AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2173, 17 October 1895, Page 31

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taiiioa.

October 14. The Spring meeting of the Avondalo Jockey Club was marrcrl by an nnfottunale fatality iv the two-year-old race, the Nur.-ery Handicap, four furlongs, Cuirass, one of Cuirassier's gets, being killed in a peculiarly distressing manner, while his jockey, whose firafc mount it \v:is sinca his return from Australia with the St. Hippo party, had his light leg broken, besides sustaining injuries to his heid. The accident happened thuswice. Unlike most i\*c9 tracks, thai at Avondalc has nothing but flags from the mouth of the straight to within l%ds of the winning post; thence to the judging box there is the usual inner rail. In tha run from the opening of the straight Cuirass had the inside ninning, but when he approached the projecting rail, whero the fence commenced, tbere were two horse 3 just in front of him trying to gain the inside running. Gallagher drew the whip on Cuirass te> shako him up so that he should get to the railing first, but the horss swerved under the whalebone and crashed into the po.-t with fearful impetus, Gallagher being hurled high into the air, while Cuirars slithered along. some 25yds with his off stifle torn away and a huge rent in his quarters large enough to pink a racing saddle in. Strangely enough, when the horse collided with the post his head and shoulder completely escaped, the jo:key's right leg being the first to be struck, and then the horse's quarter, which was torn away in a horrible fa-liiun. The force of the blow luckily threw Gallagher into the air, so that his leg escaped the main collision, but he is so badly injured as to make it a very questionable matter whether he will ever again ride. The doctors fear that he will have a stiff leg for life. No time was lost In ending Cuirass's sufferings and sending Gallagher to tho hospital. To-flight ho ifi better than was expected as regards his nead, but it will be some time before the doctors will know the full extent ,of the injury to his leg. It is broken above the knee, but whether ths kneecap is crushed beyond recovery is not known. Cuirass, who was undoubtedly winning at the time of the mi3hap'was out of Dolosa by Cuirassier, and Duder Brothers, who bred and owned him, were of opinion that they had a eecond Cuirassier in him. At any rate they had refused an offer of lOOOgs for him. When Cuirass was smashed up, the St. L°ger— Tamora colt named Ne3tor gained the race, showing great promise, the Madcap filly Poranginotae and the Brigadier filly Brigantine filling the places. The half-milo was covered in Kfeeo.

Tho event for ponies was won by The Clowb mare Kip, who beat a strong field of eight, and paid £4 17s, running the six furlongs easily in. Irniu 333ec. Tho principal raco-tho Avondalo 1 Cup, of S^ovs, one mile and a-quartsr— was reckoned a good thing for the Tasman— flazel filly Hazoliu^re, who has hitherto been in tho pony class, but she mot mo.c than her mistress in the Liouel mare Anuabello, owned by Dudof Brothers( of the Bteeplechaser BombadiorJ. Although they had secured Gallagher's services tat rider they did not support the mare for a single penny, hearing that she was not quits re;dy yet. She won very easily. The Kiug Cole mare Ida, who finished second in Pegasus s Auckland Cup, led for six fuilorjgs, and was then headed by tha favourite, Hazelmere, who showed the way into the straight, accompanied by the Nkw Zealand Cnp candidate Deadahot ; but when Gallagher let A'tiiabello out she won with oiae in 2min 17scot Hazel me. c second, a length away ; and then Mtß« Nelson. Dividend, £6 13*. Another Nelson liorjo, First Nelson, was engaged in this .race, but he weufc out unbacked, and made no show in the race. We may sea him in the Prince of Wales and City Handicaps run at tho Auckland Second Spring meeting, at which he will be very dangerous. On Deadshot'b form in general this season, and this nice in particular, his New Zealand Cup chance is hopeless, but ro far his owner maintains his intention of contesting tho big Riccarton handicap. Such a decision stamps him as plucky, but not very discreet. Public opinion pointed to Pansy proving sue* cessful in the two miles' Hurdle Race, which, event was an end-to-cad victory for her. Up to Saturday List f-he had never got to the end of two mile?, which might account for the hnndicnpper's lenient tratment of her, but an impost of 10.8 was a Muader, nothing having a chauce with her. Levanter waa tho only horse that could get within a decent distance of her in the run home, but Pttn«y had no diincult.y in passing the Hue a length and a-half ahead of him ; Bombndier third. Time, 4min s}aec. Dividend, £2 12s. The Nordenfeldt gelding Markinch was a warm favourite for the seveii-f urlong Maiden Plate, and Florrie'a brother, King^man, was supposed to h:vve a big pay, but he stood on his head after going a couple of fu longs, while Markinch never showed up until half a furlong from home, when he made a splash and took third place. The winner turned up in the St. Lcger four-year-old Lord Dunluco, who has nl>va>s beuu a good track horse, but a dos when the colmrs are up. The rank outsider Sundown nnlohed second, a length and a-half nwiiy. Time, iniin 37sec. Dividend. £A da. Iv this ruca maclniie tickets weio 10s, and £1 in all the o'her events. Fishmonger was well supported for the Stecplechaso, but Tin Governor mare Cingalee Htartcd first favourite, and being ridden by her jockey desperately 1 d from stait to finihh. Cingalee'a pilot started out with the intention of trusting to the mare's quick jumping powerd to bring her opponents down, and he succeoded, live of the eight stirters coming croppers. Fishmonger fell at the third last fence, but evon then came in a respectable third. Given a stand ud he would have beaten tho winner, who tired badly at tha finish, while seasoned old Fishmonger had got his second wind just before hia fall, and was rapidly overtaking her. St Hippo has not beon giving satisfaction ia his work since my last wire, and as he ia again doubtful in Mr leg, whilo his pilot Gallagher is ia the hospital, Mr Nathan has rftcided not to maktt tho trip with him. Further. uore I ucdii'tfcind that he is to ba scratched for our Prince of Wales Handicap, the weights for which were declar.d to-night. To my mind the beat three animals in it are St. Clements, Folly, and First Nelson. Tho firsts named will nob, after all, attend the Christohurch meeting, but the Malua raaiv, Lady Marion, loft for Rieo.arton to-day attended by her owner, Mr S. Laurie, »ttd DnfY the jockey. Levanter has Ufc aho, to attend the Wanganui meting. A rumour was current in town to-night that Impulse has broken down at Chr stchurch, but I can t say if it hai any foundation. All I know is that lust week a piivate telegram received stated that Impulse had a good passage Eouth, and arrived at Riccarton in splendid condition. The Brigadier four-year-old Grenadier, whose track displays have boon marred by bad temper, is to be grided this week. It v iniuouied lociHy that the New Zealand Cup candidate Skirmisher has shown signs of an unsoundne^B. I underst md that the price paid for Royal Rosa whon Cieorgo Wright Fold the King Uole horse in Sydney recently wiw £500. A difficulty waa expirieuced by the Takapuna Jockey Club in Btcurng a frejh leuse of tho racecourse, the leshors (Messrs Alison Bi others), one of whom is treasurer of the cub, holding oub for better terms A settlement was eventually ai rived at under which the club pays £sf>o par annum in rental, and the lessois .pend £ZQ()O on course improvements. The New Zeal md Cup colt St. Regal has not been worked at Eilurelio of late, and will probably forego his R(c irton engagements. I understand that something is ami.s with tho eou of St. Logor and Frieu ship. The Wellington Park brood mares Cissy (by Muf-k t -Frailty) and Queen Cole (by King ColeRosalie) have foaled colts to Castor and liotchkiss respectively. The Yattendon— Fanny Fisher mare Fish Girl has foaled a colt to St. Hippo, and Leorina (by Leolinus— Yalteriua) a filly to Blairgowrie. The yearling sale at Wellington Park has beea fixed tor January 3. In all p;obabiLty St. Clc-monts's two-year-old brother .St. Paul will be sent to Chiistchurch to contest the Welcome Stakes. St. Paul showed brilliant promise at Ellorelia laot Septumbor, wheu he dre«std down a big field i a thy A.R.C Welcome Stakes.