Markalan Beats Young Trotters

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31323, 20 March 1967, Page 4

Markalan Beats Young Trotters

Markalan, a short-priced favourite, won the New Zealand Trotting Stakes, drawing out over the last few yards to beat Winabattle by a length and a half in the rather slow time of 3min 41sec for the 13 furlongs.

Although Markalan did hot look liike making a mistake, he did not show the dash which marked most of his earlier racing and he might have been a little jaded. He is unlikely to do much more racing this season. Markalan is trained at Templeton by E. T. Hubbard, who races him in partnership with Mr G. Wall, of Hastings. He is a gelding by Goodland from Sally Walla, the dam of a top juvenile pacer some years ago, Sally Boy, now at the stud in Australia. Wlnabattle set the pace from Markalan, with Regal Scott, Conclusion, Langburn and Beverley Dawn,- which broke, following early. Markalan waited until the final furlong before really testing Wlnabattle. He came on to win by a length and a half, after taking 2mln 13 4-ssec for his last mile. The Dunedin-owned Klmargo, after breaking twice, showed ability to finish third, but he was three lengths away, a length in front of Regal Scott. Laplander was two lengths away fifth, three lengths In front of Langburn. There was

a long break to Conclusion and Bertha Jo. OUTSTANDING Curragh Dan’s win in the Papanul Handicap was a highlight of the night. Option led over the last nine furlongs, setting a strong pace. This had the field well spread and at the half-mile Curragh Dan was eleventh, 36 yards from the pace-maker. He sprinted up three and four wide and was with Option a furlong from the finish. Option did not give in easily, and then Meadow Bank came on the scene. However, Curragh Dan did best to win by a neck from Meadow Bank, which was hampered on the home turn and might have been unlucky. Option was another neck back, eight lengths in front of Viewin, Dryden Smoke and the disappointing Royal Fame. Alpine Lady completed a double at the meeting when she came from near the tail of the field at the seven furlongs to win the Plains Handicap. She improved to second at the halfmile and fought back when challenged to win by a length and a half from Soldier Gal, which covered extra ground over the last six furlongs when trying to Improve. Chief Command had every chance and was half a head back third, a long neck in front of the tiring pace-maker, Nocatchem. Vista Abbey, which did not receive a run in the straight, was a length away fifth, a head in front of Newport Maid, which made up ground after a slow start. Then, right up, came Thunderlna, with Happy Sam at the head of the others. Julie Hanover, a beaten favourite at her previous two starts, finished strongly from a fairly handy position to win the Electric Handicap by half a head from Stewart? Hanover, which made a lot of ground. Richard Hanover was the same distance back third, two lengths in front of Airborne, Merry Morning and Don Caesar. The two favourites, James and Bright Enterprise, lost their chances at the start.