AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, 1 June 1910, Page 56

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihoa

The Auckland Racing Club's big winter meeting will be inaugurated on Friday next, and the strong list of acceptances received by the secretary, Mr Hartland, point to a highly successful gathering. The final payment for the Great Northern Hurdle Race, which constitutes the piece de resistance on the first day, has left a field of 16 to do battle for the 750sovs attaching to the two and a-half mile event. On. the strength of his easy win in the Century Hurdle Race at Wanganui, Wimmera should reach the post a strong favourite for the Auck.La.nd event. The victory down below means a penalty of 71b, making his impost 10.9, but this will only be 61b over the Wanganui weight under which the opposition was given no chance. On the running at Takapuna Tui Cakobau 9.13 and Armagh 9.2 appear to be about the pick of the local candidates for Northern Hurdle honours. The great Northern Steeplechase comes up for decision on the second day (Saturday, June 4), and on present anpearances there should be ample material to furnish patrons with a good race. The top weight, Kiatere, still remains in, and it seems that the son of Castor can be ticked off as a certain starter. He ran a decent race in the Grand Stand Steeplechase at Wanganui, and as the Ellerslie course has always proved to his liking, it would be unsafe to have him outside the dangerous division. If all we hear concerning the capabilities as a fencer of Audax (who ran second to Wimmera. in the Century Hurdles at Wanganui) be true, the Hon. J. D. Osmond's representative should keep the field moving. Others who should perform with credit over the Ellerslie country are Bull worth and last year's winner, Capitol, who has been coming on nicely in his work.

The weather was fine on Wednesday last when the Takapuna Jockey Club's winter meeting was concluded. The attendance was good, but speculation was none too brisk, the tote, investments only running to £6509 10s, against £9585 10s last year. This made £14.111 10s for the meeting, a. decrease of £1459 10s compared with the 1909 returns. Bookmakers' fees showed an improvement, the total being £910,' against £B2O. The principal event was the Britannia Handicap, and in a field of seven Eleetrakoff was sent out favourite for the mile race. The son of Menchikoff and Electra, who was in with the minimum of 6.12, was quickly on the move when the barrier shot up, and, being never headed, he won nicely by three-parts of a length from Sir Artegai. Owing to the presence of several Great Northern candidates among the runners, the Hauturu Hurdle Race claimed a. good d*al of interest, but this was largely sapped by accidents and unlooked-for incidents during the running. Tui Cakobau, who won the Hauraki Hurdles on the first day. was_most in favour of 12 starters, but after Master Paul had made the running to the first obstacle, where he came to grief. Omati took charge and, never afterwards being seriously troubled, the aged sen of Leolantis won by a couple of lengths from the favourite, whose display called up considerable comment and formed a matter .for investigation bv the stewards. The rider, T. Jon-pfi, «xn!ained his failure to get to work on Tui Cakobau in the closing stages by statins- that he was under the impression they bad another round to sro, and was fined £5 for carelessness. The error of judgment lost the race for the favourite. Hoanga. and Lue-combe also fell during the event.

Spectre, a three-year-old son of Soult and Apparition, and one of th« latest recruite to jumping, stave a very decent display in winning the Maiden Hurdles on tbf second day of the Takapuna meetinsr. and should be heard of a<rain over the battens.

The Great Northern SteepWnasp candidate Audax has arrived at Ellers'ip. and from the appear ano the son of Birkenhead should go to the post next Saturday in °:ood nick.

Shrapnel showed signs of soreness after ninnir™ in +h" H-mturu Hurdles at Taka.pnna last Wp4c«gdqy.

The f act t>at Fuji Crv has been withdrawn fmn\ the Ma Map Steeplechase', to be nm at Ellerslie on next, tyrants to his beinor an ironrobable runner in the Great Northern Steeplechase.