AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 37

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Bt Taihoa.

Favoured with glorious weather for this time of the year, the Auckland Racing Club's big "lepping meeting," the North New Zealand Grand National, was brought to a most successful issue on Saturday afternoon and today, and the two great jumping races of tho North Island may now be numbered with past history. Capital racing was provided on both days, and with large attendances and the handsome sum of £17,050 through the totalisators— . £8112 being handled on the first day and £8938 on the second — the metropolitan club have reason to congratulate themselves ou having brought to a close one of the most successful . seasons ever known in the annals of colonial lacing. The events of the meeting were the Grand National Hurdle and Great Northern Steeplechase, about which speculation had been very brisk this year^ When the figures were hoisted for the Hurdles on Saturday, it was seen that the field had dwindled down to half a dozen, the withdrawals embracing Dummy, Miss Nelson, Bellman, Kanaka, Tim, Regulus, •Boadicea, and Straybird. The defection ol Bellman did not cause any great surprise on tho day, as it had been freely hinted that the son of Tetford had gone amiss, and would nol reach the post— decidedly hard luck for his owner, Hannon, as tho good work done by the gelding of late had caused him to be considered one that must be numbered among the dangerous division. As the contestants paraded round the birdcage, all eyes were on Marina, who was, on her running at Wanganui, looked upon as quite the best thing in the race; but it must certainly be admitted that the little daughter. of Sou-wester not one that filled the observant optic as likely to gain distinction over fences, she being a mere pony in stature. However, the knowing ones were not to be thrown off the scent, and Marina faced the barrier a warm favourite for the small stick event, her handy weight of 9.11 no doubt giving many the impression that she had the race at her mercy. When they filed out for their preliminaries, no•Jiing looked, better than Nor'-west and Drum -Afajor, the former with his near foreleg in-r-ased in a bandage, the result of his mishap at Takapuna on the Queen's Birthday. As they da&hed away the black and gold hoops of Nor'west were the first to be picked out in the van. 'ihey had, however, travelled but a few' strides ore Drum Major shot into the lead, and the big son of Cuirassier showed the way over the first flight of hurdles, carrying the field along at a sound pace, and fencing in the most proficient style. Drum Major led round to the straight, half way down which he was momentarily headed by Splinter; but before they entere' l on the second mile Drum Major was again in tha van, while thus earJy the -whip was out on the favourite, who had to be ridden to keep .her up with the field. As they raced up the back May Day ran up to Drum Major, and the pair took tJie sixth hurdle on close terms, where Sfoylock md Nor'-west each began to improve their respective positions; May Day fell away beaten before the home turn was reached, round which Drum Major led, with Shylock in hot pursuit thiee quarters of a length away. On they came to the last hurdle, and as the two leaders straightened themselves out to negotiate the obstacle, there was little to choose between thorn/ while Nor'-west, who could be seen coming in fine style, was only a length and a-half away. Shylock had half a length advantage of Drum Major as they landed over the jump, and then ensued one of the most exciting finishes that has ever been witnessed in a jumping race at Ellerelie. After crossing the last hurdle, Shylock swerved out towards the judge's box, which enable Nor'-west to_get up in the centre. The son of Sou-wester headed Drum Major at the end of the main stand ; but though Nor'-west stuck to his task in tho gamest possible manner, he could not quite reach Shylock, who lasted long enough to win by a neck, while Drum Major was an excellent third. The winner, who is a six-year-old bay son of Wapiti and Portia, is a quality little pony, standing about 14hds 3Jin, and "in the Hurdles on the second day did what the majority expected he would have done in tho Grand National — found the fences too big for him and threw out at the second jump. Nevertheless, he has proved a great bargain in horseflesh, as he was picked up in March last by Mr J. B. Williamson, while visiting Manawatu, for the small sum of £60. and almost at once gave his owner a return by winning tho Maiden Hurdles at Avondale a month after the deal had been made, now following with a Grand National. The bold bid made by Drum Major was the feature of the race, in leading the field right up to the last hurdle, and finishing within, a length of the winner. The performance was undoubtedly a most meritorious one of the three-year-old son of Cuirassier, and once again forcibly demonstrated that the Messrs Duder can boast the possession of a really good colt. The weak display made by Marina was a surprise to everyone. The favourite was practically in trouble before a rnilo of the journey had been covered. Her running was too bad to be true, and the only conclusion to be formed is that she went off after her lnst gallop; a conclusion that found confirmation in her non-appearance at Ellerslie on the second day, when she was scratched for all engagements.

When the scratchings were announced for the Great Northern Steeplechase, it was seen that tho deletions for the big croas-country race were Miss Nelson, Splinter, Riot, and Glenora, leaving a field of nine to contest tho event. The top weight, with his blazed fac'o, is so well known to race-goers that the little son of The Mule was one to be easily picked nut. The Taianaki horse was held to be a shade finer than when he was here in the sumtnsr; but he stripped in capital nick. Nor'-west stepped around the enclosure with his usual jaunty air-, and from the manner in which he handled himself it was quite clear that the stiff task which he had in the Grand National Hurdle Race had not taken the steel 'cut of him. Muscatel bore a well-trained appearance, as did Crusado, who looked a greatly improved horse to what he was when raced at the Takapuna meeting. Kanaka looked bright and well in his coat, and though it had been stated that the black son of Australian hnd injured himself when he fell at Wanganui, lie betrayed no symptoms of unsoundness. Not nruch attention was paid to Magpie and Mangere, as they were looked upon as a pair ol veterans who had seen their day; while as to Dingo, he was hardly considered class enough to< succeed iv such company as that which emerged from the weighing enclosure. Nor'-"wesfc was the first to step on the race track but it was left to old Magpie to lead the preliminary gallop. As they dashed away, Crusado and Dingo were the first to move, and the latter, setting a lively pace, soon had a commanding lead. There were no mishaps until Muscatel came to grief at the ?lone wall opposite the stewards' stand. Dingo showed the way right round; but when they got to the double, Kanaka was in front, the black son oi Australian bowling along with a three-lengths' lei-1. Wlipii the back was reached, and as they ran into the plantation, and he was seen to b<

holding his advantage, his admirers were in high glee. Dummy, however, had crept up ■ into second place as they approached the post and rails at the brow of the hill, and the little Bon of Mute jumping past his opponent at the second fence, he came on down the hill in advance, and at the stone wall he had a good length's advantage in the run up the straight. Nor'-west closed up the gap separating her from the leader, and when they reached the last hurdle he was almost level with Kanaka. Thence home an exciting set-to took place; but though Kanaka and Nor'-west came along very gamely under punishment, they could not get up to Dummy, who won by a little over a length. Major Banks was unable to separate Kanaka and Nor'-west, and a dead heat was re.turned between that pair. Dummy and his lider, Johnson, were given a hearty cheer as ,they came back to the enclosure. Mr A. Bailey lodged a protest against Dummy being declared the winner on the ground of a cross, and this will be inquired into at a meeting of the stewards convened to be held this morning at the club's office. The totalisator div. was, however, paid out on Dummy, and al,though there may be grounds for the complaint, those on the stewards' stand certainly saw nothing of it. • The local jockey, Percy White, who is in indifferent health, intends going across to Australia in a day or two, in the hope that the trip way improve him -physically, i The Taranaki horse Battleaxe haa been strongly backed here for the New Zealand Cup, aio less than £2000 having been written about /the son of Hotchkiss by Auckland pencillera during the past week. Reconstruction, who met with a bad accident whilst racing at Takapuna on the Queen's Birthday, has been taken to his home at Paeroa. Veterinary-surgeon Halstead, who examined the son of Cuirassier, gives it as his opinion that the horse's near shoulderblade is fractured; in which case it may be said that Reconstruction's racing days are numbered.

Koss Heaton, private trainer to Major George, lias taken in hand a yearling filly by Nelson -from Hestia.

Explosion is receiving considerable support in the south for the New Zealand Cup, but on making inquiries* of Mr L. D. Nathan, I am assured that the owner is in no way responsible ior the money that has been invested on the son -of Cuirassier

The nominations for the Auckland Coursing Club's June meeting, which commences next Saturday, are small, and interest in the sport seems to he confined to a few directly concerned £n the running. Mr J. B. Williamson is in receipt of a cablegram from Mr Leonard Marshall stating that the thoroughbred horse Cyrenian has be«n from London to New Zealand. The }iame of the steamer by which Cyrenian is being conveyed is not given, but it will in all probability prove to be the New Zealand Shipping Company's Papanui. which is due to arrive at Wellington about the end of the present .month.