AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2984, 24 May 1911, Page 59

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihoa. May 22. _ The Takapuna Jockey Club opened their winter meeting on Saturday. The weather was perfect and the attendaaioe a record one for a winter gathering at Devonport. Speculation on the totaliaator was particularly brisk, and £12,198 went through the machine as against £7602 for the corresponding day last year. The racing generally was * interesting, particularly on account of the large number of horses competing that claim engagements at the Great Northern meeting at Ellerslie next month. An unfortunate accident occurred in the Ngataringa "Handicap. At the bend-enter-ing the straight Count-ree fell and brought down two other competitors. J. O'Shea, who was riding Countree, sustained a fractured skull, and had to he removed to the hospital in a serious condition. Fortunately neither of the other jockeys sustained injury, and the three riderless horses returned to the paddock without hurt. The Maiden Plate attract d a field of 15, of which Llovda and v j-lombia were strongly, tacked, but neither took any prominent part in the. race. The winner proved to be a rank outsider—Ruataivgata, who rewarded her supporters with over a quarter of a century dividend. Haku was second and St. Avamo third. Time, 1-33 3-ssec. Might.- Atom, who won a double at Avouda,le, again scored a meritorious win in .the pony race. Manurere, a smart-looking Musketry .mare, who has only recently made' her reappearance on the track, went out favourite for this event, but gave a most disappointing display. She was apparently not ready. Miss Explosion, who won the Maiden Hurdles at Avondale -Mst month repeated her performance in the Maiden Hurdles at Takapuna. She strikes one as a coming jumper, for she has shown a great turn of speed in the final stager, of both her- races. On Saturday she carried 10.0 in a field of 11, which included several p'romising hurdlers. The two 'favourites for the. Empire Handicap finished first and second. They were Domino 8.1 and Sea E-lf 6.12 respectively. Eleetnaboff 9.4- mad? a spirited challenge in the straight, but tvbs best m-by a short head, for second; place. Tic time, 2min 16 l-s?ee, must bo accounted good considering the track was rather soft holding. The thrive placed liOir.es in the Hauraki Hurdles —Don Quex 9.8,' Delegate 10.2, Sol 10.0— ako claim ev.grgements in the Great Northern Hurdles next month, so that the race proved one of special interest. Don Quex, who is at the top of his form, jumped splendidly, and made all the running. Delegate was a close- companion. Apparently his rider, Julian, thought he was holding the son of Cardigan fairly mie in the lead, but when hie came to make his challenge Don Quex had enough to spare, and finished up with a good gallop. Sol jumped fault-ks-.lv. but took things t:o easily in the early stages. On the last round the plucky little son of Soult picked up a lot of ground but the pace of the loaders was too so'id. He failed to get on terms. Sol, however, finished full of dash. His running showed that another half-mile would have suited him admirably, which, of course, is the distance of the big hurdle event at Ellerslie. Don Quex will now have to carry a 71b penally for the Great Northern, which w'ill brin? him to within a poum! of Delegate and Sol, who are ench allotted 9.10. On Saturday's running Pol seems to- be the choice of the three for Ellerslie. It is interesting to note that the supporters of Sol favoured him more for the big steeplechase than for the hurdles. M their "judgment is sound, the son of Soult must be regarded as having a say in the principal Northern Steeplechase event. The time for the two miles was 3imin 56sec. Hareno was the public choico for- the Ngataringa Handicap, in which 12 horses started. The Freedom gelding,

however, was beaten before the straight was reached:, and Lady Betty won with comparative ease from Bine Mount. In this race Count ree come down at the bend into the straight. and brought down Falchion and Jol!i& Fille. The latter was coming very fast at the time of the accident, and might have fought out conclusions with the winner had he nofe fallen. The rider of Countree (O'Shea) sustained a fracture of the skull, but tha other two riders were only slightly shaken. The last race, the Royal Handicap, was run in semi-darkness, a.nd was won by the favourite, Sir Artegal, after a close race. Elegance was second. As the Great Northern meeting is drawing near, the track work at Ellerslie ia becoming more interesting, particularly as regards the jumpers. Wimrne.ra, Pais'ano, and Delegate are the best-fancied selection for the Great Northern Hurdles, while Sol and Loch Fyne, of the local workers, aa-e. in strong favour for the big steeplechase. Cloudy Morn gave a capital display over big country last week. *He has a good dash of pace and fences splendidly. He ia certainly one of the most promising of the light weights for the Northern Steeplechase. Paritutu's efforts over -the big- obstacles at Ellerslie, have not made him .many adherents. Ho jumps both slowly and and will have to show very marked improvement if he is to be given any chance next month. Although Antarctic is still among tha acceptors for the Great Northern Steeplechase, there appears to be little chance, of us taking part in the event. His work has been very restricted of late, and a rousing gallop would probably find him out. No jumper i® giving better satisfaction in his preparation than Bully. The other morning he reeled off half a mile in 50sec—i a pretty good performance for a jumper who is regarded as absolutely safe to nego* tiafcs hurdles. Taiha, who won a two-male hurdle race at Avondale last month in pleasing style, has been suffering from a bruised heel) but is again in regular work and doing well. Montigo, who arrived from Gisborne last week to take part in the Great Northern Hurdles, met with a serious accident when doing a turn at EHexslie. After jumping two hurdles in good: style, he somehow- got on the rails when clearing the next obstacle and tore his side open. The injury was an. unsightly a.r.d somewhat serious one. Montigo has been scratched for all engagements, at Ellerslie. Le Beau was an absentee from the track most of last week, but inquiry from his owner elicits the mforlr.st.xm ' that there is nothing amis-, and the son of Leolantis is working on the hills.