AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 30 March 1904, Page 51

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Bt Taiuoa.

March Q3. Acceptances were received on Friday nigh* if or the Easter Handicap and Brighton Hurdl Eace, to be decided at the Auckland Eacing Club's autumn meeiihig on Saturday neifc ; but those who got in c-arly on Aohilhs for the Easter Handicap have been left lamenting owing to the defection of the top weight from the mile race. With the chestnut out of the way, Wairiki heads the Mst with 10.2. and although, the brown son cf Souit is called upon to perv form a pretty solid feat in running under thai" impost, he must be regarded as one of the dangerous division, as he is in rave buckle just now, and should strip at his best. So far, however, the stable do not appear to have moved in the directior; of supporting him, and. those who like Ms chance would, therefore, be well advised to stand off till they ha?s something more definite- to go on. Borneo follows with 8.G — a weight at which the son oi Leolantis reads really well, and I may say that despite his recent Heavy campaign down ihe Coast he is 'just at present looking quite as well as he reads. Nothing m the race looks more likely to score, though some of the knowing ones are found contending that Starshoot, with lib less, will bsat Borneo. r cannot, however, "see eye to eye with them, and am inclined to think they have placed rather too high an estimate on the horse's abilities. The fact that Ghoorka with 8.3 is the only representative left in by the Porirua stab'o must cause punters to treat the son of Lochiel with due respect, in addition to which it must be said thai? he is nicely treated. Of those further down the list I like nothing better than Jewellery 7.10, who last year beat everythingdn the same race bar Golden Eose, and has been showing better form during the past few weeks than at any previous period in her career. The daughter of St. Leger will hava the services of Mark Eyan in the mile race, and it will come as no surprise to find 1 her fighting it out with Eomeo. The latter is the one I fancy most, and I may add that I 3m leaving "Wairiki out of consideration at this stage for the reasons already stated. The Brighton Hur-dle Eace, in which the acceptances number 10, reads decidedly open at this juncture ; but if Val Eosa 9.10 (who has been lesponsible for one oi two very attractivegallops over the battens lately) would take it into 'his head to run kindly on the day, I would name him as the one most likely to win. He must, however, be taken on trust, and I will therefore go for a more reliable pair in Cannong-ats 11.7 and Up-to-Date 10.9 to provide the winner. Cannongute is- looking 5C per cent, better than ho "was a month or two ago The Great Northern Champion Stakes also comes up for decision on the first day, anJ now that Mr Stead has elected to keep Silkworm in the south, there shouJd be seven oi' eight starters in this event, which may also be described as open. "With Hohoro's haltbrother out of the way, Mr TTrieldander's pair — Beau Seaton and Gladstone — should be hard to beat, and tl.e last-named 1 may be the one io score. The high-priced Monoform is in tliis race, but I hardly think that the full brother to Multiform will be 'found quite ready to do himself justice by Saturday next. Tho A.E.C. Century Stakes v.i.1l be run on East&rMonday. This was regarded as a uretty good thing for Achilles, and, now that the chestnut crack is out of tho way, I think it reads a still certainty for one, and that one is "Wairikil By the- way, at may be mentioned that Achilles contracted strangles recently at Wanganui, I believe; but the fact appeals to have bsen kept a close secret, and practically nothing was known of it until Prosser landed in Auckland with Ghoorka and Boris on Saturday, though one or two of our local pencillers must have got a hint during the week that he was not corning to Auckland, as they were prepared to lay him in doubles at prices that would certainly not have been quoted had they not had something up their sleeves. Idas, whose form in the surjmer came as l disappointment to her connections, beais an improved appearance, and it will conic as no surprise to find the daughter of Seaton Delaval earning winning distinction during the A.R.C. autumn meeting at Easter. The Auckland-bred San Patricia has rot been lunning too weli since she wps taken across to South Africa, and from latest reports it would seem that she needs a rest. As il is now ceitain (hat Achilles will not b; seen at the approaching A E.C. meeting, it would that a bicker who the ether day took 100 to 33 aboiit Wairiki for the Century Stakes has none the woist of the deal. Putty ha 3 been moving along nicely in his v-ork, ar.d is another of tho local biigade, whe may be ticked o_fl ar. a likely winner during the Easter meeting. The same may be said of the Sydney mare Bother, and of Crecy xnA Hohard. The last-named ma; sneak home da one of the sprint races. Elspeth, now in J. Gai'agher's hands at Kohiinara, is reported to have done a good: galop ovei the Northern Chanmagne Stakes distance, a day or two ago. The full-sister to Cordon Eouge has certainly greatly improved since going into Gallagher's stab'es. Spalpeen's non-appearance among the. acceptors for the Brighton Hurdle race is probab'y to b' .^ccuntrd for by the fact that on V?u' c^e'ry r. p' - -■_; ft ~~i the- «' v r-f Gosbcoa r.-n'Vc 1 in mk> n cl >• a V'd laraj v.-iiert leaving the com-e Oe-ueral entries for the miner eveals to. b§

decided at the A.R.C. autumn, meeting are on the whole very good, ihe only races that have not been filled up ;s well as usual being the hurdle races.

Bartion, by Curassier — Ddosa, has been purchased by Mr S. Kohn for a Fiji 'sportsman, and was shipped to Suva last Wedeesday.

•Mr C. O'Connor, who arrived from the south 'lecently to perform his duties as official starter at the A.R.C. autumn meeting, will in all probability make Auckland his permanent home ehortly, as several country clubs iiere are iikely to seek his services.

Tho Phoebus Apollo — Musket Maid, the Phoebus Apollo — Hilda, and Soult — Princess Alice colts purchased by Mr T. Fenton, of West •Australia, at the last yearling sale at Wellington Park are to remain in this colony to fulfil •the New Zealand classic engagements fo<r K^hich they have been nominated. The other three youngsters, the Hotchkiss — Lady Augusta, the Castor — Radiant, -and the Phoebus Apollo — Chrysalite colts are to be shipped for West Australia after the A. R.C. Easter meeting. The Hotchkiss — Formo colt owned by an Auckland syndicate, has been named MonoIo«n; and although not one of the port that ehould' ba hurried, great hopes are iheld out of his emulating the deeds of his illustrious relative JjjEiutiform in due course. Severaaof the outside horses engaged at the Easter^ meetiing .here have arrived', including G-hoorka, Regulation, Madrigal, General Average, Rose Maddei, Starshoot, Boris, and Float.