RACING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3823, 21 June 1927, Page 56

RACING.

FIXTURES. June 22—Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club meeting. June 24, 25—Hawke's Bay meeting. j u ]y 2—Ashburton County meeting. July 12, 14, IG—Wellington meeting. July 21—Waimate District Hunt Club meeting. , t July 23—South Canterbury Hunt Club meeting. July 28 , 30 —Gisborne meeting. July 30 —Christchurch Hunt Club meeting.

TALK OF THE DAY. By Sentinel. A GOOD IDEA ENLARGED. f’he Taranaki Jockey dub has a.remit to come before the Racing Conference which is sure to meet with a good deal of support, and will, no doubt, be converted into racing law. The proposed rule reads as follows:—“On the hearing ot an appeal under part xxxiii, any club or person interested in the decision appealed from shall be entitled to be represented by a barrister or solicitor of the Supreme Court of-New Zealand.” The object of the proposed rule is obvious. It would at one and. the same time protect the interests of racing of any club or person whom the Rules of Racing called upon for interrogation. The proposed rule could be well extended so as to give any person ordered to appear before the stewards the right to select any person deemed qualified to watch proceedings on his behalf. Under existing conditions a rider (possibly still under the excitement of riding a strenuous race), a trainer, or owner - is hailed before - tne full strength of a judicial committee as well as the stipendiary steward, and subjected 'to examination and cross-questioning by the chairman 'and possibly by every official in the room. In other yrords, a rider may be on his trial, and he is confronted with

several gentlemen acting in unison, while the person “ on the carpet ” is entirely unsupported. There is no suggestion that a judicial committee is not solely .desirous of acting in the interest of "the sport—according to their particular views—but the fact remains that some inquiries seem to be conducted in a lop-sided manner, and apparently illogical decisions are put on record. In fact, tnere is one of recent occurrence. In common law an accused person and his legal adviser are in attendance throughout the proceedings. In racing law the accused rider may be cross-questioned and then ordered out of the room, and the case, which may have a very important effect on his character and career, discussed in his absence, and without any person to represent him and watch proceedings on his behalf. Trying persons under such circumstances is repugnant to the spirit of fair play, and if a leading club in the Dominion has arrived at the conclusion that a person or club should have the right to be legally represented at an appeal there is good ground for claiming that the representation should be allowed at the opening of a case and right through to the end, and not only, at its conclusion.

A GREAT COLT,

It is rather interesting to read a record statement by L. H. Hewitt that Noctuiforni was one of the very best horses he ever rode. Hewitt in his best day was a very capable and successful rider, and is now doing very well as a trainer in India. He stamped his name in. the N.Z. Turf Register as a frequent winner of many of the most important races on the calendar, and he also rode with success in England and on the Continent —principally in Germany, where he was riding when the Great War broke out. As a two-year-old Noetuiform started in only two. races, and his form conveyed little guide to his great merit, which had still to be developed. He made a one-horse race of the A.J.C. Derby, in which he cleared right away from the rest of the field. Noctuiform was brought back to his native land, and after winning the N.Z. Cup, Derby, and Canterbury Cup was sold to go to England. It was the colt’s success in the N.Z. Cup which stamped him as being really high_£lass, as the race has never in all its history—certainly not during the past 25 years—been won under greater difficulties. When doing his preliminary the colt was “ on his toes,” and on the way to the post Hewitt asked the late Mr G. G. Stead’s permission to allow him to let Noctuiform run along in front of the field until h.e settled down, instead of acting under instructions to keep in third or fourth place until reaching the straight. Mr Stead refused to alter his instructions,, and in turning out of the straight Noctuiform was suddenly sent back from about third place to a badly boxed position on the rails in the middle of a fairly large field. There he stuck, because there was no possibility of getting out until an opening occurred after passing tlie five-furlong post. Noctuiform then appeared to be hopelessly in the ruck, but he got clear’ before reaching the half-mile post, and, coming along on the outside of the straight, he raced up and finally won, galloping away and full of running from Paritutu, who finished second, and who looked like a winner until the colt “ dropped from the clouds” and scored in particularly brilliant style. Noctuiform was credited with running tire last half mile in 48, and as he covered a fairly large amount of ground, it was a most remarkable flash of brilliancy to show at the end of a two-mile journey. When Hewitt came back to New Zealand he brought with him the most remarkable scrap-book the writer has ever seen. It was a very bulky tome depicting various incidents in the career of the owner, and some very clever sketches supplied by friends in various parts of the world, particularly in France and Germany. Tire writer was lucky enough to be able to present Hewitt with three or four snapshots taken during the running of Noctuiform’s Cup, and they not only made an interesting addition to the collection, but also supplied the fact that the colt had won under very difficult conditions, which would have completely settled the chance of even a more than ordinarily good horse. Strange to say, Noctuiform never showed anything a mile of his real form when raced in England. It is understood that he never recovered from an attack of Newmarket fever, and finally ended his career by breaking one of his legs whilst running in a hurdle race. Thus ended one of the greatest representatives of the Musket line, which is once more a power in the land.

THE SCEPTIC CYCLE

It is sometimes surprising how events run in cycles, and tfiis seems to be the case with the importation of Grosvenor to Australia. A good many years ago Robert 8. Sievier came to Australia, and was the first to introduce ready money betting in that part of the world. He was a bold and plucky better, and soon established a large clientele, which he retained until he returned to England. As a result of his marrying a lady of title, he was presented at Court, but the presentation was . afterwards annulled, presumably on the grounds that he had been a bookmaker. About this time he started a sporting paper called The Winning Post, and it soon made its presence felt in the world, but not altogether from a racing point of view, as it pilloried many prominent politicians and public men, and generally endeavoured to create a stir. Sievier had to face severe libel ’actions, and at one time was “warned off,” the particulars of which he relates in the book of that title. Sievier achieved worldwide notice by paying the then record price of 10,000gns for Sceptre as a yearling. Sceptre became what her admirers claimed to be the greatest mare that has ever trod the British turf, and her performances prove that it is not an idle boast. She won the One Thousand Guineas, the Two Thousand Guineas, Oaks,

St. Leger, St. James’s Palace Stakes, and other races, when trained part of the time by her amateur owner. Her defeat in the Derby was attributed to that fact. She won 38,225450 vs in stakes, and could have been sold at one time for 40,000 gns, but Mr Sievier refused to .part with his great mare. The fluctuations of fortune, however, were subsequently responsible for her sale to Sir William Barrat at 25,000gn5. She returned her owner 50,65050 vs for the 10,000gns she cost as a yearling. Sceptre’s- success did not end with her turf career, as she produced five winners, but none of them anywhere near her own class. Her daughter, Maid of the Mist, did much better, and produced Sunny Jane, who won the Oaks, and Craig an Eran, who won the Two Thousand Guineas and 15,24550 vs in stakes. Maid of the Mist also produced Hamoaze, who in turn threw Buchan and Saltash. Buchan is proving a good sire in England, where he has been getting a full book at 400gns, whilst Saltash’s first crop of yearlings made good prices at the Sydney yearling sales held at Easter. It is rather interesting to note that Sceptre’s only son, Grosvenor, will go to the stud next season in Australia—the land where Sievier first came into notice—and that a grandson of Rosenor has just joined Mr G. A. Kain’s stud at Balclutha. So here we have a cycle of which go to show what a small place the world is, after all.

AN INTERESTING LIST.

The latest issue of the Australasian to hand publishes the following interesting list of horses foaled in Great Britain that won important races in Australia. They include Panic (Champion Stakes), Comedy Kin<; (Melbourne Cup and Futurity Stakes), Backwood (Melbourne Cup), Sir Foote (Futurity Stakes, Newmarket Handicap, and Doncaster Handicap), Playaway (Futurity Stakes and Newmarket Handicap), Polycrates (Newmarket Handicap), Almissa (Australian Cup, Moonee Valley Cup, and Williamstown Cup), Harriet Graham (Australian Cup), Defence (Australian Cup), Polygamist (Australian Hurdle Race), Lavendo, Shepherd King, King Offa, Lucknow, Violoncello (Caulfield Cup), Antonio Eudorus, Flash of Steel, Lucknow, Top Gallant (Futurity Stakes), St. Ambrose, Sea Prince (Williamstown Cup), Rebus, Clam (Epsom Handicap), Rebus, Quinologist (Metropolitan), Rebus, lan Or (Sydney Cup), Eye Glass, St. Spasa, Green Cap, Elsdon, Sir Marco (Adelaide Cup), Dollar Dictator (Perth Cup). New Zealand-bred horses to win important races in Australia are Matchlock, Carbine (Champagne Stakes), Martini Henry, Carbine, Sasanof (Melbourne Cup), Martini Henry, isordenfeldt, Carnage (Victoria Derby). Tiraillerie (Oaks), Soultline (Newmarket Handicap), Los Gatos, The Monk (Ascotvale Stakes), Lurline, Havoc, Cherubini (Australian Cup), Martini Henry (V.R.C. St. Leger), Poetaster (V.R.C. Sires’ jrroduce Stakes), Maranui (Caulfield Cup), Father’s Voice, The Hawk, Soultline, Gladsome (Futurity Stakes), Celerity, Wha.kawatea, Bcresina (Oakleigh Plate), Ellis (Williamstown Cup), Ballymena.- Cupidon, Kilboy, Noctuiform, Bob Ray, Bonnie Scotland, Nordenfeldt (A.J.C. Derby), Los Gatos, The Monk (A.J.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes), Maniapoto, Sir Modred (Metropolitan), Limerick, Finmark, Matchlock (A.J.C. St. Leger), Broadsword (Doncaster Handicap,) Nincompoop, Boniform, Almoner (Breeders’ Plate), Chignon, Armlet, Respect, Vclight (Gimcrack Stakes), Bob Ray (Champagne Stakes). Chrysostom (A.J.C. Hurdle Race), Te Kara (Brisbane Cup), Midnight Sun (Adelaide Cup). Patriotism compels one to augment our list of winners as lar as possible, both by trusting to memory and to facts supplied by available records. The first notable omission in the above interesting list is supplied by Calumny, who won the Newmarket Handicap in 1875, when her stablemate Lurline won the Australian Cup, run at the same meeting. Both mares were bred in New Zealand by Mr S. Nosworthy. Another notable omission is that of Nelson, who paid two visits to Australia. He won the A.J.C. Autumn Stakes, one mile and a-half, w.f.a., beating Alalua, Tempe, > Sheet Anchor, Prince Imperial, and others, and also won the Place Handicap. He ran second to Matchlock in the A.J.C. Plate, three miles, and third in the Cumberland Stakes. In Victoria he won the Essendon Stakes and All-Aged Stakes, and ran Trident to a short head when giving him 141 b in-the Australian Cup. 'ln the Australian Cup It. Brown, the _ rider of Nelson, lost his whip or the winning margin might have been in the New Zealander’s favour. One of the best horses ever sent across to race in Australia was Maxim, who raced in Victoria in the autumn as a two-year-old and then came back to win the Derby and Canterbury Cup. Maxim also won the Middie Park Plate and Champagne Stakes. He was sold to go to America at 4'OOOgns, a big price in the ’Bo’s. Mata, who won two Dunedin Cups, got into bad odour and a disqualification wherf he raced at Flemington, but the puishment did not extend

to South Australia, and he was subsequently taken to Adelaide, and won threo important races in one day, a most remarkable feat. Mata was brought back to New Zealand, and ended his days as a racer amongst selling platers. Medallion was another notable winner in Australia, where he won a Maiden Plate, run over a mile end a-quarter, as a two-year-old, and then came home to win the New Zealand Derby and Great Northern Derby. The New Zealand horse Russley is omitted from the list. He won the Doncaster Handicap, llussley was got in England, but foaled in Canterbury. Necklet (Maribyrong Plate), Strathmore (Caulfield Guineas), Hova, Gladstone, and Solution (Melbourne Stakes), Strathmore (V.R.C. Derby), Culloden (V.R.C. St. Leger), and Celerity II (Oakleigh Plate). Le Loup (V.R.C. Handicap). Machine Gun was another notable winner in Australia. If, however, one cannot resist the temptation to add to the list, a little subtraction must also be made, as Bobby Ray, who is credited as a New Zea-land-bred horse, was really an Australian. OVERLOOKING DANGER.

The Australian critics are apparentlypolishing their field glasses and pointing their pencils in anticipation of some great racing next spring' with the Australian cracks Pantheon and Co. against Limerick and Commendation in the principal weight-for-age contests. Strange to say, they seem to overlook Royal Feast, despite the fact that he has proved himself a really good colt. Royal Feast is a tremendously big two-year-old, and although he displayed first-class winning form in his first season, it is very doubtful indeed if he will reach his full strength and prowess for some months to come. King Feast may not grow anymore, but a 17-hand frame cannot furnish to complete strength during a first season on the turf. If King Feast in the natural course of events becomes a greater horse as a three-year-old than he was as a two-year-old lie should have Pantheon and Co., as well as Limerick and Commendation, at his mercy over any distance. It requires a super-horse to beat a really high-class three-year-old at weight-for-age, and all the history of racing goes to establish the fact, and this becomes very much accentuated when there is distance to be covered. A remarkably brilliant horse trained wholly and solely for sprint racing may beat a good three-year-old for speed, but after that the facts of history are all very much in favour of the young horse. It is doubtful if there was a horse (four years or older) ever foaled in Australia who could beat such three-year-olds as Aurum, Artilleryman, or Noctuiform at weight-for-age, particularly when they had to travel beyond a mile and a-quarter. Royal Feast may not need to be quite in .the same class as the illustrious trio named above to prove himself superior to any of the older brigade likely to sport silk in Australia next season. IN A NUTSHELL. Beacon Light has again been placed in commission. The Greyspear horse Rapier has rejoined H. Nurse’s stable. There is a possibility of Rascal being sold to go to West Australia. Lava has been sent to. the Elderslie stud, and will visit Tea Tray. The Auckland Racing Club paid £17,609 19s in taxation over the winter meeting. The Paper Money—lsabel youngster in F. Tilley’s stable has been named Cashier.

Handicaps for the Ashburton meeting are due on June 23, and acceptances on June 27.

The next volume of the N.Z. Stud Book is to be issued about the end of the present month. The nominations for the Ashburton meeting are almost entirely drawn from Riccarton stables.

In the Wellington Steeplechase a horse cannot be handicauped or penalised to carry more than 12.7.

The walk-up start continues to grow in favour in Victoria, and creates advocates for its restoration on other tracks. Limond, the sire of Limerick and Commendation, stood at an 18gns fee when at the service of breeders in England. There seems to be plenty of class horses about when the Takapuna Plate, of COOsovs, attracted 114 nominations. The nominations for the Canterbury Jockey - Club’s classic events show an increase of 63 over the number received last year. When weight-carrying is under discussion, remember that Redleap won the Caulfield Grand National Steeplechase under 13.12.

Black Cruiser is regarded as likely to show improved form when next seen in public. Some think that his best business would be done over fences. ,

T. Green has been making a slow recovery from his accident, and may not be seen in the saddle again until the Wellington winter meeting. Those behind Comical still think they have a possible winner over big country, as the Merry Moment gelding continues to be nominated to race over fences. It is reported that Commendation has been getting through good useful exercise, and will be sent over to Australia in August. Tametarangi, who beat several morefancied articles in the Ladies’ Bracelet run at Napier, was got by Cynic, a winner of the Great Northern Hurdles.

Duke of Buckingham, whom the cable reports as the winner of the Ascot Stakes of 1700 sovs., two miles, was got by Buchan, a grandson of the famous Sceptre. There have been so many different opinions expressed about the merits of Limerick and Commendation that it will be interesting to note how they are handicapped for their engagements in Australia. G. Ridgway, who recently joined A. Goodman’s stable at Trentham, has been engaged by Captain Gage Williams for Mr Eric Riddiford’s team, and Ridgway has joined Coalition Lodge. Training operations at Trentham have latterly been confined to the sand track,

which, when in use, at least has the merit of preventing the grass gallops from being chopped up.

Licensing Committee appointed by the Racing Conference has suggested a new rule which will extend the period of apprenticeship from three to four years.

Inner seemed to win rather well at Napier, as he had a big margin in his at the finish. He is trained by ?•. Waddell, and was got by Absurd from Birkelot, by Birkenhead.

Arataura, who beat Peneus in the Hack Hurdles run at Napier, is an aged gelding by All Black from Mrs Wiggs, by Merriwee—Tatters, by Quilt—Spearfeldt, by Nordenfeldt.

The nominations received for the Auckland Racing Club’s classic events have shown a general increase during recent years. The figures read as follows:—l924, 1128; 1925, 1101; 1926, 1285; 1927, 1476. The Paper Money gelding Money Peer has done well since he was last seen in public, and has filled out in a very pleasing style. Money Peer should be found developing into a more than useful three-year-old next season.

A. E. Ellis, who has for some years been first horseman to Mr L. C. Hazlett’s stable, has left for the North Island, with the object of riding at the Napier Park and Hawke’s Bay meetings, which supply four days’ racing. -—\ The suggestion made at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club to the effect that each card be reduced to seven races seems to have expired at its birth, as the Grand National programme provides for the usual eight races per day. The imported horse Rosenor will be at the services of breeders during the coming season at the modest fe.e of 20 guineas. He should soon have a full book, but it is Rosenor’s individuality and breeding that should attract patronage and not the small fee asked for his services. Black Duke and Tione are again in work. The former had to be thrown out of training through coming in contact with a wheelbarrow left near the Wingatui scraping sheds. Tione has been fired and treated to a lengthy spell since last seen in public.

Nominations for the Grand National Steeplechase of 1600sovs (including a cup valued at lOOsovs), Winter Cup or 750sovs, Beaufort Steeples of 500sovs, Grand National Hurdles of 1200sovs, Sydenham Hurdles of 500sovs, and Lincoln Steeples of 500sovs are due on Friday, July 1. The following amendment to the Rules of Racing will be amongst the subjects discussed by the Racing Conference:— “ Any licensed jockey who owns or has an interest in a horse shall be disqualified, or any person having an interest in. a horse with a licensed jockey and the trainer of any such horse shall be liable to be disqualified by the stewards or committee or by the district committee.”

Crown Coin has fulfilled general expectation by developing into a winner over country. He scored last week in the Napier Steeples, and with his pace and staying power further success should come his way. Crown Coin was got by the Martagon horse Crown Imperial II from Rouble, by Captain Webb—Lady Florin, by Musket—Florin, by Tradurer —Rupee, by Dollar.

Biribi, who is considered the best horse in France, was got by Rabelais, a son of St. Simon, who has been a very successful sire. Another very good horse in France is Olibrius, a grandson of William the Third, one of the best stayers left by St. Simon. Take Aly Tip, who beat Biribi in the Grand Prix de Paris, is inbred to St. Simon through Rabelais, St. Frusquin, and St. Serf, whilst Carbine’s son, Fowling Piece, is the sire of his granddam. One of the young English mares recently imported by Mr Vivian Riddiford, and now at Trentham, is Graciosa (Gay Crusader —Alistrella). At the reeent Epsom meeting in England the Oaks was won by Beam (Galloper Light —Alistrella), thus half-sister to Graciosa, whose value as a result is greatly enhanced. Prior to leaving England, Graciosa was served to New Zealand time by Trespasser, and is safely in foal.

The brood mares Lady Isinglass and Purple Lilac have beefl shipped to Melbourne on a visit to Top Gallant. Lady Isinglass is a sister to Rational, and was got by Absurd from Cowl, by King Rufus from Our Lady, by Simmer—Lady Agnes, by Neckersgat. Purple Lilac was got by Alartian from Persian Lilac, by Persimmon —White Lilac, by Springfield. Both mares are in foal to Royal Divorce. Top Gallant is a son of Swynford, and is standing at a 200gns fee. _

An important sale of bloodstock will be held during the Wellington Racing Club’s winter meeting, when several attractivelybred youngstere by Valais, Great Star, Comedy King, The Verderer, Chrysolaus, Polymestor, Sarchedon, Violoncello, Biplane, Pershore, and Polygnotus will go under the hammer for unreserved sale. Alessrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. have received instructions from Air J. Donald to sell his eleven imported yearlings without reserve, and the stock can now be inspected at Trentham.

A “ punter ” writes to a Sydney paper thus: “At a small race meeting in Western Queensland I backed, after indifferent luck throughout the day, a hot favourite that led into the straight by ten lengths. Turning round, I saw the bookie who had made the wager making for the gates to the railwav station. Aly cobber and I gave chase, and after a littlo manhandling succeeded in collecting. We then returned to the course to find that our horse had stopped dead, and was beaten into third place.”

Up to the present a horse was not automatically disqualified for a race if it had been wrongfully entered according to Part VII, which deals with Leases and partnerships. If a district committee considered that a mistake had not been wilfully made, a monetary penalty could meet the case. Now, however, the matter is to be treated far more seriously, as a proposed rule reads:—Any horse in respect of which a breach o£ this rule occurs shall be disqualified for the race even though the breach be certiffod to by the District Com* mittee as not wilfuL

8. G. Ware returned from Auckland in the early part of last week with T'uki, and was congratulated on all sides on his success at Ellerslie. Ware states that iTuki got unsighted at one of the fences in the Great Northern Steeplechase, and galloped clean through it. The Queen Abbey gelding bears signs of the impact, which left scars above both knees. Some pointed reference was made in the north to Tuki’s alleged reversal of form, but apparently some of the critics did not see the mishap which occurred in the principal event at Ellerslie. It is always interesting to look through the list of nominations for classic events to be decided in the future and note the breeding and also the nomenclature, which is sometimes rather’ happy, at others merely an utter lack of originality. One of the youngsters engaged is a filly by Paper Money from Epitaph. She filled the eye as one of the most desirable yearlings at the Wellington Cup sales. If she is not an early winner if required there is nothing in shape or breeding. Her

pedigree impels the writer to suggest that Post Obit would be suitable for a daughter pf Paper Money and Epitaph. The King John gelding Magna Charta created a good impression when lie appeared at Riccarton. He is a big horse and fairly forward in condition for possible engagements at the Grand National meeting. The aptlj'-named gelding has won twice this season. He won the Queen Plate, run over a mile at the Auckland Cup meeting, and also scored in the Woodville Cup. Magna Charta was got by King John from Landrail, the dam of Chimera and Landbird. Landrail is a daughter of Grafton and Langrel, by Projectile—Gold Dust, by Niagara—Goldlike, by Trenton — Aureola, by Angler—Chrysolite, by Stockwell. Magna Charta is closely related to Sylvanite, who won the Victoria Dorby and A.J.C. Derby. The Ashburton County Racing Club is applying for four single dates for next

geason, instead of two meetings extending over two days. Apparently the club is satisfied with the experiment of racing on s'ingle-day meetings, but there is another aspect of the question to be considered. When the club held two-day nreetings there was generally an appreciable amount of patronage from this end, but this has been entirely lost since the adoption of the one-day programme. From a business point of view it must be obvious that an owmer or trainer cannot afford to incur expenses running over three or four days in order to participate in one day’s racing. Another objection to spreading four days’ racing into four separate meetings held by the same club consists in the fact that it breaks into four different weeks in a congested racing calendar. Conservatism in England is, at least from a racing point of view, tottering on its throne. The latest London Field to hand shows a picture of Kinnaird, the

winner of the Great Metropolitan Stakes and the Great Sandown Hurdle Race, in. the same week. Kinnaird sports a long tail flowing well below’ his hocks, and the writer cannot call to mind a winner in England who did not show the orthodox banged tail, squared off wed above the point of the hock. Steeplechasers in England were the first to race with a minimum of hirsute adornment on their caudal appendage, and so. in a wiy, led the fashion adopted by present-day feminine disciples of Samson. Racing in England Iras long been reduced to a fineart, and the extra few ounces on a horse’s tail may be worked out to mean a fewinches difference in the Grand National course.

When priced recently lOOOgns was asked for the Tractor filly Dismantle, who ranks as a rising four-year-old sister to Overhaul, who changed hands at the above figure during the Dunedin winter meeting. Dismantle has won three times during, the season just closing out of eight starts, and then she met with a slight mishap which necessitated a spell. Dismantle won the President’s Handicap, run at the Otago Hunt meeting, and her next win came in the Soldiers’ Memorial Handicap, run at Winton. Her third success was scored in the St. Andrew’s Handicap, of 400sovs, run over a mile. She was got by Tractor from Take Down, by Downshire from Decoy, by Medallion Siren, by St. George—Watersprite, by Iradueer. and so traces back to the very successful Mermaid taproot, the source of numerous high-class performers. It will be seen that Dismantle, who is a -stylish-looking filly, is bred on attractive lines, and at the end of her racing career should make good at the stud. “ At the moment our prospects of checking Limerick’s weight-for-age march do not look particularly bright. Should Pantheon and Rampion fail to come back, the forces opposed to the invader from the Dominion will be considerably weakened unless another weight-for-age star arises. In that connection thoughts naturally turn to Amounis, who accounted so readily forLimerick, Windbag,- Valicare, and Co. over 10 furlongs a few weeks ago. So far Amounis has not scored beyond that distance,” says a Melbourne writer, “ but it may not be safe to put him down as a nonstayer on that account. His trainer, Frank M'Gnath, may think it worth while to fully develop the gelding’s stamina, and, if this is done, we should find Amounis capable of taking care of. himself over most distances next season. Meanwhile we can only hope for the best. Our New Zealand visitors always will receive a sportsman’s welcome, but we will feel more comfortable if we can find an opponent worthy of putting anrainst Limerick before the spring.” A Christchurch snorting writer went the ■rounds of Riccarton trainers and jockeys asking their opinions of the respective merits of Limerick and Commendation. As only to be expected, he obtained some very conflicting ideas. J. Beale, who rode Commendation when L. G. Morris was laid aside in th? spring with appendicitis, is very staunch in his nomination for Mr Gaisford’s gelding. He says: “I rode Commendation in the Great Northern Guineas, in which race he ran a dead-heat with the brilliant Lysander. Sinoe that time Lysander has gone to pieces, but Commendation has come through with flying Colours. No doubt Limerick is a great performer, but, in my opinion. Commendation is an out-and-out champion. Should they meet at Randwick in the spring, I think that Commendation will easily hold toff Limerick. He is such a free goer that his unusual brilliancy will always be a

factor towards success. Commend me to Commendation.” Beale is slightly off the track. It was the Avondale Guineas in which he rode Commendation. The Great Northern Guineas fell to Lysander, Commendation being at Riccarton, where, by the way. he did not exactly' come through “with flying colours,” losing the Stead Gold Cup to Rapine. The veteran trainer, R. J. Mason, expressed the sound opinion that might be expected of him. He said: “ There is no doubt that both geldings are high-class performers, but I think Limerick will defeat Commendation over any distance from a mile upwards. I saw Commendation at Auckland at Christmas time, but of ourse ' met little opposition there, and until I'see him opposed to. good horses, my opinion is that Limerick is the better three-year-old. However, they are both (rood horses, and it is a difficult question to decide which is the greater till they both meet fit and well.”