AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 56

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihoa.

. October 23. The Auckland Trotting Club were unfortunate as regards the weather for their first meeting on the new course at Alexandra Park. On the first day (Wednesday) the morning was overcast and threatening. Soon after tne racing started the rain began to faJJ, and there were intermittent showers throughout the afternoon. On Saturdlav the day broke overcast again, arid about iicon wiien the public would* in-the-usual coarse, ©tort to leave town, there was a heavy shower, although there was no rain at Epsom Eventually the day turned oflfc splendid., and those' who journeyed to Alexandra Park were well rewarded so far as the class of sport provided was concerned. I'lie Maiden handicap, two miles, attracted a held of 16—a very mixed lot,—and was won by the favourite E'lsie Downs from * the Gratten Downs Wtock Farm, She is a. Boodle—Lynda Oak mare, and showed herself to be. possessed of a lot of pace, and is ft very pacer. She won as she liked from the 9scu> mark in 4min 6 2-ssec. Another contestant, in Lady Doctor, showed some pace, but failed to ran into a place, because whenever she put in her challenge she broke. The Trotting Handicap of a mile and a-half was a good race, and was won by the sturdy and consistent mare Laciy Wilmington, from Bsec, in 3min 49iec. Seacole showed some speed, but his tendency ito break when tiring lost him the race by half a length. Mandeiene at scratch simpiy romped homo in the Spring Handicap, of two miles, in smm 5 4-sseo. This brilliant son of NovaJ only once for three or four chains was allowed to show his pace, and that was on the back stretch, overhauling his four leaders, which he left like maidens. Manderene goes south this week to prepare for liis engagement in the Metropolitan Thousand next month, and alter his exhibition up here is likely to be well supported for the Trotting Grand Prix. Woodmount, a Specialist gelding, won the Middleclass Handicap in convincing style, and shculd be heard more of. He, however, defeated a very speedy horse in Mountain King, who put in some very fast trotting until he broke. A bright-looking Taranaki pony, Charming Boy , captured the Stewards' Handicap comfortably. The October Handicap only drew three contestants, of which St. Michael proved an easy best. Master Park won the Electric Handicap after a good race with Charming Boy. who was the winner of the Stewards. The Trial Handicap on the second day attracted 11 starters, brut La Belle, the favourite, from Taranaki, won easjlv in 2min 46 2-ssec. The Ellerslie Trotting Handicap was an excellent race. Coming down the straight. Harold Abdallah, who had led all the way., showed signals of distress Lady Wilmington p-ut in a strong challenge. but it took too much ouit of the mare, and just inside the distance Haldane came' with a rush, and although he failed to overtake the leader, he just beat Lady Wilmington. The two miles took smin 47 3-ssec. The Alexandra Handicap, of lOOsovs, two miles was won by Monica, a comparative outsider' with great ease in slow time. The rale between Deaglesfiold and Bell Gray for second place was exciting, and the former just won junior honours on the post. Recommended was made a hot favourite for the Innovation Handicap, and won very easily,- Wild Nell won the Remuera Handicap after a good race with Lady Wilmington. The High-class Handicap, of a mile.

"was won by Thistle from start to finish. Sweet Pa*ch was second. The meeting concluded -with the biggest outsider. Undine, of the 16 -events winning, -and paying nearly double figures. The consistent Charming Boy was the runner-up. The mile was covered in 2inin 28 l-ssec. One particularly striking testimony to the new course is that, though -on the finst day it was very wet and on the last quite- dry, there were no complaints. It wa« feared in .some quarters that some volcanic soil might prove slippery in wei; weather, but there was no suspicion of it.