AUCKLAND TOPICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3352, 12 June 1918, Page 41

AUCKLAND TOPICS

By Taihoa. The proverbial luckiness of the Auckland Racing Club in securing line weather for their meetings is still in attendance, and though one hardly expects beautifully fine weather in winter, yet there it was on both Saturday and Monday last when the Auckland Racing Club brought, off the big jumping fixture of the North Island. Needless to say, the attendance each day was exceptionally big and likewise the totalisator returns. The meeting opened with the Maiden Ste. plcciia.se, lor which Bore was a good favourite. As a 'chaser ho is not much good, because the best ho could do was run third in about as poor a field as could be got together. The finish was fought out between the veteran Prosper and Tho Channel, and the first-named stayed on best and just won. _ I shall be surprised if Prosper over wins another steeplechase, which remark expresses rny opinion of tho others. In a field of 32, the bracketed pair General Stephen and Tame to Kapu carried sufficient money to make them favourite, but Persian Prince, All Over, and Garryowen were all well supported. When it came to racing there were only two in it. Independence and General Stephen, and they cleared out from the field, Independence crediting her owner-trainer with a long overdue victory. She paid a good two-figure dividend. The Great Northern Hurdles followed, and when backers got busy they made Sir Fisher favourite, with Thrace second choice, and Bon Reve, next. The race was full of interest throughout, and after Penniless had made plav for just on two miles, Bon Reve, Sir Fisher, Colorado, Fisher, Gluctanns, and Te Onga were all in a heap. Coming to the home turn Sir Fisher and Bon Reve drew out a bit and they reached the last fence together, and once over they settled down to a ding-dong finish; but Bon Reve just had a bit the brst of it and won by half a length. Te Onga was three lengths away third, and Fisher next. The latter ran down almost every fence and must have covered half a furlong more than any of tho other runners. ~ Penniless fell at tho hurdle near tho half mile, as did also Tenacious and Gluetanus, at which point' Gluetamis was close handy, and looted to have a good winning chance. Gold Fran fell at the second fence, but Thrace was tailed off! all along, and his display was very disappointing. . Parisian Diamond was a good favourite in tho Cornwall Handicap, which was won very easily by Mangamohc. Parisian Diamond led till the field turned into the straight, when Mangamohc, who had been at the tail of the field for six furlongs, came along- with a fine run and smothered tho opposition. White Blaze was second. but he was lucky, as, but for swerving across Colonel Soult in the straight, the Colonel would have been second. Tho next event was the Croat Northern Steeplechase, for which Collector started a strong favourite. Like the < Hurdles it was a fine race to watch, and with tho exception of Hautere. the whole of the runners were close handy. Waimai went to the front when the final lap began, but half a mile from home—that is tho top of the hi]] — Waimai was just leadinu; a bunch which comprised Collector. Coalition. Gluepot, Moddite. and Marton. Waim*i jumped the second fence on the hill like a stag, and Collector only just scrambhid over. This p-niKlfid Waimai to orefc a break, but Stan Pvoid allowed Collector to got_ set: and then went after the top-woisrht. Coming along with n. fine run Collector was unsidos with Waimai at the Inst fence, but the favourite got in too olos* and came down. This Wt Waimai to win comfortably from Coalition, with Gluopot third. Hautere made up a lot of irrnnnrj ov"r tho Inst half milo and got fourth. Moddite fell on the; ton of th« hill when vorv hnndv. The vietorv of Waimai was very popular and the honours of the race wre with him. However,, had Collector not at tho final fence 1 , I fancy ho would have won. A promising sort was unoavthrd in tho J-Tnnt Hmvllos when Worthhtnd. a hnlffcrother to Hn.vdn. won in g-ooi-1 ptvl»; n.nrl the second day won the Hunt Cup Steeplecna.«o just as easily. Thero was a big field of sprinters In

tho Members' Handicap, which went to the little fancied Ilyilus, who came from a long way back and beat the field pointless at tho finish. Mill O' Cowrie was out forcing the pace, but she was stopping at tho finish and just lasted long enough to make a dead heat with A.rran for second place. The favourite, Hyginas, did not get on well and was never sighted. Cadrona ran a good race and was close up fourth. The big event the second clay was the Winter Steeplechase, and in the absence of Waimai and Collector, backers went for Coalition. Tho favourite won, but he gave his backers many anxious moments and hit several of tho fences. Then again, Hautere was going well in front, but came down at the second fence from home and this made matters easy for Coalition. Modelite was second, and will see a bettor clay. Gluepot fell when half tho journey had been covered.

Hautere looks the goods at Gisborne. In tho York Welter, Parisian Diamond was made a good favourite, and he showed tho quality of horse he is by winning in great stylo with 11.12 on his back. The way ho beat a field of fairly good performers was a treat. A raflk outsider in Ilookfieldi was second, and another outsider in Eereone, third. Outside tho winner none. of the. favourite division wore ever in the picture. In tho Remuera Hurdles, Bon Rove showed his Northern Hurdles win was no fluke bv carrying 11.6 home in front, but. he had to be ridden right out to beat Thrace, who may havo won but for losing several^ lengths at .the start. Colorado fairly disgraced himself, and was tailed off after the field had gone half a milo. It is said ho will do better when the going is firm. He certainly could not do worse. To Onga also ran badly and evidently his effort the first day knocked him out. In tho Visitors' Handicap, Hymeona was made favourite despite the fact that he is only a-little fellow, and 10.10 is a lot of weight for a little one in heavy going. He was quickly in front, but was worried all through by Ring Lupin, and both those wero beaten' a long way from home. Hyginas then got a lucky run on tho fence, audi in a great finish just won bv a neck from Cardrona and Stilts, both of whom would have beaten the winner had they not gone out wide at the home turn. They wero a poor lot of hack hurdlers seen out and in the Ornkci_ Hurdles. Kuikora won in hollow fashion and pulled up on three legs. Penniless made for a time, but could not stay, and Lancaster settled his chance by a couple of faulty jumps. It was left to the concluding event to Drovido the surprise of the meeting, when, in a b-'g field in the Fitzroy Welter, Sanacc. Singular, and Benzine came homo in th» order written. Tho winner paid over half a century, and Singular a good double figure dividend for second place. In the order of favouritism the placed horses were 16th. 15th, and: 14th favourites respectively. At the time of writing, the accenrinces for the Gisborne are not to hand. hut on the -form at Ellevslie, TTv"-s and Hantero are worth supporting. Sandy Paul may be favourite in the steeplechase, but on ElWsb'fc form he could have very little chance.