GREAT RECORD AT ADDINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 88, 15 April 1939, Page 22

GREAT RECORD AT ADDINGTON

MARSCERES A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY

(By "Ariki Toa.")

One of the most outstanding features of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Easter Carnival, which concluded at Addington on Thursday, was the consistency shown by Marsceres, whose record at Addington during the past eight or nine months has been particularly impressive. ;

It is a long time -' .cc a horse has been raced at Addington with the same degree of consistency as Marsceres, and it is worth noting that in his last ten starts on the course he has always secured some of the prize-money. He has not been exactly over-raced in between times, but even so it has been fn° ChrSu?ch. him Wh6n ■ ca**to*

At the August Meeting last year he opened his campaign by winning the Selwyn Handicap, l£ miles, but as the track, was heavy the time was comparatively slow. On the following day he raced on two occasions winning the Dash Handicap, 1 mile, and the Canterbury Handicap, If miles. On the former, occasion he made short work of a high-^.ss field of sprinters, including Colonel Grattan,:' and it is doubtful if a saddle event has ever been won in easier fashion at Addington. ■ .;.

He suffered his first defeat at the meeting in the Federal Handicap on the final day, when Cantata proved just a shade too good for him at the handicaps. With the pace on all the way Marsceres ran the mile and a quarter in 2min 42sec, so1 that there was no disgrace in the defeat. However, he made amends later in the day by coming from behind to annex the Heathcote Handicap, 2 miles, among those behind him being Frisco Boy and Toorak. Thus in five staris at the carnival he secured four f s and a second —a particularly fine ~...'-- formance*

He raced without success at Oamaru prior to next appearing at Addington, on this occasion at the New Zealand Cup Meeting. His first appearance was in the Canterbury Handicap, in which he finished a good third to Gallant Knight and Blair Athol, Marsceres's time being 4min 25 4-ssec. He was produced again on the second day and made amends by taking the Lelievre Handicap, 2 miles, in 4min 20

4-ssec. Toorak was again one of th« minor place-fillers. ,

A well-earned rest was allotted the Man-o-War gelding at the conclusion of the carnival, and it was not until the Canterbury Park Meeting at the New Year that he resumed racing. He was again in a place, but in this review mention is mostly being confined to his activities- at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Meeting at' Addington. On Saturday last he contested the Belfast Handicap, 2 miles, and after being in the firing line all the way he stayed on solidly to fill third place and register 4min 23sec, : the pair to beat him being Colonel Gjattan arid Donald Dhu. On the second day he occupied a- similar position- behind Colonel Grattan and Horse Power.

He was produced-oh two occasions on Thursday, and after occupying second place to Fine Art in the Papanui, 2 miles, came out in the last race, and succeeded in the Final Handicap, a mile saddle race, beating Cavan Chief and Ginger Jack. It is a record that any owner would be proud of, and the manner in which he has run out ; all his races, both sprint and long distances, leaves the impression. that -he will, graduate into the highest classes. He is a great beginner, and can be relied upph to do his work correctly from barrier rise, which is a big factor towards success. Mention above of Marsceres's performance of winning four races at a meeting brings to mind Red Shadow and Cello Sydney Wilkes. Red Shadow annexed the New Zealand Cup, Hagley Handicap, Christchurch Handicap, and the Free-for-AU in 1933, while back in 1919 Cello Sydney Wilkes also scored on four occasions.

Bred by his owner, Marsceres is a six-year-old by . Man-o-War . fronv Golden Vale, a mare that did not reach any great heights on the race track; She was got by Brent Locanda from a General Tracy mare.