RACING Shoal Picked To Win Marlborough Cup

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28265, 1 May 1957, Page 4

RACING Shoal Picked To Win Marlborough Cup

Riccarton form is expected to prove of some value in the Marlborough Cup, the main race and the first leg of the double on the first day of the Marlborough club’s annual meeting at Blenheim tomorrow.

Shoal, top weight with 9-0 in the Cup, carried 8-7 into second place half a length behind Tess in the Dominion Handicap on the second day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting. Scuppered improved with each race at the meeting and was runner-up to Rhythmonic over a mile and a half last Saturday. Goldwyn was the Sockburn Handicap fifth, and filled the same position in the Great Autumn Handicap. These three gallopers should give Riccarton stables solid representation in the Cup if they have not been jaded by their latest racing. If the ground is soft, as it was at Riccarton, Scuppered is expected to beat Shoal at the weights, but any improvement in the going will probably help the top-weight, which has been a winner over 11 furlongs this season. North Island stables should be well represented. Finito failed in the Sockburn Handicap, his only appearance at the C.J.C. meeting, but he won at Tauherenikau a week earlier. He had the luck of the race against him on the second day of the Wairarapa meeting, when he was unplaced. An Improver Chateau is expected to be one of the improvers in the field. She is in the early stages of another campaign, but her two races at the Wairarapa meeting should have brought her to peak fitness. Chateau may be best equipped to beat the best of the others if the track is soft or heavy. She has raced with distinction in strong fields on winter tracks. King's Crest, which has 7-10, will have a strong North Island following. He was the -highweight winner at Masterton on March 2 and again on the first day of the autumn meeting at Trentham a week later. Since then, he has been second in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap, the race won by Finito, at Tauherenikau.

At level weights, King’s Crest should beat Desert Cloud, whose latest form has not inspired confidence. The Second Leg Super Corn’s programme had not been decided yesterday; this Riccarton-trained galloper is also engaged in the E. A. Weld Memorial Handicap, the second leg of the double. The Weld Memorial top weight is Kiatoa. winer of two races, and a place-getter in several of his races this season. Kiatoa has done most of his racing on the provincial courses, but rrrSde a good impression at Trentham last month in beating all but Moon Crest in the Railway Handicap, six furlongs, when he carried 8-3. one pound more than the winner.

Fulgent did not make the grade at Riccarton last week, but his best form on the provincial courses has been of a good standard, and the Red Mars gelding showed it earlier in the autumn. The going is likely to be to Fulgent’s liking and 8-10 might not atop him from running out seven furlongs strongly. Motueka did not make the trip to Blenheim, and is to race at Ashburton. Vita Glow’s Form

Tauherenikau form will be of some value if Vita Glow wins. She was twice placed at the Wairarapa meeting, showing that she is holding her form well. Teko failed in the Amberley Cup at his last start, but his form background compared favourably with Fulgent’s. These two last met in the Elderslie Handicap, six furlongs, at Oamaru on March 25. Teko was the closest of fourths and beat the faster-finishing Fulgent by a nose for that placing. At Waimate two days earlier, Fulgent carried 9-5 to a halfhead victory over Teko (8-7) in the Morven Welter Handicap, eight and a half furlongs.

Assembly has been unable to improve his record so far on his present campaign, but his runs in the Amberley Cup and the C.J.C. Waltham Handicap—he was fairly close to the placed horses each time—were encouraging. If he is still at the improving stage, and that seems likely, he may be the pick of the lightweights over this distance. Speedy Sprinter The Orari-trained Appreciate showed speed against the sprinters at Riccarton and will not find the class so strong tomorrow. Strongest favourites on the programme will probably be Lucky Gay in the Juvenile Handicap, and lone in the Flaxbourne Hack Handicap. lone won brilliantly over one mile and a quarter at Riccarton last Tuesday, and has been placed at 11 furlongs. Lucky Gay shaped like an early winner for her North Island owner, Mr E. Montgomery, at Riccarton last Saturday when she was a very close .third behind Sharp and Sarcelle. Selections: — 11.30 a.m.—Waterlea Hack Hurdles: Incredible, Brown Baron, Cristatus. 12.10 p.m.—Novice Stakes No. 1: Uproar, Olympic Torch, Moordale. 12.50 p.m.—Juvenile Handicap: Lucky Gay, Vivien Leigh, Golden Ribbon. 1.40 p.m.—Marlborough Cup: Shoal, Scuppered, King’s Crest. 2.25 p.m.—Novice Stakes No. 2: Brian’s Boy, Roseabell, Marveen. 3.5 p.m.—Flaxbourhe Hack Handicap: lone, Royal Inca. 3.55 p.m.—Weld Memorial Handicap: Fulgent, Teko, Kiatoa. 4.40 p.m.—Picton Hack Handicap: Golden Warrior, Shahnui, Nehru.