AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2408, 26 April 1900, Page 41

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Bt Taihoa-

Am-il 23.

Tli3 Auckland Racing Club's Autumn carnival was brought to a close on Saturday, and when the tote figures for the three days came to be totted up it was found that the club had once more established a record, the return standing at £32,094, as against £22,566 for the couesponding gathering last year — an increase of £9508.

It is rather late now to go into details concerning the various events decided on the two remaining days, but no doubt your readers will be interesteel to know how Advance, the hor&e of the season, won the rich Century Stakes and the Autumn Handicap.

When the numbers were hoisted foi the Century Stakes on Tuesday, it was seen thac Day Star; Dayntree, Cadiz, and Labourer had been withdrawn, leaving a field of seven to contest the thousand pounder. Advance, on his southern victories, had been sorted out some time back as the one hardest to beat, and this opinion having received confirmation in the running of the colt in the Easter Handicap on the previous day (he winning with consummate ease), he was naturally the centre of observation as the candidates made their appearance in the saddling paddock. Advance again stripped m rare fettle, while another that was trained right down, to the minute was Sant Ilario, tire aristo-cratic-looking son of St. Leger and Cissy, with whom Derrett was 'quietly confident of nwking a race with the favourite. II was generally admitted that Mr Stead's candidate was the one most likely to keep the favourite moving. Although Rosella and Miss Delaval both filled the eye pleasingly, they were not really taken into serious consideration; whilst St. Peter, Jim Kean, and Cadiz were recoguised as quite outclassed and the only excuse for their appearance could be the faint possibility of pulling of? the second or third money, 200sovs and lOOaovs respectively.

When they came tc undertake their rjreKminaries San Ilario hit out in a free £>nd taking style, and thougfr Advance did not accomplish such a dashing display as when sent for the Easter Hpndicap preliminary, the black colt moved most resolutely, leaving no cause for his great number of supporters to waver in their allegiance to him.

Mr Cutts was not long in getting his field away, and as they dashed under the barrier Rosella, who occupied a position o.i the rails, was quickest into prominence, while Advance, in the centre, got well away, but Sant Ilario lost three or four lengths. They had not, however, gone many strides before the favourite was in the van, and bowling along in resolute sivle, the son of Vanguard was a length clear of Rosella and Cadiz as they dashed past the main stand, with Sprit Ilario lying in fourth position, going great §uns. Advance contiuned to show the way across thp back stretch, where he was the best part of four lengths clear of the field. As they swept past the ■ux-fur-long post St.^ Peter moved ui3, bul his improved position could in no wise be looked ut>o i as a menace, as it was seen that Jenkins had a firm hold )f his mount. A couple of fivlongs farther on it \va<3 to b? seen that theie was absolutely nothing in it but the favourite, ss Derrett, on Sant Ilario, was busy with the flail, and the others were going all they knew to keep lip. Rosella, who ran into semnd pine? acioss the top stretch, made a brilliant, but expiring, effort to catch the flying Advance as they rounded into the home turn, but iust inside the distance the daughter of Seato.i Dclaval faded out of the contest, and Sant Ilario passing her without an effort just below the Derby stand, the son .of St. Leger finished tip his task most gamely under pres&ure, but was nevei realJv in it with Advance, who romped home hard held by two lengths, Rosella foui lengths away in third place. Miss Delaval and St. Peter were close up, and next came Jim Kean, with Cadiz last. The distance was accomplished in 2min 39sec, and that the naco was solid from the jump may be gathered from the intermediate stages eiven by the official timekeeper, as under: First two furlongs, 26sec ; thiee furlongs. 3Ssec ; four furlonga, 51 3-ssec; mile, lmin 46sec; last four furlongs, 53sec.

With the thumping burden of 10 5 up, showery weathei, and a holding track, speculation wa^ rife on the concluding day as to whether the connections of Advance would feel justified in sending the Vanguard coll to the 1 post in the Autumn Handicarj, but all doubts were quickly set at rest when the numbers were run \\v for the mile and a-half race, and the name of Jenkins figured opposite No. 2. The

other starters were Miss Delaval, Record Reignj Coronet, Rosella, Waiorongomai, Firefly, Lac« titia, St. Ursula, Doctor, and Aulel Reekie. Tha two big races already taken out of Advance had' left no mark on the son of Vanguard, who* turned out as fresh as paint and brimful of life. Despite his groat weight, the colt was made an odds-on favourite, while others to impress the onlookers favourably were Record Reign and Roseila, both of whom looked all tha better for the racing they had gone through earlier in the week. When the field was released Rosella was one of the quickest to move and after she snd Record Reign had alternately cariicd the field along for some distance, Auld Reekie took command. • As they sped lip the back Advance was lying about sixth, but the son o£ Vanguard, putting in a great inn afc the six-furlong post, he was found in second place a length behind the leader ere they, reached the cutting. It was all up with Auld Reekie as the half-mile post was left behind, and Advance sailed away to the front, and carrying the field along at a slashing pace he had two lengths' advantage at the home turn. ' Miss Delaval here came on the scene with a brilliant rim, ar.-l for an instant she looked like bringing the favourite io tho whip ; but this hope proved quite illusory, for at the Der.by stand it was appaient that Advance was simply playing with his field. Fy.irly romping over his opponents, Advance sailed home the easiest of winners, and it was left to Miss Delaval ancC Record Eeign to furnish the exciting point of the finish, a short neck only separating them as they dashed past the judge's box. Rosella finished fourth, a covple of lengths away, and then came Auld Rookie and Laetitia, while The Doctor whipped in tne field. The state of the going was of courss against record time, yet the distance was cut out at a rattling pace, the various stages of the race, svhich was^completed in 2min 40 l-ssec, being struck oft as under r First two furlongs, 25 4-ssec; first three furlongs, 41 2-ssec; first four furlongs, 54sec; first five furlongs, lmin 9 l-ssec ; first six furlongs, lmin 20 2-ssec ; o:ie mile, lmin 4.8 2-ssec. The last five furlongs were run in lmin 5 4-ssec, and the last four furlongs in 51 4-osec, this being where the colt clapped on the pace. On returning to weigh in both horse and rider were greeted with' round after round of rousing cheeks, the crowd recognising that the performance stamped the son of Vanguard one of the highest, class colts ever bred in the Australasian colonies.

Advance has won the last seven races foi which he has started.

The Hon. J. Carroll, Minister for Native Affairs pnd Colonial Secretary, was entertained at a complimentary banquet* by the stewards of the Auckland and Otahuhu Trotting Clubs on Thursday evening last. The function, which was held at the Metropolitan Hotel, and directed br Mr A. Drake, was one of the most liberally arranged and best-managed that has ever been held here. Mr Frank Lawry, M.H.R., occupied the chair, an<f some 80 persons, including many well-known sporting men, sat round the well-filled boards and partook of the good things provided by the -clubs, but even under the influence of the excellent wines, not o.ie of the guests proved equal to passing a nattering remark on the trotting sport m Auckland — indeed, abouL the only reference to this branch of racing was the koini]y >%>y the Hon. James, who referred to the indifferent standard of our trotting cattle engaged, the need' for the introduction of clas= trotting, and moreattention to the breeding of higher grade trotters, which he. held to be the only royal load' to the successful establishment of the sport im public popularity -in Auckland. He pointed out that were it not for the pony races on the Auckland programmes, trotting would die ig, natural death here, and certatinly there was a. good deal of truth in the hon. gentleman's statements, unpalata-ble though they may have been to those concerned.

I have it on gocl authority that the only wager won by the- connections of Advance on the Easter Handicap was a sum of £150 to£so, taken when the weights came out. The Hon. J. D. Ormond's colt Paphos was shinped back to Napier last Wednesday. " Sant Ilario and Mr Stead' 3 brood mares (Ick' Dien, Blue Fire, and Corolla), who have been located at Wellington Park for some time, also two fillies sired by Gipsy Grand, have gone back to Christchurcli.

The Wellington trainer J. Prosser, who has been here in charge of Advance, informs me that "Black Dust will be in commission for tha big events of the forthcoming 'jumping season, so we may look forward to seeing him at Ellerslie at National time. Prosser, it will be remembered, brought Opou to Auckland when he won the Grand National Hurdle Race.

From Percy Martin, the well-known Hawke's Bay trainer, I learn tha* there is no foundation fo 11 the statement in circulation that one of Tire's legs failed after his recent double success. The gelding is quite sound. In the course of the speech at the banquet tendered him by the stewards of the Auckland and' 'Otakuhu Tjoiting Clubs last week, the Hon. J. Ccrroll paid a high tribute of praise to the Auckland Racing Club, which he said was without doubt the leading metropolitan club in; New Zealand, the best equipped, best managed institution, the one most hospitable to visitors from other r.arts, and the only big club in the colony that could successfully carry on its meetings without the support of outside horses. Mean-while Secretary Percival fairly beamed on the Hon. James through his monocle, and on thpt gentleman resuming his seat returned thanks for the nice things said of the club, referred to his 25 years in ofn.ee, and after drawing attention to the fact that over £200,000 had baen given away in siakes, concluded by iouching on the impartial manner in which the Colonial Sen eta vj had guided the destinies of racing during his term of office.

Hylas, by St. Hirpc — Oap.tinieie, T7?s knocked down by auction to Mi G. Ben ting at SOsovs on Friday last, and the trotting mare Black Eess went to Mr B. Armitage at 40gs.

While it is not considered here that Screw Gun repealed hi? tiue form when defeated in; the C.J.C. Challenge Stakes, Advance's brilliant disulay in the Easter Handicap, Century Stakes, and Autumn Handicap at the A.R.Cf gathering last week must necessarily cause the meeting of the pair in the North Island Challenge Stakes to be awaited with lass public interest than would have been the case had Mr Steady three-year-old mainLained an unbeaten certificate.

The running of the Messrs Nathan's Hastings at the A R.C. Aiitumn gathering was somewhat disappointing, and I air inclined to think that he is an overrated horse.

Splendid entries have been received for the Avondale Jockey Club's Autumn meeting, to 1 be held on May 2 and 5.

The Takapuna Jockey Club is out with an attractive menu for May 24 and 26.

It is questionable whether the Messrs Nathan will send any of their horses to the Wellington meeting, as Rosella -and Co. are being taken every care of.

It is, however, quite probable that Mr Dan MacLeod will send Miss Delaval down.

Cavalier will in future be trained by John Thorpe, the painstaking young Ellerslie mentor.

The ring had a very bad time over Advance in.' the Autumn Handicap on Saturday, and so strong did the public come at him that tlia bookmakers were asking 6 to i on before clos^ ing' down on the event. One prominent per-^ ciller told me he felt almost ashamed to ask; such a price about a three-year-old colt with th:\ thumping burden of 10.5 uo. Record Reign is still under offer in Australiav but I hear that the narty on the other side do&

not feel inclined to spring the price wanted for the Castor gelding. The descendants of Seaton Delaval had a very good innings at the A.R.C. Autumn meeting, and the Messrs Nathan's sire has now claimed the parentage" oE the winner of the Northern Champagne Stakes two years in succession.