AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 47

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

BT TaIHO*.

April 14. The Avondale J.C. Autumn meeting coirmcuccs on Saturday next, and as the acceptances all round are satisfactory, the suburban* clu> should have a very successful gathering, provided the weather proves favourable. Turfites will hardly know the Avondale course of to-day, as since the clul last raced on its own ground the best part of £6000 hns been spent on improvements, and it may be safely, said that no better-appointed or more com-fortably-equipped racing track can be found outside the properties of the metropolitan clubs in the colony. In the Avondale Handicap, Beddington and Val Rosa read a likely pair to fight out the is=,ue, aiid if light weight is to upset calculatiens, it may be the New Plymouth horao Taplow, who ran so well in the Teranaki Cup nnd is so handily treated that, if he can repiSUuce, he must run a good race next Saturitufus and Princess of Thule should fill the leading positions in the Hurdle Race. T*ia ancient Mars, who, it will be remembered, fii.ished third in the last Auckland Cup, is said! to have created a favourable impression in private exhibitions over the srrall sticks, and those supposed to be in the know look to hirtj run well. Personally, of course, lam not in a position to offer any opinion, as this will be Mars's first public appearance, and I have not seen him at work. At the time or writing, it is difficult to spy what will start in' the Railway Handicap, but if left in, Defender and St. Olga may have something to Bay in the finish. In the Juvenile Stakes I take Wairiki as the one most likely to- score. Mt Evatt's weights for the Thompson Handicap, the leading event at the forthcoming meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, made their appearance during the week, and have been freely criticised here. In placing Tortulla at the-head of the list with 10.3, a matter of 51b more than he asked the daughter o; Torpedo to carry in the A.R.C. Easter Handicap, the other day, the handicapper has certainly cast the weights on a rather severe seal., as far as the Wellington mare is concerned, and the majority will no" doubt pas 3 her over _m their endeavours to locate the probable winner of the handicap. Okoari, on the other hand, has come down Blb, thus making a difference of 13lb between her and the Torpedo mare, and as she usually gives a good account of herself on the Hutt course, her chances cannot be overlooked. Others to claim attention as likely to play a prominent par., in the settlement of the race are Cannie Chiel. Halberdier, Melwood, Red Gauntlet, and Queen's Guard, and altogether the indicatior.6 are that there will ba a good field and a capital race. Val Roaa was very well treated in the Thompson Handicap with 8.5. but I understand that he will not be sent on to Wellington, to fulfil his engagement in that event, so that there will be no Aucklandowned horses competing, ?.s Mr Ryan has decided not to send Nonctte down below to run in the New Zealand St. Leger. Tha Seaton Delaval colt has had a hard season, having been saddled up on no less than 13 occasions, and his owner has wisely decided to give him a rest. Lady Avon, the speedy daughter of Soulr and First Love, has been purchased on behalf of vn Indian sportsman, and was to-day shipped to Sydney en route to the East. Thi« bloodlike little mare can. still get under the 14.3 standard, and it is therefore more than probable that her new owner has picked hei up mainly with a vjtew to pony racing, in which she should, all going well, give a good account of herself. The New Plymouth-owned horse Taplow.. which claims an engagement in the Avondale Handicap, in which he is allotted 7.0, and is looked upon in some quarters a3 likely to run well forward, arrived here from the coast undei the care of Edgar Russell during the week. • The jumper Rufus was offered for sale by auction on Friday last, but as the bidding ceased r.t llOea she was withdrawn,-