AUCKLAND' TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2860, 6 January 1909, Page 54

AUCKLAND' TOPICS.

By Taihoa.

January ♦• The Auckland Racing Club's summer carnival has come and gone, and, taken on. th- whols, pvov«d one of the most successful" gatherings in the history of the metropolitan club, both financially and from tho racing standpoint On the opeaamg day the Principal e^nts were the Great Northern Foal Stakes, the Aucklamd Cup, aT*d the Railway HaiKlicap. Five ,to£y**-o}<» faced the barrier in the Foal Stakes, bir Geo Clifford, whose representatives had accounted for the event for the preceding three years, furnishing the favourite with the CianranaW colt Broadsword. After a furlong had been left behind Bfo**™*"™ was setting the pace, and although the locally-owned colt Elysian made an effort to get up in the run from the head, of tbe straight the son of Clauranald had no difficulty in staving off the challenge aad winning easily by three lengths vi the record time for the eve-nt of lmm 14 3-fccc. Like the three preceding winners, Broadsword was bred by Sir George, arid it is interesting to note that all four l'oal Stakes winners were got by the St. Leger horse Claaiianald. The withdrawal of Downfall and -Kauparaha left 11 in the 'Auckland Cup, and as .nice a looking field as ever has been seen in the two-mile race, reached the starter's hand. Bobrikoff was the one most sought after by investors, and on the score of condition nothing was wanting as far as the brown son of Finland was concerned. Of the others, Diabolo and Pohutu claimed most support. When the barrier shot* up Carl Rosa was the first to show out, but they had not left tha first furlong behind before the Seaton Belaval hor^e had given way to Paritutu, and the aged son of Castor was etill showing the way when the last three furlongs were entered upon. It looked almost as though be was going to bring off a surprise at this stage, but as they closed to the home turn All ReJ made his effort, and, heading Paritutu jus-t before they came into the straight, the four-year-old son of Stepniak ran past the judge's box a comfortable winner by a. couple ot lengths from Bobrikoff, who improved his- position from the distance post; Parifcutu, a length back, third. The time, 3min 31see, does not compare with tho '•clocking" in several previous cups, but it can be <=a.id that when Jenkins made the call upon him All Red! answered in good style, and proved himself a stayer. The of Stepniak -and Madder was bred &% Ellorslie by Mr J. F. Beid, and as a yearling was bought by his nresent owner, x Mr St. Jchn Buckley, for 430gs. The defeat of Bobrikoff up&et the calculations of many keen judges who had ticked the son of Finland and Goss'p off as one likely to ea-rn high honours over 16 furlongs. But ifc may be said that he proved that he could stay two miles fairly well, though probably likely to win more races over medium distances. The good' field of 16 sported silk in tha Railway Handicap, investors! going for Armlet and Master Soult in that order. Miss Wimiis and Gold Lace made play in the early stages of the six-furlong race, and were joined by Cambrian at the head of the straight. At the half-dieta-nce there were half a doasn in it, and it -was only in> the last few strides that Koyal Soult showeel his head in front, and, finishing up his task gamely, the pony son of Soult and Bavaria scored by half a length from. Master Soult. Royal Soult can safely be classed amongst the best ponies we have seen on the Auckland turf, The cbisf item on the bill of fare for the second day was the Summer Cup, run over a mile and a-quarter, and for which the contestants numbered }1. was a rather better favourite than All Red. The field moved off in goodi order, the first to show out being Master Soult. When tbe back stretch was reached the Soult horse had given way to Pohutu. The black som of Expansion was three lengths clear of the opposition when the last half-mile wa« entered upon, but hung out signals of distress a furlong farther on, when Master Soult, who had been in a hawdy position, moved up, and All Red was most prominent of- tha others. Ths Soult horse was again in 'command at the head of the straight, and although All Red made a game effort under his bnrden of 9.8 the task was beyond him, Master Soult winning his race in businesslike- style, having had the measure of his Wellington opponent. The closing sta<?e of the mile and a-quarrer was thrown behind by the three-.year-old son of Soult and Lady Hester in 2min 8 3-ssec, which constitutes a-freeh record for the Summer Cup, the previous be^t being Landlock's 2 rain 9 3-Dseo in 1906. The leading events on the third day were the Great Northern Derby and' the A.R.C. Handicap. The classic event attracted a field of seven, and Husbandman retained his position as favourite. There was nothing- of morrent in the preliminary beyond the fact fhat Diabolo mov-sd alontr in more dashing style than on Cup Day, and a glance as they came down past the> stewards' stand showed that all seven were in good nick, thoup-h Master Soult appeared to have fin^d down a bit as the result of the hard racing- exacted from him lately. For the first furlong the field" racftc?in clo^? company, ard then Master Soult and Diabolo showed in front, and remained at the head of affairs round to the eix-furlong post, when© Husbandman wasi seen to be moving un. The favourite wasi in charge as they dashed down to tbe halfmile po«=t ; but Master Soult closed up again, and was on Husbandman 1!'1 !' quarters rimniny acrocs tl»e -top str*e£cTa. Wllsn fche head of tihe straight was reached it was, however, clear tb-tt the Auckland colt was only there on suffera n«. aa the favourite drew clear, and bounding -alone in true racehorse fashion the son of Treadmill came in an *>rsv winner by a !«narth and a-half from Master Soult, with Diabolo. a couple of lengths Daek. in third place. Tbe race wa< run at a clinking pace from en<J to end. the 12 furlonp-fl being- run in 2min 35 ♦■ssec, winch constitutes a frteh Derbyt

record for the Dominion. The various stages of the journey were- struck off by the official timekeeper as under: — Three furlongs, 40 2-ssec ; five furlongs, lmin 7 l-ssec; ,six. furlongs, lmin 19 4-ssee; seven furlongs, lmin 31 2-&3 ec; one mile, lmin 45sec. The last half-mile was run in 50 *-seec. Ten horses filed out for the A.R.C. Handicap, Carl Rosa being voted as the one most" likely to score, whilst of theothers Downfall and All Bed were best; supported by investors. The favourite and Pohtttu w«r« the first to break the line, and they came into the straight together, closely attended by Downfall, wifch Stratagem and All Red well up among the othere. In the run to the stand All Bed led, a*id, making the pace solid, the Wellington horse -was never afterwards headed, tbotrgih Stratagem, Ikon, and Carl Rosa in turn endeavoured to wpest the lead from the son of Stepniak. Boundine along freely, he caught the judge's eye a length and a-ialf to the pood of Carl Rosa, Master Delaval filling third berth a couple of lengths away. With the exception of Zimmerman's 2min 36asec last year, the time, 2min 37 2-ssec, compares favourably with past records^ for tihe handicap, and the result "in 'addition to demonstratingthat All Red was entitled to .his Auckland Cup victory stamps the St-epniak horse, who' carried the 'steadier of 9.11 in the A.R.O. Handicap, as one of the best horses on the %w Zealand turf at the present time. lhe gathering was brought to n close en Saturday-, when the main viee m.- wib the Grand Stand Handicap, tho Royal Stakes and the Auckland Plate. The withdrawal of Downfall from the Grand Stand Handicap reduced the field for the mile and a-quarter race to five. Master Soult was produced to run his fourih race at the meeting, and when the bay colt was found looking bright and well his being oent out a strong favourite \vas always certain. A surprise proved to be in store, JLeonator was responsible for the pace right through. Master Scult seemed to be equal, to cutting down his rivals approaching the distance, but he never quite got up, and the favourite wearying of the struggle in the concluding stages Lconator won in decisive style. The Royai States was" popularly sumnjed up- to ! be at the mercy of Broadsword, but another < surprise was provided. The favourite did not jump off quickly when the barrier went up, bttt he made up his ground, and when they turned into the straight was found racing Armlet for <?hs ler.d ; and it eeemed that the odds were properly placed. When j the eruielal test csme ro be applied at che | distance,, however, Broadsword shirked j rather badly, and his fate was quite sealed. J W.hea uhey got -to tha centre of the | Armlet led the field home, and the- first victory for Mr G. D. Greenwood's colours i at EUerelie "was 'thus entered upon, the ,' Canterbury sportsman be<ng warmly con- ; grafculated thereon. The Auckland Plate J brought our ihrae contestants — Zimmerman, i Master- ©ekval, and Bobvikoff. The latter v.as made -a strong favourite, and he amply justified the- confidence reposed .in his ability to win. Directly Davis requited Bobrikoff to go up and settle Ziuinierman it was practically all over, and he fairly romped. -home in ihe finie-h. Mr A. Kohn fit ruck the various stages of the journey as follows : - Three furlongs '41 3"s=ec , four furlongs 54 2-setc, fivo furlongs 13.3-s^o. mx furiongs lmin 23 2-sc-fcC, seven fu/.onge Imji j 34 l-ssee. mile lmin 47 3-ssec, mile and a-half 2min 38 2-ssec. It transpires that Husbandman's defection from the Auckland Plate was due to i an inadvertence on the part of his owner, j Sir George Clifford stated on Siturday that j he fully intended to start his colt in the | weight for ag-a race, and the disappearance of the Derby winner's name was due to an erroneous impression that the payment was due at the post instead of the night before the t~ob. The black nrare Dolores (by Freec'orr.; — Scotch Mist) run her hvst race en the opening day o! the A.R.C.'s meeting. Falling j at the sixth hur-dte in the Graftcn Hurdle j Rae? s>U-e injured one of her leg=, whi-rh it v. as subsequently ascertained by a veterinary • urgeon was splintered to- such an extent that she had to b^ destroyed. Both on t!.o fiat and over Tho '•nia'.l stick* Dolores h.ul put up some creditable performances. Zimmerman appeared to b« ?Hghtly fore t ■when he went out to content the Auckland , dp. The «on of Birkpnhead was handy to the leaders three furlongs from home, but a j bit further on fell away beaten. I Messrs R. and R. Duder, who for many j yoar-3 have raced horses in Auckland, evid^i.th contemplate retiring from active participation in turf matters, and tha wko.e of their Jiorscs were offered for bale by auction on Thursday la«t. but the principal lots were parsed in ag*in, the reserve figures not baiug roached. The top price of 450 guineas was offered for Tui Cakabau. but failed to lead lo business During the running of the A.X.C. Har.dv cip on the third day of the Metropolitan Club's summer carnival, First Gun cannoned with Ikon going across the top wretch and fell, bringing down with him J Pohutu and Stratagem, who were following . in his wake^ Fortunaielv neither riders , nor horses suffered seriously, and a suns-o- ' quent inquiry by the steward* showed that ; t!ip affair was purely accidental. Maktsr Soult, who accounted for the Rummpr Cup on the Second day of the A.RXmeeting," has snown marked consistence this i season. The three-year old son of Sortlt ha« figured under silk on 10 occasions and s only once failed to run into a place the | eient Jn which he finished outside the placed division being tha Canterbury Jockey Clud s , Derby.