AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 51

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Br Taihoa.

May 14.

Tbe weights foi the Great Northern Hur£« Race p.nd Great Northern SteepJechasa wer« issued promp-tlj to time on Friday last, an* altogether the acting-handicapper's work has been favourably received. As had been antici-* pated, Hautapu's treble win a ElleT3lie la*ft month caused the little son of Mitiola to be placed at the head 01 th& list in th. Hurdlec, but with 12.2 on his back, and the distance extended to two miles and a-quarter, I mu3t confess hat I do not fancy his chance. Up-to-Date has also got his full poundage In 11.9, and I fe*i .inclined tc look farthe. dawn the, list for a likely winner. Aka Aka with 10.10, , which, is a stone more than he won with two years *go, is nicely treated, while Banana with 10./7 is undoubtedly well in. and others vre!l in xto Waiwera 10.10. Irish IP 8, Floria 10 8. Ca-valry • 10.6, Princees of Thule 10.0, Exmoor 9.12, L*dv Hune 9.8, Ability 9.8. Hydrant 9.7, Durable 9.5, and Gold Seal 9.2. More may ba said later but meanwhile of thnge mentioned. I like best Aka Aka. Ranana. Princess of Thule, and Exmoor, with a particular weakness for Ranana. In the Steeplechase Up-to-Date has been allotted top weight with 12 8. which is2lb more than the poundage under which he failed in the same race l%at year. Although the Eon of St. Hippo has been distinguishing himseh in New South Wales, it can hardly be said that the horses that were opposed to him are up to our standard, and I think that some of those farther down the list hold him 9afe in th» cross-country race. At anyrate, as far as hr is concerned, it would be a? well to await, developments, as it is possible that the St. Hippo gelding will not be sen. aero is. Haydrt 11.9, Slow Tom 11.7. Sol 11.3, Phaetontis 10.11, Mocassin 10.9. Aka Aka 10.9. Pharos 10.3, The Swimmer 10.2. and Eclsir 10.2 have all been, invested with a winning chance, and there «ro others in the light-weight division that might prove eoual to effecting 4 surprise. Aka. Aka I regard as the pick of ihe handicap, and if he gets +0 the post in anything like form, J ca.nnot see what will beat 'lim. There is, howevei, the question of his soundness to be taken into consideration, and it would petbaps be 2« well for investors to see how h» gets on in his work before contracting liabili*' ties to any extent about the sod of Regel.

Scotty, who has been off the seen sinco the Takapuna sunime: meeting, has been put into work again. He appears to have recovered from his leg trouble. The statements of accourts submitted by the secretary, Mr Ha.rland, to the A.R.C. Committee at a meeting held on Thursday evening last disclosed the fact that the metropolitan - club made a profit of £1200 on the autumn ' meeting.' Last year a loss was reported for the corresponding gathering. Provided he reaches the post fit and well. AVa Aka lioks the most likely horse engaged to land the big jumping double here next month*— Great Northern Hurdles and Great . Northern Steeplechase.

Hippowai's schooling performances at train-- ■ ing headquarters have been distinctly disappointing, and I should say that bis chances o' scoring over the sticks at the Great Northern meeting next month may b regarded as remote, to cay the le?st. After refusing ne w fence, and coming to grief at another, a morning 01 two ago. Hippowai moved away from tho track lame behind. Annette, who went amiss just before tha A R.C summer meeting, has been relegated fed the stud, joining ttu. brood mares at the Cambria Park Stud. During her short career under silk Annette was responsible for several attractive performances. A southern visitor states that Ml H. Brown's pair. Hydrant and Mocassin, will come to Auckland tc fulfil engagements at the June meeting. Auckland horses nominated for the Hawke'l Bay Jockey Club's winter meeting are Princes! of Thule. Irish, Pierre. Catherine Gordon, Sol : Hskaria. Cuiranga. and Silicia. So far. no great amount of wagering has followed the declaration of the Great Northerii weights, and pencillers are taking no risk 3. 10(1 to 2 being the best price offered on the field 1 . Puntftin who got in early were mostly on Kremlin and Shrapnel, and suffered in consequence-, owing to the withdrawal of the hotsea ffipntioned.

The two-yeat-old Frisco, who won the Juvenile Handicap at the Hawke'p Bay Jockey, Club's meeting on Thursday last, was sired in England, and foaled in New Zealand. His dam. Lake Placid (an American-bred mare b$ Golden Dawn), in foa 1 to Earwig, formed on-a of the collection of mare imported to Auck-» land in 1903 by Messrs L. D. and N. A. Nathan^ and at Sylvia Park she produced a colt. th& youngster known to-day as Frisco. At the. dispereal sale of the Sylvia Park Stud in the;' summei of 1903, Lake Placid ar.d her foal werfi secured tor the small outlay of 50gs. Fii«co^ it may be pointed out, has seme rare b^cad irV hi? veins, for his sire was got by Hamotoit

(son of Lord Ciifden), while his dam is m granddaughter of Bend Or, tie grandsire of W&. celebrated Flying Fox.