AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2983, 17 May 1911, Page 64

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihoa,

. The winter meeting of the Takapuna Jockev Club opens on Saturday, and at the time "of writing 'everything points to the feathering being a big success. The winter, meetings at Devonport are usually popular \vith sportsmen. "The running in the several Jumping events generally throws light upon the form to be expected at the Great Northern meeting at Ellerslie. At the approaching 'gathering most of the best of the local jumping brigade are engaged, while there are' also several horses who are fresh aspirants for hurdle honours. The principal fl»t race is the Empire Handicap, and jgood acceptances have been"received. The fc>rrh shown by Electrakoff at Avondale pmst secure for him strong support for ithis event. Sea' Elf who won the event ilast year has only 6.12 to carry on Jay, and as the daughter of Seaten Delaval 'is galloping in great style there is good fieasori to expect her to run well forward on, Ithis occasion. Spectre is galloping in great Kfclci: and I would not be surprised to see Mai rank as a winner before many weeks Slave passed.

i Taiaha was responsible for a taking 'gallop on Thursday. He gave Castadrift * start, and beat him easily over nine jfuzibnip. Taiaha is engaged in the Hurdles ;at Takapuna, and the son of Singlestick should be capable of making a. bold bid for [victory. _^

I A filly moving attractively at Ellerslie ?just now is Reno. She can muster up a ?great deal of pace, and looks in the pmii 'of condition.

; BJack Northern is not going too well, and lie snowing signs of soreness. A stablemate =plaood in the permanently retired list. I On Saturday morning King Hippo was :feent t over two circuits o.f the big country at Ellerslie. He jumped well, but. failed $o show much paoe.

ATtisto is to be turned out for a spell. | A' nice piece of jumping was witnessed jat Ellerslie on Saturday when Loch Fyne, Eo Beau, and Dinkum were companions rlbvor a round of the steeplechase course■•Dinkum fenced very slowly, and was always in the rear, but Loch Fyne and Le Beau iook the obstacles in their stride and gave & capital display. Loch Fyne, it may be mentioned, is booked to leave for Wanganui, to compete in the Wanganui Steeplechase. He may run well, but he would perhaps bo more successful over the Ellerslie course.

Jack Delaval, who has been carrying all before him in pony races lately, has failed to pass under the standard, and though amongst the acceptances of the first day at Takapuna, he cannot, of course, compete. Paisa.no is not galloping with the dash he had somio time- back, audi if one can judge by his track doings he will have foia work cut out to be prominent in the Northern Hurdles. Antarctic, the locai unbeaten 'chaser, has not been doing too well, and though a regular attendant on the track he is only jogged along, and rjfancee are against him being ready to rvuv a hard ra-co like the Northern Steeplechase on June .7. Bv the. way, his owner, Mr T. Bowling, is rapidly getting over his recent illness, and ie now about again. Whakaweira, who won the Hurdles on the opening day at Hawke's Bay, was well supported for the Northern Hurdles after his southern victory. First Barrel goes to Wanganui. Though engaged in the big cross-country event on the opening day, ho will not be a starter, but will be reserved for the Grandstand Steeplechase on the second day, when ho will be ridden by A. Julian. One of the horse's legs appears to bo filling, but it is not considered serious. Delegate was much too good for Bully in a schooling lesson over five flights of hurdles on Saturday.. Dawn is to again join tho active brigade' at Ellerslie shortly. The big son of Birkenhead is still in T. Williams's stable. The same trainer recently had an addition to his string in the shape of the chestnut gelding Blue Mountain. He was schooled over the small hurdles on Saturday, but did not make any friends by his display. P. M'Laughlinhas tired of Madam Paul as a flat racer, and on Saturday tho bay mare was given her first lesson over the pony hurdles. She flew the obstacles like a veteran, and the exhibition was decidedly promising. ~ No horse at Ellerslie is galloping more attractively than Spectre, and, unless I am much mistaken, he can be written down as a sure winner at no far distant date. Advocate, who went amiss on the eve of the last .Auckland Cup, is being hacked about the roads, and will soon be placed in steady work with a view to contesting the big handicaps in the spring. Dhudeen, who has so far failed to win a hurdle race, is now being schooled over the steeplechase jumps. He has no trouble with the obstacles, but cannot stay. He tires very quickly. A hunter showing out prominently in his efforts at Ellerslie is Rebel, and the black gelding promises to be extremely hard to beat in events over the obstacles for gentlemen riders. Armagh, the nice looking son of Salvadan, broke down badly a few days ago, and consequently will not be a runner at the winter meetings. To have Irish and Armagh break down in a week is bad luck for their trainer, J. Williamson. The acceptances received for both the Great Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase are extremely" satisfactory. In the Hurdles tho only ones of note to drop out were Prophet and Hoanga. The former is amiss, while the distance would be too far. for Hoanga. In the Steeplechase all tho fancied candidates have been paid up for,-and both races promise to provide fine contests. The nominations for the minor events at the meeting are largo, and it would only need Mr Morse to frame his adjustments on' an equitable scale to ensure a successful gathering. Ben Jonson has been recommissioned again, and the veteran is now in steady work at headquarters. The pony Caedmon was recently added to the list, and when next he races he will figure as a gelding. W. Sharpe has old Kremlin in preparation for winter racing, and the. son- ofStepniak jumped the hurdles in company with Don Quox on Saturday in good style. Sea Elf and Maxwell registered an attractive seven furlongs on Saturday. The pair finished on terms, covering the distance in lmin 31 4-ssec, a creditable performance.