Marton Runs Did Not Raise Hopes For Cup

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30960, 17 January 1966, Page 5

Marton Runs Did Not Raise Hopes For Cup

“The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON. Early ideas about the Wellington Cup must have been drastically revised after Saturday’s racing.

Red Crest was beaten at Avondale and Sail Away was soundly trounced at Marton, where Alaska, Three Kings, and, to a lesser extent, Fleeting Moment advanced in favour.

Neither B. F. Andrews, who rode Red Crest, nor W. D. Skelton, who was on Sail Away, was particuarly disappointed. Andrews considered Red Crest did not get clear until too late, and Skelton said that in the Marton Cup, as in Australia, Sail Away was not suited by the distance, one mile and a quarter, with the pace fast all the way. Skelton explained this to the judicial committee, and said also that because Sail Away drew wide he had to be ridden hard early and could not have a let-up. Under Pressure The commitee reported that Sail Away, prominent on the home turn, was ridden with the whip, but was then beaten and began to lug under pressure.

It would take a much Improved showing for Sail Away to improve from fourteenth in the Marton Cup to first in the Wellington Cup.

The best of the Trenthambound horses was Fleeting Moment, which finished sixth. Just behind were Three Kings (seventh) and Alaska (ninth).

Three Kings looked in better order than when he failed in the Manawatu Cup—he subsequently raced twice at Hawke’s Bay—and with a better run could have been in the money.

Alaska had an even worse passage, and was full of running at the finish. Another Wellington Cup runner at Marton was Baloo, which galloped a mile and a quarter at a good pace after the races. He ran the last half-mile solidly in 51 l-ssec.

Cabriere won the Marton Cup attractively. He was always near the van, came to the front in the straight and held on well to beat Hakawai. It was Cabriere’s twentyfirst win and a continuation of a long and successful association between the owner, Mr C. W. Ansford, and the jockey, L. K. Tinsley, to which has been joined over the last 18 months the young trainer, M. K. Smith. Cabriere will not race at Trentham. He will go to Wanganui next month, and then have a spell. Hakawai ran on well for second, threading her way through the field in the straight, and Narbada also made a late bid to shade Lionheart and Vijay for third. Early Winner? Narbada looked in particularly good shape and is on the way to winning form. Hakawai proved what was always anticipated—that she would run a good middle-dis-tance.

' Ichtar, tried in front, was taken on by Tracey. He shook her off coming to the straight but was swamped in the last half-furlong and came eighth. It was a useful showing. The unluckiest runner was Awaroa, which was only twelfth. She tried three times for a rails run, but was hampered each time. The judicial committee reported that Awaroa had to be restrained near Ichtar.

Prince Hagen, evidently improved with his Pahiatua race, ran a little better than Master Defence in the second leg of the T.A.B. double, the McManaway Memorial Handicap and beat him by a neck. The two were clear of the rest most of the way. Bywon finished well for third and Kassal, in trouble early, was a fair fourth, ahead of Understudy, finishing strongly. General Derby, prominent all the way, and Star of Kildare, which, together with Might, could not get a run at the top of the straight.

Miss Mod won the Juvenile Handicap in great style and in fast time. She covered the five furlongs in 60 3-ssec and carried 94 in front nearly all the way. The on-course double went to Dark Chick and Sabaean Summer, which both were favourites.

H. N. Rauhihi, who rode Dark Chick, is required for Far Cry at Trentham. The weather at Marton was fine and mild and the track was in first-class order and particularly fast.