LADY MONTANA'S CUP

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 1, 3 January 1939, Page 16

LADY MONTANA'S CUP

MARTON SURPRISE

ORATORY SHOWS HER CLASS

(From "Ariki Toa.") The feature of the first day of the Marton Jockey Club's Summer Meeting was the brilliant performance turned on by that class mare Oratory in winning the open sprint. It was only her quality that gained her victory, and it was very popular. The chief event, the Marton Cup, resulted in a mild surprise, the little-fancied Lady Montanp. finishing with a rare burst to win decisively. Backers generally experienced a good day. ONLY ONE IN IT. Although a. shade slow to begin Aurora's Star was quickly rushed to the. front in the Maiden Handicap, and she turned for home with a threelength advantage. Nothing had a chance in the run to the judge, and she won easily by four lengths. The winner has previously shown up encouragingly on the track at Awapuni, and in this weak class she experienced no trouble. Travail was jome lengths back at the turn, but she made a fine run over the .last bit, and, ridden right out, she just overhauled Regicide on the post. Travail has not had a great deal of experience, but she is an improver who should develop into a useful sort Regicide had every chance, being second all the way, but he weakened a shade over the last bit. Snigger was% actually first to move, but she was soon cut off and never looked like being in the finish. All Blood was always in the middle of the field, and the same applied to Girl Pat WELL RIDDEN. Patiently ridden over the first couple of furlongs, Golden Ridge finished very generously to win the Ladies' Bracelet. He was allowed to run along easily in the middle of the field until about three furlongs from home, where he was taken up into third position. From the top of the straight he always had the measure of the leaders. He was most capably handled. Otaki was made a good deal of use of, and there was no disgrace in the defeat. Bing Boy was handily enough placed at the turn had he been good enough, but he did not come on after having every chance. Donegal showed plenty of early speed, but that was about all that could be said for him. Mataroa ran a fair race, as did Gladium, but the others never threatened danger. AN EASY VICTORY. Ambition never left the issue "in doubt in the Rata Hurdles, and he was not required to do his best to win by six lengths. He was quickly rushed to the front, and although challenged on a couple of occasions in the running his brilliant fencing soon put him in the van again. The distance, one mile and a half, suited him down to the ground, and really his backers never had a moment's anxiety. Entheos was allowed plenty of time to settle down to his work, and when he made a forward move half a mile from the post it looked temporarily as if he might trouble Ambition. Princess Isabel ran a fairly good race without threatening real danger. Porotiti w?s handy at the half-mile post, but he did not enjoy his work over the last bit. Royal Record, supported confidently, was never- doing his job with any enthusiasm. , ECSTATIC ON HER OWN. Backed down to short odds-on Ecstatic was not asked to do her best to win the Juvenile Handicap, and it is doubtful if an easier win could have been witnessed. She drew No. 4at the barrier, but was first out. Over short distances she should continue to pay her way. ■ , __ „ . . Varimond also jumped out well, but lost her position and dropped back fifth. She came home solidly and defeated the remainder just as comfortably as she was in turn beaten by Ecstatic. Great Legion, solidly backed, ran a fair race without threatening any outstanding danger. Miss Leighon went her best race to date and hung on for a fair fourth, but the others were never in the picture. FAST-RUN RACE. The Marton Cup was run at a particularly fast pace, and the firm favourite Taurangi was most unlucky not to secure a dividend. She did not receive any the best of the jump-out, and when the field had gone a little over half a mile she suffered interference, which resulted in her being near the rear as the field came round the turn. I She put in some great work over the ] last bit, but the post was too near and she had to be content with the minor money. With anything like a decent position a furlong from home she would have won comfortably. It was her first start over a middle distance. The winner, Lady Montana, was awkwardly placed at the distance, but her rider manoeuvred her through, with the result that ishe was a comfortable winner. She finished better than anything in the race, with the exception of Taurangi, and she deserved the success. It was A. Midwood's first winning mount. Hunting Cat was hanging out badly throughout the final three furlongs, and it was only his fine stamina that landed him into second place. He was tender in front and evidently the hard ground was troubling him. No excuses could be offered for The Bigot, as he was taken to the front five furlongs from home and at the turn it looked as if he would be in the final struggle, but he weakened into fifth position. Lucullus Lad was taken on at every stage, and it was not surprising to find him stopping. Old Surrey was making hard work of it at the turn, and he was sixth. Siegmund went a good race, and he was finishing very solidly over the last furlong. A BRILLIANT EFFORT. It was only sheer courage that pulled Oratory through in the Railway Handicap. She received much the best of the dispatch, but Lady Ina ranged up alongside at the turn. From this stage both were under a particularly hard ride, and fifty yards from the post Lady Ina gained a neck advantage. However, Oratory came again in the last little bit and just got up to gain the verdict. It was a truly fine performance, and it was only sheer class that pulled the topweight through. Lady Ina ran her best race since being recommissioned, and the manner in which she fought on under pressure indicated that her return to the winning list is not far away. Te Hai was always occupying about third place on the rails, and he was a useful, minor-place filler. Aureus did not jump away too well, but was hanging] on fairly well to get fourth. Russian! Ballet's effort was disappointing. MADE AMENDS. Seyfried made amends for his narrow defeat at Awapuni when he came from behind to win the New Year Handicap. He was trailing the leaders as the field turned for home, but once'he put in his challenge he soon headed the leaders. Against this class he was a shade too good. Viracious made a valiant attempt to lead all the way, but the distance proved just a shade beyond him. Ruling Spi made a spasmodic effort at the distance, but she could not pull out that little bit extra and had to be content with the minor money. Dark Eagle was finishing well after being near the rear at the turn. Mahanui ran

a fair race, but Rarotonga stopped after having every chance. FAVOURITE LEFT. Any chance Sporting Gift had in the Dash Handicap was extinguished when both he and Daisy Cham lost fully twenty lengths at the start. Saki attempted to lead all tlu. way, and when he turned for home with a couple of lengths advantage it looked any odds on his winning. However, Ruatiti put in some great, work over the last bit and wore him down to win going away. The winner is still open to improvement. Saki ran his best race since the New Zealand Cup Meeting, and his turn is not far away. Copycat was another sufferer in the uneven dispatch, and she did well to gain fourth place. Night Eruption showed further improvement by staying on solidly to fill third berth, and the first time she starts in a novice I event she should win.