FORM AT MARTON

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 301, 15 September 1933, Page 17

FORM AT MARTON

Some Promising Horses NOTES AND COMMENTS Fairway Arriving Home (By “The Watcher.’’) One of the most impressive performances at Marton was the win of Cherry King in the hack sprint. The field represented. some smart form in the class, but Cherry King disposed of his opponents very decisively, and he left the impression that he will win in much more pretentious company and over longer journeys. Cherry King showed good form last season as a two-year-old and he has Struck it again early, and there is every prospect of him being a good stakewinner.

Sure to Improve. The money which made Porotiti favourite on the win machine in the hack sprint was a fair indication that a good showing was expected, although he was making his first appearance of the season. He began well and soon occupied a leading position with the pacemaker, Etiquette. They both weakened in the run home and Porotiti was relegated ■to fourth place in a very close finish for second, with Cherry King well clear. As Porotiti gave the winner 171 b, and considering Cherry King’s display, Porotiti’s performance for a first-up of the season was very satisfactory and he is sure to improve on it By Limond from Ohui, a sister to Tamatete and Tukia, (Porotiti, who was a winner last season, should come good. Winning Family. The Boniform mare Hinearoha has been represented in tho past few seasons by a couple of good gallopers in Maui and Arikira, and and for the latter's behaviour his winning list would have been considerably increased. Phcon, the third of her progeny to race, got on the winning list for the first time at Marton, but she had previously raced prominently, and with bad luck'. In contrast to her Foxton efforts, Pheon on Wednesday was one of the first away and subsequently was always in a winning position. Pheon, like Maui, is by Arrowsmith, and she looks like going on to useful form. Coming Home. Fairway is to leave Sydney to-day on his return to New Zealand. His trip has

been profitable, according to trainer A. E. Neale. Fairway is in the New Zealand Cup and he should be one of the most forward candidates if it is decided to go on with that engagement.

Autopay’s Lameness. Messrs. N. E. Aitken and H. F. Wood, joint owners of Autopay, arrived in Sydney on Tuesday last and lost no time in investigating the reported lameness of their horse. They have cabled that the trouble is not serious and is yielding well to treatment, so it looks as if Autopay will be able to fulfil engagements at Randwick. What Happened? The cable messages regarding results and the running at Rosebery on Wednesday do not say anything about Cottesmore. According to reports received here prior to the racing Cottesmore was to have had his first race in Sydney there, and, moreover, he was expected to run prominently. It seems unlikely that the cable man, who has mentioned several of the New Zealanders, would j overlook Cottesmore, and it is possible he was a late scratching.

Faultless Hurdling. The easiest win at Marton was that of Henry of Navarre in the hurdle race. He made hacks of his opponents, and was only cantering, throughout the greater part of fhe journey His jumping display was magnificent. Wednesday's opposition was very moderate, but Henry of Navarre, who ran good races at the National meeting, has improved and should be hard to beat again next up. As an indication of his jumping, at the last fence he was just a fraction of a second sooner in the take-off than No Humbug, and Park Acre, who had run up to him. This pair were still well up in the air when Henry had landed and was away.

Too Early for Them. The Railway Handicap at Marton was ah interesting race, as it was contested by several good class horses. The majority of the good ones were naturally short of condition, but it should not be long before they are showing improvement.

Brilliant Speed. Diatomous showed .1 lot of speed as a two-year-old, and although he did successfully negotiate six furlongs his average showing gave the impression that he lacked stamina. When he paraded for his Railway Handicap engagement at Marton on Wednesday he appeared to have done a fair amount of work and he was elected on each way favourite. Diatomous showed all his old brilliancy, and considering that it was his first race of the new season his performance was quite satisfactory. It took a well-performed and seasoned mare to defeat him, and Foreign Queen’s form is not to be despised. Diatomous looks like being one of our leading sprinters this season.

Has Not Lqst His Pace. Impasto was one of last season’s two-year-olds, hw form during the autumn being quite equal to anything that had been shown by any two-year-old winner. Since he last raced he has been gelded, and although reports of his condition have been rather conflicting, it is certain that his connections have not been entirely satisfied with his progress. Impasto had his first race of the season in the Railway Handicap at Marton. He made a good showing for half a mile, displaying plenty of pace, but from that stage ou he began to fade out of the picture, and at the finish he was whipping in the field with hia mate, King’s Knave. ■ Impasto is sure to improve, but whether he will make sufficient progress in a week to be a good proposition for Wanganui is a bit doubtful. He has the opportunity of another raco in the Flying Handicap next Thursday before tackling the Guineas, and if he runs he shoulfj give a further-indication of his prospects. .■ • Too Pretty.

The Comedy King gelding King’s Knave is very pretty In condition yet and his running'in the Railway Handicap at Marton suggests that ho will take some racing before being seen at his best.

Loohs Well. Oadland, who has not raced since the Auckland summer meeting, looked well when paraded for the Railway Handicap at Marton, and his behaviour in the birdcage indicated that he was taking a keen interest in his resumption of racing. Cadland is not carrj-ing a great deal of superfluous condition. He ran a creditable race, and it may hot take him long to reach his form again.

Won, Yet Lost. A peculiarity of the present system of betting was brought to light on two occasions at Marton on Wednesday. AV hen Speedmint and Curie dead-heated in the Marton Handicap the backers of Speedmint. on the straight-out machine lost a portion of their investments. Similarly those who had backed Tavern Knight for a place in the Farewell Handicap had to accept a loss on the transaction. It is ■bad enough to back a loser without losing money on a winner. Backers Were Anxious.

Tavern Knight completed a double for the Takanini stable of L. M. Manson when he won the last race at Marton, as his mate Cherry King had scored earlier in the day. Tavern Knight gave his supporters cause for atmjety in the early running, for although he was lying fourth on the home turn ho was standing up the leader. Acceptable, a fair start. It was not until they were well in the straight

that Tavern Knight could be called as the winner, and While he won decisively in the finish his margin was not great. Most likely QcldCnch could have made an earlier effort to bridge the gap, and. so the form may be deceptive in leading to the belief that the win was not so good as it really ifi, but th<j fact cannot be surmounted that Tavern Knight’s opposition was very moderate. Looked Unlucky.

The general impression after the Marton Handicap seemed to be that Curie should have won, if not comfortably at least by a decisive margin. Apart from the incident about six furlongs from home, when he got .put on the fence, his final challenge appeared to come just a trifle late. As against that there is the fact that over the final strides Speedmint seemed to be drawing away again, though this may have been duo to superior stamina. Curie hns some very ijseful form to his credit, and for a first experience beyond a mile he put up a creditable performance, but it was not one that could be hailed as above average handicap form, for he is Well seasoned and not likely to improve a great deal. The Donkey Derby. Elaborate preparations have been made for the New Zealand Donkey Derby, to be decided Ut the Stadium in connection with the pageant for the sports queen, Feilden Taylor Queen Carnival, to-mor-row, September IG. Silver cups have been donated for the jockeys by a well-known resident, and the cups will be presented by Miss McEvedy at the finish of the Derby. The donkeys and riders taking part in the Derby arc: —Pahu, Reg. Mackie; Eminent, Ashley Jenkins; Vitaphone, D. Gunn; Cottesmore, AV. Martin. ThO officials for the Derby are:—Judge, Frank Wilton; timekeeper, De Tourettes; starter, Hector Benge; stipendiary stewards. Sid Reid and J. McLaughlin; clerk of scales, Albert Goodman; clerk of course, Uncle Toby of donkey fame. The Derby will commence nt 4 p.m., and the donkeys and the riders will arrive at the course in state. Woodville's New President. Mr. AV. 11. Gaiaford has been elected president of the AVoodville District Jockey Club, the position having became vacant through the death of Mr. S. Bolton. Mr. Gaisford's father, the late Mr. Henry Gaisford, was the club’s first vice-presi-dent, and it was on his property, near the Oringi railway station, that, the club held its first race meeting. Mr. Gaisford has been closely associated with racing over a lengthy period. Air. F. S. Bolton, son of the late president, was elected to fill the vacancy on the stewards’ committee. AVtuigtmui Acceptances. Acceptances for all first day events of the AVanganui Jockey Club’s spring meeting, to be held on September 21 and 23, will close to-night at 9 o’clock. Otak i Noiuina t itms. Nominations for the spring meeting of Ihe Glaki Maori Racing Club Will close to-night at 8 o’clock. Answer to Correspondent. “Ilard-up .Sport,’’ Otaki: (1) fl/IS/G; £l/3/-. (2) £l/19/-. (3) £2/9/-; £l/10/-. (-1) £l/7/6; IS/-.