AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2303, 21 April 1898, Page 33

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihoa.

April 18. The second and third days' racing in connection with the Auckland R.C. Autumn gathering was held at Ellerslie on Tuesday and Saturday last 5 perfect weather and large attendances favouring the metropolitan body on both days ; in fact, in every sense the meeting was one of the most, if not actually the most, successful ever known in the annals of the club for this time of year. The handsome sum of £24,643 was passed through the totalizators during the three day/, as against £20,848 for the corresponding function of last year —a substantial increase of £1J795. A word of praise is due to secretary W. Percival for the manner in which the gathering was conducted, and with the exception of an error in thiowing Rex into the Ea3ter Handicap Mr J. O. Evett, our handicapper, must be credited with having done his work well, the racing being full of interest and the finishes close and exciting. The opening event on the second day (Tuesday) was the Stewards' Handicap, a mile and a distance, for which the Wanganui Cup winner, Swordfish, found most support, while Lillie had a goodly share of admirers, , with the- Hon. Mr Ormond's representative, Nansen, next in favour, and certainly not without reason, for with 7.4 and his form of the previous day to recommend him the West Coast gelding was given an opportunity Svhich he is not likely to get again in a hurry. That he was not quite himself, however, was shown in his preliminary, wben he moved rather stiffly, by no means pleasing his supporters. When released Cast Ashore was qu'ekest into his stride, and led round the back of the course, with Lillie and Korowai in close attendance, but he fell away beaten when five furlongs had been reeled off, leaving Lillie in the lead. logomar's daughter was quickpst round the home turn, but once fairly in the straight the Taranaki geldiug Crusoe shot into the van, and holding his own won by a couple of lengths from Korowai in 2min, returning his in vestois the acceptable sum of £9 18s. Swordfish appealed to be sorely hampered all the way and never succeeded in getting near the leader. With the scratching pen through Hermosa's name in the Ellerslie Handicap, six furlongs, investors turned their attention to the St. Hippo colt Hylas, who went to the post a pionouticed favourite. From an even send-off Victoria Gross was fiiyt to show into prominence, and, placing a substantial gap between herself and the field, Medallion's daughter looked to have the race well in hand as they opened into the straight. All was not .yet over, however, for at the Derby stind a rank outsider in Roxana came out from the ruck with a great rattle, aud cutting cowu Mr Conn op's representative in great style ran home a winner a length and a-half in front of the favourite, who made a game but fruitless iffoit to hold the Cuirassier filly. Tim", lmin Ifoec. Roxana, who returned her handful of admirers the sensational dividend of £45 9s, has always run consistently, and is a big-hiatted one, and would certainly never have been allowed to go t> the post with, such scant support had it not beeu that the whisper that she hid gone wrocg was passed round early in the day. Eight sported silk for the big race of the day, the Autumn Handicap, one mile and a-quarfcer, in which. Daunt ag^in had the cocfHenco of the majority of speculators, while St Paul and Waiorongomai were most fancied of the other contestants. Favona shot to the front before many strides had been left behind, aud the raking son of Regel, followed by Anita, made the running right round the back and through the cutting to the half-mile post, whete Daunt and Waiorongomai shot up to the leaders. Auita cried a go as they lan into the home turo, aud entering the straight Favona was done with, leaving Waiorocgomai and the favourite bowling along at a slashing pace. A few strides fur 1 her on it could be ?een that Waiorongomai had the favourite in trouble, but there was yet another to be accounted for. In the run to the post St. i'aul came with a brilliant rush on the outside, and despite his great weight he managed to get within half a length of Waiorongomai amidst a flutter of excitement. St. Paul was going gre>t ;*uns at the finisb, and had Daunt not run wide in the last few strides the verdict would hav<j been even a finer one. Time, 2min lOJsec. Dividend, £5 175. The field for the Autumn Steeplechase, about three miles was a somewhat disappointing one, for when the numbers were hoibted it was seen that St. Simon, Kingswood, and Muscatel had been withdiawri, thus reducing the cross country candidates to a quartette— Levanter, Miss Nelson, Magpie, and Itch. Miss Nelson was most strongly lane.el. Magpie went to the front at an early stage, and, fencing in great style, Betiayer's son was responsible for the bulk of the running, being still in f.ont as they ran to the post and rail fence and at the top of the hill on last round. Here Levanter clj&ed lip, and the top weight, coining down the hill with a great rattle, took the last hurdle in the straight simultaneausly with Magpie. Here Levanter appeared to have the race completely at his meicy. Strange to say, however, Rae, whoise vigorous finishes have made him deservedly popular in the.^vst, contented himself by sitting still, allowing Magpie to run home a. winner by a length in the record time of 6niin Sssec. Dividend, £8 15s. Rae's riding was freely questioned, and the stewards decided to hold a meeting on thE following morning to inquire into the same, together with a complaint subsequently lodged by Katterns, the .rider of Miss Nelson, who alleged interference and beiDg struck in the jockeys' room after the race by Ras without provocation.

Eleven was the main for the Flying Handicap, six furlongs, Target being most liked. The field jumpsd away in good line, Eton being first to show to the front, closely attended by Picklock and Three Star. The Castor colt showed the way across the top stretch and into the straight, and looked all over a winner at the Derby stand, but a few yards further on Miss Emmy, who had got in a bad position in the early part of the race, and who was rjdden with excellent judgmentj udgment by Gallagher, shot •up in the centre, caught Eton below the main stand, and won gamely under punishment by .a length in lmin 17Jesec, paying the handy dividend of £6 Bs.

Ten liliputians saddled up for the Pony Handicap, six furlongs, Napoleon meeting the eye of punters most kindly ; but in his case backers were doomed to disappointment, as he was left at the post and took no part in the race. Miss Rose and Fair Nell got the best of an indifferent start, but had not gone far before Repetition ran into the lead, and setting a merry pace was first into the straight, where she lost her position by running wide, and Gallagher finishing vigorously on Miss Rose, won by a length in lmin 20sec. Dividend, £4 18s. Repetition, who is by Lord of the Isles out of Lady Sarah, showed herself the possessor of plenty of pace, but ran green. 'Ihe day's sport closed with the Shorts Handicap, of five furlongs, for which half a dozen weighed out, St. Elmo's chance being most liked. Public opinion was not, however, borne out, as the favourite fell away in the early stages, leaving Miss Emmy and Kanaka to make the running. At the di: tance the race looked a good thing for the latter, but here Eton shot up, and finishing resolutely, won a good race by half a length from Kauaka in lmin 4Jsec. Dividend, £7 163. The third day's (Saturday) card opened with the Maiden Hurdle Race, of a mile and a-half, and of the nine candidates weighing out Seabreeze and La Grippe pleased investors most. Seabreeze went to the front before a couple of furlongs hod been left in the rear, and was running well to the third hurdle, where she made a faulty jump and came to grief, hurling her rider violently from the saddle. Kapai, who was lying handy, here shot into the lead, and increasing his advantage to four lengths as they ran through the cutting never gave his opponents a chance, eventually winniDg by a good half-dozen lengths from The Trifler, Dauntless three lengths away third, and the field spread out in the following order— Reindeer, La Grippe, Ballyhooley, Forells, and Webley. Time, 3min O&sec. Dividend, £10 7s. Davidson, the rider of Seabreeze, lay motionless where thrown, and it .laafcarsd that the iwrsse tokindtad run vyss

him, but fortunately when taken to the enclosure a medical examination showed that li? lud escaped without serious injury.

A field of seven faced the starter in the Handicap Hurdles, a mile and three-quarters, for which Vanish was served up a hot favourite. Muscatel jumped into the lead from the fall of the flaff, beiog three lengths to the good of "Vanish as they negotiated the first obstacle, where Johnston had a good hold of her. At the third jump Vanish and Voltigeur had closed up the gap and were within half a length of the Foulshot mare as they landed, but apparently only on sufferance, as she again improved her lead running into the top stretch, where Voltigeur fell away beaten. In the run up the back Vanish again ran up to Muscatel, and the pair were almost together at the fourth and fifth hurdle?, but the latter, who evidently had something to come and go on, led her opponent over the last obstacle, and, drawing away, scored easily by three lengfha, Voltigeur an indifferent third. Time, 3min 36sec. Dividend, £6 6b. A protest was entered by the owner of Vanish against the race going to Muscatel on the grounds of inconsistent running, but was dismissed. Muscatel certainly showed wonderfully improved form on Monday's running, when she finished a very indifferent fourth to Vanish.

t Swordfish, Supplejack, and Three Star were the I absentees from the St. George's Handicap, one I mile, leaving a field of 13 to battle for the 150sovs ' : attached thereto. Rex, on his Easter Handicap : running, was sorted out as the correct pea, while 1 the top weight St. Paul was, in the i o-pinion of investors, the next best thing. ■ j From an even start Rex and Porangi ' Potae were quickest into their stride, with ! St. Paul on the latter'a quarters and Miss Anna j well up. This order was maintained across the ! bottom stretch, Rex and Poraugi drawing out slightly as they ran round 'the back stretch to the . cutting, wlv-re Porangi fell away beaten, and I Miss Anna closed up to within half a length of i the favourite, with Korowai and St. Paul next in ; order. Rex was still bowling along ia front when the la&t furlong was entered upon, and at this stage looked all over a winner ; but little St. | Paul shot up, and, responding gamely to the call : of young Chaafe, collared the favourite 30 to 40 yardfs from the box, and won a brilliant race by half a length in the fast time of lmin 41sec. The victory was a popular one, St. Leger's little son being cheered to the echo as he returned to the scales ; while Chaafe, who started to ride the top weight nearly three furlongj from home, deserves credit for the manner in which be handled his mount and timed his run. Dividend, £6 Is. Of the 15 carded Dot was the only withdrawal in the Pony Handicap, of five furlongs, Repetition being the selected of punters. The colouis of Purvoke were the first to show prominently, but she cried a go in the run across the top stretch, leaving Merry Kate to make the running to the home turn, where an outsider in Little Wonder ! shot out from the ruck, aud taking charge, held^ I his advantage in the run home, and won by a" I length and a-half in lmin sJsec, returning his ' followers the handsooie sain of £24 9i. J St. Simon was the only scratching in the Steeplechase, about three miles, in which Miss Nelson was backed up to the hilt, Magpie being next in demand. Kmgswood made most cf the : running, but was seen to be in trouble when they , reached the post and rails at the top of the hill for the third lime, where Magpie ran into 1 the lead, closely attended by Miss Nelson. The latter was on the Betrayer gelding's heels as they ! dashed down the hill to the stone wall, which t.ho pair negotiated almost simultaneously. In running up to the last hurole Miss Nelson drew out, | and looked to have the race well in hand, but i Magpie coming again in the run home, Katterns j»had to bring out the flA.il and settle down to ! work, eventually landing the Nel on mare a winner by two lengths from Magpie. Voltigeur ' was five length** away third and "Kingswood fourth, while Forella pulled up in the spcond round, lime, 6rnin 35-.cc. lJividend, £1 15s. The victory was a popular one, and Katteras is to ! be complimented on having ridden a well-judged* race. The fine field of 14 faced the music in the Grand Stand Handicap, five furlongs. The public once more plumped for Rex, who certainly looked [ a good thing. Porangi Potae got best away, but died out before a furlong had been trayersed, where Eton and St. Elmo were in charge, with the field bunched on the latter's quarters. This pair i maintained their advantage to the Derby stand, | where Three Star closed up and the trio comI raenced a great battle for lead, only to ba eup1 planted a few strides farther on by Brilliant (who came out of the centre of the bunch) and ; Rex (who dashed up on the rails). Although the favourite fought out the remaining few strides with great gameness, he failed to reach the outsider, and suffered defeat by the narrow margin j of a head, Cuirasette three parts of a length away I third. Time, lmin 4£sec Regel's son returned the great dividend of £41 3s. j Nine was the main for the Oritcriou Handicap, j i Hermosa being the public selection. The favoui rite as usual was quickest on her legs as the | barrier went up, and made the running right round into the straight, where Miss Emmy closed ! i up and the pair were battling it out at the distance post. Just below the Derby stand Victoria j Cross came out of the ruck with a great rattle, j and drawing away won by a good length from ! Cuirasette, who finished a neck in front of Her- j mosa. Time, 50iec, Dividend, £8 19s. I Nine again appeared on the board in the concluding race of the meeting, the Victoria HandiI cap, of five furlong?, for two-year-olds, St. Ursula [ being installed favourite. The public summing j up was, however, shown to be out, as Victoria I Gro3s, who was first to <-how out fioni an indifjfeTent start, in which Drum Mkjor was badly left • and Roxana failed to get away, led from end to end, running in an easy winner by the best part of three lengths from Swiftfopt, who defeated St. Ursula for second money in the last 50yds. Time, lmin 4|sec. Dividend, £5 123. Waiorongomai, who was bought by Mr D. M'NicoLat Wellington Park for 65gs, strikes me as a mare that will improve with age, and as her I Autumn Handicap victory proves her a speedy customer and a stayer she should win her owner some good stakes before the close of her career. Dasher, the Hon. J. D. Ormond's two-year-old, fell lame after contesting the Onslow Stakes on Monday last. The steeplechaser Levanter is announced for private sale. Daunts connections attribute his failuie here in no small measure to tha fact that Dreadnought's son is not partial to a right-handed course, and this was in no small measure borne out by the way he shaped in the big handicaps on Monday and Tuesday, as it was noticeable that he bored out in both events when galloping. One of the most disappointing candidates in the Easter and Autumn Handicaps was undoubtedly Cast Ashore, who had pleased the men of observation muchly in his work. In the Easter Handicap he was beaten the best part of five furlongs from home, and again cut up very badly iv the Autumu Handicap on Tuesday. His failure is put down to a hurried preparation. At a sale of racing stock at Messrs* Hunter and Nolan's last Friday, the Hotchkiss and Weazel gelding, The Owl, was gsld to Mr Fletcher for 42g8 ; the pony Newhaven passed into Molloy's hands at iOgs ; the trotting mare Alice was bought by Mr W. Potter at 46gs ; the trotting horse Golden King by Me J. Lecky at 27gs ; and the trotting horse Le Corbeau by Mr Hodson at 18gs It is understood that Mr L. D. Nathan has under consideration a tempting offer for Miss Rose, the- three-year-old daughter of Dreadnought and Miss Letty. ' She is certainly away above the ordinary in the pony class, as was shown on the second day at Ellerslie, when she carried the stiff impost of 9.11 to victory in easy fashion. The Auckland Trotting Club concluded a twodays' meeting at Potter's paddock on Wednesday last, and when the figures were totalled up it was seen that the .sum of £4040 had been passed ! through the totalisator3 during the course of the i gathering— a very satisfactory result, j Apropos of the Colonial Secretary's recent speech here, in which he urged trotting clubs not to allow trotting to become subservient to pony racing, it is interesting to note that of the amount speculated on the two days £2786 10s went on the pony events— considerably more than twice as mucn as ou the trots, which included eight events as against seven races carded for the liliputians. This makes one ask what trotting { clubs up this way would do without the ponies. At tin i&Titrtta&jrf toe ftkwwft. JwUx mb

the Hon. J. Carroll, Colonial Secretary, paid a visit of inspection to the club's course towards the latter end of last week. He expressed himself as much pleased at the great improvements effected by the marine suburbs racing body, and said many flattering things about their enterprise. Passing on to the question of the issuing of totalisator permits, the Colonial Secretary said it was his intention to request the Racing Conference to meet him and settle a programme for the year, so that every club in the colony would know what they weie going to get. It would relieve him of a great personal responsibility, and save bin* from the importunities of those interested in obtaining permits for certain clubs. He thought that if the liacibg Conference and himself could meet and come to an understanding upon the matter of totalisator permits for the season before it c immenced it would be to the interest of all concerned. He trusted that those who were delegates would leave local considerations aside and settle the question of the adjustment of totalisator permits for the whole colony. If those interested in racing brought their common sense and energy to bear iii elevating racing to its proper standard he did not think their efforts would be ineffectual.

The disqualification by the stewards of the Auckland Racing Club for 12 months of the wellknown Auckland trainer aud cross-country rider, J. Rae, for the foul riding of Lsvanter in the Autumn Steeplechase of Tuesday last, and for maligning and striking J. Katterns, the rider of Miss Nelson in the same race, created quite a sensation in local racing circles, though to those who witnessed the race it cm hardly be said that his punishment came as a surprise," the unanimous verdict beiug that he was bound to "go up." What, however, did come as a surprise was the attitude adopted by the stewards at the inquiry, when, instead of basing the investigation on the main issue, which, as far as the British public was concerned, was most certainly the question as to Rae's riding of Levanter— a matter that was brought directly under their own eyes — they contented themselves by inquiring into what was purely a side issue. I refer to the complaint laid by Katterns of interference with his mount (Miss Nelson), and the subsequent maligning and striking of himself by Rae in the jockeys' room. Never once during the course of the inquiry, as you will gather from the report of the proceedings sent by the Press Association, did they strike at the root of the evil ; but if one is justified in drawing conclusions from the trend of the investigation, they passed sentence on the secondary cousideiation, thus failing in no small measure in their duty as guardians of the public welfare and of the purity of the turf.

As a sequel to the Levanter trouble, the A R C. ftewaids are in receipt of a letter fiorn Mr A. E. Byers, owner of Nelson, requesting that the stakes attaching to the Autumn Steeplechase be impounded, and that further inquiry be instituted into the running of Levanter in that race. At the time of writing it was not known what action, if any, the. stewards intended to take.