AUCKLAND TOPICS.
Bt Taihoa.
December £.0. There Is nothing very fre?h to report iv connection with the Auckland Cup. St. Paul holds his place firmly at the head of the betting market, and finds support at the short price of 5 to 2 agst. He has done everything that has been asked of him by his trainer^ and has, I believe,, shown a& ability to break " thirty."
Waiuku is at 9 to 2 agst, and gets plenty of support. So far this horse has not put in an appearance, but I know he is coming up. His people are by no lneans a happy family, and aB a result Waiuku will be auctioned at the Wellington Park Bale. Oue of the matters over which they are divided relates to the riding of Waiuku in the Cup. The selection of young Edgar Russell as the pilot doe 3 not give satisfaction to some of the parties concerned, but for all that the boy will have the mount. „
Day Star has been doing good work, and shows no sign of allowing the weak spot in one of his feet to come against him. He has shortened in the betting, and standß at 4 to 1. Nestor and Fabulist are at eights, and both are doing good work, the latter especially. If he is ever goinf to justify the many expectations formed of his powers it will be in this Cup, for the horse was never better in his life. - He has a stable mate engaged in Favona, but there is little doubt about Fabulist proving their best bower on the day. An outsider, who stands at- 100 to 1, is doing good work, and stands » show fat a slow-rum race. This is Canopus, the Castor — Antelope colt, who is Baid to be as good as his dam was. Sabretache has registered tyro good gallops, but I notice him walking gingerly in front, and the hard ground (it is like bell-metal) may crack him Up at any moment. I still think that Day Star or St. Paul will win.
In the Steeplechase, John Rae's Levanter is firm favourite ; hut it is whispered he may not start. However, he is getting plenty of work ; but so is iCiugswood, bis stable mate, and which
will be the pea 1 cannot say. Mozel has a light burden to carry, but I think John X vC will supply the winner.
The Great Northern Derby must be a sure thing for Mr Stead's selected, for he has 6nly St. Crispin and Favona -agaiust him. The former took lmin 50sec to win our Guiueas last month, and the latter has nothing to his credit save a report that he has beaten Fubulitt over the Derby distance.
Regarding Mr Stead's pair, Gold Medallist looks really well, but Multiform goes a bit sore after galloping. Good acceptances have been received for the minor events. Swordflsh looks well in in both the Trial and Christmas Handicaps, and his most dangerous opponents should be The Sharper in the Trial and St Crispin in the Christmas Handicap.
I like Mi=s Nelson in the Hurdles, Hylas cr Kettledrum in the "Nursery Handicap, Forangi Potae in the llailway Handicap, and Fair Nell in the Pony Cup. There is a keen desire to see a weight-for-age race of a mile and a-half, so that Waiuku, St. Paul,- Day Star., Multiform, and Gold Medallibt might have a fight for supremacy. No one is more deeirouß of such a contest than old John Chaafe, St. Paul's mentor. He has expressed his willingness to put up a couple of hundred 1o meet the animals mentioned, and an effort will be made to bring such a race off. Chaafe is confident that he could down the lot, but he is apt to look with a sanguine eye when he has a good hoise in his stable, though there is no question as to St. Paul's ability over twelve furlong*. Owing to ill-health Mr W. K. Wilson will be unable to carry out his in'ention of visiting Jhe forthcoming sale of yearlings lit Wellington Park. That,' however, will not pi event the St. Albanß stable from bsing represented, as Mr Leslie M'Donald, Mr Wilson's manager, cou.es by the mail steamer this week in order to attend the sale. Another well-known Melbourne man who is coming over is Mr Archie Yuiile, the well-known sporting-auctioneer. The Crbiue— Hesiia colt in Bycrs's stable, to whom the title of O'Brien wan given, has beeu rechristened ITirearm— a change for the better surely
December 21,
Plow- f ooted retribution oveitook two of our principal bookmakers j'ffcteniay, when a meeting of the Auckland Racing Club ( 'ominittee di&quaMt-d them from batting at Ellurtl'e. Toe di qualification had reference to the lunning of Donald M'Kinnou in the Great Noitheru Steeplechase two years back, in w hich it-will be remembered he was a hot favourite, and baullwd. On the strength of a two-mile gallop this morning Coronet has been backed for all the money in the Auckland Ct-p market at 100 to 8.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 37
Word Count
842AUCKLAND TOPICS. Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 37
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