AUCKLAND TOPICS

Otago Witness, Issue 2388, 7 December 1899, Page 37

AUCKLAND TOPICS

Br TAtßoa.

December 4.

The Takapuna Jockey Club inaugurated its Spring meeting of two days on Saturday afternoon, when the -fine weather and a good acceptance combined to attract some 4000 visitors to the pretty courso at the marine suburb. Capital sport w&» provided during the day, and the sum of £6662 was passed through tho totalit ator.

The day's racing was opened with the Trial Handicap, one mile, which attracted a field of seven starters, of whom The Afghan was most in the liking of investors. A rank outsider iv Bar the Door, a four-year-old bay gelding by Matador, complotely upset all calculations by jumping into the lead at the outset, and, never being headed, winning by a length from Hamoa and Jim Kean, each of whom made a game but fruitless effort in the straight. The Afghan fell at the bottom turn, and as Gamsford, who had the mount on the favourite, lay motionless on the ground, it was feared that he had been seriously injured, but happily he -was found to be none the worse, but for a nasty shaking. Time, lmin 47 2-ssec.

Takapuna being withdrawn left a field of five to contest tho two-year-old raco, the Cambria Handicap, six furlongs, for which Lady Avail was slightly better itwouritc than Baibirnio. Balbrmie and Rosiphale were quickest 0:1 their feet, but they had not gone two furlongs bafoie tha field bunched up, and they were still all in it when heads turned into the straight for the run home. Here Zealous had ju3fc a bit the best oi the top weight, and the daughter of rJolson and Moonga, holding her own in the battle to the box, landed a neck winner from Matainata Tarekiki, Lady Avon finishing third. The winner is a full sister to tho crack colt Seahorse, is built on liberal lines, and gives promise of furnishing into something good with a littlo more age. Time, lmiu 21 3-6 sec.

Ten sported silk for the principal event of the day, the St. Andrew's Handicap, ono mile and a-quattet, those who3e names had the scratching pen drawn through them being Doctor, Porangi Potas, and Regulue. Blue Jacket, on the strength of a rattling good go over a mile and a-quarter at Ellerslie on the previous Thursday morning, was sorted out as the most likely to furnish the winner, while others to find considerable support were Cavalier and St. 'Ursula. The favourite and Halberdier -were amongst the first to move, and the latter, taking command before a furlong had been left behind, made the running through the top stretch and \xp the straight past the stand, whore Blue Jacket was still lying second, three parts of a length away. A few strides further on the top weight headed Halberdier, who dropped back into fourth place as they ran across the back stretch to the home turn, where Coronet and St. Ursula drew up to the leader. The black and arrrber hoops right 011 the rails ■were, however, still most prominent when the straight wj entered, where Coronet challenged, and a desperate struggle between the pair resulted in favour of Blue Jacket by half a neck, tho brown son of St. Leger and Antelope answering again and again to the call made on him by Hall. Auld Reekie shot out just below tin main stand and beat St. Ursula for third place. Crusade finished fifth, Admiral H-iwko sixth, and' Halberdier whipped in the field. Time, 2min 12 2-oHec. If the winner goes on satisfactorily in his preparation for the Auckland Cup he will, under 7.9, shake some of them up, for while ho has certainly been n disappointment over since hv9 Derby win at Ellerßlie last New Year's Day, I take it that want of condition has baen mainly responsible.

The Handicap Maiden Hurdles, about ono and a-half miles, was contested by a field of eight. Snider being sent to the post a decided favourite. Thelraa was responsible for the bulk of the running, but fal'ing out of the contest at the back the second time round, allowed Dingo to take command, . and although BeTry ' made desperate efforts on the favourite, the son of Sou- wester lasted long enough to win ■ by a length and a-half. The winner is an aged son of Sou-wester and Betty. The .result might have been different had Berry, on Snider, not contented himseU with lying right away behind his field until too late. Time, 3min 41 l-ssec.

Fourtpen faced the barrier in the First Hack Handicap. Ive furlongs, the bulk of the money going on Hoharo and Swiftfoot. Hoharo, who created some trouble at the post and succeeded in dislodging his rider (Satman), who. however, apain re-mounted, was aepn to be badly li>ft when the field was despatched, but despite the lo?s of several lengths, wn.s with the bunch again at the borne turn, and shooting up on the outside as (Tieir heads were turned into the eh aight. came on and won comfortably by a length from "Khama. The winner, a goodlotkinq threo-ypa--old bay gelding by Tasmnn out of Lad/ Moth, was certainly one of the best things saddled up for many a long day at Takamma. Swiftfoot was jammed in the ruck and nevpr got a chance to get through. Time, lmin 6 3-ssoc.

Kitty O'Flynn and Blue Paul were sorted out as the most likely pair to fiorht out the issue in the Pony Handicap, six furlongs, but Lena, who pot nil the best of a straggling star', showed the -way risht through, a.nd scored easily by two lensths from Kitty O'Rlynn, in lrniu 20 2-opec. Thp winner is a six-year-old doughter of Dprring«»r and Nina. The QneenKland iockpv, Mark Ryan, who had the mount on Blue Paul (who was irpctiow -at the po«t and several times succeeded in unseating his rider, and eventually was left four or five lengths}, was railed before the ptewards after the rpce tooxplain bis riding. A.s .1 result of the inquiry the stewards arrived at tho conclusion that the lockey had net nersevered with his mount, and he was ordered to -aland down for thp remainder of the uipetirsr. Persorallv I think tho iocVpv waa rather harshly treated, and that in truth he b? no means relished the ride on Blue Paul.

Five was the main in tho First Handicap Plurdlpa, two mile 3, Verdi being made a strong tip. Thp favourite was with them for a mile and n-half, but at this point faded out of the contest, leaving Volcano ahead of Evening Wonder and Snider, and jumping in good stylo he camo on and scored very easily by three lengths from Snider. Time, 3min 58 2-ssec. The winner is a six-year-old brown gelding by Tornedo from Maid of tho Mountain.

The programme concluded with the C" ?lterj3 ham Handicap, five furlongs, for which eleven weighed out. St. Elmo attracted most attasiion, but Kettledrum, who could only boast IS admirers in all, ran into the lead at an early} stage, and, never being headed, "won by a shorj half-length, according to the judge (though it did not seem as much to many of the onlookers), from Dayntree, after a desperate *c - to. A protest was lodged by the owner of tho second horse against the stake being awarded to Kettledrum on the ground of inconsistent running, tho horse having competed in ±hi First Hack Handicap under 9.0 earlier in the day, -without success, and also on the ground that he had crossed Dayntree in the straight. The jockeys and several other witnesses were called, and, after .considerable deliberation, the complaint as to inconsistent Tunning was dismissed, and the second charge — that of crossing — was upheld, and the stake was awarded to Dayntree. Kettledrum's time was returned as lmin Ssec.

Tho A.R.C. authorities have every reason to feel satisfied with an acceptance of 19 for tha Auckland Cup, and that Sant Ilario remains among the number adds interest to the event, which, in the absence of Seahorse, seems likely ±o be fought put by Explosion, Record Resign, and Mr Stead' 3 roi)re3entative, but of this more anon. Explosion is a warm favourite, being quoted at 5 to 1, while Record Reign is quoted at 6 to X, and Coronet, Btvttleaxe. Sant Ilurid, and Blue Jacket at 8 to 1.

Of the seventeen remaining in the 'Railway Handicap, nothing reads better than Rex, who is rapidly being got into racing condition by Jack Booth, ivhilo Nor' -west and Dentist ar-a still tho best oi tho eleven who have paid up for the Steeplechase.

The seji3&tion of the week was the withdrawal on Friday fdrenoon of from the Auckland Cup, and as tho Major's threo-year-olfl champion had been already mado "the medium of considerable speculation by" the outside public there were a good many long faco* in tow*;. There is no doubt reason for commending tliß owner on the early scratching of the colt, fot had lie been accepted for before being scratched the public would certain'y have suffered very severely. Even is it was, one local penciller, fielding strongly on the Auckland Cup, claims to have netted £150 orer the scratching of the son of Nelson and Moonga. Speculation is, ql course, rife as to the reason of the withdrawal of &iich a prime favourite, and the weight oi opinion favours the idea that the Major considers Mr Evefct has dealt out a somewhat severe impost in awarding the colt 8.12. Thai the weight is a stiff one no one will dony, yet it can harly be said that the Aucklnnd handicapper has dealt harshly with Seahorse, for after bsating Explosion in decisive "fashion afc a difference of 81b in the New Zealand Cup, we now find the weight adjuster asking him to nieefc the four-year-oJd son of Cuirassier on a 'pound better terms in the AuckJand Cvp — a isiate ot affairs that hardly leaves loom for argument that Seahorse has had any the worst of it, as far as Explosion is concerned. Probably when the truth leaks out we shall find the scratching of Seahorse was due to other reasons then thnt of weight; but, whatever be the cause, the withdrawal of the crack three-year-old will certaiuly give a morp interesting race to deal with, as speculation will not now be so limited.

Hengist, -the high-priced St. Leger — Hilda colt, owned by tho Hon. Hugh Mosnian, is being got ready for the Auckland Racing Club' a Summer meeting

The Auckl.-ind'Trolting Cliib received no lesfl tlian 410 entries for its Summer inectius; of three dnys, which presents a record entry for a hotting institution here. Evidently the sport is going to flourish 'under the new regime.

The two-year-old colL by Fabulist frorii Acacia, was put tip to auction on Friday Iti3t to settle a partnership account. The youngster, who is undoubtedly one of the best grown colti about Auckland, alboit a trifle narrow behindi looked in splendid trim, and bidding wan spirited, running up to 300gs, at which the son of Fabulist was knocked down to his trainer, Goorge Absohim.

On the strength of a good gallop of onco round a day or two back, Pokomoko has been supported for the Auckland Cup for a few hundred at 100 to XI.

Tho American stallion, Gilead. leaves hero for San Francisco during the Christmas "vacation. The Yonkco sire, who has been under the caro of Alex. Williams, at Ellerslie, has had a very fair season locally.

Nestor is again amiss, and has been thrown out of work.

Mr R. H. Skipwith has had St. Simon brought dov.-n from Mr D. M'Kinnon's farm, nt Ohinewai, where the son of St. Leger and Winnie has been in retirement for 12 months, which should have afforded him every opportunity te get well again. St. Simon will be taken to (lisbornc shortly, where, after being hacked foi some months, the crack hurdler will be put in work for the illegitimate season. The old Splendour gelding, Panoply, has been sold to Mr Francis Urwin, of Monsronui, and was chipped to his new homa lasb Wednesday. Panoply, who, after a spell of eight or nine months, was again put in comruiasion a few weeks back, should pick up a crumb or two at country meetings.

There -now seems no doubt that the Canterbury sportsman, Mr G. G. Stead, will be represented a,t- our Sjimmer meeting, as he was already .taljen ft ra.nge of stabling at Ellerslie. It is, doijiitfuj if, any insn in Auckland' waa more plcas.ed at the. announcement of "the withdrawal .of Seahorse from the Auckland Cup than G... Weight, the trainer of Explosion, who estimates Ma"jor George's three-year-old crock n. better horse over two miles than was St. Hinpo.

Foalinga announced during the week are : Mr _T. Morr in's Lady Wellington (by Musket), colt to Castor; Valentine (by Leolinus — Lyra), colt to Hote'ikUq ; Hon. Hugh Mosman's Dinawar (b> Artillery), colt to Seatrp Delaval.

M» S. C. Caulton's racing string vpnt undez tho hammer on Thursday, but bidding was slack, and the majority of the lots were passed. The 7028 offered for Porangi Potao was the biggest figure of the -afternoon, but the daughte- of Castor was not quitted at that prirp.

It is pleasing to note that while the Great Northern Derby is generally looked upon ns the best of eood thingp for Seahorse, there -were nine left in when the acceptances closed last evonine, includirg Mr Stead's roprpsentotivo, Sant Ilario, of whom it is considered we have not yet seen the best by a long way. Another fact worthy of mention is that Sc~pw Gun lemains in Ihe Royal Sfcafcos — au "ndication that the Canterbury sportsman will be stronglr represented at ouv Summer meftin^ aft<«r aIL T hear on soocl authority that lioogs has b»en offered for tho tvn-ypar-old Vol Rosa, but tho ov, ners we'e no f , disposed to p?rfc company with '■ha poa of SaatoH JDolaval ar.d Vieux Rose at the figure named.