Timaru Cup features up-and-comers

Up and coming harness racing pacers Franco Marek (A Rocknroll Dance) and Star Magic (He’s Watching) are set to clash in Saturday’s (Nov. 19) Tyre General Timaru Cup at the Phar Lap Raceway.

Both have winning form on the board but face hardened warriors like Warloch (Well Said) and Artatec (Art Major) and quality mare Allamericanlover (American Ideal).

Three year old Star Magic has been in excellent form recently winning his last three starts for Rangiora trainer Gavin Smith. One of those wins was at the Phar Lap Raceway. 

“He’s got plenty of ability but he’s aways been big, weak and immature. This time in he’s come into his own.” Smith says this is a significant jump in class for him but that he’s done it easy in his last few starts. “We turned him out to freshen him up, he had a wee few issues but his work this week has been really nice. If he can jump away and get a nice trip close to the speed, I think he’ll surprise a few. I think he’s up to them.”

Star Magic will start from six on the front row.

“He’s good from the stand but we’ve found that he’s best not to burn too hard early. When I’ve pushed him early to hold the lead he’s still gone good but not as good as when you jump away and get a trip.”

Smith says there’s been a bit of buyer interest in the horse but for the moment he’s staying.

“He’s still not finished yet. He’s really surprised me stepping up each time. We can actually work him a bit now whereas before if you gave him work, he’d lighten up real fast. He’s handling things a hell of a lot better now.”

Franco Marek has also been in hot form, winning his last four races for Lincoln trainer Greg Manson. He last started in May but has recently had two workouts and a trial to get him ready for Saturday’s assignment.

“I’m pretty happy with him and I generally have them ready. He’s pretty fit but he’ll have to be,” Manson said.

He bought Franco Marek from Norm Jones after the gelding ran sixth in the Sapling Stakes won by Krug, and third at Addington as a three year old.

“I spent a year on him then we got to the races, and he did what he did. We had to scratch him from another race in May because he had seedy toe. That foot has completely grown out now. He’s a very strong minded horse. He took a bit to get going and stop arguing but’s he a big softy really and likes the pats.”

And his Lincoln trainer has hopes for the future.

“I’d like to think this time next year that we wouldn’t be far away from New Zealand Cup Day and hopefully the New Zealand Cup. It’s a matter of keeping him calm but he’s getting more professional all the time.”

Manson also has Copperhead Rose (Vintage Master) down to start in the same race from the ten metre handicap.

“Because of his standing start manners, he’s not too far off them.”

Eight year old Copperhead Rose is also coming back fresh after a last start fourth at Addington in early July.

“Fifteen days later I had him entered at Addington, but he got mud fever, and I couldn’t get rid of it for six weeks so he lost all his fitness. There are no bumps and bruises on him, his legs are fine, and he has to be worked first in the morning which is pretty good for an old horse.” 

The main trotting race of the day is the Equine Veterinary Services/George Shand Memorial Handicap Trot.

It’s a chance for Hot To Trot (Creatine), Masterly (Love You), Smokin Bandar (Monkey Bones) and Matua Tana (Love You) who all made errors in their races at Cup Week to atone and get their summer campaigns back on track.

The race is named in honour of the late George Shand, a respected and well known trainer and driver who started in the game back in the fifties. His first winner was Athlone (Dillion Hall) at Roxburgh in April 1953 and his last was Mighty Memories (Bionic Power) at Forbury Park in December 2007.

His major winners included Borana, Eastwood Jaunty, Mighty Gay and trotter Pointer Hanover.

Borana (Boyden Hanover) was the winner of twenty races: seventeen for Shand including five in a row as a two year old. He won three races for Peter Jones including the 1985 New Zealand Cup. Feature wins for Shand included the New Zealand Champion Stakes at Ashburton, E.R. Mercer Mile at Addington and Cambridge Classic.

Eastwood Jaunty (Holmes Hanover) was another good pacer Shand trained. He won thirteen races and $127, 901. His wins included two Methven Cups and a Green Mile on the same track. He campaigned in Australia in 2002 racing between January and April and he won once at Mildura.

Mighty Gay (Gay Gordon) also trained by George won nine races including the 1976 Ashburton Flying Stakes.

Pointer Hanover (Batchelor Hanover) was Shand’s best trotter. The entire won fourteen races including the 1979 Canterbury Park Trotting Cup. He was also successful at stud and perhaps is most famous for leaving Frances Jay Bee the winner of six races and the dam of One Kenny (19), One Under Kenny (11) and One Over Kenny (32).

So there’ll be plenty of good memories around Saturday’s feature trot, the Equine Veterinary Services/George Shand Memorial Handicap Trot.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart for Harnesslink