NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9115, 6 August 1915, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS

C. Emerson, who has been. visiting Australia, has arrived back in New Zealand, and is riding work at Eiccarcon. According to southern exchanges a large amount of interest is being taken in the training work at Riccarton. Each morning there are a considerable number of spectators on the tracks, despite the severe frosts that have been in evidence each morning. Haskayne has not been given any solid work on the track up to the present, but is reported to bo in great fettle, and difficulty is experienced in confining him to slow, useful work.

Mr James Gleeson, part owner of Colonel Soult. has enlisted for service at the front, and leaves New Zealand almost immediately.

Golden Grape, iwho contested the Otaio Hurdle Handicap with 9st at the South Canterbury meeting, is among the light weights for the Grand National Steeplechase, but there is little to recommend the horse for the event. An Auckland exchange states that Multiply will not be a starter for the Winter Cup. word having been received in the northern city to that effect. B. Deeloy was to have had the mount on him, and is now open for engagement in the event, and it goes without saying that his services will bo eagerly inquired for. Nicomar is stated to be settling down to work on the track at Riccarton, and is making a- good impression.

Glonroy is advancing in favour for the Winter Cup. In a mile spin recently he put up good time, and was helped over the last part of the journey by Crown Poarl, both horses pulling up looking very well. Sir Donald, since he ran at the Manawatu autumn meeting, has not been seen on the track. On that occasion he met with an injury, from the effects of which he is stated to have made a complete recovery. In the Grand National Hurdles he has a handicap of 10.11, and will make the pace fairly worm if, he goes to the post fit and well. In the Karere Hurdles at Awnpuni he had a handicap of 11.13, and in the run home the result of the race was hardly in doubt. The San Fran—Waihaka gelding, after his win at Rahiatua, is advancing in favour for the Grand National Hurdles, in which, he has a low weight. At the Manawatu Racing Club’s autumn meeting Sam Ran had a handicap of 10.9 in a hurdle race over a distance of one mile and three-quarters, and finished well in the rear. With an extra mile to cover, the light weight he has in the Grand National Hurdles will stand him in good stead, and should the going ho a little* on-the soft side his chances of success in the event cannot be entirely despised. Evidently ho is coming back to the form he showed a couple of seasons ago.

Banksla has not been spoken of to any extent for the Winter Cup, but he is steadily coming into favour for the event, due. no doubt, to the gallops he is showing when at work on the track. Recently he left a mile behind in good style without much effort in Imin 44sec.

Word comes from Christchurch that Sandy Paul gave a creditable display over big fences, his jumping abilities being much admired. Tikoranga was out with him, but. showed a decided disinclination to negotiate the jumps, which robbed Sandy Paul of efforts to a large extent. With 10.2 in the Grand National Steeplechase he should be well in the' running at the finish of the event. At the Auckland winter meeting he carried top weight in a maiden steeplechase and did passingly well by finishing in second place behind Ngatoa, and in front of the favourite, General Webb. The gallops over big coun-

try that ho had last season will have done him a lot of good, and lately he has been running prominently. In the Groat. Northern Steeplechase he was in evidence for a considerable part of the journey, and in the Winter Steeplechase at the same meeting he went out third favourite and finished in third position.