THE MARTON MAIDEN

Evening Post, Issue 20, 23 July 1935, Page 6

THE MARTON MAIDEN

LITTLE-KNOWN CANDIDATES

It is :not often that there is such an array of real unknown quantities in a novice event as there is among the eighteen acceptors for the Glenmore Maiden Race at Marton tomorrow. Quite a number of the field have not previously raced at all, and without going too critically" into the performances of the others the only three who can be recalled as ever having finished in the money are Popette, Trouvaille, and Royal King, none of whom, however, has made any special'impression yet. Because of the poverty of the form among so many horses it may be of some interest to consider what are the credentials of the less-known members of the field, which includes nearly all of them, fov latent among them may be something of some promise.

On paper. 'Popette and Trouvailleare the only pair having anything to commend them on this season's form. Popette could not, win an easy-looking offering at Dahnevirke three weeks ago,' but Dampier, who beat her, may be better than was thought at the time. Trouvaille, who hails from the north, where he is held on lease by Mr. P. J. McMahoh, of Hamilton, is a three-year-old black gelding by Raceful and' his claim to notice rests on a third to Light Comedy and Orac at Franklin in March. Royal King's previous placing was achieved nearly four'years ago, but he had been off the scene for a long time prior to his recent reappearance at Levin, when he went a fair race. Among the older horses in the field others who have raced have been Genial, Ringapoto, Blue Tiger, Celeritas, Manuleie, Lady Hoariri, and Delysia, but, outside of Delysia, they cannot be recalled to have made any likely sort of showings. Delysia, a Whirlwind —lion Chic three-year-old filly owned by Mr. W. Higgins, had her first start at the recent Wellington Meeting, when she was bracketed with Debhain, and, starting from the outside, she was, prominent early, a promising initial performance, as the novice class at Treni;ham was the best.

Donegal. Middle, and Golden Song are older horses who do not appear to have raced yet. Donegal is a four-year-old brown gelding by Nigger Minstrel from the All Red mare Riot Act, and he is owned by his breeder, Mr. J. Bull, jun. It is the family to which the Great Northern Hurdles winner Wimmera and also Muskerry, a useful handicapper, belonged. Middle is a three-year-old brown gelding by Centrepiece from the Field Battery mare Sea Battery, one of Juliet's many descendants, and he is owned by Mr. F. F. Newman,, of Wanganui, who recently bought him from his trainer, L. G. Morris. Golden Song is a four-year-old chestnut mare by Hunting Song from .the Signor mare Puncha, hence a half-sister to Tobaccoland, and he is held on lease by Mr. W. G. Shannon from Mrs. Shannon, who owns the dam.

Five two-year-olds, only one of whom has not yet raced, make up the field, and at this stage of the season they should be capable of playing,a part in maiden company if they are going to turn out of any account. ' The one who will be making her debut is Frugal, a brown filly by Lapidary from the Warplane—Bellina,mare Thrift, who was a half-sister to. Cadland, and though not of/his class on the Turf was a fair winner. .Frugal is Thrift's first foal, and she will be raced by Mr. K. McK. Duncan, \vho received her as a gift from his father, Mr. T. A. Duncan.

Mr. Duncan, sen., will be represented in the field by Ihapera, a bay filly by Gainscou.rt from the Hallowmas mare Isabel, and' thus a half-sister to Fiji, Otairi, and Cashier. Ihapera had an earlier start at the Dannevirke Meeting in May, but she was not then, forward enough to indicate what her worth might be later on.

Tidal Song, who had a couple of starts at the Manawatu Autumn Meeting, is a bay filly by the French-bred importation Tidal from the Hunting Song mare Arab Song; At Awapuni she carried the colours of Mr. D. N. Lane, of Havelock North, for whom G. W. B. Greene was training her, but it is possible that she has changed hands since, for otherwise she would be travelling a long way from home for a small stake.

Pylon, who opened his career inauspiciously at Levin last month by being slow away at the start, is a chestnut gelding by Colossus from the Polydamon —Melodise mare Semplice,1 a full-sister to Agitato and Vivo, and he is owned and trained by Mr. C. H. Moss, of Ealmerston North, who bought him from his breeder, Mrs. A. F. Lawrie. He caught the. eye at Levin as one who might gallop well with experience*

.Last among the juveniles, but the most promising on present credentials,is Chalice, who was racing among the best of the juveniles at the Auckland and Avondale Meetings in the autumn, though that . company at the time proved too seasoned for her; She is a bay filly by Chief Ruler from the imported Amadis mare King's Cup 11, . descending from the same stock as Cylinder's dam Cymene, and, the first of her dam's offspring in the Dominion, she. was purchased by Mr. M. Millar, of Palmerston North, at last year's Trentharri sales for 225 guineas. She is being trained at Bulls by A. E. Neale,: and although little is ascertainable about her recent form she may, because of the company she has tackled, be the best of the juvenile prospects in tomorrow's race.