AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 55

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihoa April 6. The Auckland Racing- Club's Easter meeting was ushered in on Saturday with cold, bleak, and showery weather, consequents the condition were .far from Despite the threatening leaden sfcj, nowover, there was a very fair attendance at Ellerslie for the opening day, and ttawe that went out witnessed some really excellent sport—in fact, the racing for the Easter Handicap was one of the finest races seen en the popular course. Ihroughout the day speculation w*u> very free as denced by the fact that the day s totalizator returns showed an increase of £10,219 IPs on last year's figures. lortunatelj, what rain fell on Good Friday night was not very heavy, and rather improved than otherwise the course proper. As the rain although threatening all ttoe afternoon, kept off, the track was in excellent condition and fast On Sunday heavy showers tell throughout the day, but cleared during the night so that Easter Monday was ushered in with good promise, and consequently large crowds went out to the course. < Racing was opened with the Iradesmcns Handicap, one mile and a-quarter. faea .bit 7.12, who had been doing excellent work was installed favourite, but Sir Artegal 8.0, who lias a noted partiality for soft going was also well backed. The race proved an easy thing for Sir Artegal who won practically from start to finish. -Monoplane B.2'and Sea Elf filled second and third respectively. . The Brighton Hurdles was a disappointing race. There were nine starters, of which Lloyds and Idealism were installed favourites." Don Quex and Lloyds made the running for the first mile, at the end of which Sandy Paul came up with the leaders. At the live-furlong post he took command, and from there out won as he pleased. Over the last half-mile Black Northern put up a determined run under his l&t, but failed to materialise, having to bo content with third place. Idealism, who wos the hottest of anti-post favourites, gave a poor display. Prince Soult was installed favourite for the Champagne Stakes, notwithstanding the fact that recently the hero of the treble winner at the A.R.C. summer meeting had not been showing his best form on the tracks. Haskayne came from Iluwkc'ts Bay with whispers of being the coming champion of Ormond's string, and was accoidingly well supported, while next in order of favouritism came the Gisborno candidate, Our King, who had given a couple of fine displays in his trials at Ellerslie. Prince Soult was first to get clear of the harrier, but iva 5 soon overhaued by Our King. who pilotedl the field into the straight. Here Prince Soult put in a .strenuous challenge under Deeley, but the chestnut Multifid colt galloped on in free style and won quite' easily by three lengths. Haskayne. who was second at the distance, died away to nothing. The six furlongs was covered in lmin 15sec, which makes Our King out to be a great performer, seeing that the time is a record for the. race. The best previous time was put up last year by Miscount, lrnin 15 2-st>ec. Our King' is owned by the popular Gislvorno sportsman Mr C. J. Parker, and is by Multifid from Indian Queen. The Easter Handicap was an excellent l>etting rare, for each of the- 11 starters had u good- following. Antoinette, last year's winner, was looking the picture of health, and was installed favourite, while Kakama and General Latour were next in demand. There was a good deal of delay at the post, chiefly caused by the antics of General Latour. When the barrier was eventually released Crown Pearl and General Latour were the first to show out, stud led along the back. Going up the rise General Latour was in the lead, followed by Crown Pearl. Goldsize, First VVairiki, Boanerges, and Kakama. Coming round (ho home turn General Latour was -till in command, but Crown Pearl had dropped back, and Boanerges, Kakama, Antionette, and Soultoria all became prominent in the race. Down the straight Kakama made a brilliant run, and opposite the stand overhauled General Latour, but the latter stuck gamely to i-:s easier-weighted rival, and a great finish was fought out. Soultoria, who ran rather wide., came at a rattling pace on the outside, and made a desperate effort, and when the winning prist was passed there was not a length between the three. Kakama, who owed tier victory to tin l sterling horsemanshin of Deeley, got the verdict by a neck, while Soultoria was only defeated by a head for second honours. Next in order came Goldsize, Boanerges, Antoinette, and Gloy, all c:lo!=e up. The time for the rare was lrnin 40see. which equals the previous best f-.r the race, credited to Gold Crest in I°o3 asd YVaiari in 1910. Kakama is in her fifth year, and is by Soult from Winsome. This is her firs* victory over n mile, but she has previously proved herself one of the best six- furlong performers in the country. The Tramway Handicap was selected a.s a prize for Bootle, who justified the public confidence bv registering a comfortable win in a-field of 15. LlKxille. one of the outsiders, ran into secorU place. The Onslow Stakes r el! to Devastation,

who won from end to ond with, Prince Merriwoe and Indulgence socond and third. Devastation is a fine-looking youngster, by San Francisco from Dismay. He is built on sturdy lines, and looks like turning out a useful performer. •Sea. Pink was selected as a very hot favourite for the Xelson Handicap, in which a held of 19 started, although ho had a hard struggle to wrest the honours from .Tiresome. The first day's programme concluded with the Lden Handicap. The brilliant galloway Jack Dolaval. proved an absolute moral for ho won as ho liked. The Stewards' Handicap at Auckland on Easter Monday was reduced to a field of six. Wee Olga fully justified her popularity by winning in easy style. Later, she camo out again and won the Welter Handicap by seven lengths from Sea Pink, who was second to her in the latter race in favour and place. Twenty-four horses started in the Mangore Handicap, which wenf to Tangawai after an excellent race. The favourite, bpalfish, faded dismally. The Great Northern Oaks attracted a held of four, of which the brilliant fillv Counterfeit was installed the strongest of favourites. From the start Counterfeit ran to the front, and although she was challenged by Miss Winsome half a mile from home, she was never seriously troubled, and won comfortably by several" lengths. The St. George's Handicap, one rnile and a-quarter, attracted 13 contestants, of which Soultoria was a hot favourite. Antoinette, who was the second fancy, won a splendid race, for which Claude "Brown is deserving of every credit. Soultoria ran well, but was unlucky, and bad to be satisfied with second honours. The Huia Handicap gave the siecond winning bracket to the speedy galloway Jack Uelaval, who won handsomely from Gold Size and Crown Pearl. The Autumn Steeplechase was a particularly fine race. A field of a dozen faced the starter. Pleiades was installed favourite, with Webfoot and Sol ne*J > demand. Webfoot and Tui Cakoba?: ma/fa most of the running, but on the last round Pleiades took it up, and until the last muf mile the two appeared to have evcrying their own way. when Sol came fast and made a merry finish, eventuallv winning amidst great enthusiasm by four lengths. Webfoot, who pulled tip" lam-e, defeated Pleiades comfortably for second honours. In the Victoria Handicap Prince Soult retrieved his honours as Auckland's champion two-year-old by winning a very meritorious race under Deeiev. He defeated the Gisborne victor of Saturday (Our King) quite comfortably. The meeting concluded with the Auckland Welter, which was won bv Wee Olga. with Sea Pink second.