AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 56

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Bt Taihoa. September 13. The Avondale Jockey Club's spring meeting will be inaugurated on Saturday next, and although training operations have been retarded by the wet weather the first classic events of the season, the Avondale Stakes and -the Avondak Guineas, look like attracting fait-sizec' fields. Of the local two-year-olds figuring among the entries for the Stakes Irritation, Antoinette, and Doughboy appear to be shaping well in their preparation, whilst of the Guineas candidates Ex,calabar, Tetrazzini, Kakama, Wild West, Elegance, and Fighting Fish can be ticked off as likely runners in the three-vear-old raoe. ] '.The aged Blair Gowrie gelding Strath- • avon, who has been offl the seen© for some considerable time, 16 likely to be seen out again under silk at the approaching spring meeting. Strathavon, now in his fourteenth year, has been following the Pakuranga hoinids, and will, it is understood,' figure . in jumping events. I The Waikato Hunt Club's recent race meeting unearthed a useful pair of jumpers in Hina (a four-year-old by Cuirassier from ' Rainbow) and Westerly (a five-year-old by Westmere from. Starmaid), both of whom scored their maiden efforts over the -sticks. The name of His Highness has been claimed for the two-year-old black colt by Soult from Lady B (by Pilgrim's Progress), who is generally conceded to be the best- , looking youngster in training at EHerslie. The Arab sire Titus 11, purchased recently in Australia to the* order of Mt D. R&ine, of the Waikato district, Auckland, has arrived safely at his new home, and the Waikato breeder, wJio had not seen the Arab prior to his reaching the Dominion, speaks enthusiastically of the latest addition to the ran&B of the stallions in the Auckland province. The Auckland Trotting Club authorities are determined to do all possible to encourage and foster the sport, and will this season offer a purse of 250sove for any stallion or mare capable of trotting a mile in 2min 14sec. Should no horse be capable of registering* the time lOOeovs will be given for a reooid in harness of 2min 18sec or under. In "SQ, the club have added about 500sovs to the stake money compared with last season's figures. j