AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 42

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Taihoa. By the time these notes appear in print the summer meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club will be over, and for a week or two there is not likely to be a great deal doing at headquarters. However, the country circuit will be in full swing then, and each week will see one of the "smalls" proving an attraction to sportsmen. The Taumaiiinui fixture is the next item on the menu at this end, and if Hupana fulfils his engagements he will win at least one race. The opposition to him is very rough. The annual meeting of the Te Kuiti Club will be held on Saturday week. The nominations received are exceptionally good, and include some of the best horses in Auckland. Marconi is not engaged on tho opening day at Takapuna, but the son is galloping well, and the first time he starts and the sting is out of the ground he will be handy. It is a long time sinco such a big disappointment has been seen on the Auckland courses as Loyal Arch. It will be remembered that she was a particularly good two-year-old, but sinco then she has annexed only one small race. However, she is galloping pretty well on the track just now, and there is just tho probability that she is coming back to her best form. They are a_ very poor lot of maiden hurdlers in training here just now, and the handicappers' estimate is that there is only 131 b between the lot. Ditto should win a race shortly. If Ritasea could be relied upon to gallop as well in a race as on the track she would soon win a hack race. H. Barr has Te Onga going very well at present, but the Regel gelding wants tho going soft to be seen to advantage. It is a pity Te Onga does not care about big fences, as he would make a fine 'chaser. The veteran Haskayne, sold at the die-

posal of tire late Hon. J. D. .Qrmond's horses, is now in steady work at Ellerslie under J. Thorpe's charge. Hiero, a decidedly useful horse who has not raced for .some time, is standing up to. his work. J lis injured leg still has a bad appearance, but it does not appear to affect Ins galoping. Mullingar, Shining Light, Aircraft, and Jack Delaval are in such condition as to reflect credit on their trainer, F. Stcnning, and he should get a stake or two. As a rule Auckland owners freely patronise race meetings at Gisborne, but at the approaching fixture Loyal Arch and Sugar Works are the only entries from this end. The owner of Analogue must be getting tired of the Beaton "Delaval gelding, who gallops fast on tho, track and slow in a race. R. Hannon will have a very strong team to do battlo for him from now on, and a good trio to watch is Tinapai, Rekenui, and Glenopal. The latter may with a good handicap win any time. -^ A horse working at Ellerslie who has improved a lot during tho last week or two is Cadrona. At Takapuna he will be ridden by J. O'Shea. To see Bluestone back in work one may be pardoned for thinking the winter ia close at hand. No better mud-larker has ever raced in Auckland than the son of Bluelight—Flirt. ' A gelding called Consideration has gone into'the stables presided over by J. Lambess. Silver Pino was given a run at tho Whangarei meeting, and beat all but two. The brother to Kauri King has not had a race for a long time and will be more forward later on. Coleraino's failures at Whangarei were disappointing to his trainer, and the chances are that J. Chisholm will try the gelding over hurdles before tho season is through. O. Coleman has Woody Glen looking a picture, and I shall be surprised if the son of Marble Arch does not pay his way from now on.