Jimmy Mac wins 2016 Marton Cup Listed NZ$55,000 at Awapuni (NZ), 2200m.
Jimmy Mac was slow to begin and was third last with a round to go. Down the back straight he saved ground but was still well back as they started on the far corner. At the 500m, jockey Lisa Allpress moved off the fence three wide of the midfield pack to get handier. Upon straightening, there was plenty of traffic but Allpress waited for the split and eventually they found a way through, ranging up to the leader, China Star, and edging by in the last two strides, to win narrowly but quite convincingly. The timing of Allpress’s run won the day.
China Star was close to the pace down the back and took over passing the 500m mark, tried to break clear at the top of the straight and momentarily looked the winner until Jimmy Mac overhauled her near the line, for a fighting second.
Pentathlon covered little extra ground with a midfield rails run to the turn, moved out in the run home, challenged but could not get to China Star and was out-finished by the winner, for a solid third.
