AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2302, 14 April 1898, Page 33

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Tajhoi.

April 11,

Queen's weather, with a cool, refreshing southerly breeze to temper the rays of Old Sol, who shone forth in all his glory, greeted the inauguration of the Auckland Racing Club's Autumn meeting at Ellerelie to-day, while our pretty coursing ground was dressed in its Sunday best. The attendance presented a record for an Easter gathering, numbering the best part of 8000, and speculation was decidedly brisk throughout, the sum of £10,198 being passed through the totalisaloi'3 ss against £7930 for the uosresponding- day iast year.

Proceedings opened with the Tradesman's Handicap, one mile, for which a dozen sported silk, Porangi Potae being established a hot favourite. Lady Maiic-n, Panoply, Bonny Bliu>, and Favona, wero quickest into iheir stride. Panoply being a ceck in fiont as they ran past tliQFeven fuilopg post, the favoiuite being fifth. This order was maintained to the turn, where Lady Marion made it forward move, drawing oa terms with Panoply at the turn. Ihe latter fell away a furlong further on, wheie Miss Anua, who had all along occupied a handy position ou the outside, improved her position, and catching Lady Marion 30 yards from home, won comfortably by a length and a-half, the favourite ju°t squeezing into third place. The official time wa-> returned as Imin 41sec, but I can har.ily credit it, and feel moie disposed to accept the clocking of several individuals who made it a shade cvei lrcin 4 v "Hscc. The winner, a three-year-old daughter of St. Hippo and Anna, showed fair form as a two-year-old, but this is the first cccasion on which she has run decently this season.

Eight of the ten caided for ths Northern Champagne Stakes faced the music, the scratxhings being Lady Cecilia and St. Innis. With the honours of tbe Wau'ganui Two-year-old Stakes fresh upon Hermossa, and brought to the post in TVl'Mancmin's best style, there is little wonder that the public made St. Leger's gjune little daughter an 'odds-on favourite. Jumping av/zy ia front of Swiftfoot, she was a length to the good as they opened out in the cutting, where Blue Jacket was running third and Dayntree fourth. The last-mentioned'closed up at the halfmile post, but as they rounded with the turn fell away beaten, and although whip 3 came out ivll round, Hermossa came on and won in hollow fashion by half a dozen lengths fiorn St. Ursula, Sceates, her rider, never having to make a call upon her. Swiftfoot was a head away, thi id. Hylas finished fourth, Blue Jacket fifth, Explosion sixth, and Auhl Reekie last. Time, Imin 19s?ser;. Dividend, £1 12s. The COOsovs attaching to the Easter Handicap attracted the good field of 12 starters, the withdrawals being Target, Lady Mai ion, Favona, Miss Rose, and Complete. Daunt, who was tent to the post in great buckle, caught the eye of the investors most kindly, v/hile Rex, who was admitted on all hands to be the best hanoic«ppsd hoise in the lace and wa3 literally jumping out of his skin in his prelimioary, came nextiu order in the betting, with St. Paul close up.- From a capital send off, Wairongomai and Cast Ashore were first to show into prominence, a length in front of Daunt, who had the inside rcniung, Lillie and Picklock on the latter's quarters. At the eevenfurlous; pest Daunt gave place to Picklock, and Record Reign, who had meanwhile moved up to fourth place, shotinto thelead, being half a lenglh in front of Wairongomai, Cast Ashore, and PicklocklFwhPii the cuttiDg was reached. Here Rex could be seen going up on the culside. As they rounr'ed into the turn the St. Leger gelding got his head in front, and coming with a brilliant rush he easily stalled off a late run on the part of the favourite, and flas-hed past 1 he judge's Lox a length and a-halT to the good of Wairongomai, thu-* badly exploding the idea that he could not get a mile ; Daunt was a length away third, Liilie fourth, Record Reigh fifth, Crusoe sixth, with Picklockj Eton, St. Pdul, and Cast Ashore following in the order named, and Daystar and Acone together last. Time, Imin 41Jsec. Dividend, £5 8?.

Six was the main for the Hurdle Race, of two miles, for which Vanish was picked out as the good thing. The West Coast lepresentative showed the way to the last obstacle, where Rae brought Levanter up with a rattle, and as they lauded the presumed certainty gave investors some uneasiness until Alexander settled fairly down to work, and just rooted him home a head to the good. Had L-:vant<-r come to light his few supporters would have lauded a handsome dividend, be only, being supported to the extent of £79 out of the £1321 invested on ihe lace. Voltigeur finished third and Muscatel fourth, while Adam whipped in tbe field.

A dozen again faced tha •■starter in the Eden Handicap, of 7 furlongs, O'Koari, the full sister to Waiuku, being awarded pride of po&itiou by punters, while Miss Anna, by her victory in the Tradesmen's Handicap, found a strong following. The latter, in company with Nansen, was quickest away, while O'Koari got away badly. liacine up the back Lady Anna dropped back and Nansen racsd up to the leader, but Brilliaut improved his position, aud was closely attended by St. Elmo. Nansen was in. front as they ran into the stiaight, and holding his advantage he ran home an easy winner by a couple of lengths from St. Elmo, who was just in front of Brilliant, Miss Anna fourth. Time, Imin 30sec. Dividend, £0 12s. Porangi got rid of her rider (Liuusuy) at the cuttiDg, but foitunately he was not injured, as he walked iv a few minutes later.

Seven weighed out for tbe Onslow Stak», five furlongs, the lion. J. D. Ormocd's Dreadnought § elding Dasher being backed up to the hilt, with t. Innes second favourite on the machine. St. Innes got best away, and was sailiDg along a length to the good of Dayntree at the half ra.le post with Dasher and lloxana close up. St. Innes held her advantage through the home turn, and the race" looked all over, bor collecting the div., r.t the Derby stand, but here Dayntiee shot up, and cutting the St. Leger filly down snatched a victo;y, Dd.sher jut-t beating St. Innes by a head for second placp. Time, lmiu 6sec. Dividend, jCB ss. The 10 hlliputiaus carded weut to tie po-t ia the Pouy Handicap of seven fiulougs aud investors tumbled over ono another to get the money on Miss Rose, until she was run clown below an even-money chance. Fair Nell and Little Wonder made the running through the cutting and down the back stretch, with Puritan and Jeannie nexo ia order. At the distance-post Fair Nell, who had a clear run up on the rails, appeared to have the race well in hand, but Gallagher settling dovVn to woik on the favourite at the Derby stand caught the Gap-a-pie ruare 40yds from, the jjosfc and drawing away, won a

good race by the best part of two lengths. Time, Imin 32sec. Dividend, £1 ISs.

The day's sport closed with the Railway Handicap, five furlongs, for which Rex was the popular selection. Miss Emmy and Picklock were first on their feet, and, locked together, the pair ran through the cutting into the top stretch, wheie Rex, who held a nice position on the outside, closed up, and heading the above-mentioned pair at the home turn, never after left the issue in doubt, romping home in the easiest fashion two lengths in front of Miss Emmy, with Drone op the latter's quarteis third. Time, lmiu 4|sec. Dividend, £2 15s.