AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 34

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Tai^oa.

May 4 Auckland racing men were catered for last Saturday by the Avondale Jockey Club, which body held its Autumn meeting at the suburban course. There was a good attendance, but the racing was only "fair to medium," half the fields being "waiters" — with the Takapuna and A.R.C. Grand National meetings in front of them they did not show their hands at Avondale. This resulted in some fair divis, the public backing past form instead of seeking winners amongst the low-weighted contingent, the members of which had nothing to lose by winning. The card opened with the Avondale Hack Handicap, which let loose five prads, four of which were simply "mullock." Pegasus'sbeautiful three-year-old brother, Neptune, was strongly backed, but at the start Lady Emily (by CastorLady Wellington) came with a rattle in the betting, and being the only 3tarter with a knowledge of the rudiments of galloping she simply walked home, the mile taking lmin 55sec to cover. The Outlaw and Neptune were in the places. Dividend on 10s tickets, £\ 2s. In spite of Donald M'Kinnon being loaded with 12.12, backers persisted in sending him out an odds-on favourite. They had a run for their money over two hurdles, .when the odds-on chance ran off, which is as good a way of losing a race as any 1 know of. Then Captivity and Ditto baulked, and Bonovoree and Grenailiei were left to fight for the stake. The latter, whose first hurdling effort it was, pos*essed more pace than Bonevoree, but was inferior in the matter of fencing. He was leading right through the journey, but lost ground at every jnmp, and though in front at the last fence he hit it so badly that Bonovoree closed on him and won by a length. The mile and three-quarters took 3min 50seo, and backers of Bonovoree reoeived the nice return of £11 5s for 10s tickets The second horse, Grenadier, was, it will be remembered, a disappointment anci rogue on the flat, but he gives big promise as a hurdler, and may, lik« Molinite, prove a big success at the fencing game. The principal flat race of the day— the Autumn Handicap, of 50sovs, one mile— attracted 10 [ starters, five of whom were very evenly backed, 1 Webley and Tit leading in the betting by a few pounds each. Here again stiffness reigned supreme, and a light-weight soampered home while those at the top of the scale were having an airing for the benefit of the handicapper. Lady Marion and Lufra were locked together inside the distance, and a good struggle resulted io Lufra (by Flintlock— Brown Rose) jetting homo by a neck. No third .horet was placed, bat Tit and Sharps

were about a dead heat for that barren honour. The mile took lrain 49sec, and the dividend on £1 tickets was £7 10 a. The Castor— Hilda colt Antares easily won the Avondale Stake 1 ", of 40sovb, five furlongs, paying £1 13 a, Pirate and Poraugipotae being in the places. No time was taken. > Bit-of-Fa-hion and Silkworm were even favourites ifor the Pony Handicap, six furl ,ngs, the former gfttting home in lmin 22sec. Fidget beat Silkworm for second place. Leona and Romp, two of our boss ponies, were running, but their backing was unconvincing, and they finished nowhere. Dividend per £1 ticket, £3 7s. Lillie was a warm favourite for the Waitakerei Handicap, Of 30iovs, six furlougß, Lufra, the winner of the big race, being poorly supported. This was short-sightedness on the part of backers, for she is better over BiWurlongs than eight furlongs. As was the cisc in th« piiucipal handicap, she anJ Lidy Marion fought out the finish, Lufra ■winning by a lengbh, Lillie third. This race was not the lastnamed'e form, as future meetings will show. Time, lmin 19isec. Dividend per £1 tickets, £9 7s. Ika was^favourita for the Steeplechase, for which there were five contestants, only two of whom finished. Clarence ran off, Ditto baulked, and Kildare fell. Ika was an easy winner, the runner-up being the pony Libeller, who was beaten by the length of the straight. Dividend per £1 tickets, £2 4s. On recent form the last race, the Shorts, five furlongs, was a soft thing for Orion, and punters plunged accordingly, but he left them in the mire, the Hippocampus mare Glenora winning by a length and a-half from the favourite, Romp third. Time, lmin 6Jsec. Dividend, £7 9a per £1 tickets. During the day £1920 10a was put through the totaliaator. Our next meeting will be on the 24th inst., at North Shore, when the Takapuna Club will hold i its Autumn meeting. Entries closed last week, and for the 13 handicaps the flue total of about 280 nominations was received. •Our ownerß, recognising our poverty in uooai hurdlers, are putting a lot of flat racera to the fencing game. Twenty-four have been entered for the Maiden Hurdles at Takapuna, including such well-known fiat racers as Ann«belle, Miss Nelson, Grenadier, Adam, Captivity, and Ida. Nominations were received last Friday for the A.R.C Grand National Hurdles and Great Northern Steeplechase, aad both lists are very satisfactory, showing an increase on totals received in 1895 and 1894 There are 35 in tbe Hurdles and 29 in the Steeplechase, against 18 and 21 respectively last year, and 25 and 23 respectively the year previous. Many of our crack handicap horses have entered for the Hurdle Race, iucluding the Derby winner Fabulist, St. Kilda (who I can jump well), Acooe, Panoply, and Van Dieman's relative, Paddy O'Rourke. Old Fishmonger ha» not been entered for the Steeplechase, so his case must be a bad one. This will be the first time he has missed this race for mauy years Forty-nine yearlings have been entered for the A.R C. Champagne Stakes of 1897. and 69 foals for the Royal Stakeß of 1897-98. In the Royal Stakes Mr Thomas Morrin is the largest nominator, having 28 entries. Mr L. D. Nathan comes next with nine, and the Hon. J. D. Ormond has six Dreadnaughts entered. That Carbuncle has jumping strain in her blood was manifest when she was a yeailing, for she jumped out of a 4ft 6in stockvarJ at Brown's Island, where she was bred. This mare was raced two seasons on the flat before being put to the jumping, but never scored a single win. Lord Vivian has a good chance of scoring in the Egmont Steeplechase, to be run next Wednesday. Paddy O'Rourke. who' caused the boil-over in the Redcliff Stakes, run at the Hawke's Bay meeting, h«,s arrived at Auckland find been pluced in George Wright's stable, which used to house Paddy O'Rourke's lelativa, Van Dieman. If he turns out as good as the latter he will be a clinker.

Mr W. It. Wilson is expected to pay a visit here in a couple of months.

The full sister to the Great Northern Foal Stakes winner, St. Paul, has been named St. Cecilia. There will be now thiee "holy" fullbl"oded relations racing at Ellertlie — viz., St. Clemeuts, St. Paul, and St. Cecilia.

Sir L. D. Nathan, owner nf Sylvia Park and Whitford Paik, goes to England on a trip in » few wesko' time.

James Kean, the veteran Ellerslie trainer, has a half-sister to The Shrew in hand. She has been named Wairongamai. Kean, who is a martyr to asthma, has been very ill lately, but is now recovering. The half-brother to Roscius, the Great Northern Steeplechase winner, recently purchased by H. Jarkson, of Hawke's Bay, has been named Barbarossa ' Mr W. H. Chitham, " the sporting barber " of Pakneraton North, has decided to take up his residence in Auckland, and arrives aext week. He i« to bring up his racing stock with him, including First Sight (a four-year old half-sister to Hying Shot), Bavaria (a two-year-old by ForeI runner— Starwater), and Marvellous (a two-year-old sister to Flying Shot). Bavaria and .First Sight are engaged at the Takapuna Queen's Birthday meeting.

Ebor 11, by York— Beeswing, ' has been purchat«d by aWawganui man, but the horse will remain in W. Homes's stable.

Should all fjo well with Melinite she will compete at Hastings in Juno.

The secretary of the Napier Park Baciug Club applied some considerable time back to the Colonial Secretary for. a permit for its winter meeting, but up to date no reply has been recived. The Hotchkiss— Weazel yearling bought by Mr Blaikie, bookmaker, at the last Wellington Park sale has been named The Owl, and the Castor — Welcome Katie filly, bought ateame sale by Mr C. Hewitt, has been named Electra.