AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 59

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Diqqbb. Ratoa, formerly known at Ellerslie as Larry, was lame after working last week, and it is surmised he has broken a bone in the region of the hip. C, Norgrove is now working Princess Ronnie over a distance and the Polydamon mare is doing her work attractively. It is not yet certain whether she will race at Takapuna or Gisborne, but it is'probable that it will be the former place. She is right at her best. Palonett is commencing to put plenty of dash into his track essays and is fast rounding into racing shape. It is probable, however, that he will need a race oF two to tune him up. About Easter he. will be ready to play his part well, and will shine in the moderate handicap company now in commission in the north. The,steeplechaser Beau Cavalier appears, to have recovered from the injuries received at Cambridge, and is being hacked about preparatory to going into work .next month.

_ The Taranaki trip knocked Modest Boy right out, and he was very jaded on his return. After a week’s easy time he is again beginning to even up. Since his accident before Christmas Town Guard has trained on well and is now’ hitting out freely in his work. He should be an early winner of a maiden event.

The Erankton-trained Abbess won attractively at Taumarunui, since when she has not started. The sister to York Abbey has a fine dash of pace, and will be in favour in any event she contests at Takapuna. J. Thorpe is keeping Lomint and Chamour up to the collar, and both are in good shape. Unless rain falls before Takapuna Lomint may not be a good proposition, as she has never raced well on hard ground. Chamour, however, is not similarly affected, and is at home under any conditions. He should soon prove his Ellerslie form all wrong. The three-year-old Subdivision is pleasing the track watchers by his sprintinK-' This fellow raced well in Sydney without actually winning, and he is not likely' to be neglected in coming hack events. A. Julian is now working Town Bank in earnest, and he is doing pleasingly. He prefers the ground free from jar, but has won on a firm track. We have been expecting King Emerald to- win a maiden race since the start of the season. Various incidents have prevented him from breaking his maiden status, but he is due at any time. His last outing was in the Royal Stakes, when he. ran creditably behind the crack two-year-olds.

The Waikato horse Rangitahi made his first appearance for some time in a hurdle race at Ellerslie, where he gave a good display when not quite ready. He may now be much fitter, and appears to possess bright prospects in high-weight events at Takapuna. The four-year-old Cantab has raced consistently this season only to get place money. His latest form, when he ran second to Atareria at Waipa, was very encouraging, and he is a likely one to show, up among the maidens on Saturday lhere is a suspicion that Antrim Boy was net wound up when he failed to stay at Christmas time. He will be opposed by a moderate lot at Takapuna, and may hang on better on the turning track Sevang’s latest track form has been much improved, and the regulars at Ellerslie are sorting him out for coming events. A return to the form of last autumn would see him soon making his presence tclt in sprint events.