Ima Martian Runs Good Second

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31942, 20 March 1969, Page 4

Ima Martian Runs Good Second

(From the Australian Racing Correspondent of “The Press”)

The second-line Doncaster Handicap fancy, Ima Martian, racing for the first time since his arrival from New Zealand, was responsible for the best Doncaster trial among horses racing at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

Ima Martian was turned out by T. J. Smith looking ready to top off his preparation for the important mile event, and bookmakers left no doubt about what they thought of the gelding’s prospects, opening him favourite and then easing the price when the backing for him did not reach expected dimentions.

Normally a Welter Handicap is not particularly reliable as a guide to form, but Saturday’s race was of a different category.

Horses engaged in it could with odd exceptions hold their own in any open handicap, and the fact that it was run over one mile with a minimum weight of 8-0 added further value to it as a test.

Prince Jandiker set a solid pace and it fell to Ima Martian to take the field up to him. Then, having taken charge. Ima Martian was himself tackled, and though he beat off the early challengers, the late run by Nobody was too much and he was beaten a length.

Nobody has. one of the strongest finishing sprints of all horses racing at present in Sydney.

As his name proclaims, Ima Martian is by Martian 11, which was sold last, season to go to Mr M. Woods’s Morvada Stud in the north-west of New South Wales.

Martian II is by Court Martial from Gamble in Gold, by Big Game from a mare by Gold Bridge. His best progeny seem to have found their way to Australia, among them the prolific Brisbane winner. Flying Ace; Bonne Martian, which is almost as consistent in Brisbane racing; Dantana, which has yet to strike New Zealand form; and now Ima Martian, which undoubtedly will win races, if not the Doncaster Handicap.