AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2668, 3 May 1905, Page 52

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Bt Taihoa.

May 1.

The Auckland R.C.s autumn meeting was brought to a close last Tuesday, and on the whole, may be said to have passed off successfully, though when the totalisator returns came to be totted up it was_found that there was a- decrease for the three days of JE2165 compared with the sum handled at the corresponding meeting last year, when £30,159 was handled, ac against £27,994. There has been a steady decrease in the investments since 1902, when a- record of jE33,186 was established by the metropolitan club, this amount being JE5192 more than the receipts for 1905. The first event of note to engage the attention of patrons on the second day was the Autumn Steeplechase, for which Princess of' Thule was most in demand! in a field of seven starters. Kowhai made th« bulk of the running, but 'as they made their way up the hill the last time, Evermore took charge, and with the favourite close handy, the son of Hippocampus showed the way down to the stone' waJl, where he struck the obstacle, almost unseating his, rider (Burns). The blunder robbed the con-"^ test of its interest in the closing stages, as' Princess of Thule was left well out in front of Jlylas and Dingo, and the favourite had no difficulty in keeping her opponents at bay in' the run home. As Evermore passed the post his rider,' F. Burns, attempted* 1 to dismount, but he, collapsed, and he -had to be carried into the enclosure. "When he blundered at the stone wall Evermore threw up his head, striking Burns in the face with such force that he was -dazed, and rendered unfit to play his part in the home run. Ten was the main in the St. George's Handicap, for which Romeo was sorted out as the correct pea. Gladstone was early out in front, and stayed at the head of the field for a mile, when he was joined by half a dozen others, including Romeo, who the two preceding days had improved Gladwas first into the straight. He looked all over a> winner until well inside the distance, where Strathavon shot out, and, finishing strongly under pressure, reached the tiring Romeo in the last stride, making a. dead-heat of it. On the concluding day tne principal flat race was -the Autumn Handicap. The one to claim most support in a. field of a dozen being Paritutu, while of the others Scotty found the strongest backing for the mile and a-half Tace. Starshoot and Miss Lottie were among the first to begin, and they were still having a bit the best of it four furlongs from home. A few strides further on Gladstone, who had always been well forward, closed up, and, taking charge three furlongs from the judge's box, the Seaton Delaval colt drew away and won comfortably by over three lengths from Paritutu, hoisting a fresh record of 2min 36 3-ssec for the race. Possibly his gallop on the two preceding days had improved Gladstone, though it cannot be said that he looked any better, being lighter and more tucked up in appearance on the last day. Another point that must be considered in summing up his victory is that while those who had finished iv front of him in the earlier races were going up, the som of Seaton Delaval was being dropped down considerably, and had a burden ot 7.7 to carry in the race he won. Still, the public was not prepared for his success, though it is said that the colt's connections had a tidy win outside the stakes. Scotty, who looked in rare buckle, was in trouble three furlongs from home. Irish was made a rather better favourite than Princess of Thule in the St. Helier's Hurdle Race, which claimed five starters. The Eton gelding and Princess of Thule had the race to themselves throughout, and as they were racing each other for the lead all the way, the contest was invested with a good deal of interest. Irish seemed to have the best ,of it when they jumped the sixth hurdle, but Princess of Thule had her opponent beaten at the last obstacle, and the brown mare, finishing up her task in most resolute style, was four lengths to the good when the finishing post was reached. In both events that went down to her Princess of Thule was responsible for attractive performances, and at the business end the daughter of Lord of the Isles displayed great gameness, responding handsomely to the demands made upon her. Of the iwo-year-olds running at the A.R.C. meeting the most disappointing were Delaware and Annette. Although it may be safely said that Mr Stead's represenative, Delaware, does not appeal to one as a coli likely to furnish into anything high-class, it can hardly be suggested that the son of Seaton Delaval showed his true form in the. Champion Stakes ; while Annette's failure to take a hand in the finish of the two races in which she. started must have puzzled her trainer, coming on top of her excellent showing at Avondale a, week or two before. The daughter of Soult looked all right, and there must therefore have been a screw loose somewhere, otherwise she would not have collapsed as she did.

The fact that Regulation was -withdrawn from* her race on the second day of the A.R.C. meeting would go to show that something was wrong with the East Coast mare. One of the most aristocratic and promising of the yearlings at Wellington Park had to be destroyed during the week owing to an injury to one of its hind legs. The youngster was the colt by Hotchkiss from Formo, but I understand the company will not suffer serious loss bj the death of the full bretlier to,

| Multiform, as he was insured with the International Horse Agency for £1000. Miss Gladys, the dam of Gladsome and Gladstone, who, with foal at foot by San Francisco, was purchased by the Wellington Park Stud Company at the dispersal of the Sylvia Park stud for 740gs, slipped her foal a few days ago for the second year in succession. Her purchase has therefore not ben altogether a happy one for the Wellington Park Company, though it must not be forgotten that as a yearling her foal sold for 500gs. The Auckland R.C. Committee has created a new post in the^ shape of a course inspector or detective, whose duty it is to furnish stewards with anything that may come under his notice in the shape of foul riding, competing not to win, etc. The first to occupy the post, which may be practically said to be that of a stipendiary steward, is Mr George Cutts, himself an old race-rider, and for many years the club's starter. He exercised the duties of his office for the first time during the metropolitan club's autumn meeting which concluded last Tuesday. The committee of the Auckland R.C. has declined to endorse the disqualification of the southern rider J. M'Cluskie, who was ordered to stand down pending the pleasure of the stewards of the Avondale J. C. after the collision betwen Putty and Strathavon in the Avondale Handicap pending further particulars touching the incident. M'Cluskie wis consequently allowed to ride at the A.R.C. autumn, meeting last week. The racing in the hurdle events at the A.R.C. autumn meeting pointed to the fields, as a whole, being comprised of about as moderate a lot of performers over the small sticks as we have sfeen on the metropolitan club's course for some years. J Stewart, the well-known cross-country rider, is going across to Western Australia with John Rae, who is to train for a syndicate o nthe other side, and it is likely that G. Comer and the lightweight brothers Percival will also accompany the Auckland trainer. Needlework, an ex-Aucklander, who figures among the nominations for the Great Northern Hurdles, is said to be galloping and jumping well at Hastings. The Cuirassier— Repulse hoarse Waikare is to go to Western Australia, Mr William Lyons, the Auckland penciller, having sold him to J. Rae, who is going to make his home across the Tasman Sea. Kremlin had one of his legs badly cut through, being galloped on in the Huia Han- ! dicap on the second day of the A.R.C. meeting, and this' may in a measure have accounted for his only just scrambling home in the Electric Handicap later in the day. Borneo, who dead-heated with Strathavon in the St. George's Handicap on the second day of the A.R.C. meeting, has been nominated for the Great Northern Hurdles. Boomerang's withdrawal from all handicap events immediately after the running of the Champagne Stakes on the first day of the , A.R.C. meeting was due to the fact that Mr Watt did not feel inclind to take the risk of the colt getting knocked about owing to his claiming an engagement in the Hawke's Bay Stakes, to be run at Hastings this week. John Rae left for his new home in Western Australia to-day, going on to Sydney by the Moana. He takes with him the following j 13 horses: — Strathavon, Waikare, The Needle, i Piata, Hauraki, Hildebrand, The Phoebus 1 Apollo — Problem filly, the San Francisco — Campania filly,, the Phoebus Apollo — Vivandiere colt, the Hotchkiss — Lorelei colt," the filly by Hotchkiss — Crescent, and the filly by Phoebua Apollo — Lady Augusta. The two last-mentioned youngsters only g^o as- far as .Melbourne, having been placed under Rae's cara iot the journey. The nominations for the principal events at our June jumping meeting show an increase over those of last year. The Great Northern Hurdles claim an entry of 30, the Steeplechase 31, and the Winter Steplechase 34. It is understood that Mr William Lyons, the Auckland bookmaker, threw in for a. tidy stake as the result of Up-to-Date's win in the First Steeplechase at Randwick last week. The half-brother to Record Reign had another engagement on Saturday, but was given such a stiff burden to carry that, on the advice of his trainer, Ike Earnshaw, Mr Lyons decided to scratch his horse. The Auckland penciller paid 400gs for the son of St. Hippo after Mr Colton Fox, of England, had declared negotiations for his purchase off owing to Up-to-Date failing to pass the vet. surgeon's examination.