MARTARA’S FORM

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 113, 6 February 1937, Page 15

MARTARA’S FORM

Dunedin Trip Off HAZOOR WILL IMPROVE How Juveniles Shaped By Telegraph—Fbom The Watcher. New Plymouth, February 5. Martara, the winner of the Taranaki Cup, who is also engaged at Dunedin next week-end, will not be making the trip south. His form at New Plymouth was satisfactory insofar as he accomplished the task set him, but it is understood that the trip to Dunedin was never ' regarded by his connections as definite at any time. Martara had very little to spare at the finish of the Taranaki Cup, and although he might have done better had he been allowed to run along a little more freely in the early stages it did not look the equal of his perfprmance at Treutham, when he spreadeagled a better field over a mile and a quarter. The extra 111 b. in the saddle may have had something to do with his narrow win yesterday. Taitoru, runner-up in the Taranaki Cup, has some good hack form to his credit, and at his previous start had won the open Earle Stakes at Wanganui. He had every opportunity to w’in yesterday, but was not quite good enough. Well placed in the future he will pay his way, but against good-class handicap horses he may find it hard. Hazoor, whose only race at Trentham was in the Wellington Cup, ran a good race yesterday in the Taranaki Cup. Well placed all the way he lost a little ground when the pace was cracked on, but toward the finish he was travelling very strongly. He would probably have been closer to the pair in front of him had he not shied at a spectator near the running -ail who threw his hat suddenly into the air as the horse was going past. The race will also no doubt iigprove him. Spiral was well enough' placed in the Taranaki Cup to have won, and he flattered his supporters when he made a forward move from the six furlongs, but he was weakening again on the home turn. He may have gone off a bit since Trentham. ’ . Chief Ranger ran a creditable race in the cup, being just in behind the winner throughout. He weakened at the finish, but a race generally improves him, and he might soon win again over a shorter journey. ’ .... One Whetu had too much of bis reserve used up in getting a position in the running of the cup after his slow start to have any chance of being in the money, but he put up a creditable effort. Oratory has weakened at the finish of all her recent races, and it was the same again in the Flying Handicap at New Plymouth. Ridden in behind she appeared to have plenty in reserve for a final run, but just when asked she did not respond. Weight may have troubled het a little, but either the mare is. not quite right vet or she is not so solid as once thought. The winner, Notium, is an improved galloper. Earlier in Ins career be showed plenty of pace but lacked sting at the finish of his races. Even so late as New Year at Stratford this was in evidence, but at Wanganui and yesterday he came home very solidly after a comparatively slow beginning. Wotan attracted a lot of public interest in the. Flying Handicap, and his finishing run was a feature of the day s racing. The Melbourne Cup winner is very forward.’ ahd With another race into him at Egmont he will be in tip-top-order for another Australian trip. So -far J. Fryer has no definite date of departure.