MARLENE WINS CUP

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 305, 27 December 1939, Page 8

MARLENE WINS CUP

FINE FINISH.

BAYARD SECOND.

UENUKU IS THIRD.

FORTEX THE GRANDSTAND.

EVENTS AT ALEXANDRA PARK.

The Centennial summer meeting of the Auckland Trotting > Club opened at Alexandra Park to-day in perfect weather and there was a large attendance.

Elliotvale registered an easy win in the Selby Handicap, in which the favourite Milestone waa unplaced. A newcomer in Albertini got the verdict in the December Handicap from Bonniedene and Nawton Junior.

The Auckland Centennial Trotting Cup was won by the Christchurch-owned Marlene, from the Auckland horse Bayard, the smallest competitor in the race. It was «v stirring contest, in which the favourite, Uemiku, took the lead after five furlongs, when Sandusky stumbled and looked a winner until he tired in the straight to finish third.

Marlene wae in a good position throughout, trailing the leaders to the straight entrance, then to come on and win in good style from Bayard, who battled it out surprisingly well to deprive Uenuku of second money. Uenuku was a couple of lengths clear of Icevus, Bayard, Marlene and Battlefield with a round to go. Six furlongs from home Uenuku was just showing clear of Ice.vue, Bayard and Marlene. Red Flush moved up at this stage and Sandusky also made a forward move. Marlene challenged at tlie entrance to the straight, where Springfield Globe, the Australian horee, moved up faet on the outside. Marlene outstayed her opponents in the run home. Fourth honours went to Springfield Globe.

Failure of Favourite. The Selby Handicap, with which the meeting opened, was a poor exhibition of trotting, every horse in the race breaking on more than one occasion. The winner, Elliotvale, soon set up a lead of twenty lengths, and though he broke up three times, he was never really threatened, and won easily by eight lengths from Frontier Boy, who beat Barney Bingen by half a length. After establishing a commanding lead, Elliotvale left the straight with a round to go so far ahead as to make it appear as if the race was all over. Barney Bingen and Air Pilot were then in front of the rest of the field, the even money favourite Milestone having broken badly after early running into second position. Elliotvale went on to win as he liked, Frontier Boy finishing well to get second money from Barney Bingen. Black Native just beat Air Pilot for fourth place, with Milestone next and Dick Redmond a bad last.

Cavalryman Beaten. Although the third favourite Albertini took charge crossing the top and won the December Handicap something in reserve, the hot favourite Cavalryman was impressive in defeat. He went away smartl.y but broke almost immediately and by the time he settled down he was third last, half a furlong behind the leader, Maraaia. It was not until the straight was reached that Cavalryman again showed .up and he was in fifth position at the finish. Those in front for the first mile were Maratua, a length ahead of Nawton Junior, Albertini, Aerial Bell and the Smith bracket, Neon Oro and Bonniedene. Maratua compounded just before the straight was reached, Albertini goinp: on to win by half a length. Nawton Junior, at nearly double figures for a place, was third, slightly ahead of Aerial Bell and Cavalryman.

Necks Between Three. Betting on the Grandstand Handicap was wide, l>ut three horses, the. Fortex bracket, Peter Smith ami Francisco, were heavily supported. Victory went to Fortex, who lasted juet long "enough to win. She began beet, but Peter smith eoon headed her and after going half the journey was several lengths in front, and his victory looked likely. However, Peter Smith broke badly along the back the second time and Fortex took command from Vanora, Equipoise Eighteen Carat, Battlevale, who lost a lot of ground at the etart, and Tangatu. Fortex was two lengths clear of Equipoise into the straight and in a stirring fiajsh prevailed by a neck from Tangatu, with Battlevale a similar distance away third. Hearsay was fourth, just ahead of Equipoise, who tired in the run home.

Results:— SBLBY HANDICAP (Trottere) of £250. One mile and a half. Limit 345 3—3—ELMOTVALE, br g, aged, by Nelson UerDy—Bon Hcmme mare <Mre. L. A. Stormont), m » J imit —*■ R - Morrison i S— S—FRONTIER BOY, b g, a?ed (Mr. Also started: 4-4 Black Native. 1-1 Mile--BKWS£i. io^ Air PUot - 48yds: 7 " 3.^ s^.l^^ s^v i 4 1 £r* :

DECEMBER HANDICAP of £200 One mile and a quarter. Limit 3.5. First Division. 3 —S—ALBEKTINI, b in, as?ed by Jack Potts—Albena (Mr. \ Bowers), limit—M. Stewart . l 2—I—BONNIEDENE, br f, 3 yrs (Mesdames R. Young and G o *« Dowues), limit—C. G. Smith 2 8-10— NAWTON JUNIOR, b ~ 4yr" (Mr. R. Holmes), limit A Broughton 3 Also started: 13-12 Barbara Scott, 10-8 ?l? e^ Cre , Bt, ie " l7 BoW Boy, 2-1 Neon Oro, 1-2 Cavalryman, 9-11 Exporter, 14-15 Honey Pot. 11-0 Ihi Ihi, 5-3 Maratua, 17-16 PrtnSS?2« rS? ett ' 13 ' le Sequoia, 4-4 Sir Echo It'll U ?^ ady, lim * t: 7 - 7 Aerial BeU *4 Par!shlon€r, 12 y<ls; 6-6 Clay Pot^ Brackets: Barbara Scctt and Parishioner Bonniedene and Neon Oro. ' ' Half a length; length. Times: 2.52 2-5 '53, 2.53 3-5, and 2.53 *«-*». Winner trained by M. Stewart, Te Rapa. GRANDSTAND HANDICAP of £300 One mile and a half. Limit 3.27. 3—2—PORTEX, blk m, aged, by Man o' War — Wildwood Junior mare (Messrs. A. \V. Kbbett and J. R. Henderson), limit—■ M. Stewart ... . 1 s — B—TANGATU. b li, aged "(Mr." A." R Saunders), 12yds—G. T Mitchell «> 6—7—BATTLEVALE, b m. syrs(Mr". " F. P. Brosnan), limit—Watts 3

Also started: 9-9 Hearsay, 10-10 Mnn.Ba Tanei 2-3 retcr Smith. 7-5 Vanoro, limit. 3-3 Adverslfy, 44 Great Chum 12yds: 4-4 Equipoise. 11-11 Eighteen Carat, 1-1-Lclyal Direct. 24yds; 1-1 Francisco, 5-6 Ringtrue, 36yds. Brackets: Porter and Adversity, Great Chum and Equipoise. Neck each way. Hearsay was fourth. Times: 3.20, 3.13 1-5, 3.20 2-j, 3.19. Winner trained by M. Stewart, Te Kapa. AUCKLAND CENTENNIAL TROTTING GOLD CX7P of SIMO and BOM cui» TOlue at £ 100. Two jniles. Lunft 4.31. 3—4—4MARLENE, b m. Gyre, by Jack I'otts —Auditress (Mr. C. S. Donald), limit—Owner .••••• * 10-10—BAYARD, b h, oyrs (Mr. H. E. Salter), limit — V. G. Smith .. 2 1 ■> ÜBXIKU. b g. o.vrs (Mr. K. A. McMillan), limit —Owner .. 3 \l«o started: 2-1 Ued Flush. 5-5 Sandnxkv. limit: 7-6 Battlefield, 4-3 Icevus, 9-9 Isabel Derby. 12yds; 8-7 Kenwortliy, 6-8 Sprlnjrneld Globe, 36yds; 6-8 Lawn Bracket: Springfield Globe and Lawn Tlirrp-quarters of a length : half a length. Sprinjrtipld Gilobe was fourth. Times: 4.23 2-5, 4.22 4-5, 4.23. 4.21. Winner trained by owner, Belfast.