AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2523, 23 July 1902, Page 50

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

ET TiKIOA.

July 21. The New Zealai.d Gi2"d National weigh! 1 * are jr. -I to haml, a..d from a 'cursory glance at them 1 should bay that the Auckland horses are so well treated that there is bound to bs v strong r*prepental.on of junkers fi«m these palU on the scene at Riccaiton. Of the Auckland horses entered none are, I should say, nioro likely to rr.akr the tr.p to Kiccarlcn than Cam.o-gito, provided nothing goes wiong with him. He continues to move along splendidly in his work, a>id Irs connection-) me confident that, all being well, he will give a satisfactory account of himself down below, and I am in perfect agreement with them ill this view.

Our New Zealand Cup favourite Nonotte continues to make satisfactory progress, and is carrying himself splendidly. The two->ear-o.d filly Dodona (Hotchkiss — Sybil), who won the Maiden Hack Race at Wellington on Saturday for Mr P E. B?ldwin, va-a offered for rale as a yearling at Sylvia Park, but was passed in. She was subsequently sold privately to her present owner for 150gs. Her dam, Sybil, is a half-sii>ter to the defunct Wellington Park sire St. L°ger. Auckland horses had a, very fair innings at the Wellington Racing- Club's winter meeting; and tbeir sucLesa was not unlooked for by many local punters. I hear, however, that Royal Conqueror's supporters did not back then horse exton -.ive'v for the big hurdle race which fell to him on the opening day. Thr- local trainer, Jack Kae, expects to leave for Ricoarton early next week, and will take with him Mars and Matarawa. The former is looking well, and as he has shown considerate improvemeut in his jumping he is looked upon as one of the mo--t likely of the Auckland contingent to take on the Grand National Hurdle down bc'ow.

Both Cavahero and Haydn have been acquitting themselves proficiently over the steeplechase fences at Ellershe during the past few days, and as the son of Sou-wester has picked up* a geed deal lately it may not be long before we see another winning bracket opposite his name. I-lastinga, the Swttoo. Dcla,v»i gildinc Imm4

by 'the jMessre Nathan to a southern sportsman, anß destroyed at West port recently through an accident, was insured with the International Horse Agency for £200. A good deal of interest was taken here in the motion put forward by the Auckland Ciub delegates and defeated at the Racing Conference, io the effect that after August, 1904, no"programmes should be passed where the clubs' courses are less than a mile in circumference. There are evidently more clubs than the Takaptma Jockey Ciub vvhicb. ■would have been affected had the motion been carried. It was iuily expected here that it would have gone through. During the past season Royal Conqueror, •winner of the big hurdle race on the first day of the Wellington winter meeiing, has scored on seven accaaiona in hurdle races, landing upward* of £1300 in prize money. It was understood a few days back that there •was every probability of Tresham being sent across to Sydney shortly, but if the statement in circulation this week is correct those concerned must have decided on an alteration of the plan of campaign. This is to the effect that Cannongate and Tresham have been backed for all the money that could be got for the New Zealand Grand National Steeples and Hurdles.

Frank Macmanemin has secured stabling at jßiccarton for three horses. Royal Conqueror, Haydn, and Scotty are und«rstocd to be the trio to be sect south. It is more than probable that Macmanemin will take a run down kimgdf.

Rumoured here that a bookmaker and a , Stratford settler have been backing their opinion with regard to the prospects of the Auckhtnd' colt Nouette and Mr Stead's filly Cruciform hi the New Zealand Cap. Two bets of £100 each are said to have been made, the bookmaker in the one instance backing Nonctie against Mr Stead's candidate for a place Rnd for a- eeoond century to finish in front of the southern filly in the race.