AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 56

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By TiiHoa. Tho Takapuna Jockey Club's spring meeting was concluded on- Saturday, when the suburban club was favoured with fine weather and a good attendance. The tote returns ran out at £6385, making the total for the two clays, £14,112 10s— a shrinkage of £675 compared with last year; but against this bookmakers' fees were better, the amount running up to just on £600. The racing commenced with the Kawau Huulles, for which Luscombe was most fancied, but though the son of Linstock occupied a handy position till tho sixth hurdle was reached, ho then began to diop back, and was clearly a beaten horse before the last obstacle was reached. Here Okaihau, who had made the pace for the greater part of the journey, was still bowling along- in front, and the Saivadan gelding came in an oa^y winner by over tv.o lengths from Waihekau. A similar number reached the starter's hands m the Stanley Handicap, and Ducio was soried out b\ punters ah the most likely to score. She. however, lud to b" content with thud placo, the battle 'Jynig between Tarina and M'-s Winnie, who were in fiont all through th" piece, and finished in the or ler mentioned. Tarina having all the be~t of it in the run from the distance 1-c-t. Fi\e wai again the number in the principal race of the day, the Spring Handicap, run o\«r eight furlongs. Foi this Royal Soult wa< made a hot fa\ourite, and the bon of Soult conclusncly provided the amusement of investors to be correct. Tui Cakobau and Millie showed the way for throe parts of the journey, but at the busiive-s «nd the faiotinte came through and won in decisive fashion by a couple of lengths from advocate, who was driven home under the whip. Se\en starters figured in the Vauxhall Handicap, and once more backers were astray. They favoured E-scamillo. who carried top weight, but the son of Explosion was ne\er in the lead, the race falling to Master Crispin, who made tho runninpr, and hal no difficulty in holding off the opposi tion. The cheHnul son of St. Crispin caught the judge's eye over two lengths to the good of Explosive. The two-\ear-olds <addled up for the Rakino Handicap numbered four, Snow foot carrying: -nost money. The jmeniles gave a lot of trouble at the post, but were ultimately despatched to a good start, and Snow foot proved the summing to bo correct. The quartette were practically in line when they entered the straight, and the favourite, finishing gamely, came home' a length in front of Etna. Tarina added to her laurels by capturing the Canterbury Handicap, with a 71b penalty, as a, result of her \ictory in the Stanley Handicap. Wauchope was, greatly fancied for tho ' f\ent. and was battling with Devonport ! for the lead when they turned into tho -tiait;ht At the distance Tarina dashed up. ;u<<l fini-hing strongly the daughter of St. Clnsnenti .yon by a length from Doionjjort. The Pony Handicap foil to ; Necktie b\ a hdlf-hoad from Glonore, after j a capital M ru^jrlo from the distance post, j The fa^urite, Mahmga. never got into a '

prominent place, owing to losing ground when the starter released the tape. The Welter Handicap closed the gathering. four horses going to the post, Manapouri claiming the strongest following of in- | vestors. A surprise was, however, in store, 1 Bully jumping off with the lead, and never headed, winning by half a length from Tui Cakobau. With Gold Crest and Bobrikoff out of the Railway Handicap, to be run at the A R.C summer meeting-, Master Sotrlt is left at the head of the list for the sixfurlong race. The withdrawal of Gold Crest came as no surprise, as his win m the Feilding Stakes meant a 71b penalty for the Auckland race, bringing the weight up to 9.13. Unquestionably Gold Crest was given every ounce to which he was entitled in the Railway Handicap with 9.6, and the penalty referred to is but another instance of the unfairness of fixed penalties. The acceptances received on Friday last for the Auckland R.C. summer meeting were highly satisfactory for the Auckland Cup. Eighteen horses remain in, including the top weight. Zimmerman. It is interesting to note that Mr Lowry has left both Downfall and Bobrikoff in every race, and as the latter's name is missing from the Railway Handicap, it looks as though the Napier sportsman is satisfied that Bobrikoff can stay as well as gallop fast. This is a point on which there had been a question raised. Some who, while freely acknowledging the brilliancy of the Finland gelding up to a mile and a-quarter, had doubts as to his staying powers when it came to running out two miles. A similar number (18) remain in the Railway Handicap. Since their return from Canterbury Master Delaval and Master Soutt have been regularly on the tracks at training headquarters, and both are looking and moving well. The Foaling Stakes secured the Glenora Park Stud number of 15, of which eight are colts and seven fillies. Nine of the youngsters claim Soult as their sire.