AUCKLAND NOTES.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7213, 26 November 1888, Page 3

AUCKLAND NOTES.

[FBOM ODR CORRESPONDENT.] AUCKLAND, November Iβ. For the Auckland Cup, Son of a Gan and Manton have been picked out as the best goods. Both horses have been supported for a few small amounts at 6 to 1, but there is not likely to be much speculation on the race till it is definitely known what " foreign " horses will put in an appearance. Of the local horses, Lady Norah ie particularly well handicapped, and Hilda stands out as leniently treated. Nelson has plenty of friends, and if the Cup hero of the past three years stripe anything like himself he will get no end of support. Iα the steeplechase Mangahone must be hard to beat with 123t impost, but a horse that Mr E vett has been unduly lenient with is Echo, who won the Wellington Steeplechase of 1887, defeating Maugabone by a short head. In the same season Echo won several other races, and at the big Hawke's Bay meeting sot second to Uranus in the Maiden Steeplechase, afterwards winning the Consolation. Following are the prices on offer for The Auckland Cup—s to 1 agst Manton, 7 to 1 Son of a Gun and Hilda, and 8 to 1 Nelson and Lochiel. For the double (Cup and Steeplechase), 100 to 6 can be had on the field, but altogether there is very little money to be obtained even at these prices. November 19. Mr Evett's handicaps for the Auckland Cup and Steeplechase have been favourably criticised by turfites. Nelson could not hare expected less than 9st 121b, but it remains to be seen whether he stands his preparation; if he does he must be hard to beat. Among the top weights I like the chances of Lochiel (Bst 101b) and Manton (S-it 71b), and further down the list British Lion, with 7st 7lbs, strikes mc as having a show. Lady Norah is particularly well treated with 7st 61b, and if Hope can only bring her fit to the post she must have a great chance. With 7st 41b Clogs is handicappped up to her best form, but Son-of-a-Gun reads well with 7st 41b. Hilda, 7at 31b, is well treated on her A. R C. Spring Handicap running, and will beat more than beat her : and below Hilda I like nothing but St. Clair. When we consider the great amount of rubbish Mr Evett had to endeavour to bring together the Handicap cannot be voted a bad one, but it is not altogether free from mistakes, Cuirassier, Hotchkiss, and Jet d'Eau not meriting the weights put opposite their names. At present the best chances are Son-of-a-Gun, Manton, Lochiel, and Hilda. In the Steeplechase I fancy Mangabaone (12st) and Echo 9st 101b.

The second day's racing at the A.R.C. Meeting on Saturday wa? remarkable for the form shown by Hilda, the full sister to Artillery. She won the Spring Handicap, seven furlongs, and City Handicap, one and a quarter miles, In a very easy fashion, being untouched by whip or spur. In the latter race Hilda was fully six lcnfrths behind the leaders half a mile from home, and everyone thought she would never get up, as the horse.s kept going away from her every time she made her effort. However, she gradually threaded her way through the field, anil disposed of the lot except Antelope. The latter was first to land in the straight, but onco their heads were fairly turned for home Hilda dashed past Antelope, and coining on full of running won in the easiest manner possible by a couple of lengths, the same distance separating Antelope and Tartar, Leorina finishing fourth, Lioness fifth and Clogs sixth. Hilda's victories have been the menns of her being fancied for the Auckland Cup and I think if she strips all right she will run a great race. La Dauphine, who appropriated the Nursery Handicap, Is a neat, well made filly, but she is on the small side; she only got home a head from The Beau a full brother to victoria, who was made a " pot," and he is an inmate of the same stable as Cissy. The latter stands a head aud shoulders above the juveniles who ran at the Meeting, as was fully proved by the running in the Nursery Handicap. The horses trained by George Wright were in great form on the two days of the meeting. He prepared Hilda, Cissy, Puschka and The Bean. Lorraine was scratched to-day for all engagements at the A.R.C. Summer Meeting, some few days back I thought we would have a decent field strip for the Great Northern Derby, but now that Carbine has been sold and there is no probability of ChainShot being brought up, it would seem that the cheque might just as well be written out for Mr Butler, as if Manton Is fit and well I don't think wo have anything here to beat him except Hilda. Libeller, who ran second for the Duncdin Cup,'and who will be remembered throughout the colony by all turfites, is dead. Mr Bobbett only sold him for stud purposes to Mr N. P. Dickey, of Paeroa (Thames Goldfields) a fortnight ago. The last race Libeller ran was at Henderson's Mill on March 17th, 18S7. Major George had a "breeze" with Mr Pcrcival on the night of the first day's racing of the A.R.C. Spring Meeting. The handicaps for the second day's racing were announced in the book programme to make their appearance at 0 o'clock at night, but they wore delayed till a very late hour. Major George, who had been waiting about in the street some time, became impatient at the delay, and hammering at the door of the A.R.C. office, which was closed, demanded to know the why and the wherefore. He was informed by Mr Percival that they would be made known as soon as possible, whereon Major George angrily retorted that it was quite evident the handicaps were being made by a Committee of the Club; ho would have nothing to do with the second day's racing, and authorised the scratching of his horses. It may be mentioned that the Telegraph Office wan only open one hour on the night of the Prince of Wales' Birthday, and considering this fact, and that Mr Evett was not present at the racing, the Club had no other alternative than to get a Committee to do the work. Major George was conspicuous by his absence on the second day, which, to say the least, seems a pity. '