AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2647, 7 December 1904, Page 51

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

B y taihoa.

December 5. There was a great weeding out on Friday night, when acceptances fell due for the Auckland Cup, Railway Handicap, and Steeplechase, to be decided at i'Te A.E.C. summer meeting. Only 10 remain in the Cup, for which. Mr Stead's sole representative, Cruciform, is a strong tip, though punters do not apparently regard it as an absolute moral for the southern sportsman's fine mare, as others have been made the medium of support. Mahutonga is looking big and well, and though, the son of Quilt has not been asked to do a great deal since he canie to Auckland, he is one that fills the eye as a Cup horse. Mr E. J. Watt is represented by Melodeon and Starshoot, andN it is thought in some quarters that the lattery who is well in. with 7.8, and has presumably; proved his ability to stay two miles, will be ■ that gent's selected oa the day. If so, the 1 little son of Hotohkisa is one that should make a good fight of it against the top-weight. Romeo con hardly be counted out, but he is one whose chances I would prefer over a shorteidistance of ground; and the same remaik may, be applied to Scotty, who is, however, in xara trim just now, and must have satisfied his| connections that he is a better stayer than] moat of us gave him credit for being. Pros-

stable is represented by Ghoorka only, ft- and from -this fact I suppose we must regard £nhim as one entitled to respect. More may be sH«aid about the Cup later on, but at present I &:- «hould be inclined fb name Cruciform as the SSrone most likely to score, and Mahutonga and as the pair to give the St. Leger lltnare-lmost trouble. Seventeen remain in the feaiauway Handicap, and it is thought that Mr |>6tetd holds the key to the position with Sajghroury and Rubia, the first-named being most «i»ncied. Another southern acceptor entitled §etp - consideration is the Wallace filly Ailsa, pCwhile of the local lot Marshal Soult should E run as well as anything. Of the eight accepSfjrtoTS in th« Steeplechase, Up-to-Date is the one @gto claim the most pointed attention from in|rv«stors, and I fancy that the half-brother to givEecord 'Reign will prove capable of doing the jil&ick. southern mare Catherine Gordon p)will probably be found his most dangerous " A ' one"-time well-known sporting^ joiunalist the person of Mr Andrew Jackson passed Spv«r~to the great majority during the week at Wak J comparatively early age of 46 years. Up SSH'four years ago the deceased was sporting lldrtor of the Auckland Star, and his turf notes Appeared in that paper for many years under jjjj^ ff ' norn de plump of "Hippona." 111-health jpoinpelled his retirement from literary work, WoA a seizure of paralysis was the cause of competing in the Spring Handicap !i£ith« Takapuna Jockey v Club's meeting on |M[ednesday last, the horse Maro toppled over and injuredthis spine, with the rehad to be destroyed. Maro, who purchased by ,J. Thorp, the well-known EpElterslie trainer, from Jervis 'George^ a ,few p||S^»' ago, landed the Te Aroha Cup about a back in his new owner's colours. ,The ton- of . Lebel - was an honest* little and won several races for Jervis George. IHp.-The double, Cruciform and Ailsa, Auckland IpCtip and Railway Handicap, was made the pitedium'of strong support here on Thursday P^fiwt. The defection of Sfow Tom from the H^Auckland Steeplechase last Wednesday came &;«#"• bit of a surprise, as only a day or two %i»fore news came through, from the south to "effect that the son of St. Ives was a likely ; Starter for the cross-country race at the A.R.C. ': summer meeting. ; -( 'At • meeting of the committee of the Auckc_, (add "Racing Club last Wednesday a recentlyffe kdopted .resolution, empowering bookmakers |;jpther than those belonging to Tattersalls to tat the cluß's meetings subjeot to . the of the committee waa recinded, and I^V^lras decided that the privilege should be l^kitended to members of New Zealand Tatterg^all's only." Wi- -The aoara Dolor«s is to be put to the illegitippjnate game 1 , and will probably make her debut p'tver- th& small fences at the A.R.C. summer has engaged three boxes at Warestablishment at Ellerslie, and is expected Auckland in the course' of a few days with ||||hre»^of Mr Friedlander's horses. M'Hugh, trainer for Mr Sam Bradley, from Australia a few days ago, and gSfcUites that Wairiki will probably be shipped Auckland in about five or six weeks' gsEpEhe committee of the Auckland Racing Club the -question of introducing the/doubleigvyent'machine at the" club's "Summer' meeting cbhsideiUtion last Thursday, but decided &Ik> Vpostpdne ,th€ matter. It is" thought that jgagieze^irill ne cbnEiderable "opposition to the J, Watt ha* engaged three boxes at of Eriii Hotel, and it is"expected UShaVJiis team* fox the A.R.C. summer - meeting llJfriir consist of Melodeon, Starshoot, and King Takapuna J.C. spring meeting was sflwronght to a close last Wednesday afternoon, siphon the weather was fine, the attendance |j«oodr and speculation brisk. The aum of g. 1*6732 -(including- £519 on the double-event' g:*nachine), being, passed through the totalisagiving £14,389 for the meeting, or £434 p£.taore than last -year. The principal event on g*lie second day was the Spring' Handicap, for pwhich Geordie (who landed the big race on fijoih first day) and Avalanche were about equal ||**Kvourites. Geordie's display was distinctly g^Bappbinting", but -Avalanche gave her adsgmirers no roonf for complaint, as, after lying f?ia.« good 'place in the early -stages, the little spoaughter of Soult dashed intp the lead three K,lfur!ongs from home, and, finishing up her task g.|in vigorous and attractive style, she scored gj by four lengths from Zuleika. Investors could & ttot decide between Princess of Thule , and 'f Dingo in endeavouring to sort out the likely f ' lividend-payer in the Handicap Steeplechase, which a field of six started, and all stood ;^^p. They lad not gone a mile before Dingo & Jiegan to drop -back, and was soon clearly out C^pf the hunt. Loch Lomond, Reckless, and ; Hinau made the bulk of the running, but .yfwien. they- hopped "over the water jump the ig-wwt time, and set- out for the closing circuit yz pn the course proper, Princess of Thule, who L bad -all.'ulong beenjkept within striking dis■gjance, began to move up. Five furlongs from H^iaome it was evident that the > daughter of f.-lioid of "the Isles would score, bar accidents, iV,»nd, making no mistake, she cantered in five gJengths in front of Wairaka.