STRONG TEAM IN WORK

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25227, 4 July 1947, Page 4

STRONG TEAM IN WORK

TROTTING

PREPARATIONS FOR AUGUST RACING

The Templeton trainer L. F. Berkett is working a particularly strong team, including Nyallo Scott, Highland Fling, Snowflake, Temple Star, and Toushay, in preparation for August racing. Each of these horses will be well suited by the limits provided at the coming Addington meeting and they appeal as bright prospects in their classes. Nyallo Scott, the outstanding winner among the pacers during the present season, is in robust order at present, and he is carrying more condition than at any previous stage of his career. His general appearance would suggest that he will be an improved pacer when he next parades. Now assessed on 4min 21sec over two miles, one second outside New Zealand Cup class. Highland Fling is also in forward order. He has come through a busy period of racy ng in good style and he appears to have thrived with work and racing. During the present season he has compiled a record seldom achieved by a four-year-old, and he has registered time not previously attained by one of his age. Highland Fling is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in his class. Snowflake, the holder of a two-mile record for three-year-olds, has developed into a solid type. She is in forward order and she will require little fast work to be back to winning form. In winning the New Zealand Trotting Stakes, his only start to date. Temple Star stamped himself as the best three-year-old trotter in commission. His solidness and the manner in which he defeated his opponents on that occasion left little doubt about his ability, and he should be a prominent contender in the Addington Trotting Stakes, in which he will start from the limit.

Toushay, equally at home at either gait, will be nicely placed in the principal trotters’ handicaps next month. During the present season this gelding won two races as a pacer and two as a trotter. He also gained three minor placings in the latter gait, bringing his total winnings for the period to £2205. Toushay gives every promise of making further improvement, and he will be an easy horse to place to further advantage in either department.

Jottings Douglas McElwyn, one of the best trotters raced in recent years, and a good stake-winner for L. F. Berkett, has been retired, and he is now doing duty as a hack on a farm. Included in V. Leeming’s team is the rising two-year-old Hemisphere, a colt by Springfield Globe from Kushanai. At present he is little beyond the initial stages of his education, but he is a fine type with early promise. Previously trained at Addington by G. S. Smith, Strummer, an aged Travis Axworthy—Albena gelding, without winning form over the present season, has changed quarters and is now being trained by D. Bennett. Kimono Girl, a five-year-old by Lucky Jack from Oriental, was prominent in both her attempts at the recent Greymouth meetings, and her showings suggested that she will prove an early winner for F. G. Lynch. In Forward Order Mandrake raced consistently throughout the present season for four wins and five minor placings in 11 starts, and he appeals as a solid type likely to do further good service. In his last start he received slight injuries which necessitated a spell, but he has been back in work under C. R. Berkett for some time now and he is in excellent order in which to begin the new season. The same trainer is also-hand-ling a rising two-year-old filly.by Springfield Globe from Parisienne, champion pacing mare of her day and one of the greatest performers of her sex ever produced. Not a great deal has been asked of this filly as yet. but she gives every promise of living up to her appearance and breeding. Useful Team

W. R. Butt is working a useful team with a view to August racing. The trotter Jimmy Scott is looking bright and hardy after a spell, while Wade Lane, Direct Medium, Absolutely, Bill Scott and Grand Scott are all in forward order. The last named, a two-year-old by U. Scott from Pamelas, has developed into an attractive type. Early in his work Grand Scott had the reputation of being a pacer of more than average merit, and while his attempts to date have not seen him in a winning position, his appearance suggests that he will come up to early expectations Mr R. W. Franks The death of Mr R. W. Franks has removed on’e of" the most popular and successful light-harness, trainers of the older school. Mr Franks started his career among horses at an early age, being attached to the stable of R. J. Mason, one of New Zealand’s greatest racing trainers. He also worked with the late Mr D. O’Brien and he took Carbine to Australia. Immediately on his return to New Zealand he left again for Australia, where he spent some time on the goldfields. His wanderings then took him to Alaska, where he spent almost nine years gold mining with considerable success. He then returned to Australia and married before coming back to New Zealand. Mr Franks set up at Sockburn as a trainer, and he soon became firmly established. During his association Mr Franks handled many outstanding trotters and pacers, including Oinako (a Harold Dillon—Grattanette horse which won many good races and left his mark as a sire), Radiant Morn, Richore (New Zealand Sapling Stakes), Hackthorne. Travis Axworthy, Our Lady, Ganton, and Milestone. Travis Axworthy, an American importation, was ope of the outstanding pacers of his day, and he also proved the sire of many winners. In recent years Mr Franks had taken little active part in the sport, but he maintained his keen interest to the

Death of Gore Trainer Mr J. R. McMurray, whose death has occurred at Gore, was well known in light-harness circles, . and as a judge at shows in Southland. Several years ago he met with outstanding success as a trainer of gallopers and trotting horses, but in more recent years he confined his attention to the harness horses. For some time he trained horses for the late Mr E. A. Pigeon, of Gore. Mr McMurray was associated with several outstanding .performers. one of which was Fashion Queen. He bred Dundee Sandy, a big stake-win-ner for Mr B. Rushton, of Nightcaps, having owned that pacer’s dam, Cutty Sark. Doonholme was one of his active team this season. For Australia Included in a recent shipment from Auckland were the pacers Casanova, by Wrack—Pearlchild, Mazaire, by Jack Potts Logan Chimes, and Barometer Chimes, by Wrack—Edith Chimes. The first two were going to Tasmania and the lastnamed to Victoria to take up stud duties. The brood mares Ranfurly Lass, by Peter Bingen—Hal Lady, and Del Potts, by Jack Potts—Delco, and dam of Josie Dell and Delwyn, were included in the shipment, their destination being South Australia. The well-performed pacer Volo Senwod, by Lusty Volo from Wink Eve by Rey de Oro from the Logan Pointer mare Kathie Pointer, was being shipped to West Australia to Mr J. P. Stratton. Volo Senwod. which has done very little racing since meeting with a mishap at Addington last season, will race at the principal Perth meetings next term.