AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2250, 15 April 1897, Page 33

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihoa. April 12 Our Easter meeting opuns next Monday, so / j will scive ruy views ot the chances.. Taking first I the leadhiK event, the lvi-.ter Handicap, sh far as track work is concerned there is little to choo.so between Day Star and St. Paul, and these are the ; best backed horses at G to 4 and 2 to 1 respectively. Both are going through their work splendidly, and it is evident they will fight out tho finish. I find it hard to separate them, but if piesK.'d '.o do so would declare for Day Star. I don't think there is anything else in the handicap worth giving a winning show to In tiitt Hteepl(;ch*se Levanter is a fatfo:),-,-favourite, and Mozel has come into demand ] lately owing to the big improvement ho has been showing. L vanter's owner also ha.-i Kingswuod , engaged, and I feel confident these two will provide the winner. Weights for the minor events I are due to-Jiorrow, when I will wire my viewo respecting them. in the Champagne Stakes I think Defiant oiSt. Conan will get home. The <Otahu!m people have decided io revive racing in their district, and have subscribed stakes for a meeting to be held on May 8. A>. the Ot;huhuK,C was denied a permit the meeting will have to be held with the bookmakers A quuer cane has cropped up in coined ion with the last JCtiiKiriri race meeting. Twelve horses staited for the Flying Stakes, and two of the numbpr, weighted at 8.0 ea' - )i, ran a dead heat fnr first place. One of the horses carried 2Slb over in the race, but in the run off only 8.0 was put on him, with the lesult that he beat his opponent. The question in, Should the horse that won iv the run off hivr carried 10.0 as in the first contest iustead of 8.0 V Thin U a matter that is not provided for by the rules of racing, so it is to be brought under the notice of the Auckland Ilaciog Club. I Messrs M'Lto i and Cleland intend brinjnnc the Cuirassier hirse v abretache back to Auckland after the A J.C. meeting. The steeplechaser Despised goes to Sydney at an early date. The Hon. J. D. Ormond's horses. Dauntless, Daunt, Trentalto, Mars, and Defiance, have been thrown out of training. The openitijr of the Auckland Trotting Club's Autumn ui«»etiog took place last Saturday under favour ibl») auspices, there being a good, attendance and excellent racing In the principal tro*-, the Stewards' Handicap, of 50sovs, two milee, Slim Jim, Darlingtou, and Duke C. were heavily backed, but stood do show against Kapai, who started off the 20& ec mark and won easily in smin 31sec, Duke <"'. being in second plaoo a citizen lengths away. The winner paid £3 lls for 10s. In the Harness Trot Lord Harold and Slim Jim monopolised the betting, but. the scratch mares Alice and Rosebud easily cut the field down, the latter winning comfortably, doing the two miles in sinin 27sec, and paying £2 19s for 10s. In the Electric Mile Kapai again had an easy win, getting home in 2min 41sec, and paying £2 16s for 10s. The leading galloping race, the Autumn Handicap, produced a great finish. Topsail (full brother to Pegasu •) was leading at the half distance, wlihu rirst Whisper carae with a rattle, »Dd a desperate battle caw Tjpsail get home by a bare nose in imin 28.-cc for the six furlongs and alialf. Dividend, £2 6s. The Flying Stake?, five furlooga, gave another great finish. Lena and Lady Howitzer came together 50yds from home, and were loc'ted uutil Lady Howitzer, with a big etfort, got. home in the last stride by * bare neck. Tim*, Imin 7sec. Dividend, £5 18s for 10d In the Maiden Trot Waihinepai got. home easily from Golden King, and paid £7 4s for 10s. The Hurdle llace was the be^t go over fences feen :»t Potter's paddock. Pembroke was favourite, i and after a ding-done go The Dove got borne, j with Ftmntleroy and Helena in the places. Dividend, £-2 fc for 103. April 13. Mr Evett declared the weights for the minor handicaps in connection with the A. ll C. Autumn * meeting tc-day. riting without, the help of Ihe. acceptances, T fancy the following hor a ps will run well iv their en«agetnenti :— Tradesmen's Hauiucap, Flying Fisb, Lady Marion, Panoply; j Hurdles— Mi-s Nelson and Levanter; Kden Handicap— Doris, Panoply, and Donovan; Onslow Stakes— Miss Anna and Mi? 3 Hose ; R,ailway Handicap— Lady Cuisine, Rex, and Donovan ; Pony Handicap— Fair Nell and Leona. The handicaps for next Saturday's meeting at Potter's Paddock were declared by V r Knight this afternoon. Granted a start, I like the following :— Maiden Pony— Kirst Whisper ; April HandicapLady Howitzer, Cupi>', and First Whisper ; Stesplechaie— Fauntleroy or Platch ; Class Trot — ' Rosebud ir Hurricane; Harness Tiot — Albert, , Visitor, or Rosebud ; Easter Trot— Hurricane oi ' Kapai. I No doubt the Press Association w ill have wired 3 - ou news of the death of the stallion Dreadnought at Napier to-day. The horse was found dead in one of his owner's paddocks at his Karanui stud | farm. ■ | The Nestor people made a move in favour of , their horse for the Easter Handicap to-day, back- ] ing him in doubles with Mi.=s Nelson at 100 to 3 , and 4. The steeplechaser Despised. wa3 taken ; across to Sydney to-da^