AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 59

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Tst Taiho*.

August 17. The Fleet Weßk meeting in honour of the visit of the American armada has come and gone, and in one or two respects was disappointing. The attendance, for instance, did not exceed 8000, and the sport on the whole was of the tame ordeor. Nevertheless, the representatives of the Star-spangled Banner must have enjoyed themselves at EUerslie, as i the weather was delightful and the hospitality grand, nothing having been left undone in catering for the comfort and pleasure of the visitors. Nothing more need be said, as ( comment on the racing would be superfluous. The chestnut mare Taunki, concerning whose antecedents, ownership, etc., the TaJoapuna. J..C. authorities are holding a> seai-ching inquiry, was among the acceptors for the Fleet Week meeting, but the scratching pen went -through her name. The inquiry, which promises to turnish some interesting material for those interested in the sport of kings, will probably be concluded at the next meeting of the T.J.C stewards.

Leonator won the Roosevelt Handicap at the Fleet Week meeting in such attractive style as to point to his having regained hia lost form. Crispin, who accounted for the Connecticut Steeplechase at Bllerslie on Wednesday last, should be heard more of over big country. The performance was a very creditable one.

Veronica, the five-year-old daughter of Soult and Pretoria, was cold during the present work to Mr W. Ryan for 700 guineas, the buyer acting as a commissioner for a Sydney client, whose name has not, so far, baen discloe-ed. Last season, in her races Veronica showed a lot of dash.