AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 41

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihojl.

December 3. The -withdrawal of Advance and Seahorse' fiom the Auckland Cup on acceptance night' leaves Malatua- at the head of the handicap] with 8.7, and though the majority will no doubt be inclined to look upon the son of Malua a3 overrated it would seem that his owner, Mr Dan O'Brien, is of opinion that his horse's form at the recent Christchurch meeting was all wrong, or surely he would not' think of sending him north. However, he will have to do something good in the way of' a gallop before confidence in liirn is restored! here. With lib less Fulmen has been given) his full deserts, but as the son of Castor is a' proved stayer he is at least to be treated with! some respect on that score. Tortulla is in. 1 her right place with 8.5, and with this hendy{ weight she will no doubt claim attention, fos?' while she failed miserably with a bit leBS in/ the .New Zealand Cup, I think it may be takezu' for granted that she was not seen at her bestff Coronet, who has acted as runner-up in thef Cup for -two years, is very well treated with' 8.4, and if he proves equal to running as good! a race as last year, when it was considered that he was not handled with good judgment, ha is 'one that must be placed with the dangerous division. La Gloria 8.3 showed what a TeaUyj good mare she is at the A.R.C. Spring meeting, when she won up to a mile and a-half in fine style, cutting out the last four furlongsl in a tick over 49sec. That she should be found running so strong at the end of a mile and a-half shows plainly that Ehe can stay, and although 1 should prefer to see her over the mile and a-hali rather than the two miles it vould be impossible to pass by her under the jircumstances, a.nd I shall, therefore, keep her on my side. Blue Jacket 8.3 has done nothing to speak of as a five-year-old, but I am inclined; to think that he was hauled out before he wasi ready, and as his recent racing did him good! rather than harm, the chances are that the sort of St. Leger will tfe an improved horse by the time the Summer meeting rolls round. At hi 3 best he certainly would have a chance. Miss Delaval, on the same mark, has every pound to which she is entitled, and for that matter just a trifle more, while Hohora, who is also one of the 8.3 division, will probably find! the trip too long for him. Although Ideal B.ok ran all light in the New Zealand Cup sha was then carrying 9lb less than her present impost, and all things considered I am not in-, clined to favour her chance for the Auckland! two miles tinder the increased poundage. Beddmgton 7.6 is another that can hardly be re-* garded as a stayer, and perhaps the only onei down towards the tail end of the handicap to be given a chance is Skobeloff 7.4, who, though! not having done anything of note in public, must evidently have satisfied Mr Stead that he can both gallop and stay, otherwise it ia hardly likely that the Canterbury sportsman; would have persevered with him to the extern? he has done. To name four, I shoulcJ. bay that the winner should come from Fulmen, Tortulla, Coronet, and La Gloria.

Major George is the sportsman I mentioned! last week as likely to take up his residence in Melbourne. The major's property, Wapiti, is under offer, through Messrs Buckland and Sons, to a local racing man.

Mr John Marshall, the breeder of Cannongate, is having a three-year-old gelding by Leohnus—Fishfag brought down from, his farm! at Wr.iuku. The gelding has been broken in. and handled, and is said to be an accomplished fencer.

J. B. Williamson informs me that the foal-* ing season at thp One Tree Hill stud has concluded, the last arrival at the estate being ai colt by Eton from Kitty Flynn (by Trident— Alcestis).

Other, foalings announced during the week are: — Messrs R. and R. Duder's Annabelle (by Lionel — Anna), colt to Cuirassier; N. Dickey'a Megculet (by Anteros), chestnut colt ta Brookby; Victress (by Vortex — Georgi), chestnut colt to Brookby; Boadicea (by Tetford — Virginia), filly to Reconstruction; Mr Donald! M'Kinnon's Dreamland (by Cadogan — Siesta), colt to Flintlock; Mr T. W. Deacon's Lucy Locket (by Fitzhercules — Casabianca), filly tc Ben G-odfrev.

It is anticipated that the Hon. J. D. Ormoncl will be strongly represented at the forthcoming A.R.C. meeting. Major George is disgusted with The Mastex and lie will be offered for sale without reserve at Buckland's saleyards on Friday next. Towards the latter end of the week Coronet was backed to win the Auckland Cup for a few hundreds at tens to one.

On Friday Cast the thoioughbreds in the bsrkrupt eytate of G. C. Caulton were offered for sale, but the only one to realise anything like a price was Porangi Potae (by Castor — Madcap), who was purchased by. "Mr Leoas''"'

Marshall at 90ge. She goes to the One Tree EM stud. ! . ,The leading quotations for the Auckland Cup fixe: 100 to 20 Tortulla, 100 to 18 La Gloria, 400 to 16 Fulmen, 100 to 12 Miss Delaval, 100 jto 11 Coronet, 100 to 10 Malatua, 100 to 8 Blue 'ffacket, Hengist, and Ideal; 100 to 7 Bedding100 to 6 Military and Dayntree, others from fIOO to 5 upwards. L' While being exercised at Ellerslie on Friday morning, Mr Donald M'Kinnon's two-year-joid colt G-atelock swerved in a gallop, and, getting rid of his rider, ran into the fence surrounding the number board, where a large (Staple sticking out entered his chest, inflictj/ug a wound. The wound was stitched up by Halstead, but of course IGatelock's two-year-old prospects have been completely wiped out as the result of the acxident, while it is quite possible he may never again be of any use for racing purposes. The anishap is generally regretted, and much sympathy has been extended to the Waikato sportspx.an in his misfortune, it being understood jtbat he was very sanguine the cold would vendor a good account of himself. k J , I fancy we have Been the last of Drum Major }on th? track for some time to come, probably ior all time, as when the commanding-looking {son of Cuirassier walked in after getting rid of 'hits rider at the last fence in the First Hurdles |at Takapnua last Wednesday, it was seen that fhe was dead lame. The seat of the trouble ■as the off fore fetlock joint, and as I have mentioned above it may prove 'serious enough to cause his withdrawal from the turf. ?' As the result of a little dispute after the Handicap on Wednesday last at Taka--puna between Dan M'Leod and Donald M'Kinpon as to the relative merits of their colts f'Scotty and G-atelock respectively, Mac threw yout a challenge for a race and Donald irajanectiately accepted. It was for the trifling jcsum of £1000 a-side— at least one would have Hihought t-he sum trifling, listening to the glib fznanner in which the pair talked thousands in {•■ohe course of their argument, and it was arranged that £500 each should b& put up next day, (and the balance on the Saturday preceding the jdate fixed for the race. Both turned up all ia ; ight with the deposit, and aocompanied by 'solicitors and friends, proceeded to draw up 'conditions, but were eventually persuaded by ["iheir friends to cry the match off and shake 'inands. Both offered opposition to this course, j<hut 1 do not think that either was really sorry. [Gatelock, as mentioned in an earlier paragraph, injured himself two days afterwards. I Stall accommodation at the Harp of Erin I 'liotel, Ellerslie, ha 3 been secured for Mr G. i JO.' Stead's teiin for the A.H.C. Summer meet- j sng, six boxes having been engaged by the 'Canterbury sportsman. A similar number ihave ako beeu engaged for the Hon. J. D. Or- j ■anend and Mr J. Prosser, who is said to be | '"bunging Advance with him. f Fulmen is expected to arrive here by the iWaihora on Thursday next to fulfil his Auckland Cup engagement. I' There is little or no speculation in connection .with the Auckland Cup. I1I 1 The Takapuna Jockey Club Spring meeting jof two days was brought off on Wednesday and [Saturday last, when the weathei was beautiifully fine, the attendance large, and the satisfactory sum of £15,894 was handled on the Jtotalisators — altogether a most successful 'gathering. Tho principal events of the first Jday were the Handicap Hurdles, the Cambria" •Handicap (for two-year-olds), and the St. Anfclrew's Handicap. In a field of nine contestants Kissaline was sorted out as the one most Uikely to score in the Cambria Handicap, but favourite, who got badly -away, never got Within striking distance of the winner, Avho jfcurned up in the lightly-fancied Scotty, he /being prominent right from the early stages, and easily beating Ragabrash in the run home. iScotty, who is an attractive s looking son of St. DJeger and the Castor mare 0 anet, was bred by <Mr T. Morrin, and at the last Wellington Park fcsale he was purchased by Mr D. M'Leod for ]Soogs. Mr M'Leod was not prepared for Scotty tio score, and he did not have a shilling invested Jon him. There were 11 starters for the big sace of the day — the St. Andrew's Handicap — Ahe withdrawals being Ladlock and Regulus. CRosella and St. Peter were almost even favourites, but the first named held a slight advan,tage over her rival in the letting. Jumping jaway to a beautiful start the colours of Honesty and Eoaella were' quickest into prominence, and the former streaking away to the :iront, had at one stage placed a gap of nearly five lengths between herself and the field. She 'led right round until the far turn was reached, „where St. Peter drew on terms, and that pair came into the straight together at the head of the field. They were, however, rapidly ■wearying of the struggle, and were both beaten before the distance was reached, where Knight of Athol was in the lead, and he looked like winning. A little further on, however, Dayntree came along with a strong run, and wearing him down a few strides from the post, came on and won a really exciting race by half a length. Mr T. Morrin had the distinction of breeding the whole of the place-getters. Volcano and Tahaka were the scratchings in the Handicap Hurdles, leaving half ' a dozen' to fight out the issue. Drum Major was served Tip, a hot favourite, while Hvlas was next in demand. Tim, closely attended by the favourite, made the greater part of the running, but tvhen the top stretch was reached the last time it looked as though anything might win. Whips came out all round, and a few strides further on it was seen that the favourite was beaten, ,*hu3 leaving Tim with a couple of lengths' lead in the run up to the last fence, which he negotiated in good style, Drum Major striking the hurdle and unseating his rider. Voltigeur II made a determined effort to reach the leader in the run home, but the Woolbroker gelding lasted long enough to win one of the most exciting and interesting hurdle races seen on (the course by a length. A. Hall, rider of Drum ■Major, was biought in unconscious, but soon recovered, and was none the worse but for the nasty shaking. Drum Major walked in lame. The second day the principal events were the Handicap Hurdles, the Spring Handicap, and ilu. Handicap Steeplechase. The Hurdles attracted a field of five starters, the withdrawals ■being Tim and Voltigeur 11. Hylas was the one most fancied by investors, and Bellman was another to find a large measure of support. Bellman and the favourite were the first ,to move, and they wore responsible for the running until tho fence just below the press box was reached in the homii circuit, where Troubadour closed up into second place. There ,was little to spare between Bellman, Troubadour, and Hylas at the far turn, and whips Coming out all round, a capital race ensued, in which Troubadour, who had just a bit the best of the deal at the last fence, lasted long enough to score by half a length. The owner of Hylas entered a protest against the race going to Troii badoux on the grounds of interfering at the last jump, but after hearing the evidence the stewards dismissed the protest. When the 'aumbers were hoisted for the race of the day — the Spring Handicap — it was found that Winsome, Toroa, and Doctor had been struck out, leaving » field of nine starters. Honesty was favourite, and Firefly was also well supported, Taut both wen in. trouble three furlongs from 'home, and the lattei faded right out of it when they got to the home turn. Hastings here had a load of several lengths, and his victory was loudly proclaimed, but St. Peter came along ■with n strong run when their heads were fairly in a line for home, and caught his opponent liali a dozen strides from the post, wore him down, and won by three parts of a length. There was not a single withdrawal from the Steeplechase, the splendid field of a dozen going

to the post for the cross-country race. Voltigeur II was a strong tip, with Dingo second' in demand, while others witli a good following were Cannongate and Straybird. The favourite, however, early settled all question as to his chance of scoring by coming down at the water jump the first time round, and although Buries remounted and once more set out after the field, the gap that separated him from the others was so great that he recognised the task as a hopeless one, and pulled the old grey out as they entered on the last circuit. Here Kowhai ran off, leaving Cannongate, who had

always been well up in the front division, in charge, and the son of Cannon, holding the opposition at his mercy, went on and won easily by five lengths from Straybird. Two or three falls occurred during Ihe race, but happily without serious results, though on one occasion it looked as though a rider was likely to meet with serious injuries, if not worse. This was Geddes, who had the mount on Rufus, who struck the jump on the hill at the back of the stand, and dislodged his rider, whose foot was seen to remain in the stirrup iron, and it looked as though he would be dragged along the ground. Fortunately, however, the horse only moved a stride or two, and then remained quiet, allowing the foot to become disengaged, much to the relief of the onlookers who had noticed Geddes's perilous position.