AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 37

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihoa.

May 28.

The Takapuna Jockey Club's Winter meeting has come again and gone. The suburban clubs, like the metropolitan body, can bear witness tc the growth of the popularity of the sport of kings m the northern centres. The gathering leaves Takapuna in the position of being abia to boast of yet another record, both as regards attendance and totalisator investments. The sum passed through the machines during the two days totalled ±'13,914, as against £12,026, for the corresponding meeting last year — an mcrease of jEIbSS. ±he racing, as a whole, was close and interesting, and the fields excellent. The gathering is perhaps not ot sufficient interest to southern readers to claim lengthy notice, but mention may be" made of the leading events and the form displayed by the jumping horses that figure among the accej)tois in the two big races to be decided at the Auckland Winter meeting. The Birthday Handicap, of a mile and aqnarter, attracted 11 starters, St. Ursula being the one most to the public fancy. Hastings was early m the lead, and the son of Seaton Dciaval lemained at the head of affairs for the best pait of nine furlongs, when St. Ursula, who had occupied a hanay position thioughout, aaahed up, and never leaving the issue m doubt fjpm the top of the straight, the daughter oi St. Le.>ei ciine on and won veiy comiortnbly from Auia fteekio, who just beao Hastings for second place in the last few strides. St. Ursula won the same event last year, and her victory was a veiy popular one, everybody being glad to sec that straight-going old veteran, John Chaafe, again m the winning vein, as his luck has not been oi .he best for some time past.

In the Handicap Huidles, Troubadour was a slightly better iavouute than Dummy. Contenting himself with keeping with his field during the firs c part of a mile, Troixbadour then went away into the lead, and placing several lengths between himself and the field it looked to the supporters ot the Sou 1 -wester gelding as though it were all over, bar shouting. Voltigetir 11, however, soon dispelled this idea by showing that he had yet to be leckoned with. Creeping up inch by inch the aged son of Lionel was with the favourite better than two iurlong3 from home, and as they came on locked together the issue leniamed in doubt right up to within half a dozen strides of the post, when the grey seemed to tire a bit, and Troubadour Massed the judge's box a neck to the good. Dummy was never prominent, but ne will piobably do better shortly. That Troubadour should have fcumd the task of lowering tlie colours of Voltigeur (who can only be looked upon as a moderate) requiring his best efforts is not very flatteimg, and would liardly<sSsause one to extol the chances of the son oi Sou-wester in the Grand. National.

On the &ecom3 day the principal- events weie the Second Handicap Hurdles, the Britannia Handicap, and the Handicap Steeplechase. In the first-named event ten sported feilk, Cavalier being xhe o-ie to finu the stiongest support, while Korowai was also well backed. Cavalier and Stray Bird were responsible for the gieater paii of the i mining, and the iavouinc flattered tho hopes oi his lumeious admners until the stiaight was entered in the run home, when Korowai, who had occupied a handy position througiiouc, drew up to the son ot Ctuiassier, and Irom this point the pair battled it out stride for stride, Stewaid lairly lifting Korowai home by a neck in the last tv.-o or three strides,

'Lhe Britannia Handicap wa= contested by a field of nine, Hohoro cp-rrymg a few more tickets tlian St. Uxsulp. Anticipations were, however, completely upset, as Honesty who was one ot the liist away, stayed with the leaders throughout, and won gamely under the whip by a neck from Firefly, another of the lightly-fancied division, the iavouute filling thiid place. The winner is a daughter ot Cap-a-pie and Signora, and hails irom the Waikato. She has won several races in the countiy, but this is her first victory m town company.

Of ten figuring on the caid, eight went to the post in the Handicap Steeplechase, the top-weight, Muscatel, claiming most backers, while otheio heid to have a decided chance were Troubadour and Voltigeur 11. Woolmai: made the running until the field dashed down to the water jump for the last time, where Voltigeur, who had occupied a handy position, drew on terms, and the pair raced at the obstacle almost together, but the latter striking the jump lost several lengths. Quickly pulling his mount together, Burns again set out in pursuit, and the aged son of Lionel answering gamely to the demand made upon him, crept up inch by inch, catching Wooiman at the back ol the course, and ultimately winning by three lengths, after an exciting race. Troubadour struck the post-and-rails on the top of the. hill the last time .round, thus materially interfering with his piospects of success, while the favourite, Muscatel, who was a long way behind the leading division when the water v> as reached the last time, was pulled up just after they landed on the flat. Voltigeur's victoiy was very popular, and Frank Burns, his uder, wai accoided a well-deserved ovation on bringing his horse back to the enclosure.

And now as regards the National meeting. Taking fiist the Hurdles: Cavalier, on hi& Maiden Steeplechase performance at Takapuna, failed to cpuse anything in the light of a favourable impression, but on the second day's running in the Hurdles the son of Cuirassier registered a much better performance, for with 11.0 in the sad-die he succeeded in lunning Korowai to a head. This horse has become a most proficient juniper in a very short time, and his prospects in the Grand National may be most hopefully viewed. At the same xime it must not be forgotten that we are expecting something pretty good irom Wellington, Mr G. H. Prosser's stable claiming a very dangerous pair in Black Dust and The Guard, the first named being the one that was understood to be the selected of the stable, but a whisper goes the rounds to-day that the connections will entrust their shekels to The Guard, who scoied at Wanganui on the second day last week. Drum Major's display at Takapuna last Saturday was completely devoid of merit, and one wonders how it is that he y has been accepted for, while Voltigeur's finishing right up with.Trpixbadour does not warrant one in singing the latter's praises. Coming to the Great Northern Steeplechase, it may be said that if Saturday's cross-country race is to be taken as a criterion, Muscatel and Troubadour must be struck right oiit of the big June race. As. to Dummy, there is no doubt that Percy Johnston has the little fellow in rattling good form at present — looking big ond well, and the condition having been got \ip by sheer hard graft, his chance reads second to none. Black Dust's Wanganui running leaver no doubt as to his ability to get over big country, and he may be relied upon to render a good account of himself. Rumour has it that Dentist is not too sound, while Nor'-wester's prospects are not considered g| Idie b S gj^ gg

that if it devolved upon me to at present venture a selection for the June double, I should go for The Guard, coupled with Dummy and Black Dust. We shall, however, know more of the latter pair on their arrival at Ellerslie. They are expected to-morrow. Up to the present no double has been more strongly supported than The Guard and Black Dust. The jumping horse, Perform, an inmate of Hodson's stables, misconducted himself a few days back on being saddled up to follow hounds, and as a result of his buck-juniping ruptured his diaphragm, and shortly afterwards expired. Perform, who was a son of Natator, was looked upon as a very fair jximper, and a couple of years back -non a jumping race at the TaKapuna Jockey Club's Winter meeting, following this up a week or two after by accounting for the Tally-ho Steeplechase and Maiden Steeplechase at the A. R.C. Grand National gathering. For some time past he had not figured under silk, having been under suspicion of unsoundness. While performing a gallop with Drum Major the other day, Foul Play, who was credited with being the makings of a very good horse over the small sticks, broke down.

That promising jumper, Cuckoo, who met his death during the running of the Wanganui Steeplechase, is understood to have been the property of a well-known traveller foi an Auckland soft goods house. Dummy, Muscatel, Tanagon, Heart Whist, and Tukapa arrived by the G-airloch on Wednesday last to fulfil jumping engagements. As anticipated would probably be the case, Mr Roulston has withdrawn Kecord Reign from the Grand National Hurdles as a result of hi? contention that he had been too highly estimated by the handicapper for one making his fir&l appearance in big company at the jumping gome. The Pukekohe sportsman has, however, entered the big son o~ Castor for the two welter events. Although Rhino was withdrawn from Wanganui engagements lsst week it is understood that he will be sent on to Auckland. Eton, the son of Castor and Lady Walmsley, will not agam figure on. the iurf, but will in future be devoted to stud duties. His x 310" bable destination is the West Co^st of Lhe North Island. .The Wellington Paik stud master no; having leceived news of the shipment of the English sire, Phcebus Apollo, lias cabled to his agsat in the old country to ths effect that the St. Simon stallion must leave immediately for New Zealand. The Taranaki-owned Hauionga, who had been mentioned as a promising one over crosbcountry, was seen out in the Maiden Steeplechase at Takapuna last Thursday, when he failed to show decent staying ability, although the distance was only frno miles, cutting sach a sorry figure that he could hardly be Classed a moderate. The stewards of the Auckland Trotting Club are just now btisily engaged inquiring into the cognomen of a pony that competed at the club's recent Autumn meeting. There are those who are rude enough to suggest that the name under which, the pony raced will prove to be other bhan that under which it was previously known. Mr Jaa. M'Leod has disposed of the stallion Billingsgate Lo Mr Scott, of Parua Bay, and the old son of Izaak Walton was shipped"to his new home last Friday.