AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2479, 18 September 1901, Page 47

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Bt Taihoa.

September 16.

The Avondale Jockey Club will open the racing season here with their Spring meeting of thres days, commencing on Saturday next, and continuing on Wednesday and Saturday following. The gathering is to bs held on the Ellershe course, and there is every indication of success, as the acceptances all rovind are large and the interest keen, so that it only remains with, the clerk of the weather to provide fine afternoons to give the suburban club a substantial return. Tiie principal event of the first day, the Avondale Cup, of one mile and a-quarter, should be fought out by Nonette, Formula, and Beddington, and if asked for ar opinion, I should feel inclined to vote for Formula. The Avondale Stakes should resolve itself into a. struggle between Spalpeen and Northumberland, the first-named youngster being most to mv liking, while in the Flying Stake 3 Val Rosa should be about the hardest to beat. Whatever finishes in front of Regalia II in the Hurdles must about score. This candidate has been greatly pleasing the track watchers when working over the small sticks. Martin Taylor, the well-known bookmaker and coursing enthusiast, returned to Auckland from Australia last week. He attended quite a number of the leading racing and coursing fixtures, and says there is an improvement m both branches of sport. There are so many coursing meetings on the othei side that Mr Taylor does not think it likely that any of the Australian enthusiasts will invade New Zealand next s&a&or. In speaking jf ihe greyhounds he saw, he says Aquafortis was the best. - A meeting of the ccmnittee of the Takapuna Jockey Club was 3ie!d the other day, when Mr A. Bughes, the present owner of the hurdle raoer Pokinnoko. disqualified by the club in December of 1899, made application for the removal of same. The T.J.C. authorities deckled to remit the uncxpired term, subject- to the approval of the A.R.C. Wrllstcfck, The 'brofriei ' to Waiuku. has been eased up" "again, "and 'there ,s"eeffis little prospect of the "c&lt "a preparation. Mac. Manemin, whe ha? persevered with him, was getting Well&tock in something like lacing shape when he had to throw him out of work again. When the forfeits for the A.R.C, Great Northern .Dp T by were announced, jt was found that 22 candidates remained in — 9 very satisfactory response. Hoik-ever, the constitution of the field when they come to hue up for the race, appears to "depend to no small extent on the movements of the Auckland crack Nonette, some of the owners evidently having decided to leave their representatives in pending the settlement of this question. No doubt Mr Ryan will be greatly influenced in deciding whether or not he will take Nonette to Canterbury by the colt's running a-t the Avondale meeting. Mr Stead is represented by San Patricia, and that reads about the best of the others claiming an engagement in the Derby. Shallbttck, Major George' candidate for the New Zealand Cup, has been supported for a little for that event in the south at 25 to 1, but I cannot see what causes the investment m his favour, as his piospccts of winning do not appear to be at all hopeful, while it is also veiy questionable as to whether he will be sent to Riccarton to fulfil his engagement in the Cup. By the English mail that arrived the other day Mr Alfred Nathan received advicc3 confirming th« news that the defunct stallion Fitzsimmons was covered to the extent of £ 1000 with tht International Horse Agency. The insurance was effected on Aue;xi3t 2, ar.3 on the 4th of the same moHth the son of St. Simon died. The New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race winner Haydn has been purchased by siu Auckland owner, and will go, into Frank MacMan«min's hands to be trained. Haydn was brought up from Taranaki by Mark Ryan on Saturday, an«l taken out to Ellershe. The" Ta-kapuna' "Jockey Cln) atvthonties have decided to" make* "an increase" m tile stakes to be given tfway -during 1 the incoming season, ths amount allotted in added monej foi the thres meetings being X' 5600. The- most important increase will be in the Takapuiia Cup, which witl now stand at 500sov=. Cavalry, a son of Light Aitillei"s, until recently an inmate of Mr Dan O'Brien's stable, has been drafted up to Auckland, it being understood that a local owner has bought the horse ifrom the Canterbury feportsman. Cavalry has no form to his credit, but it is just possible that the change of climate may have a benefical effect. The following foahngs have been reported during the week — Mi Moirm s AimiUa, by Castor — Necklace, colt to Hotchkiss ; Messrsi L. D. and N. A. Nathan's Cantatrice, by Goldsbrougb.—Songstress, colt to Simmer ; Mr R. Allen's Chiara, by Cuirassier — Ouida, filly, to Cyrenian, Messrs R and R. Duder's Anna, by Musket— Florin, colt to Seaton Delaval.