AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2578, 12 August 1903, Page 47

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Br Taihoa.

August 10.

Th-ere has been no change of -front here concerning tho Grand National Hurdle Race, to br run at Riccarton on Thursday, and although there have been inquiries for others of the candidates, "the majority of local punters plump for Battleaxe. Howard will have the mount on Mars in the Grand National Hurdles.

A rumour is current in the south that Wairiki is to be sent to Riccarton shortly to complete his New Zealand Cup preparation, but 1 understand that it is not at all likely that the brown son of Soult will leave Auckland for seveial weeks to come. He is going on all right in his track work, and should go to the post dressed in his Sunday best if nothing goes wrong in the interim.

Some weeks igo I mentioned that the coif; by Cyrenian from Moonga, dam of Seahorse, had met with an injury to his leg. The latest is that 'he will probably have to be" destroyed, f piling which it is feaied that he will always carry a stiff fetlock joint.

The programme of the Auckland Racing Club foi the approaching season will be oni very similar linei to the attractive list issued last year.

After tho *:ewsi iroin CanLerbmy seme few weeks ago tc the effect that L. H. Hewitt had; goue into a private hospital in San Francisco for the purpose of having his leg amputated it ca mo as a surprise to find the Canterbury jockey hoppuig about on his understandings when the Sonoma came down from America, the other day. It will be some little time liefore he will be able to riße again, but progress is satisfactory, and he will be "as good a3 new before long. The San Francisco nitul steamer brought down six additions io tl'.e trotting stock of the colony, four of the number being for Canterbury and two for Auckland. The latter are the property of Mr R Teddy, one of them being a two-jear-old colt and the other a. seven-year-old horse. The colt is fairly well grown, but a rather plain-looking customer, and the older horse, though on the small side, fills the eye more pleasingly. Both are to be: used for slud purposes. The quartet for the south include a gelding and three mares, all of which come under the heading of pacers, and were purchased by Messrs Wettie and Price, of Christchurch, both keen judges of the trotting sport. The gelding is a bay four-year-old by Direction iiom Albina, and the marcs include a dark chestnut (e.'ght years old) by Dictator Wilkss from a Hawthorne mare, and two brown fi\ e-ycar-olds by Charles Derby — one out of Nautaka and the other out of Lottie. All six horses are at present in quarantine at Motuihi.