NOTES AND COMMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20103, 23 March 1928, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By

“Kestrel”)

There will be racing at Wingatui today and to-morrow, when the Oamaru Jockey Club will hold their meeting at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s course. The Bay of Plenty and Westport meetings will also be held to-morrow. at Easter General entries for the C.J.C. Easter meeting, forfeits for the Challenge Stakes and Champagne Stakes ami first acceptances lor the Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps close at 8 o'clock to-night. Mastertoil Acceptances Acceptances lor the Masterton meeting are due at 9 o’clock to-night. Record-Breaking In a discussion on the time record at Trentham, Duo was mentioncrl* as the record holder for one mile and three-quarters. This is not correct, for Commendation put up new figures in the St. Legcr last year. As records arc a prolific cause of argument, it is as well to put this right and also to point out that the official list on the last Turf Register is by no means up tu date. To revert to the mile and threequarters record, the credit still remains that of Trentham, for Duo lost to Commendation and both fast times were put up on the local course. Like both tne records of Star Stranger, ComincriiJjation's was recorder! on the electric clock.

The EnJ Of Lord Star The loss of Loid Star just when the jumping season is approaching is a stroKc of oad luck for the Waikato owner-trainer R. Hannon. In the steeplechase at Paeroa on Saturday Lord Star was making his first appearance over country and he was made & good favouyite. It was stated that prior to the meeting the Lord Multifid gelding had, not shaped at all well in a schooling task over the brush fences. Ju the rs.ee he did not last long and the first fence saw him come to griei. W. Rennie, his rider, escaped injury, but not so Lord Star, who broke a leg and a few minutes later he was destroyed.

Promising Hurdler King Amans, winner af the first handle handicap’ at Paeroa, is a fine type of jumper trained by G. Reid at Te Aroha. His party was quite prepared for the victory and benefited by the remunerative figure returned. The St. Amans gelding trailed the leader, I itaitihiki, to the home turn, where Eagar gave him the loose rein and the issue was quickly placed beyond doubt. King Amans ran another good race on Monday, when he was beaten into second place by Lady Spalpeen.

Easy at tire Finish Schorr, who did not strip on the opening day at Paeroa, tvas backed as if the Hikutaia Handicap was all over. He was in a good position early but crossing the top was behind at least three runners and backers had an anxious look. When they straightened up Green shot the favourite through to win by two lengths from. Pict, who was second choice on the machine. Weak “Classic” Field There appears to be the usual weak field engaged in the Great Northern Oaks at Ellerslie on Easter Saturday. Wild Pigeon. Ti Tree, Damaris and Doree are the only fillies with any pretensions to class. Four of the dozen left in arc still maidens and a couple have won only one race. The Great Northern Oaks is at almost, any time an easy race to win and going on past results stamina is not a vital factor. Steeplechase Successes After being off the scene for some months Prince Rufus was having his first race in the McGuire Memorial Steeplechase at Paeroa on Saturday last, in which event he finished second to Glcnotus. The race evidently did him little harm, for hc-had no difficulty in turning the tables on Glcnotus in t’he Hauraki Plains Steeplechase on the second day at the same fixture. Prince Rufus has only to train on as he is now doing to win further successes over steeplechase courses before the present season is ended. Ready for Ellerslie When he finished second to Macroom in the St. Patrick’s Handicap on Saturday last at Paeroa, Awarerc was having his first race since he scored in the Railway Handicap at the Auckland Fummcr meeting. The To Awamutu-trained gelding was saddled up in the Paeroa Handdcap on the second day of the Ohinemuri t ctSng and just managed to defeat FlyJig Juliet by a narrow margin. These two races should serve to improve Awarerc who promises to bo in great fettle to tackle his engagements at. the Auckland meeting at Easter time.