A SPLENDID RECORD

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 114, 16 May 1942, Page 8

A SPLENDID RECORD

M. B. EDWARDS'S DECISION

The announcement that M. B. Edwards has decided to transfer his activities as a trainer from trotting to the galloping branch on account of the restricted opportunities^ in the light-harness sport will come as a surprise to many, though not greatly, to the section of the public familiar with his activities in recent years, for the Yaldhurst trainer has successfully handled gallopers as well as trotters. Actually, he prepared Ponty, winner of many races, the successes of the Rosenor , gelding including the X 937 Wellington Cup. Although bracketed with Pplydora on that occasion, Ponty paid over a score on the win machine. ' Wino arid Cocksure, who were raced by the Hon. P; Webb and the Hon.'G. R. Hunter, both won good races when prepared by the Yaldhurst trainer, the former taking the Winter Cup in the 1936-37 season. The winner ranked 7-7 in he betting, whereas the favourite was the other member of the stable, Ponty, who ran third, with Concert Pitch separating the pair. In 1939, Cocksure, who was bracketed with Toro-Koura, brought Edwards further laurels by: capturing the Great Easter Handicap at Riccartbn from Density and Rebel Mate. Included in his galloping team at present are * the Wellington-owned pair Imperium and Locrian.

It is not as a- trainer of gallopers, however, that Edwards is best known, but as a trainer and reirisman in the trotting branch. In the .1926-27 season he headed the championship table; for the Dominion with, 26_ winners. At the time the stable's outstanding member was Black Admiral, who included the Dunedin Cup among -his successes. ■....■ •

During his lengthy connection with the light-harness sport Edwards has trained and driven, many of the Dominion's foremost pacers, and one horse who did honoured service for him was War Buoy, who won his first 10 races. At the next outing War Buoy was narrowly beaten by Tempest, and he then went on to build- up a record of 14 wins in 16 starts, this amazing record being compiled . in three seasons. As a two-year-old War Buoy won twice, scored four times as a three-year-old, and registered eight firsts and two seconds as a four-year-old. The two defeats he suffered up to that stage of his career were both inflicted by Mr. D. G. Barton's pacer Tempest, but War Buoy turned the tables in the August Handicap at Addijngton at, their first clash in the 1935 term.

War Buoy's next race was in the New Zealand Trotting Cup. It was a cold day with intermittent showers, and the track was far from good, but the five-year-old put up a great performance by beating all but the mighty Indianapolis, who was credited that day with putting up the best performance of his career. It was the irony of things that Mr. D. G. Barton should have again been the owner of the horse to upset matters.

A feature of Edwards's record is the good innings he has enjoyed with young horses, as his list of classic winners reveals. In the New Zealand Sapling Stakes he scored with War Buoy (1933), Frisco Lady (1935). and Two's Loose (1937); in the N.Z. Derby Stakes he took the honours with War Buo^ (1933) and Gamble .(1934); he won the Timaru Nursery Stakes with Two's Loose (1937): and the All-Aged Stakes with Frisco Boy (1937). In all the above-mentioned events the trainer was himself in the sulky, and among, his many other winning drives in big handicaps were the New Zealand Cup with Adelaide Direct (1917), the Dunedin Cup with Black Admiral (1926), and Harold Thorpe (1931), the National Cup with Harold Thorpe (1931), the Canterbury Handicap .with Gamble (1938), the Manawatu Cup with Zincali (1938), the Timaru Cup with Cranleigh (1932), the New Zealand Trotting Gold Cup at Hutt Park" with Mate o* Mine (1929), the Oamaru Handicap with Black Admiral (1925), etc.