AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 50

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taehoa T.J.. 00

•Inly c.'j. General Drouet, the four-year-old brother (o King iSoult, its still on the big side, hut tie is doing well. The two-year-olds WuMingar and Troy were sprinted a, couple of furlongs on Tuesday, both going nicely. La R'-ina and lilcriot are now beginning to stride along in earnest, and during the past week both have been stepped out over a mile. The gallops in each inslai.ee wore highly satisfactory. _ Tho Waikato-trained gelding Westerly was a starter in each of tho Haek Steeplechases at Wellington, but ho failed to get among the p’aeed division. It lias not been definitely decided whether Sphinx will be taken to Riccarton. Sliould

she go her trainer, F. Stenning, will not make the trip, as he has a big team to cater for at Ellerslie Prince Souit continues to do well in the light tasks allotted him. It is to be hoped the son of Souit has mended his ways, as there is no doubt about him being a good one. As was only to bo expected, the racing at Wellington did not affect the jockey premierships, and the Ellerslie horsemen, b- Deeley and A. J. M‘Flynn, again top tn., poll. Siolo was sent over the big fences in the centre of the course at Ellerslie on Tuesday. ’1 lie Salvadan gelding did not fence in his usual bo'd manner. Kaihere continues to make good progress in his schooling essays. Ho can jump wei! ; but the question is whether he will stay. A three-year-old colt by Knight Errant is being hacked about the roads at Ellerslie. It is stated that the thoroughbred stallion Obiigado has been sold to Mr Bishop, of Palmerston, for a sum in the region of 300 gs. Hautere fared to notch a winning bracket at Trent ham, and his failures of late be costing his connections a nice tidy sum. ■ The step taken by the Avondale Jockey Club in removing all half-mile races from future programmes is one that will be heartily endorsed by all who have the best interests of racing at heart. Such races were only a farce, and it is sheer nonsense to say that each of 20 runners in a four.furlong flutter has an equal chance. In ii’ace of these events steeplechases have been substituted—a move which will receive the approval of all those owners who are interested in jumpers. The stake money for the two meetings—spring and autumn —shows substantial increases, and there is now only six races decided at Avondale of a value of lOOsovs each. Crescendo the Obiigado—Sweet Alice filly, iu P. Jones’s stable, promises to bo peculiarly smart, and she should be well forward to contest early spring engagements. Toreador and Antiphone have made good recoveries from their recent complaints, and P. Jones will soon bo putting them to fast work. P. Oonray, whoso luck has not been of the best for a long period, has now a team of eight horses in work. It is to be hoped he lias a good winner among them. E. Loo mb has his team looking well. Monorail is not being bustled, but Lady Alicia and Shepherd’s Bush are doing nicely. The Auckland rider, A. Julian, went close to landing the winter double at Trentham on Peary and The Spaniard, both of whom got second berth. Julian will ride the same horses at Christchurch. A report from .the south states that the Groat Northern winner, Bercola. has not been doing too well, and has lightened tip considerably. Merry Roe is striding along freely, and last week shaped in good style in a gallop on.the sand