AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB.

Observer, Volume XIV, Issue 781, 23 December 1893, Page 15

AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB.

The Summer Meeting of this Club commences on Saturday next at Potter's Paddock, and judging from the number and character of the trotters and ponies engaged there should be some very interesting racing. The Club have gone to enormous expense to provide a first-class track and improve the general accommodation for the public, and I think I am right in saying that the most captious critic will not find anything to cavil at in the arrangements made for the convenience of those patronising the Club. Proceedings on the first day commence with the Maiden Pony Handicap of 6 furlongs. I shall select Boom-de-ay, Coquette 11. and Pukete to supply the winner, and Florrie should have a real good outside show. The next event is the Maiden Trot. As usual, in this class of race there is a very large field to select from. I like the chance of the scratch horse Otakeho as well as anything and if he is beaten it will probably be by what Edwards rides as he seems to have a mortgage on these races, no matter what he gets up on. The Broker and Nellie 11. will, however, have an outside show. The Maiden Hurdle, 1 mile, should be won by Little Jane if she starts, Effie being in my opinion next best as she is in good hands, and Taffy has a good outside chance. The next event on the card is the principal one of the first day — the Pony Cup of 150 soys, 1 mile. The handicapper has well concealed the winner, and it is with great diffidence I undertake the task of making a selection. The top-weight, La Grippe (lOst), is a consistent little mare, and will take some beating, but I cannot say I think she has any real chance to win in a true run race. Gillie (9.7) is more to my fancy, as he has proved on more than one occasion that he is endowed with a lot of pace, and has won one race of this distance in good time with within a few pounds of this weight ap. 8 1 Vampire (9st) must also be respected, as we all know he is both a brilliant pony and a stayer. Little Jane won the same race last year under 141bs less weight. lam of opinion that the extra stone will just about anchor her. Lady May (8.12) is more to my fancy, under the most unfavourable circumstances she ran some really fine races last summer, and from what I hear of her condition, she must be at least 2 stone a better mare than she was then. I will take her as best in the handicap, and believe she will just about supply the winner. The Dove (7.12) I consider next best, and on her recent running at Ellerslie phemust have a good show. Helena (7.7) Ido not care for, and I think it will be found that the other string from the same stable, i.e., Lady May, will be the selected on the day. Pukete (7.5) is a comparatively unknown quantity in Auckland ; rumour has it, however, that Greenwood returned her as no good, so I must leave her out as no good, on that ground only. Direct and Star are unknown to fame. For the next event, the Telephone Handicap, 4 furlongs, 1 shall leave my readers to make their own selections, as it would be absurd for me to express an opinion of a short race like this when I do not know the riders. The Maiden Trot should be won by Corina, tpreydon Lad, or The Broker (if he trots as well as in saddle), and I think they will finish in their order. The December Handicap will be to a, great extent decided by what runs in the other races. Everything else being equal, I shall taks Gillie to win. Trotting Cup Dat. Lovers of trotting have a treat in store for them on Wednesday next when the largest prize ever offered south of the line will be competed for. The Club have gone to the extreme limit in the matter of the prize, and the handicapper has in my opinion, excelled himself in framing his adjustments. To begin with, the scratch mare Yum Yum has on this occasion got her field nearer to her than Bhe has ever had on any occasion since she arrived in the colony,

and if she is well on the day, must certainly run very forward. Her, go against Commodore when she ran the 3 miles in 7.51£ stands ont as a wonderful performance considering the state of the track at the time it was doise. Mr Budge has had her now twelve months and should be thoroughly well into her ways by this time. Rarus, 10 seoonds, next in order, has to his credit a go of three miles in 8.4 4-5, running fourth. That he is a 'great horse there can be no question and if he is the selected of the stable on the day he should go very near winning. Little Ben, 31 seconds, won last year in an easy fashion in fast t'me, if he has improved (and as he is a young horse why should he not improve P) he must have a real good chance. Mistletoe 34 seconds, comes from Hawke's Bay. She has not up to the present got any good performance in public to her credit bat that she is a good mare there can be no question, being by the same sire as Ruadan, viz., Hambletonian oat of Blue Grass Bell. Both of her parents are in the American stud-book. She belongs to Mr D. McLean, of the Maraekakaha Station, and has come up to give us a t-aste of the quality of Hawke's Bay trotters. Hurricane (36 sees) has been showing such good form on the last few occasions in which he started that he is entitled to great respect, and if anything goes wrong in the race, he is such an honest goer that he will be with them ; he should be well worth an investment if for no other reason. Mascotte (37 sees) is my fancy of the local horses. She is in good hands, and I must say I like her action as well as anything I have seen here, except of course, the cracks. She is undoubtedly a little harshly treated, but considering that she is, one may say, a stranger, the handicapper had every right to assume that she was a fair mare and I personally think she is a little better than fair. Ike is next, on the card. His recent performance does not entitle him to. any respect in a race of this description and I will not stand him though he has quite as much start' as he is entitled to. Ruby (60 sees) and Sandfly (64 sees) I will discard ; not so Peter (67 sees) who, on the pace he has shown on one or two occasions that he has started in Auckland must have a very big chance. Mount (69 sec°) is under suspicion, and it is doubtful if he will see the post. To sum up, I will place them : Mascotte, 1 ; Mistletoe, 2 : Yum Ynm, 3 ; with Hurricane and Peter as the two best outsiders. The Champion Handicap, •2, miles, has only two engaged, but they are so good that it will be worth travelling miles to see them have ago at each other ; I think Yum Yum will win, but if Rarus starts — well, it will cake her all her time to catch him. The Glasgow Trot should be won by Rosebud with Berlin Maid (half sister to Mistletoe) next best. The Electric will to a great extent depend on previous running and I willleave my readers to solve the problem on the course.

Auckland Cup run next Tuesday (Boxing Day). Auckland Trotting: Club's Summer meeting commences next Saturday. Brigand, Skirmisher and Dilemma arrived last week. Brigand nearly lost his passage through the roughness of the bar at Gisborne. Eosefeldt has been doing excellent graft, and ought to be very pink on Cup day. If she goes on as well till then, I expect to see her about win. Dilemma has not a taking appearance as a Cup horse, but performances must be taken most into account, and his second : to St. Hippo bears no gainsaying. Waterbury moves very sore at the beginning of his task each morning. This' soreness wears off after a furlong or two,and does not seem to hinder his galloping afterwards.