BY "ACHILLES."

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12785, 2 June 1909, Page 7

BY "ACHILLES."

Seaman, who has been off the track for several months, will be among the competitors at Otaki this week. The Sylvia Park gelding has not long recovered from an attack of influenza, and may not be seen at his best just yet. Perola, who won the Oaks at Epsom on Friday last, comes of the same family as the New Zealand horse Bobrikoff.

Last week an offer was received by cable from Australia for Moloch, who was wanted for jumping purposes on the other side. The Wairarapa owners, however, took too long to consider the position, and it was declared off by the enquirers. J. Maher has a pretty useful team at work at Awapuni at the present time. Included among those in work is King's Prize, by the Possible — Dazzle, and therefore half-brother to California, Prospector, and Arclight. After showing very attractive form at the late Hawke's Bay meeting, several offers were received for the big son ot The Possible, buy he waa not for sale.

The Tasmanian jockey, Dunn, who last spring toured New Zealand, received a bad fait in the Final Handicap at the Elswick meeting, Tasmania, recently, and was cut about the head. The accident was caused through foul riding, and the offenders were sent up for twelve months. According to "The Barb," in . the Hawke's Bay Herald, Nogi was so ba«Uy injured! in the Wanganui Steeplechase that it is doubtful whether he will be seen out again this season. Very rarely, if ever, has the first steeplechase of the season crippled so many horses as this year's contest at Wanganui. They could ill be spared. At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey .Club the committee was- recommended, in framing the programme for the Grand National meeting next year, to increase the distance of the Grand National Steeplechase from three miles and a half to four miles, and of the Grand National Hurdle Race from two miles to two miles and a. half.

The Phaeton gelding, Phaetontis, winner of the big cross-country event atßiccarton two years ago, who was taken over to Australia, subsequently, where he went amiss soon after his arrival, has been in work again some time. The Victorian handicappers, however, are taking care of him, for be was top-weight at Bendigo recently with 12.5. Another ex-New Zealander, Up-to-Date, was next on the list with 11.12.

Says an Australian scribe re a one-time well-known performer on the New Zealand turf, a cast-off of Mr E. J. Watt : — "Starehoot (Hotchkies— Crescent), one of the starters in the Maiden Hurdles at Moonee Valley recently, is trained by D. Price, at Aspendale. Though a nine-year-old, the gelding is classy looking. There was a nose-band attached, low down, to his bridle, so it may be taken for granted Starshoot is one that requires some keeping in check."