Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW AND Licensed Victuallers' Gazette. With which is incorporated the Weekly Standard Thursday, December 7, 1905. AUCKLAND RACING CLUBS SUMMER MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 822, 7 December 1905, Page 6

Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW AND Licensed Victuallers' Gazette. With which is incorporated the Weekly Standard Thursday, December 7, 1905. AUCKLAND RACING CLUBS SUMMER MEETING.

. | The acceptances for the principal handicaps to be run at the Summer Meeting of I the Auckland Racing Club fell due on Friday last, and the list of those remaining in has been eagerly scanned. The scratching pen has been rather freely i used, but even so there is still plenty of material for some good racing. The field for the Auckland Cup has been reduced to thirteen, but it is fairly certain that several more will drop out before the race. Indeed, why such horses as Heroism, Master Delaval, and Puhipuhi were accepted for is something of a conundrum. From the first appearance of the weights it was fairly certain that Achilles would be an absentee, and he was ( scratched some time ago. I his leaves Mahutonga at the head of the poll, and as the son of Quilt is striding along in good style he reads very dangerous with but 21b more than he carried to victory last year. There is just a suspicion that he has a leg which may trouble him if the going is very hard, but if all goes well it will take a good one to beat him. Quarryman is reported to be in splendid nick and has been greatly pleasing the touts. He is just the sort of horse to see the race out to the bitter end. Although some critics contend he has his

full share of weight it must not be overlooked that the field is a weak one. If the New Zealand Cup was a truly run race Paritutu reads as well as anything in the big summer handicap at Ellerslie, for there is no denying the fact that he ran brilliantly at Kiccarton. Some have argued that he was lucky, but when a ; horse occupies a leading position throughout and finishes a good second it is difficult to see where the element of luck comes in. Fit and well on the day in question he will nearly win. Scotty, to the surprise of many, has dropped out. Gladstone is thought well of in certain quarters, and in his last year’s form could win, but he is perhaps too uncertain to trust. Ghoorka and Bulawayo will not run in the big event. Putty is another in-and-out customer who might win, but is just as likely to run last. Melodeon is one of the proved stayers, and is very well treated. It is against him that whereas he has always been going to do something big he never seems able to do it. If dressed in his best he should be running on when some of the others are stopping. Gay Spark must be given a chance on his C.J.C. Derby form, but may be reserved for the Derby, while Geordie, who on recent form seemed to have a chance, has gone. If Armistice can get the distance she has an undeniable chance, for the daughter of Mahaki has won under much bigger imposts than she is asked to carry here. Zuleika and Jewellery are both nicely treated if they can gallop two miles, but that “if” is a

troublesome word. It was at one time thought that Apologue was our best three-year-old, and if there is any semblance of truth, in the contention he must have an outside chance at 161bs under weight-for-age. Heroism, Master Delaval and 1 uhipuhi can have no chance on any form they have shown yet. At present it looks as though those with the best winning prospects are Mahutonga, Quarryman and Paritntu For the Railway Handicap there arc sixteen acceptors. Hohoro, the topweight, is left in. and the big horse is in

such great heart that it may not b« necessary to look further for the winner, even though he has incurred a 31b penalty. Lady xlnnie is certain to run well, and will take a lot of beating. Gladstone, who is in the Cup, has also been accepted for in this event, so that it would seem his owners are doubtful as to which event he is to be started for. King Billy has a good winning prospect, for his form at the A.R.C. Spring Meeting was by no means the best he is capable of. On that form Annette should beat him, and there is no denying the fact that she can gallop six furlongs at a great pace. A good word comes from the South in favour of Glenowlet, the three-year-old half-sister to Quarryman, and a win for her would be popular. Carl Rosa is fancied by some, and this applies also to St. Bill, who at his beet should be included in the dangerous division. If Landlock could only be cured of hie rooted objection to facing the barrier he must have a great chance, but he cannot give any points in a six furlongs race, especially with Hohoro in it, who on the narrow Takapuna track last week ran the distance with Ost 101 b on his back in the great time of Imin 15sec. In addition to King Billy, Mr Watts has accepted for Boomerang and Starshoot, while none of the others look to possess much chance. The probables are: Hohoro, Lady Annie, King Billy, Annette, and Glenowlet. There are only seven in the Auckland Steeplechase, with Inniskillen as topweight. At the present moment the race looks to rest between Nor’-west and Swimmer, and on what was seen at Takapuna the latter is the better treated of the pair. Entries for the other events to be run at the meeting close to-morrow evening, and there are indications that among the lists will be found quite a number of Southern horses. Altogether things promise very well for a highly successful gathering.