HALL MARK AND LIMARCH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 80, 16 March 1934, Page 2

HALL MARK AND LIMARCH

TWO CONTESTS DESCRIBED. In view of the dead-heat run by the Heroic and Limond colts in the V.R.C. St. Leger and their close finish in first and second places in the King's Cup, run four days later, the following detailed descriptions of the runping of the two races will be of interest:— St. Leger Surprise. The Sydney rider, J. Pike, says the Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney “Heral”’’ wil Inot have very pleasant recollections of his visit to Melbourne this autumn, for he has been hooted by the crowd twice for his handling of Hall Mark. After it was seen that Limarch had dead-heater with him in the St. Leger, a very bitter and prolonged demonstration was made against Pike, whom the crowd blamed for the Heroic colt not winning outright. However, Pike had a very hard job with Hall Mark, who is not an easy colt to ride. He'has a marked aversion to being out in front and once ho gets there is inclined to loaf. His trainer, J. Holt, impressed on Pike that he was not to get to the front earlier than was absolutely necessary. Pike endeavoured to carry out these instructions to the letter, and the result was that when Trivento was cantering along in the lead and scarcely at a hand canter, Pike was swinging on to Hall Mark, who was tailed off lengths behind the leader. It was not until about three furlongs from homo that Pike allowed the chestnut to stride along. He was third rounding the turn. At the distance Limarch went to the front, and as he did so Pike allowed Hall Mark to go with him. The colt quickly pulled his way to the front, and at the half-distance was slightly ahead of Limarch. For a few strides it looked as if he would go on, but he commenced to loaf, and Bartie quickly got to work on Limarch with the whip and brought him up to make a dead heat. As soon as Limarch joined Hall Mark the chestnut stretched out again, and a few strides past the post was in front again. Interviewed after the race, Pike said that Hall Mark “died right on the post.’’ “Hall Mark was going com fortably entering the straight, and ; furlong from home I thought lie woulc win. but the colt tired shortly after wards. ’ ’ E. Hartle, who piloted Liman-b 11 the dead heat, was naturally pleaser with his mount’s effort. He though' Limarch would merely plod along, am when ’lall Mark headed him at the die

tanee he thought defeat was inevitable. Limarch, however, hung on doggedly, and seemed to be doing better than Hall Mark on the post. The King’s Cup. It was one of the most unsatisfactory races seen for a long time, Hall Mark won the King’s Plate at Flemington, and thus atoned for his failure to hold off Limarch in the finish of the St. Leger. As a test of stamina the race to-day was spoiled by the tactics nf the jockeys, none of whom was anxious for a fast early pace. The result was that Hall Mark, who is never considered at his best when forced to make his own pace, was left with the lead for almost the first half mile. Then just before the mile post was reached, Middle Watch, who had lost about six lengths at the start, pulled his way past Hall Mark, Even when in front, Middle Watch’s rider was disinclined to send the horse along at his top and the pace continued slow until approaching the five furlongs post, when Kuaeh, who had lost even more ground than Middle Watch at the start, ran into second place. The event developed into a srpint over the last five furlongs. Middle Watch and Ruach were in front of Hall Mark approaching the home turn, but Middle Watch hung out slightly, and Hall Mark wen t through on the rails to lead into the straight. A furlong from homo Ruach began to lose ground, and then Heroic Prince made a fast forward move on the outside. Immediately Dempsey began to ride Hall Mark out with hands and heels, and the colt moved away. For a time an easy win seemed likely for Hall Mark, but Limareli went through on the rails, and struggling on in great; stylo under punishment, ran to within a neck of Hall Mark at the finish. By the time the post was reached Dempsey had I egun to take matters more easily on Hall Mark, and it is possible, that his winning margin could have been greater Limarch, however, ran well enough to suggest that over the mile and three-quarters of the A.J.C. St. Leger he will again trouble Hall Mark. Heroic Prince [winner of the Australian Cup the following Saturday] was not suited by the slow pace, but in finishing third he did .well, enough to satisfy those who haVe Mentioned his name for the Austranamvup