” and the stamp and quality of their breeding is bound to. make its mark on the turf later on.

It is twelve years since light harness racing was last seen at Timaru, and there was a good attendance of the public to witness its resuscitation last week. There was some interesting racing, and the large number of sports who made the journey to the Washdyke had no cause to find fault with the quality of the racing or the management.

A scribe says that the big event— Timaru Handicap—was a well-contested race. Sungod, the winner, started off at a great pace, and with half the distance covered the favourite. Moneymaker, appeared to have an excellent chance of success, as did several of the sixteen starters. The leader stalled off the opposition, however, and won witn a reserve. Sungod is by Harold Rilkes —My Mistake, and gives promise ot doing much better later on when he has acquired a little more age and racing experience. Thrax and Glenowf, who are being schooled over hurdise, are shaping well. Glenowl showed better jumping ability than Thrax, who clouted several of the fences, but made good recoveries on each occasion.