MARTON JOCKEY CLUB

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 306, 31 December 1935, Page 4

MARTON JOCKEY CLUB

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER CUP NEW YEAR MEETING PROSPECTS FOR TO-MORROW (By “Kestrel.”) With the Marton -Cup set down for decision to-morrow, and the Duke of Gloucester Cup to be decided on Thursday, there is plenty to attract racegoers at the Marton Jockey Club’s summer meeting this week, and the prospects of the fixture proving a successful one are bright. Fields are of vCry satisfactory proportions throughout, and the racing on Boxing Day and succeeding days indicated that contests should be very interesting. The totalisator will be operated under a two-pool system, backers of the winner having the investments to themselves in the “win” pool, while in the “place” pool backers of first and second horses will share in the proportions of 75 and 25 per cent, respectively. The latter method* of course, is the usual single-pool system. The “place” pool will operate where are five or more starters, and the “win” pool will be used for all events.

The first race each day at Marton starts at noon, but on the second day (Thursday) the seventh and eighth races will start a quarter of an.-hour later than the corresponding events on the first day. This will be 'Occasioned by a longer interval' being allowed after the sixth race to permit of the presentation of the Duke of Gloucester Cup. The president of the New Zealand Racing Conference, Mr. J. S. McLeod, and the secretary, Mr. H. R. Sellers, will be present at the second day’s racing after motoriig down from Auckland. The cup presented by the Duke of Gloucester will be handed over to the owner of the winner by Mr. J. S: McLeod owing to the inability of the Governor-General, Lord Galway, to attend the meeting during the Court mourning period. A miniature of the trophy will be presented to the owner and another to the rider if the winner is not ridden by the owner. Holiday race trains and excursion fares will cater for many patrons of the Marton meeting on New Year’s Day and the following day. Trains will leave Wanganui at 9.35 a.m. each day, stopping at intermediate stations and arriving at Marton Junction at 11.28 a.m. The return trains leave after the last race, the first at 5.50 p.m. arriving at Wanganui at 7.49 p.m., and another leaving at 7.23 p.m. and arriving at Wanganui at 9.17 p.m. A train will leave Ohakune at 6 a.m. each day, connecting with the special nice train leaving Taihape at 8.40 a.m. and arriving at Marton Junction at 10.48 a.m. There will be return trains for Taihape and Ohakune each day. Special trains will also be run from Palmerston North.

Seventeen are engaged in the Maiden Plate, the opening race, and as several of these have been seen in action recently investors will have somehting to -guide them. Version, Hippolyta, Trimden, Cloudy Bay, Rustem, Merlyn, Battle Pomp, Ware-hi and Fleeting Arrow must be included in the “possibles,” and a well-backed trio may be Hippolyta, Fleeting A) row and Rustem.

The Rata Hack Hurdles has seven engaged, with Gold. Cure having the best form. and Battleground and Aiguille also likely to be prominent. Considerable interest will be attached to the race for the Ladies’ Bracelet, for it will provide a guide for the Duke of Gloucester Cup on Thursday. Last New Year’s IDay this event won distinction as It was the only occasion on which the Duke of Gloucester sported silk at a race meeting in New Zealand. Wyndale, Royal King, Laconic, Royal Papa, Otaki, the Plantation Song-Denegal bracket, General Quex, Indefinite and Ruenzori appear to have good chances, and Wyndale, Royal Papa and the bracket may be the favourites.

Four of the nine engaged in the Juvenile Handicap are three-year-olds, and of these Symcony and Hine Ra appear to be the best. In the probable absence of Hine Ra it appears as if Symcony will be favoured, but Laughing Lass has scored so impressively on two occasions that she should be best backed. Of the others Starbeam may be preferred. A dozen are engaged in the Marton Cup. The list is headed by Golden Hair, who disappointed at Aw&puni. Grand Jury is also in the Wairarapa Cup and may be started at Tauherenikau. If he" takes on this event he would be hard to beat. Gay Boy appears to have an excellent chance. Princess Doreen may also be at Tauherenikau. Aga Khan should be improved as a result of his Awapuni outings. and Tout le Monde appeals, provided a good rider can be secured. Hunting Lodge and Round Score must be included as possibles, and Sanguine King may be hard to head off. However, in the probable absence of Grand Jury, a decision must be made for Gay Boy, Tout le Monde and Aga Khan.

The sprint event, the Railway Handicap, has eleven carded, but Princess Doreen also claims an engagement here. Perhaps Limulus, Invoice and Porotiti may be in demand. Run over nine furlongs, the New Year Hack Handicap has a good field engaged. Perhaps Colenso may be absent at Tauherenikau, so backers may go for Waipiro, Middle and The Image. To conclude the day’s racing there will be the Dash Hack Handicap. Recent form points to Chief Ranger and Lifeguard, with Ilias as a likely newcomer.

Following is the list of horses engaged for to-morrow:— 12.0 MAIDEN PLATE (Of £9O; six furlongs.) Version Rustem Hippolyta Merlyn Golden Anne War Lap Dungarvan Merry Night Princess La Jean Muggins Trimden Battle Pomp Apopo Warehi Cloudy Bav Fleeting Arrow Bacchus ifarsh 12.40 RATA HACK HURDLES (Of £100; about li miles.)

Gold Cure .. Aiguille .. • . Battleground Count Roussillion 10 13 9 9 9 7 9 2 Tambo .. Royal Peak . Affliction . . Chataigne .. 9 0 9 0 9 0 i 0 1.20— LADIES’ BRACELET (Of £70 ; nine furlongs.) Wyndale .. . 11 11 Plantation Kcyal King . 11 6 Song 11 0 Royal Papa . 11 6 Donegal .. . 11 0 La coni'. .. 11 4 Indefinite .. 11 0 Father's General Quex 11 0 Choice 11 4 Tiger Bill .. 11 0 Illawarra ... 11 0 Ruenzori .. . 11 0 Otaki 11 0 Royal Peak . 11 0

JUVENILE HANDICAP (Of £100; five furlongs.) Symcony . . 9 9 Surprise Item 7 & Hine Ra .. . R 7 Laughing Lad 7 3 Laughing Laggard .. . 7 2 T 4IM 8 3 Mirth 0 Distinguished 7 7 Starbeam . . 7 Q 2.40— MARTON CUP (Of £300 ; miles.) Golden- Hair 9 0 Hunting Lodge 7 5 Grand Jury . 8 11 Round Score 7 5 Princess Rompalong . 7 0 Doreen 8 8 Miss Hushabye 7 0 Gay Boy .. . 8 7 Sanguine King 7 0 Aga Khan .. 8 3 Alcidee .. .. 7 0 Tout le Monde 8 2 3.20— RAILWAY HANDICAP (Of £140; six furlongs.) Princess Invoice .. •• 7 10 Doreen 9 0 Bodyline .. . 7 7 Porotiti .. . 8 5 Fulojoy .. .. 7 7 Limulus .. . 8 3 Wasteland .. *7 0 Royal Routine 8 2 Lifeguard . . 7 0 Severe .. .. 7 10 Beau Gall ante 7 0 4.0— NEW YEAR HACK HANDICAP (Of £110 ; nine furlongs.) Waipiro . , . 9 0 Trimden .. . 8 0 Salon 8 12 Plantation Middle .. . . 8 8 Song 7 13 King s Lancer 8 7 Sunder .*. .. 7 13 Blue Tiger .. 8 « Royal Papa . 13 The Image . 8 3 Petrarch .. . 7 13 Colenso .... 8 1 4.45— DASH HACK HANDICAP (Of £100; six furlongs.) Lifeguard .. 9 0 De Trop .... 7 3 Ilias .. 8 3 Golden Chest 7 2 Chief Ranger 8 2 Vivienne .. . 7 2 Round Up .. 8 2 Blue Mauritius 7 0 Ethiop 7 12 Golden Going Gay .. 7 11 Enterprise 7 0 Raparahara . 7 7 Battle Pomp 7 0 Entheos .. . 7 3 Apopo 7 0