Markalan Shows Great Speed In Special Race

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31381, 29 May 1967, Page 4

Markalan Shows Great Speed In Special Race

Markalan had to produce an effort far above average to give away starts of up to 48 yards and win the Conference Handicap, a special race over 10 furlongs for three-year-old trotters at Addington Raceway on Saturday. Markalan was inclined to move about before the start, but he cleverly struck his gait and sprinted up three and four wide over the first three furlongs to be in third place after half a mile.

Markalan looked to be struggling to hold his position behind Lucky Wood and Bertha Jo at the three furlongs and even at the straight entrance he was making little impression on them. Inside the final furlong though he quickly took their measure and he ran on splendidly to win by a length and a half.

Markalan, which is raced in partnership by his Weedons trainer, E. T. Hubbard, and Mr G. H. Wall, of Hastings, is a gelding by Goodland from Sally Walla, the dam of a fine juvenile pacer a few years ago, Sally Boy. He trotted the 10 furlongs on Saturday in the very fast time of 2min 44sec, an outstanding run for such a young horse. Lucky Wood shaped quite pleasingly when she finished second, a length and a half in front of Light View, which made up ground after break-

ing at least twice. Laplander was a good fourth a length away, clear of Magic Time, which broke in the run home. Bertha Jo crossed the line in a gallop in sixth place. The surprise favourite, Kimargo, broke several times in the first half-mile and was never a danger. Course Double Sir Charles, which had looked unlucky at Washdyke a week earlier, made amends with a good win in the May Stakes, the first leg of the oncourse double. He was always prominent and drew out over the last 75 yards to win by a length and a half. Black Tulip battled on to cut Dryden Smoke out of second by a head, with a length and a quarter to the favourite. Prospector, which had trouble getting a run after starting frotn the second line.

Hal’s Delight paced a useful race for fifth, ahead of Third Chief.

Roydon Frost broke after two furlongs. Glen Vale completed the double with a win in the Mobile Stakes. The Sir Charles-Glen Vale combination paid paid £l6 6s 6d for £1 The Sir Charles-Braeburn concession combination paid £l9 13s for £l. M. Holmes had Glen Vale in second place behind Snead for most of the way. He came through inside the furlong and fought on strongly to win by half a length. Braeburn, which was late challenging, did well to finish second, half a neck in front of Viewin, which made up ground. Proudly, after being well back

early, led over the last two furlongs and a half. She tired to fourth, ahead of Snead, Goldmount and Jimmy Dieman. Southern Wins Apex, which was having her third start from J. L. Ferguson’s team, gained a good win for her Nightcaps owner, Mr J. Prendeville, In the Ellesmere Handicap, while Drumore, owned and trained at Kelso, by W- B. Somerville, won the Winter Stakes.

D. G. Gibbons had Apex in the middle of the field most of the way. He secured a good run through on the inside with her over the last two furlongs and at the finish she had three lengths to spare over Winning Song, which beat Highland Hills by a nose. Hal Air was the same distance back fourth, with another nose to Blue Tryax, and a length to Mary Dee, which shaded Dawn Peterson. The surprise favourite. Carefree, was no danger and finished eighth. Drumore came on the scene late in the Winter Stakes. His finishing run was much too strong for the others and he won by more than two lengths from Cheeky, with three lengths to Flight Adorian, which was followed by the tiring Lustre Scott. Aronmot tracked Highland Fortress to the straight in the Addington Raceway Handicap and then finished boldly to win by a short length. Highland Fortress was well clear of Tasty Brigade and Phenoma.

Hialea wrecked her chance in the first furlong.