OUR AUCKLAND SPORTING LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1971, 14 November 1889, Page 24

OUR AUCKLAND SPORTING LETTER.

(From Oub Owff Cobrespondent.) Auckland, November 12. The Auckland Spring meeting on Saturday and Monday last passed off most satisfactorily, and it is worthy of note that throughout the whole Jtwo days there was apparently not a single "bad 'un" on the scene. Though the attendance on the first day was not up to anticipations, that on the second was all that could' be desired, and- as the totalisator receipts show a substantialrncrease on those of last year the committee have no cau.e to regret their action in throwing the gates open to the public. The racing throughout was of a capital description, and in most instances the favourite won. The Wel : come Stakes introduced us to the first of Nordenfeldt's progeny, and his daughter Mary (who is a half sister to Trenton) scored an easy victory over Miss Cole (by King Cole-Tenambra>. The crowd opposed to her, however, were a- very inferior lot, and are certainly much below those of the previous year. The Auokland Guineas only drew . out a field of four— Oorunna (by Musket -Nelly Moore), I.och Ness (by Ingomar— Albatross). Quadrant (by Robinson Crusoe— Radiance), and Cissy (by Musket —Frailty) Corunna looked bright and well in his coat, but James Kean was none too hopeful of the son of Mu»kefß ability to down Cissy, who was in great heart. George Wright was most sanguine of Cissy's chance, and the result tbe raco proved tlwrt ha had every reason, to oe bo. After Cissy had disposed of Loch Ness, who made the pace very merry ! for the first five furlongs, Oorunna made a move up ; but half way down the straight he showed an un- | mistalcable desire to cut it, and finishing very ' unkindly, Cissy won by a clear length. Kean states that Corunna was short of work, but I muit say he I ran like a cur at the finish. The Prince of Wales I Stakes fell an easy prey to Baglan, who carried 7.13 home in front of Leopold (8.7) and five others ; and on the second day the son of Cap-a-pie showed what a wonderful improvement has beea wrought in him by carrying 9.0 to victory in the

City Handicap, beating his opponents in rare good style. In the Hurdle Race we were treated to a great set-to between Orangeman (12.7) and Seaweed (9.7). The light weight was the first over the last hurdle by half a length, but Rae sat down on the top weight in a most determined manner and in the last stride snatched the race out of- the fire by a short head. On coming back to the paddock Hae met with a great ovation, which was again repeated when he subsequently got home first on Guy Fawkes in the Steeplechase. The Maiden PUte was won by Mr Bobbett's three-year-old Quadrant in racehorse fashion, and I am firmly convinced that the young gentleman is a very speedy customer. He is unfortunately afflicted with some kind of skin disease, which has cause l his trainer no end of trouble. He is a son of Robinson Crusoe and Radiance, nnd appears to be a very genuine customer. During the two days £8802 was passed through the machines, which is an inorease of £1149 on the amount put through at the same meeting last year. If Auckland is unrepresented at tbe Dunedin Exhibition meeting it will certainly not be on account of the treatment our horses have received in the various handicaps from Mr Dowse, for it is on all hands admitted they have one and all been treated most considerately. I heard to-day that Teksum is to be taken down by Friday's boat, but so far I have been unable to ascertain the intentions of the Btablo presided over by James Kean. Auokland as a rule has been very lucky in the stability of its betting ring, but a case of defaulting came to light last week. A young spark who worked in a little bookrnaking with speculating in scrip went a raker on Tirailleur for the New Zealand Cup, and a« it came off against him he departed without settling. An amusing incident in connection with the case, which goes to show what a cool customer the defaulter is, cropped up when the result of the race came to hand. Smothering his feeling? in the most complete manner, and congratulating the person who had struck him for a hundred, the latter, overjoyed with his good luck, asked the company to adjourn to the Imperial Hotel, where some half-dozeu bottles of " fiz" were cracked, the defaulter pouring down the sparkling beverage presumably in the happiest manner possible. I need scarcely say that the backer intends for the future to " boozo up " after tho settling day. The Auckland Racing Club must b3 accounted very fortunate in securing so competent a man as Mr Gebrge Cutts to wield the flag at EHenlie. In the President's Handicap the veteran showed (he boys that he would stand no nonsense, and he fined them all round, which had the effect of putting them on their best behaviour for the rest of the meeting. Mr A. Jackson ("Hippona"), sporting contributor to the Auckland Star, leaves next week for the purpose of attending tho Dunedin meeting. Mr J. Marshall, chairman of the Auckland Tattersail's Club, has written to Mr D. S. Wallace, asking him fora portrait of Carbine, in order that it may be hung in tho Auckland I'attersaU's Club. At Sylvia Park Radiance (dam of Quilt) has produced a filly to Nordenfeldt, and at Mr Alison's farm Friendship a colt to Brigadier.