AUCKLAND TOPICS. By Taihoa.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 55

AUCKLAND TOPICS. By Taihoa.

Mrach 6.

The defeat of the Auckland-owned horst Scotty in the Wanganui Cup last Thursday gave local punters a nasty knock, as in addition to investments made here, about £200 was telegraphed away for investment on the son of St. Leger. On the running of the \vinner (Quorryman) and Scotty in the Auckland Racing Club Handicap, it certainly looked as though the Auckland lior&e held Sir George Clifford's representative safe at "VTanganui, and hi? failure to get into a place lend 3 colour to the statement of returned AucMaiirlers that the son of St. Leger had a very bad passage in the Wangantii, race.

The English trauier-iockey ">V. Baiubridg? has secured premises at Ellerslie, aud is having boxes built for the horses that are to be placed under his charge.

The Lochness gelding Loch Lomond, who sustained severe injuries in the recent, fire at Murdoch M'TC'mnon's stable, died a few days ago. Although Loch Lomond ha-d two or three spills while contestiiig hurdle events at Takapuua, and v/as responsible for the death of a local rider, the gelding was nevertheless regarded as one likely to iurmsh into a more than useful jumper.

Among the latest horses put over the schooling hurdles at training headquarters are Cuiragno (by Cuirassier), Bad News (by St. Cuspin), and "Dumnore (by Hotchkiss). Of the trio, Bad N"pws shapes best, paid she may cum winning distinction before long over the s-niaL' fences.

Everything points to a dearth of firsi-o'^ss cross-country horses in Auckland wheu the. big June jumping meeting conies along. The Australian trotting horses, Legbreak and Cornwall, have been shipped back to dydu3y, in company with the local" trotter Rushugat." Latest information from Melbourne is to the effect that Wairiki continues to improve, and it i 3 expected that the son of Soult will have sufficiently recovered from the injury received in the Melbourne Cup contest to enable his being shipped back to Auckland during the present month.

It is probable that the trotter Rebel Ecy will be shipped to Christchurch shortly io lsee there.

The directors of the Wellington Park Find Company held a private meeting during tlie week, and although nothing official was gi^on ! out, it is understood that they decided vofc Io move in the matter of bringing tba lata

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jnanaging director (Mr Thomas Morrin), vl.o is alleged to have gone across to Sydney by the jrteamer Zealandia, back to Auckland. In view of the" attitude adopted by the directors of the company, the Auckland police did aot faire steps to execute the warrant issued icx Mr Morrm's arrest on the arrival of the vessel at Sydney on Friday afternoon. Thus, I s*>p- ' pose, we may take it for granted that we will tear no more of the matter, as far as the late iftansging director is concerned.