AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 56

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihoa.

February ». The Takapuna Jockey Club's summer meeting was continued on Wednesday an<* Saturday,, concluding on the latter day. The second day's racing was witnessed by a record attendance, and on the eight events carded £9097 was passed through, the tote, a decrease compared with the corresponding day 3«at year of £2046. The falling away wus more than covered by the fees « c | lve .V l P/ a the bookmakers. The. sport opened with the Moana Handicap, in which investors were treated to a surprise, as Lira, who claimed ibut little support, took up the running beiore they had gone a furlong, and being never afterwards headed, scored by a souple of lengths Pukenui was made a strong favourite for the Maiden Hurdles, and a« he was a dozen lengths clear of all opposition at the last fence it looked all over bar 'handling the dividend. He," however, made a. faulty jump and came down, interfering with Anna Lom--jbard, who was lying swsond, and letting up ,the gelding Claremont, who won by * length. Black-and-gold was made the medium, oj. rery solid support for the Suburban Handicap in which he was certainly well treated toy the weight adjuster. Dashing into the lead after they had travelled half a furlong, 4he favourite stayed in the van right through .the race, romping in»an easy winner a, couple of lengths to the- good of Cadence. Five was 4he main in the Takapuna. Jockey Club Handicap, and on the strength of his first days victory Scotty was a warm favourite for .the mile and a-quarter race. The aged' son of St. Leger was 'well positioned over the first seven furlongs, but dashed 'the hopes of supporters'by fading right out of the contest at Stke business end of the journey. Coming ' Snto the straight Advocate was at the head of affairs, and, finishing up his task in good style, he won by a length and , a-half from ■Certainty, with Uhlander, who oame very fast in the last bit, right up in third place. Mighty Atom claimed most support in the Pony Handicap, and never left the issue in doubt, but Santa Rosa, who was served up a good thing in the two-year-old event, for ■which only three went to the post, wae the last to mov%, and whipped in •£he> field, the , -winner of the race (Hobson Handicap) being Wastei Soult, who got on terms with Raxata » hundred yards from home, andi after a struggle, scored by the narrow margin of a head. The Rangitoto Steeplechase followed. The field numbered four, Capital going out iavourite. He was, however, (always in the xear, and only scored second place owing to mishaps to Tanglefoot and Inniskillen, the cross-country event falling iJo the outsider of ,<he quartet in Kapakaka, who was in front practically all the way, and passed the judge's box a furlong clear of the favourite. The day's lacing closed with the Anniversary Handicap, in which Lucrece and Tui Oaka•■bau, the two most eagerly sought after by yunters, fought out t stiff finish, Luorece grinning by a head. On the concluding day (Saturday) the weather was again favourable, and the attendance good. The totalisator receipts ran out (to £8489. making £26,021 for the three days, a decrease of £6804 compared with last year's gathering. The club's finances did not, however, suffer, as no less than £720 was received from bookmakers for the privilege of jbefling during the meeting. Racing commenced on Saturday with the Waiwera Hurctjeft, which claimed a field of four starters, fiatttapu was early out in front, and jtimpfcg proficiently, the little son of Mitior* stayed there all through, winning comfortably by » length from Lady Hune, who was &noer pressure for the last half mile, and waß 3ot really dangerous. Eight weighed out for She Borough Handicap, and after Mighty Atom had cut out the pace for three furlongs t/ucio came along witb a well sustained run, «n$ won by two lengths from Celerity, who snished fast. Only five contested the principal race of the day — the Summer Handicap. Certainty, Uranium, and Pohutu all &>ok a hand at forcing the pace, but three Surlongs from home Veronica, put in a claim, md Certainty, responding to the call made S^pon her, a ding dong battle up the straight

was witnesses between these pair. They ran past the post locked together, the judge declaring a dead heat. Then oame Lotd Seaton fouT lengths away. Nine weighed out for the Pony Handicap, which fell to Imprimus (a four-year-old daughter of Phoebus Apollo and St. Amy), who was always with the leading division, and gained the verdict by half A length from Glenora alter a capital race. The starters in the Pouri Handicap numbered 11. Rosevere and Escamillo were the first to show out, but after a furlong had been covered Lady Fmnces (Eton — Gwendoline) took up the running, and, drawing clear, she won very- easily by five lengths from Escainillo. Four figured in the ' Marine Handicap, for two-year-olds, and Master Soult again scored, this time under 9st. The son of Soult jumped off in front, and never afterwiards headed, won in a canter by a length from Rimlock. Six sported 1 silk in the Devonport Handicap, and. thia was won, by Lochbuie, who, with Black-and-gold, acted as pacemaker. Black-aad-gold w«« quickest into the straight, bvtt could not hold off the challenge by Lochbuie, who caught the judge's eye two lengths to the good. The closing event was the Welter Handicap, which fell to Sweet Alice in a field of nine. The daughter of Souli and Princess Alice, who played up at the starting post, and was the last to leave the barrier, wa« always well, back till within two furlongs from home.. There she began to overhaul the leading division, and, being -^quickest into the straight, she came on and' -won nicely by two lengths from Tui Cakabau.

Akarana, who went off the scene in December owing to leg troubles, is still eating the oate of idleness, an<T there does not appear much likelihood of the bay son of Seaton Delaval and' Enna 'being seen on the race track again. An inquiry into the running of some, of the ponies in the Grand Stand Handicap on the closing day of the, Auckland Trotting Club's meeting has furnished a lot of conflicting evidence, certain of the witnesses 1 examined alleging the existence of a jockey' a ring, while othera were equally positive that no such thing .existed. O^he evidence made under statuary declaration is to be forwarded to the Metropolitan Committee. Mi W. Lyone's horses, Waipuna and Lady Cressy, were shipped to Sydney to-day by the Manuka, and will carry the Auckland penciller's colours in events ahead on the race tracks of the Commonwealth States.

Auckland owned horses nominated for the Wanganui Jockey Club's Autumn meeting (March 5 and 7) are Cachuca, Lady Hune, £c Beau, First Gun, Pohutu, and! Caramnia. The colt by Kilcheran, knocked clown to the bid of Mr H. H. Hayr at the sale of the Waikanae yearlings (Wellington) was purchased on behalf of Mr W. Ryan, an Auckland bookmaker. The colt has been placed

The Seaton Delaval mare Clochette is to be put into work with a vieff to her engagement in the Great Northern Oaks. She has been placed! under H. French's care at Papakiu-a. Master Soult' s performances in the three two-year-old events won by him at Takapuna stamp the ' son of Soult as a useful youngster and one likely to see a much better flay. : Although no definite decision has yet been arrived at, the 'chances now are that Master Delaval will not be taken to Melbourne for the Australian Cup; in which he has been allotted. 8.11. By the time of his arrival at Flemington the meeting would be rather close, and in all probability the son of Seaton' Delaval will be given a. run at Wanganui and taken to Australia in time for the A.J.C. autumn meeting.