AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 56

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Bt Taiboa. November 18. The death of Tommy Taylor, who was fatally injured when Pohutu fell in the Great Northern Guineas, removes from our midst a horseman who enjoyed the respect and confidence of all with whom he came into contact during his long and distinctly creditable career as a rider of the thoroughbred. Born is 1885, deceased commenced riding 12 years later, and for several seasons he stood high up among the winning jockeys of the Dominion. His best year, perhaps, was in 1882. When he was at the top of the tree Taylor rode for quite a number of prominent sportsmen, and had one time or another landed practically full the leading events of ihs North. Island for patron 8. He leaves a- widow «nd several children, and it is gratifying to note that sportsmen are showing a- keen desire to assist those who have lost their bread-winner. One of the first was Mr T. H. Lowry, the well-known Hawke's Bay sportsman, who in telegraphing his regret at Taylor's sad death to the secretary of the Auckland Racing Club gave expression to his practical sympathy by asking that £50 be handed to the widow on hie behalf. Taylor'a funeral took place on Tuesday last, and was largely attended.

General Soult, winner of the Welcome and Musket Stakes at the A.R.C. spring meeting, has demonstrated beyond doubt his claim to be regarded as the best of the local two-year-olds; in fact, so attractive was the display of the son of Soult in the Musket Stakes, in which he was the last to get going, that one may go to the length of expressing the opinion that he stands out as the moßt promising juvenile turned out in Auckland for some tune past. Taking c line through General Souft's form at Ellerslie, he should, all going well in the meantime, keep the opposition (ifcrong though it promises to be) moving in the Great Northern Foal Stakes and Royal Stakes, to be decided at the Auckland Racing Club'a summer gathering. As a yearling, General Soult was knocked down to the bid of W. A. Hughes at 400gs, and it now transpires that he is jointly owned by the sportsman in question and his breeder, Mr W. Walters, of Glenora Park stud. It is certainly pleasing to again find a youngster likely to prove above the average among the locally-owned two-year-olds. The St. Legcr gelding Scotty claims an engagement in. the principal event to be decided on the opening day of the Feilding Jookey Club's meeting, but as he ha» been awarded 8.2 I should say that his connections will hardly feel inclined to send him south, recent form at Ellerslie having pointed to the -son of St. Leger being on the downgrade. Old Nor'-west, whose sensational victory over the fences at Ellerslie c"i Wednesday last was followed a few seconds later by the veteran's somewhat tragio had been racing for 11 years, havinp been first saddled up in public as a five-y',ar-old. The son of Sou-wester looked all jright when his jockey dismounted to weigh in, but the clerk of the scales had hardily declared everything in order before Nor'-west went down never to rise again. During his 11 years under silk the Sou-wester gelding took part in no less than 109 races, faoing the barrier most frequently a<s a- six-year-old, when he ran in 30 events. He w*s clearly one that was not allowed to taste the oats of idleness, as from the time of starting he figured more or less frequency among the starters season after season without a break right up to the time of his death. On no less than six occasions he went to the post in the Great Northern Steeplechase, but never succeeded in capturing the 1 big prize, though many important cross-country events fell to his lot. He wa« twice second, and once filled third place in the Great Northern. Although on the small side,, and still much the same t6 the eye as during his two-year-old career, Mi- T. H. Lowry'* colt Dowmfall proved on the second day at Ellerslie that his heart is in the right place. His winning performance in the City Handicap, in whioh he beat oft a challenge by Te Aroha at the bußiness end in good style, waa of an attractive order. With Glenculloch and Boniform under a cloud, and Elevation missing from the Great Northern Derby, to be run at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, Mr T. H. Lowry appears to have a very fair prospect of annexing the classic race with Downfall, provided his representative trains on satisfactorily in the interim. The Auckland sprinter Cambrian still remains in the Feilding Stakes, to be run a>l the end of the present month, but his conneeiops have not yet come to a decision as to whether the son of Cyrenian will fulfil his engagement down below.

Poor fields were the order during the A.R.C. spring meeting, showing- that Auckland is just at present in rather a bad way a» far a» jumpers are concerned.

The Soult gelding Gay Paris, who broke down during tho Ellexshe meeting, is not likely to bo seen out under silk again for some time to come.

Irish finished up lame after the Onehunga Steeplechase at E)',ler3lie, the seat of the trouble being the shoulder. The ton of Eton is not likely to rate again foi fceveral months

There has l>eeii considerable comment on the running of certain horses engaged in. the Epsom Handicap, which formed the closing event to the second day of the A.R.C. spring meeting. Not a few expected the stewards to investigate, and the failure of the body to ask a question or two came as a surprise to thoee who h«ld that there was good ground for an inquiry— to my mind, not without reason. It is generally considored here that the sportsman who secured the Melbourne Cup winner Apologue for India at loOOgs pickea {

up the son of Phoebus Apollo *n& Mise Gladys cheaply. It was expected thai upwards of 2000gs would have to be paid before Mr A. Yuiile let the hammer fall.