AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2688, 20 September 1905, Page 56

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Bt Taimoa.

September 18.

The Avondale Jockey Club opened the racing season at Auckland for 1905-06 on Saturday with the first instalment of its spring meeting of three days. The weather was fine, the attendance good, and the spor-t interesting, though fast time could not b& recorded, the recent rains having made the track ho.chng. The first fn-o-year-olcl race of ih& season, th» Avondale Stakes, was followed witih great interest. Nine juveniles weighed out for the four-furlong "flutter," for which Sweet Alice, a smart-looking and shapely bay daughter of Soult and Princess Alice, and therefore fullsister to the speedy Avalanche, was installed a warm favourite. They had haidly got going before the favourite dashed into the lead, and, setting a merry pace, she had no difficulty in holding the opposition at bay, and winning in good style by five lengths from Mignon. The winner was bred by Mr W. Walters ati the Glenora Park, and she was purchased aa a yearling for 190gs. Eight went to the post for the principal handicap of the day — tha AvondalQ Cup, — the top weight, Putty, being most in favour with investors, with Sir Gilhed next in -order. Akarana and Landiock glayed the part of pacemakers for the greater part of the distance, and the first-named was just clear of Putty when the head of the straight was reached. A few strides further on, however, Deeley brought the favourite into the lead, and though Lycia threw out a challenge in the run from the distance, Putty was quite equal to throwing off the daughter of Soult and winning in businesslike fashion! by a couple of lengths. Ranana accounted for. both jumping races — the First Handicap Hurdles and the Handicap Steeplechase, the later event being the first cross-country race won by iili6 agocl son of Australia!). Delaaia was sorted out as the one most likely to return a dividend in the Flying Stakes Handicap, but she was never with the leading division, the six-furlong race going to Millie, su chestnut daughter of Tasman and Duchess, who took up the running after a couple of furlongs had bsen cast behind, and won by over a length, with something to spare, from Waitati. Master Delaval, the three-year-old- son of Seaton Delaval and Campania, gave his owner (Mr Foss) a first return at tha Avondal© meeting on Saturday, when the bay colt won the Plunket Handicap, which carried a first prize of 60sovs, finishing up his task in determined style, and beating Pukekohe a head after an -exciting battle up the straight. When Mr Hugo Friedlander's Auckland stung! of horses in training were put up for sale mi the winter of 1904 the substantial sum of 450gs was paid for Master Delaval as a yearling in preference to Gladstone, who was knocked down to two patrons of O. Weal's stable for 400gs. That -Hie selection waa not a pai ticularly happy one h&s since been made amply cl«ar, for while Mastert Delaval earned his first winning bracket last' Saturday Gladstone has placed to his credit the Avondale Guineas, the Summer Cup ancl Great Northern Derby. A day or two before Noctuiform landed t-h-0 Derby for Mr Stead at Randwick, the son of Multiform was. backed here for the New Zealand Cup at 600 to 31, which must, in the light of stibsequent events be regarded as a goodl bet as far as the taker of the odds is concerned. Writing to an Auckland fiiend, John Rae, the well-known trainer who went across to i .AVcslera Australia a iqyr months ago to train

privately for a little fijmdicate of prominent Westralian sportsmen, states that several horses under his care have been on the sick list, and that they will not be seen under Bilk to any extent before Christmas time. Bae seems to be well pleased with the change. There has not been any great amount of ■betting on the New Zealand Cup during the past week, and the only change of note in the quotations for the two-mile handicap is that Noctuiforni has shortened to 7 to 1, and stands .at the head of the list, Mahutonga is at 8 to 1, Paritutu is at 12 to 1, and Scotty at 14 to 1. At G-lenora Park Hotcherina (by Hotchkiss— Hipporina) has foaled a colt to Soult, Castorline (Castor— Sapphire) filly to Cuirassier, Vane (by . Sou-wester—V anity) filly to Euroclydon. The Avondale meeting will be continued on Wednesday, the principal events being the Piumpton 'Handicap and the Avondale Guineas. In the Handicap I like nothing better tiban Lady Annie (7.10), and if anything ia to beat her it will probably be Delania (7.3), -rcHo was well supported by her paTty on Saturday, but appeared to get badly away, and raever got into her stride. In the Avondale Guineas we have a, right to expect Glad- . some's half-brother Apologue to make his debut, .and as he has undergone a thorough preparation h e should, if he is. to be regarded v a Derby candidate, account for the race.