AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3234, 8 March 1916, Page 56

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihoa.

"Business as usual" cannot be applied to Auckland this last few days, and, were it not for the usual outside fixtures, sportsmen at this end would have little outside business worries to engage their attention. Auckland horses, though not a really excellent team, succeeded in capturing a couple of stakes at the Wanganui meeting, and, to the disgust of the local pcncillcrs, those horses from this end to win, Colonel Soult and Black Northern, wore heavily supported. Though defeated on the second day, they were not so heavily backed to account for all the profits on the first investments. It is understood that had Black Northern failed at Wanganui J. Williamson intended to race him no more; but perhaps lie will continue to keep the erratic son of Salvadan going. There are many so-called unlucky horses racing in the Dominion, but, come to think of it, few are more unlucky than El Gallo. Outside his Great Northern double, the gelding has won only a single_ small hack event, 0 but on numerous occasions he has filled places in rich handicaps. That ho is good enough there is little doubt; but perhaps his failure to win outright is that he has Hot enough weight to carry. This may sound paradoxical, but in each of his races he carries 7st or in that vicinity, and this means a light boy in the saddle. El Gallo is not a lad's horse, and a strong horseman may be to his advantage. Lady Penury, who was taken to Wanganui but went very sore and was not started, is all right again, and is booked to race at Te Aroha on Saturday and Monday. King Chiara, who was brought up from the south to race at the South Auckland meeting but did not do any good, was not taken home again, and was left in W. (Sharpe's charge till the country meetings are ended. King Chiara ran very poorly at South Auckland, but I would not card to rely on that form, < and I fancy he will do much better next time out.

Glendalough continues to make good progress in her schooling tasks, and so far she gives evidence of growing useful over the Small fences. , J. Rae is keeping the 'chaser .Lady Sabretache going, and the pace she is showing suggests that a good hurdle race may fall to her.

Most of the Bllerslio trainers are away this week-end with teams at Te Aroha. It Seems strango that a little up-country fixture should be held on Saturday and Monday instead of on consecutive days. Isot only is it against the wishes of those sportsmen who attend, but it is not to the benefit of the club, because numbers of sportsmen return on Saturday . evening, and do not trouble to go up again for the second day. With the end of the country fixtures in sight we may expect to see the "crocks," who have been resting while the tracks are hard, being brought in for the winter. A horse worth watching at the country meetings is Parsimony. He raced unsuccessfully at Rotorua last week, but that's nothing. Horses often do this. The judging at Rotorua was a bit erratic. Positive ran sixth, and was placed third; but a worse one was placing Tenacious third in the Welter. Tenacious was 50 yards behind the field.