AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 42

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By T&ihoa.

It goes without gaying_ that since the conclusion of the Gup carnival things generally have been rather quiet at Mierslie; but the publication of the weights for the Takapuna meeting will havt/ ihe effeci of brightening." things up, because owners will then know whether to hustle their horses along or whether to keep them on the easy list. This, JE course, depends on whether the horses are 'to fulfil engagements at ihe meeting. The whole of the visiting horses who competed at tho Cup meeting have returned home, the last to go being Fiery Cross and Glendower, whd wont on Wednesday of this week. Since 'the meeting Fiery Cross has been •„ regular attendant on tho track; but it is understood he is not to race at the Wellington meeting. The announcement that Desert Gold is to go to Australia to race will give pleasure to all sportsmen, and her meeting with Biplane is being looked forward to. However, it generally happens that if a meeting of certain horses is looked forward to it does not come off. There is a rumour that the jumper Troublesome has changed hands, but I do not, know whether there is any truth in it. ' C&nsoult is a looal two-year-old worth remembering when the Takapuna meeting is in owing. With the southern cracks out <»i ih.& way, CSanzoult may earn some stake money, Unole Ned and Oynio have been entered and hwdioappea for the Wellington Cup, but s<> far no deoision has been arrived ai aa to whether they are to go to Trenthajn, Perhaps the handioapper's estimate of ibou* ftbttity when he frames the weights for the Talpipuna Cup will decide whelhex they cemain in Auokland or go to Trentham. A maiden who showed pace at Ellerslie i* BWulari but therd is plenty of time to support her, as she is hot seasoned yet, Thotfgh Mel tin a ran. badly at Ellerslje, it may i>:A be safe to Cdtot him, out of his approaching eiftgsigsrn&iits, and. perhaps, at 'l'&£&pvm& he will do Much better,, L<k»kloA through tho Wellington handiand t&Hna; a Una through, tho racing 4? JuLicrstie, Rod Ribbon ana Nanna read a likely P&k &i ran. well In the Cup and Teloprraph. Red Ribbon ran three sterling Z&oek at Bllorslie. while Nanna ran seren iunonga the lasif day under iaiin 28aeo with he* mouth open. She then carried 8.4, and has 4lb -ess in tho Telegraph. Thare is some talk of a possibility of Oynio being taken to Rondwiok to contest the Au&tfalian Cup, but no dofinite arrangement has yet been made. Since the spring moeting the ne<v course at Takapuna has Improved considerably, •and at the approaching meeting on the 2o*h inst. it should be m tip-top condition to race upon, particularly as the little rain we have had during the la§t few day 3 should brighten tip the grass track. The Whangarel meeting is £0 take place on Thursday next week, and it seems there will "be a good number of Aucklanders going up to the meeting. • Blue

Hoso -will nob be greatly fancied in the Oup, but all the same-she will run well. Egypt, who came to Auckland at Cuptime with other members of Mr Lowry 3 team, was not produced on eithor day. Looking baok ovor the training work, I note a 6ouple of very fast sprints registered by Egypt, and it may bo well to remember this when he steps out in a shortdistance race. « Maybo Egypt will shine as a sprinter and not, as most people think, a stayer.

RACING IN NEW ZEALAND.

RACES AT HOKITIKA. First Day—Wednesday, January 9.

The West land Racing Club'3 midsummer meeting was opened in perfect weather and in the presence of an attendance which ranks next to that at the jubilee meeting. The ordinary early morning train from the north brought a great crowd. The course was in perfect order, and there was good racing. The sum of £8670 was put through the totalisator, as .against £10,119 on the first day last year, when there ware eight races, as against seven this year. Results:

KANIERI HANDICAP—Merton, 7.13, 1; War Tax, 8.1, 2; Lady Phyllis, 7.8, 3. Also started: Jingo 7.11, Epworth 7.8, Hymettius 7.4, Miraculous 7.0. Won by half a length. Time, imin 9 4-sseo.

STAFFORD HANDICAP.—KiItess, 9.13, 1; Xanthos, 9.0, 2; Kilrush, 9.0, 3. Also stajted: Achillc:!es 9.0, Claverbouse 8.5, Winning Number 7.0, Arihia 7.0. A fine race. Won by a long neck, a head separating second and third. Time, lmin 13sec. BOROUGH TROT.—Guess, ll&eo, 1; Sweet Cole, 12sec, 2; Signoretta, 9sec, 3. Also started: Flossie Dillon 2seo, Energy 2sec, Buckshead 7seo, Belgian 9sec, Wee Pat lOseo, Jedran 14sec. A good, race, won by a length, with two lengths between second and third, Time, 2min 29sec. hokitikA Handicap.—Rose Pink, 8.6, 1; Weanott, 9.0, 2; Lady Middleton. 8.12, 3. Also started; Red Book 9.0, Henrietta 7.2. The winner led throughout, and won easily by two lengths, with three lengths separating second and third. Time, 2min 8 4-ssec a West Coast record.

PROVINCIAL TROT.—Rewanui, 17sec, 1; Sweet Cole, loßec, 2; Prince Huoil, 15sec, 3. Also started: Mies Marion 4sec, -Bernie L. 6sec, Duck's Head Ssec, Trojan Usee, Annie Black losec, Bessie Todd 15seo, Topsy Wallace 16sec, Alita 17sec, Jedran 17sec. Won by two lengths. Bessie Wood fell. Time, 3 mill Ipsec.

HIGH-WEIGHT HANDICAP. Achilledes, 8.12, 1; Divorce, 9.7, 2; Tyne, 8.0, 3. Also; started: Gallupin 9.9, Bradamante 8.12, Amity 8.10, Caraid Dileas 8.0, Miraculous 8.0. Won by half a length, a neck between second and third. Time, Imin 24 4-ssec. FIA'IjNTG HANDICAP.—KiIjoy, 10.3, 1; Tyson, 9.3, 2; Chudic, 8.9, 3. Also started: Trentham Rose 10.2, Samiesen 10.6, Hymettins 7.4. Won easily by three lengths. Time, lmin Ssec.

Second Day—Thursday, Januaby 10,

The Westland races were concluded to-day. Steady rain fell from daylight to noon, when itcleared away,- and the afternoon was fine. The attendance was good. The course was somewhat heavy. The sum of £7644 was put through the totalisator, making £16,214 for the meeting as against £22,950 last year (Jubilee meeting), and £15,640 in the year previous. Results:

WOODSTOQK HANDICAP.—Divorce, 9.3, 1; Tyson, 9.4, 2; Morton, 10.8, 3. Also started: Lady Phyllis 7.10, Jingo 7.10, Epworth 7.7, Skedaddle 7.0. "Won by half a length. Time, lmin 14sec.

GOLDFIELDS HANDICAP.—KiItess, 10.2, 1; Caraid Dileae, 70, 2; Arihia, 7.0, 3. Also Ftarted: ATchilledes 9.3, Kilrush 8.7, Tyne 7.0, Miraculous 7.0. A fine race. Won by a neck, with half a length between second and third. Time, lmin 351-ssec.

COUNTY TROT.—Trojan, lOsec, 1; Marven Rose, Usee, 2; Little Rose, S. Also started; Energy 2seo, Flossie Dillon 9, Sweet Cole 7, Love Bird 8, Buck's Head 8, "WeePat 11, Grand Drift 14, and Alit-a 16 (bracketed" with Marven Hose), Prince Huon 12, Generous 16. "Won by six lengths, half a length separating second and third. Time, 2mm 26 1-oseo.

WESTLAND HANDICAP.—Xa-nthos, 7.9, 1; Daytime-, 8.11, 2; Archilledes, 8.2, 3. Also started: Jeannot 9.2, Rose Pink 9.1, Ladly Middleton 8.6, Bradamante 7.0, Lady Phyllis 7.0. Won easily. Time, lmin 47 l-ssec. CENTURY TROT.—Topsy Wallace, 23sec, 1; Annie Black, 23sec, 2; Bernie L, 13seo, 3. Also started: Plossie Dillon lOsec, Pegasus 12, Rewanui 17, Inquisitive 20, Belgian 23, Tliora 23. Pegasus, the favourite, did not leave the post. Won by two lengths, with half a length between second and third. Time, smin 17sec. WELTER HANDlCAP.—Bradamante, 8.9, 1 (bracketed with Amity); Claverhouse, 8.5, 2; Winning Number, 8.0, 3. Algo started: Red Book 10.7, G.allupin 9.7, War Tax, 8.10, Glenowl 8.6. A dine race. Won by half a length, with a neck separating second and third. Time, lmin. 28 2-ssec. FINAL HANDICAP.—Merton, 10.8, 1; Tyson, 9.4, 2; Hymettius 7.1, 3. Also started: Cnuclic 8.8. In a great finish, Merton won by a neck, half a length separating second and third. Time, lmin 7 l-ssec.