NOTES BY "ACHILLES."

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11476, 6 February 1905, Page 2

NOTES BY "ACHILLES."

Irish Rifle is doing fairly good work on the local tracks, and his owner, Mr Pat Scally, intends to start the son of Musk- ! efcry — Element in the Jackson Stakes, to be decided at our Cup meeting in March. S St. Lyra is engaged at both the Taranaki and Egmont Meetings. The daughter of St. Leger has not raced for some considerable time, but seems all the better for the spell. Armistice is looking and going very well; and the daughter of Mahaki and Melinita should take a lot of beating in the Taranaki Cup on Wednesday. Shrapnel and St. Lyra will represent Wanganui in the Stewards' Handicap at the Taranaki J.C. Meeting. Strathavon will have to carry Bst 31b in the Taranaki Cup. His original weight was 7st 101 b, but he incurred a 71b penalty by his win in tho Takapuna Cup. Armistice has 7st 121 b, and Madrigal 7.7. Putty 7.0. Pnritutu 7.0, and La Torpedo 6.7.< In all likelihood Toa will be seen on the taring tracks again. The son of Dreadnought and Murawai is quite sound, and there is no reason why h& should not stand another preparation,, aud get back to his beet form. His owner, Mr E. Sutherland,

also has a two-year-old filly by Rangtpnhi (Few — Mystery Girl) out ni' Lady Guard which ho intends io v.ve<? next srason. The friends ol Alick McCormiok were pleased to learn that th& Wanganui 'J.C. Ijad grantpd him a renewal of hiij jockey '.s J,iceusfe. Those who romemb-or any of the many fine displays of horsemanship given by .v'iok in the past will have no doubt as to his ability to quit?, hold his own with any of the presqnt-day knights ol' the pigskin. Sloanitps. or others. "Mac" was always a iino judgo . of paco, and a very i-'trpng . •n'|irshor, 'on many occasions -fairly lilting liis -mount past 'the 'post. Alick has riddoii in and won lypny good races, in-t-hrding tlio -Wangamii cup on Specirlation and the -Flying on tho same hoi-se: tho Itfingitikei Cup, on Spocula,tiou, on. '-Monte Carlo, -on Bayard, and on-Foxton;* the Takapuna • Cup and. Flying on (Prioress, and' many others, -to name which- would take up 100 '11111011 spac-c. Alick anticipates no" trouble in going to scale at gst,.and such an accomplished horseman's 'services should be in strong amongst*owners.

'.Mr John Marshall, owner of San Paulo (St. Paul — Fishfag) is reported to v have won 'about ,£SOO in addition to the stake over his victory in the Ferry Handicap at Takapuna on Saturday week. San Paulo is i a half-brother to* Cannongate, and is also the fiiet of St. Paul's progeny to. score. San Paulo was carrying top weight, Bst lOlbs, and ho won his" race easily "by two lengths. lie Jigures as an acceptor for the .nack ltace at the Taranaki mooting, and should be worth watching with the .handy impost of 7st lllbs, including slbs penalty. George Laing has Valkyrie looking particularly well. The son of Forester and Polly has built up a lot, and George should land a good race or two with his charge- before long; it will not be for the want of car? and attention on the trainer 1 * part, anyhow,- if the handuome brown doea not score some decent wins. George- also has Fireworks' brother, Westward, in hand, and tho son of Sou'-wesler- should bring some grist to hiis owner's mill during the jumping season. "If he turns out anywhere near as good as his brother he will do me," says George. Major Loder, owner of Pretty Polly, lias resolved not to accept the challenge of tho owner of Presto 11. for a match between the pair — at any rate this season.