Silver Fountain deserves win at Blenheim

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32588, 23 April 1971, Page 8 (Supplement)

Silver Fountain deserves win at Blenheim

By

J. J. Boyle

A home-town win is a strong possibility in the Marlborough Cup tomorrow.

Deserving cases do not always have the desired brand of luck, but if the Blenheimowned and trained Silver Fountain wins the cup for her veteran Blenheim owner-trainer, Mr J. ‘A. Fowler, Waterlea Park will not want for atmosphere and enthusiasm. Silver Fountain has won twice this season, but more recent placed form is the form that might help to establish her as favourite for the Marlborough Cup.

She was third behind the dead-heating Flipper and Ribaldo over 10 furlongs at Rangiora on April 5, finished fourth in the George Adams Handicap at Riccarton a week later, then ran Time and Tide to a head,over 10 furlongs on the second day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting.' In her present form Silver Fountain might give the Riccarton light-weight jockey, A. H. Eastwood, a valuable honeymoon present.

Eastwood, who partnered Silver Fountain in her game run for second in the Dominion Handicap at Riccarton, was married in Christchurch yesterday. Riccarton stables have captured the last two Marlborough Cups, won by the half-brothers, His Lordship and Every Post, and much will be demanded of Harold Bank, Flower Girl, and Officers’ Mess if that record is to be improved tomorrow. BACK TO BEST Harold Bank, whose programme earlier in the year was affected by soreness, has made steady improvement with recent racing, and came back to his best to win over a mile on a rain-affected track at Riccarton on Wednesday of last week.

He found seven furlongs too short in the Waltham last

Saturday, but the step up to a mile and a quarter might be rewarding. Gold Mint will be trying for his Second win in the race, and to achieve a formidable record of success for the Awapuni Temperton stable on this circuit.

(Bold Mint does much of his racing in high-weights, with the odd hurdle race thrown in, and has thoroughly earned the reputation of a versatile horse. He looks a strong prospect for one of the places under 7st 131 b in the Marlborough Cup and, being a robust fellow, he should be good value throughout the circuit. He has already won two Nelson Cups and, all going well, he will have that race on his programme again. SECOND LEG Funny Way, from Riccarton, Martha Bell, from Ashburton, and the Gore-trained My Boa should match the best of the northerners in the finish of the Stewards’ Handicap, second leg of the double. All three fared well in the barrier draw and should have the early speed to capitalise on inside positions.. My Boa, a member of R. J. Cochrane’s strong team, easily won the open sprint oh the first day 'at Riverton, then ran her stablemate, Crunch, close on the second day. Funny Way and Martha Bell held their form well through the . Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting. They met at seven furlongs in the Waltham Handicap last Saturday, when Funny Way was first home, and Martha Bell finished third. Pakistan Prince, a member of the Temperton team, is expected to be the North Island’s best.