Mark Memorial Will Provide a Keen Race

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1003, 20 June 1930, Page 14

Mark Memorial Will Provide a Keen Race

Logan s Pride to Meet High Class Society jgreat peter under a cloud Named after a late official of the Auckland Trotting Club, who devoted the greater part of his life to its interests, the C. F. Mark Memorial Handicap is the principal event o the first day's card ! for the winter fixture. Since its j inception two years ago, the item has provided interesting contests. At the winter meeting of 1928 the .Mark Memorial was run on the opening day, the local pacer Gold Jacket winning handsomely. Last June the event was contested the second day, when Cardinal Logan, a well-known and consistent winter performer at Epsom, was successful- Good fields took part each time, and for the 1930 contest, which eventuates tomorrow, quality is well represented. Among the contestants are several that have reached a high standard of trotting efficiency since the season, now fast drawing to a | close, commenced. Two of these which j rose rapidly to a higher pedastal are | Great Peter and Logan’s Pride. At | the Auckland Christmas carnival, Great Peter won three events, finishing up with a two-mile record of 4.2 S 3-5. A hot favourite for the Otahuhu Cup in February, Great Bingen’s brother went suddenly wrong the day of the race and was unable to start. Unfortunately at this juncture, he is showing a recurrence of the ailment and may not be able to start. Fit and well, J. T. Paul’s charge would have been the first choice with backers generally. His Real Test Logan’s Pride, since his success early in March in the Manawatu F’late, has never looked back, and after being successful on the second day at Wanganui he won the Uawera Cup and the final day was narrowly defeated by Enawah. Recently he journeyed to Addington, where after a close second to Whakataua, he finished up a winner the next time out, registering 4.20 1-5. Tomorrow, Logan’s Pride will, for the first time, tackle higher society, and with such doughty, well-tried and experienced opponents as Carmel, Linkman, Sunshower, Cardinal Logan and Jewel Pointer, to try him out, Lug. Watt's charge will require to be ull his friends claim for him. He is taking on a big task, but is the stamp of pacer that looks like being able to rise to the occasion and succeed, where other improvers, stepping into the dress circle, the first time, have failed. Just behind the front line is Reremai, the heroine of last year’s Adams’ Memorial Cup. Since her runaway victory on that occasion. Reremai has

j climbed further up the ladder of pro- ! gress, and at the Otahuhu February j fixture, she won over two miles in 4.26 j 2-5. This was done on solid footing. i setting aside the theory previously ad- ! vanced that J. Simkin’s mare was only a mud-lark. However, there is no doubt about how she can step along under adverse conditions, and she may find it to her liking tomorrow. Carmel has blossomed forth as a high-grade two-miler all of a heap, and having proved himself a stayer at Addington. Ashburton and Dunedin, he is now entitled to earnest consideration in the best circles. Returning to Form Linkman was greatly in the boom this time last year, having made quite a name for himself over all distances. While lie failed to lift the Adams gold cup for Vic. Alborn, he defeated that good horse Wrackler at even handicaps over ten furlongs. For some time past he has not been showing up to advantage, but quite recently he signalled a return to form by acting as runner up to Travis Axworthy and registering 4.24. and securing third berth in a mile beat at better than 2.8. Sunshower is a mare that lias wormed her way to the front row seats by her brilliancy and consistency. Unfortunately ~she has never produced her best on the Auckland grass track, but the day the daughter of Sungod gives of her best at the Park, Roy Berry will be behind a winner. Returning to the front-liners, Evelyn Locanda and Florent have raced well over this distance when in the next division, and have gained certificates to warrant them tackling the Mark Memorial company. Genuine, when right, can go a sound two miles, while Vfindome has recent form to recommend her. Torpedo Huon has been threatening to win for some time, and may break the ice here. Further back. Cardinal Logan and Jewel Pointer will add interest to the race, but they have a solid job in front of them. Taking Great Peter a.s a doubtful starter, it points to the favouritism resting between Logan’s Pride, Linkman and Sunshower. Their Best Times The appended table shows the handicap and best times of the respective candidates. Handicap. Best. Time. Evolvn Locanda .. .. 4.31 4.32 Florent 4.31 4.27 Genuine 4.31 4.27 4-5 Great Peter 4.31 4.28 3-5 Logan’s Pride 4.31 4.20 1-5 Ven dome 4.31 4.30 Torpedo Huon .. .. .. 4.31 4.26 4-5 Reremai . 4.30 4.26 2-5 Carmel 4.29 4.26 2-5 Linkman 4.28 4.25 2-5 Sunshower 4.28 4.27 4-5 Cardinal Logan .. .. 4.27 4.23 4-5 Jewel Pointer 4.25 4.22 1 -5