AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2209, 2 July 1896, Page 33

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Bt Taihoa.

June 29. The only thing stirring is the New Zealand Cup. Like sports all over the colony, ltfSal punters are anxiously awaiting the. weights for the big Maoriland event. Some of them who Btuck loyally to Gipsy Grand last year are again nibbling freely in the same quarter, hoping to recover the shekels they consider were torn from them by lad luck. Fabulist, the Great Northern Derby winner,,is also finding supporters, amongst other wagers in' this direction by .local pencillers being one of £500 to £20 accepted a day or*wo back. The chaser Tally-ho js -still in Auckland, but coming round again. .He will be sent backi» Hastings on the -first opportunity. , - OldJParnell, an ex-Auckland chaser, winner of the Great Northern Steeplechase in 1891, went under the Juurrmer in Hawera the other day for £12. Dick Lawrence, who was mentioned loat week as being on the sick list, has been ordered to Ballarat for his health., . . St. Simon is taking hia first lessonß in Jumping 1 * J. dlioo'tih left for Sydney on Tuesday, taklid

Romp and Tit J. Gallagher, the well-knowa ocal horseman, also accompanies the team. A. Morrison, a well-known New South Wales trainer and rider, came down to Auckland by the Waihora last week, and should his prospects be regarded as sufficiently favourable, he intends taking up bis residence in New Zealand. The yearling half-brother to the Dunedin Cup winner Casket, purchased at Wellington Park iale in January labt, has been named Golden Legend. Tho youngster in question, I may remark, was got by St. Leger from the Musket Barnardo and St. Kilda are the favourite pick as yet for the National double. - Oman, a three-year-old whose name appears amongst the list of entries for the Now Zealand Cup as tpe nomination of Mr R. Blackie, is owned by Mr Donald M'Kinnon. Holmes informed me that the reason why Liberator did not accept for Hawke's Bay was that the weight received was unsatisfactory. The local trainer A. Byers intends to make an extended trip south, catching, If possible, the Wellington meeting and the Cbristchuich Grand National. 1 suppose this trip depends somewhat on what eort of luck he meets with at Gisborne next month. Mr J. O. Evett through indisposition will be unable to make the journey to Wellington next month, and will only handicap for the first day's racing of the United Hunt Club meeting, Mr Henry having offered to handicap for the second day. The hurdler Bonovoree was sent to the Bay of Islands to-day, though I am not prepared to Bay he is sold. He has proved a disappointment and a rogue since he has beon in Auckland— in fact he could not gallop. The St. Regel— Evelyne filly, though on the small side, is regarded as the most likely to distinguish herself m the early spriDg. It is whispered that the Auckland Racing Club •will come out of the recent meeting with a very tidy credit balance.