AUCLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2654, 25 January 1905, Page 51

AUCLAND TOPICS.

Bt Taihoa. -

January 23. The Takapuna Jockey Club's stunmei meeting will be commenced on Saturday next, and subject to favourable weather conditions tb.6 suburban club should hays a successful gathering, as the fields promise to be good, and the -(•aimers appear to Ije well concealed. Ths principal race on the opening day will be the Takapuna Oup, for which the starters are expected to number seven. The top ■weight (Scotty) and Strathavon, the latter of whom has been moving along in most attractive style in his work? are the pair most to my liking, and I shall name Strathavou as the one mostf likely to score, though the issue may be said "to be decidedly open, as others given a chance, iuid doing good track work, are Putty, Paratutu, and Idas.

The withdrawal of Mahulonga from the Wellington Cup was at nrst interpreted here to mean that the offer of R. J. Mason for the son of Quilt had 1 been accepted, and that the ■chestnut would be taken across to Victoria in the autumn; but this "has since been exploded, and it now seems that the scratching was merely, for the purpose of giving the Auckland Cup winner a rest, as he still figures as the property ot Mr C. W. Wallis.

The St. -Leger gelding Scotty, who acted as runner up to Mahutonga in the Auckland Cup and thus demonstrated that he is entitled to be regarded as a stayer, ha« been nominated for the Sj'dney Cup, which is run across two miles. New Zealand horses do not, generally speaking, come in for what may be termed, generous treatment at the hands of Australian h&ndicappers, but should Scotty, who was apportioned 8.3 in the Auckland Cup Race — which, like the Sydney Cup. is over two ruiles, — be anything like favourably weighted by the A.J.C. handicapper, it is quite on the curds that the son of St. Leger will be sent across to Australia. The Auckland Racing Club's course at ElItrsli© was pretty freely condemned by southern owners, who had horses running at the summer meeting, and it seems that they have some reason for labelling it as decidedly dangerous at certain points, as accidents more or less serious have occurred on several occasions lately. One prominent southern sportsman, who is always largely represented at our principal gatherings, is said to have publicly; stated that he will not race here again unless considerable improvement in the Track is made.

St. Peter the full brother to St. Paul, has been put in work again in the hope of getting another race out of him. Mr Leonard Marshall, founder of Cambria Park stud, nj>d owner of Spalpeen and other racehorses, who has been on a visit to England, arrives back iv Auckland during the week. Dolores is going on nicely in her work, and. may pick up a race dxiring the Takapuna Jockey Club's summer meeting. According to Sydney advices, the yearling filly by PhoeLus Apollo out of Brown Alice, secured by Mr Wm. Lyons at the recent sale at Wellington Park, was purchased for the well-known Sydnpy trriner Ike Eanibhaw, and will be shipped to the Commonwealth State at an early date. The Gieat Northern Derby winner, Gladstone, has contracted infl arnica tion of the lungs, and' it will, therefore, be safe to count the son of Seaton Delavol out of engagenientß c^o&e at hand. The chsstnut colt looked like increasing' his winnings at an early date, ar.d the. owners of G-lads6rae % 3 brother have therefore eperienced a alice of dscidsdiy bad. luck.

Gordon Rouge, wHo has broken down on more than one occasion, is again in work at training headojiartersp-but there seems little prospect of his standing a preparation, as he lias been showing signs of lameness after exercise.

(The horse Grey Seaton figuring in the nominations for the Newmarket Handicap and lAustralian Cup is the five-year-oldl halfXrother to Canteen, who was sold to an Australian sportsman some months ago during 'ills career in Auckland. The grey son of 'Seaton Delaval started on no less than 33 'occasions, and only caught the judge's eye fcwice. In 1901 Grey Seaton landed the Avonfclale Stakes, but shaped so indifferently afterthat in the summer of 1902 he was sold to Mr M. Deebla for 75gs by -his then owners (the Messrs Nathan). Some 12 months later Mr Deeble got his only return in -4he ihape of the . Stewards' Handicap at the Fhamea J.C; meeting. As a four-year-old Srey Seaton ran on 13 occasions _ without , slaiming a winning, bracket and some surprise Sraa expressed-.when a— Victorian' sportsman Jaad the courage 1 to secure him under the cirjcumstances. The grey horse must have'come jpn wohderfully-'since, or,, failing, tliat, he is'flatSered in being given a. nomination in the AusValian races mentioned. -_, ,