AGNES GRATTAN AND ROYAL VICTORY

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26207, 2 September 1950, Page 4

AGNES GRATTAN AND ROYAL VICTORY

RECENT ADDITIONS TO N. L. BERKETT’S TEAM

Agnes ’ Grattan and Royal Victory are recent additions to N. L. Berkett’s team at Weedons.

A place-getter in six .races when trained last season by H. Purdon at Mangere, Agnes Grattan is a six-year-old mare by Josedale ’ Grattan from Agnes Bond. , Bred at Lochiel in 1940 by Mr M. S. Thomson, Royal Victory is by Quite Sure from the Blue v Mountain King mare. Little Mountain, which left another winner in Royal Fortune to the same sire.

At his second appearance last Season, Royal Victory paid £ll2 19s 6d when he finished third to Scottish Greetings and isinglass in the Waihopai Handicap at the Marlborough Trotting Club’s meeting bn January 23. Royal Victory’s next 10 starts yielded three minor and he was then taken to the Hawera meeting. where he paid £25 5s when he beat Black Storm in the Stratford Handicap,

Royal Victory was later sold by R Rhodes to Messrs F. Fairbairn and J. Moore, who placed him in R G. Cameron’s team.

pn the form he showed last season, Royal Victory should take a tighter mark this term. Above the Average Jimmy Creed, the back-marker in the second division of the Rotokohu Trot Handicap at Reefton to-day, showed that he is above the average by gaining eight placings last season, his record including a decisive win over Melvruse after leading all the way in the Waitahu Trot Handicap at the Reefton Jockey Club’s meeting on April 8. A six-year-old Quite Sure gelding, Jimmy Creed is out of Alpha Axworthy, by Travis Axworthy from Alpha Bingen, by Nelson Bingen from Alpha H, by California from Hush, by the imported Vancleve. From Otaki

J. Flanagan, who trains his team at Otaki, has Parrish Mills engaged at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting next week.

A son of Great Parrish and Orleigh Mills, Parrish Mills gained three wins and five minor placings last season, his- last w’n being over Fanciful in the second division of the Kapuni Handicap at Hawera on April 10. Finished Fourth

After having seven horses in front of him with four furlongs to go, Lyceum showed a glimpse of his best form to finish fourth in the Queen Mary Handicap at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington last Saturday. One of V. Learning's Prebbletoh team L yceum may soon return to the winning list. At Bennetts High Command is now being trained at Bennetts by K. Purdon. A Dillon Hall gelding. High Command showed his best form when tra ned last season by W. R. Putt, when be beat Melton by a head in the Electric Handicap at the Greymouth meeting on January 7. Booked to Medoro Sand Piper, a good performer for Mr L--H. Tilson, has been retired and she will be mated with* the Italian-tbred Medoro this season Medoro. whiclr recently arrived at Mr N. Simpson's stud at Otahuhu r has been fully booked for the 1950 season. Methven Cup The main race at the Methven Trotting Club’s meeting on September 30 will be the Methven Cup, which carries a stake of £ 1000 and a trophy valued at £7O. The class is 4min 31sec, and the distance two miles. The sprint event is the £550 S. G. Holmes Memorial Handicap, which is a 2min 51sec mile and a quarter race. Novice and improving trolfers and pacers are also catered for at this meeting, which is one of the most popuiar of the. country fixtures.

By Casanova • Fickle, which is engaged in the trotting events at the Reefton Jockey Club’s meeting to-day, is a five-year-old mare by Casanova from Always, which is also the dam of Safe Way, Mary Munro, Happy Harvest. Composure, and Efficient. Encouraging Black Diamond gave an encouraging display to finish fifth in the Improvers’ Handicap at Addington last Saturday. He would not need to show much improve* ment to win a race for Mr J. W. Thomas, for whom he is trained at Methven by P. G. O’Reilly. A Modern Track Probably the most up-to-date trotting arena in the world wag opened in Maryland, U.S.A., in July. Called the Baltimore Raceway, the track cost 1,500,000 dollars to construct. By using a s.de chute, Baltimore has a straight track of six furlongs—a novel innovation in the light-harness sport. Sixty-six overhead light poles direct 154,000 watts of light on to the track. Pacer for Sale Maiden pacer, by Grattan Loyal; unraced. Yeatman, Agent, Shand s Track. Hornby. Advt. Stud News Red Flight, sire Dual Flight, 4th l Nursery Stakes, 4th Canterbury Stakes. Inspection and particulars Yeatman, Shand’s Track, or Box 6, Hornby. Advt. Ashburton R.C. Nominations for the trotting events at the spring meeting close with the Secretary, Ashburton, on Monday, 4th instant, at 5 p.m. New Brighton Club Withdrawals for all events at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting to be held on Saturday next, must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Advt.