SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1915, Page 7

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS.. I (By "Motruoa.") The Avondale Jockey Club's spring meeting, which takes place to-day and oil Saturday, marks the opening of a new racing season in Auckland, and judging by the numerous acceptances for the various events on thq first day, racing is going to boom as strongly as ever in the Northern city. It is quite likely, of course, that many horses are just being given a "spin up," to sec if they are worth continuing with in these time of costly feed, etc., but the survival of the Attest is a thing to be desired anyhow. Moderate fields of worthy horses are certainly preferably to large . fields of more or less "roughies"—no other term is applicable to some of the equines racing in and about Auckland. The Tiranaki representatives at Avondale to-day are not strong numerically, but they are all very fit, and barring accidents a stake or two should come our May before the flag", are lowered, the ' bars emptied, and the last straggler hunted pff the course on Saturday evening. • ' A good field of fourteen is set down ; to contest tli6 Avondale Cup, one mile ' and a quarter. The fancied division includes Monojack, Tinopai. and that prince of track performers—Goldsize. In tl>e south they like Mummer, but the turns at Avondale'may not be to that gelding's liking. Mon'bjack and Goldsize have ' track gallops to recommend them, and they are likely to be strongly supported. The Avondale Stakes, a four furlongs flutter for two-year-olds, also threatens to attract a good crowd. Two-year-olds are proverbially uncertain in their maiden effort, but Waiutu (Carl Rosa —Waiota'hi), Eralf (Elysian—Flare), and Ritasea (Achilles —Aideen), are a pair that are said to be well forward in condition. If Loyal Arch starts in the Flying Handicap, six furiongs, the writer can pick one very warn favorite. As a two-year-old the daughter of Marble Arch and Lady Minnie carried great weights, and in eleven starts scored five times, was thrice second, and once third. She had no equal in her class in Auckland, and with 7.10 looks favorably treated to-day.' - Her opponents include such smart horses as Crown Pearl, King Lupin, Glenroy and Bluestone, but .at the weights the public seems almost certain to plunge on the filly. A mci'e trifle of twenty-ait alleged racehorses appear in tlfe Maidsa Handicap. That ought to just about give every lightweight horseman in Auckland a ride. Much depends on the start in such a field, but Centenary, Redman and First Call are all fairly fast beginners. The race looks very open. Pendoon, Gallupin and other fair horses will carry money 'in the Hack Welter. The Islington Welter has attracted only a quartette, two of which failed to win a race last season, while the others, Tararu Jack and Toreador, are horses with only—recently one should say—hurdlers' reputations. If Toreador runs out the nine furlongs, and he certainly showed fine form at Marton, he might show up prominently. Black Northern is pitted against a moderate crowd in the Grey Lynn Hurdle Race, run over two miles—a distance that will find some of the lightweights going up and down in tile same place at the end of it. Mr. J. George's elect will come in for support in the Henderson Handicap, seven furlongs, but Soultane looks well in with 7.6. The Avondale Guineas come up for distribution on Saturday. Saturday's training work at Bllerslie was rather interesting, and may shed some light on the Avondale meeting. Loyal Arch, had the beit of IPrince Soult in a fast run five furlongs. Glissando ran four furlongs in 502-ssec, while Monojack (Deeley) went round in 1.52, finishing strongly. First Call, Kaween, and Eralf all got to the end of four furlongs in 514-ssec, and Goldsize easily led Gold Lac at the end of a round in 1.514-5. Mummer beat Tripoli and' Hemisphere over seven furlongs in 1.31,