AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2205, 4 June 1896, Page 34

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihoa. Auckland, Junel. Although at the time of wiring we are within A week of the forthcoming Northern Grand National meeting, very little indication is being given either in betting or in training work. Re--Bpecting,the Ghances held by the bulk of the acceptors for the big jumping double, antipost * betting is practically confined to moderate dabbling in double wagers, and so far the training (rack has not disclosed anything wonderful. Visiting horses have been arriving during the past week. Mutiny, Tiritea, -Hopgarden, Chris, knd Dante came early in the week, while Kaitoa, Conscript, Lord Vivian, Clayton, Teuka, and Unknown arrived on Saturday ; while Liberator and Barnardo were due at Elleralie to-day. Everything points to a most successful meeting, end acceptors for the two leading handicaps are Burely class enough to give riße to Bpfendid struggles. On all sides the opinion is expressed that both tbe Hurdles and the Steeplechase will be carried off by members of the heavy Weight division ; and looking at the quality of the horses at the top .of the weight lists it is certainly difficult to give the winning chances to Ey light weight, if Hopgarden and Aughadowey the Hurdles and Bella in the Steeplechase be cepted. * As this will be my last opportunity of wiring you re meeting, I must try and locate the winning double. Taking the Hurdles first I find isome difficulty in advising re Fabulist. This horse is trained privately nine miles out of town, fend touts have consequently little chance of finding out how he is going. So far as the betting market is concerned he is distinctly " dotty," the long price offered re him doubled with good steeplechasers giving his chance a very unhealthy complexion. He will toe an unknown quantity right up to the flay of the race, and although I incline to believe he will not start, if he does he is worth A bit. The other well-performed novice at hurdling, St. Kilda, will. 1 hear, be steered by John Kae, but so far the amount of schooling given him is not enough to make one rave over ''bis chance. I have seen him clear three hurdles in very clean style, but that is not racing over eight nighta with two miles of ground to cover. However, I take him as one of the best three engaged. The other two are old Liberator (about whose chance southerners should bo more cogttisant than I) and Hopgarden. Remarks ad lib. are unnecessary, but I may say Hopgarden* <vho has go far only done medium work at EUerelie) won the Gisborne Hurdles last lummer from end to end, beating Donald jftf 'Kinnon by fully a length, and cantering home ' over a mile and a -half in 2min 53sec. Then he tarried 9.0 ;, next Saturday he has 9.10, and his party are confideat, but many sports hailiDg from 'Gisborne think the distance will be too far. Hopgarden is five years old, and is by Daniel O'Rorke. fDante, has many admirers, but I fancy Liberator will bsat him. When thoy met at [Napier lwt April Dante only beat Liberator by malt a length, although he was in receipt of 111b. iNext Saturday they meet at level weights, which gives Liberator a distinct advantage. Aughadowey has a fair chance, for his form on the 'second day at Takapuna is not worth trusting to. Liberator, St. Kilda, and Hopgarden should fill leading position!, and if • I Det on the result I should stick to "Lib." For the @teepkchaße Donald M'Kinnon is a hot favourite; in fact, he is fint choice for the double at 20 to 1, at which figure he has heaps of supporters. After hi* Takapuna display I won't stand anything else in seeking for the winner. Carbuncle is a great little mare, but on a fair run •he is not within 201b of Donald M'Kinuon. Belle won our last Autumn Steeplechase under 10.0, and as she has the tame weight next Monday jme has a good chance. Summed up, my idea re the double is that Eiberator and Donald M'Kinnon wall share the honours. In betting, the two St'Kinnonß is the favourite double at 100 to 5 ; then comes M'Kinnon and Tiritea, at 4*s ; Dante, coupled wijh Tiritea or Barnardo, at 4's; St. Kilda, coupled with M'Kinnon, Tiritea, and . Barnardo, same price ; the two Liberators and Hopgarden, coupled with M'Kinnon or Barnardo, also same price. In all probability the ranks of the Auckland racing men will shortly be added to by the incluWon of Mr A. H. (Sandy) Barron, of Gisborne, who &B endeavouring to lease his coastal property with » vie tv to residing here. Mr Barron has had the ~ Ut. George gelding Freelance in work here since the Racing ' Club's Autumn meeting, and should be decide to take up his residence he will bring up iHukatere (lugomar— Bessemer) and The Indian. It is reported from Hastings that "Mr" Portland has sold the Somnus colt Rip Van Winkle to Mr J. R. M'Donald, of Manawatu. 1 Tho twp-year-old colt Woodstock, by St. Leger •— Cantiniere, owned by A.- Davis (stud manager fpr Mr L. D. Nathan), has been gelded. A similar operation has been performed on the Tasman— jßubina horse Kingsman, which was some time hack tent by Mr Kidd, of Auckland, to the Bawke's Bay stable. Kingsman was & confirmed jogue when racing locally, and showed but little justification for the full-blooded relationship ■which he claims towards Florrie, of C.J.C. Derbyinrt Oaks fame. The price paid by Mr W. Douglas for the steeplechaser Tiritea was 500gs. Mutiny's owner will include his new purchase Sn tbe team of jumpers he it having prep»red for a visit to New South Wales and Victoria. Redmond, who has ridden Tiritea in most of his engagements, will probably accompany the horse to Australia. Mr G. P. Donnelly, of Hawke's Bay, recently purchased' the hurdler Canard (by Voltigeur) for The steeplechaser Ika, by Piscatorius, who failed _, In the .Takapuna Selling Steeplechase -when tracked at odds on in a field of four, has been got - rid of by his owner, haviof? been sold to Mr W. B. Bloomfield, who purchased him for hunting Work. The Queen's birthday meetings held in this filand pave Major George's favourite, old Nelson, Borne winning recordi. He certainly can do with something in that way, for, great racer as he was, ■we must admit his stock nave not proved 'too brilliant up to date. Pegasus and Miss Nelson for him locally, while Man-o'-war carried »ff the Winter Oats at Wanganui. {Speaking of Nelson's progeny reminds me that Barry Harrison, who has for many years been in charge of Major George's stud and racing establishment, will shortly take possession of the Harp of Erin Hotel, a favourite report of sporting men at Ellerßlie. Major George's retirement from racing is, I take it, the cause of Harrison's withdrawal from the Waipiti stud. The Herculaneum mare Onga was purchased locally last week by Mr E. D. O'Rorke. Onga is half aister to Acone, and won the Maiden Hurdles at the recent Takapuna meeting, at which she ran In John Rae's name. Her old owner will continue her training on behalf of Mr O'Rorke. A private cable received here last week stated > that Othello, an Auckland-bred steeplechaser, tecently sent across to New South Wales, won* Jthe cross-country event at the last Sydney Turf Club meeting. Mr S. H. Gollan's horses Mousequetaire, Poulamu, Sterncharer, and The Possible left Hastings last Thursday en route for the old country. It yas arranged that they should .be railed to Weiington, shipped thence to Sydney, and there rejmbarkedon an Orient liner.' This course was Adopted so as to sa.vo the construction of special horse boxes, wbloh would be required were the tones seat by A direct Hew,