NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10509, 10 February 1920, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Etntonte Cordialo's win (at Hamilton) yesterday was ovordue, ana as the field was weak it did not mean a great deal. There is said to be somo intention of trying Crowhurst over tho fences later on.

Tho well-known trainer, E. J. Rae, is at present on holiday in tho soutih. An effort was made by the executive of the New ZvYiland Jockey's _ Association to get permission for the riders to return to tho paddock after doing their preliminaries at the Takapuna meeting, but it was not successful.

Royal Irish, w;ho won the chief handicap at Hamilton yesterday, met with 6onie interference in the Takapuna Jockev Club Handicap, which evidently escaped tho notice of t<he authorities. He had no chance of winning at the timo (savs a contemporary;, for iris rider fairly bustled him off hxs legs and did not g"ive him a minute's peace at any stago of tho journey, with, the . result that ho was well beaten some distance from. home. Private advico received is to the effect that tho injuries received by R. Conway, when Munscei- fell with ihini at New Plymouth were not so serious as at first thought, and the complete recovery of the Eilerslie horseman is hoped for. Statuette, who brought off a surprise victory in tho Telegraph Handicap- at Treaunam last month, figures among the entrants for the Flying and Farewell Handicaps set down for dacision, at the Wanganui meeting.

Comedy Prince was found to be in a bad way after contesting at the Takapuna meeting Jast week, and at one period grave fears were entertaii-.ed as to his recovery. Dr W. C. Ring -was summoned, and tie highly-bred gelding is now reported to be pretty well hlmse/t again.

For uiauy years during tho lifetime of tho late Mr G. G. Stead, the South Island, and the district of Canterbury in particular, claimed the whole of the family of that name. Some time ai'o Mr Wilfred Stead purchased stations,at Bawke's Bay and Taupo, and now his brother, Mr Gerald Stead, • ihas a-lso ocquiired a property in the north, and intends changing his place of residonco to this isiiand. It is announced *hat Mr Gerald Stead intends Belling off hi» breeding stud and racehorses an training, and that would appear to point to his retirement from racing for a time at least. The Spalpeen gelding, Muuster, opened his career as a jumper promisingly, by running a second and two firsts ju his first three engagements over tho battens; but he subsequently l° sf: caste, and the Okoke Hurdlles Race, run on Thursday last at Taranaki, witnessed tile close <»f lhin career, for Ue was injured to such an extent by the fall that followed a. blunder on his part at ono of the obstacles that at was deemed merciful to requisition the friendly bullet. Munster was owned by Mr R. Mcilliken.

An Auckland opinion of Crow-hurst-. "Crowhurst is evidently not as good as generally anticipated, and his recent defeats must (have cost his connections a nice bit of money. He is supposed to act best when the ating- i» out* of the ground, but in the Anni-; vorsary Handicap on Monday he had 'the track to his liking, and, favoured by the start from Nu. 1 position, had everything in his favour. he did not reign long in the lead, and though his rider was hard at him throughout, he gradually drifted back, and was last to finish."