TROTTING VAN DIEMAN RUNS UNPLACED

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26510, 27 August 1951, Page 4

TROTTING VAN DIEMAN RUNS UNPLACED

C. R. Berkett Has Three Wins

TE MARU AND YOUNG CHARLES DEAD-HEAT

Th« defeat of two short-priced favourites In Van Dieman and Riviera, the successes of Ohio and Gay Belwin, and the dead-heat between Te Mara and Young Charles in the Wildwood Handicap were the highlights of the Anal day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Grand National meeting at Addington on Saturday. After his two easy wins the previous Saturday, Van Dieman was backed down to odds on in the Farewell Free-for-all, and he carried £4318 out of the win pool of £8928. It appeared that he would win with two furlongs to go, but he was well beaten one furlong further on. He was not persevered with over the final furlong and drifted to be tenth. Although he was well beaten, he made a fine effort, and he should not lose many friends. He was slow away and the slow pace in the middle stages did not suit him. Van Dieman was sent after the leaders at the four and he sped round the field into the lead within a furlong. He almost broke with one furlong to ran. Van Dieman was timed to ran his last mile in 2min 12sec, his last half in Imin 2sec, a sound effort on a dead track. He ran his third quarter in 29sec, so It was no wonder he was feeling the strain with one furlong to run.

The race was won in most impressive style by Fortuna, which paid £3l 14s fid for a win and £8 9s for a place. Prince Hall, which had started from the second line and was slow away, came home well for second without looking like beating the winner. Young Charles, which had dead-heated with Te Mara in the Wildwood Handicap just over two hours earlier, ran a grand race for third. He was last, a long way from the leaders, soon after the start. He gradually made up ground and followed Van Dieman when he made his run. The U. Scott five-year-old ran on solidly in the straight and was perhaps a little unlucky. The remainder, headed by Captain Sandy, were well beaten.

The Templeton trainer, C. R. Berkett, had a mdst successful day. He produced three horses—Billy Boy, Doris Grattan and Young Charles—and all of them won, and Young Charles also finished third in the Farewell Free-for-all. Young Charles, the outstanding three-year-old of his year,, gave further evidence of his class by the manner in which he dead-heated with Te Maru, to which he was conceding 36 yards, in the Wildwood Handicap. He was slow away but he had moved up handy to the leaders with one mile to run. He took over the running going to the four, and when joined by Te Maru with two furlongs to go he ran on solidly under pressure. Te Maru, which had also been slow, ran a grand race and he, too, ran on well under pressure. This is the first occasion that there has been a dead-heat at Addington since the photo-finish apparatus was installed. Later in the day the camera could not separate Tribal Song and Radiant Night for third place m the Metropolitan Stakes. Johnny Globe did well to finish third in the Wildwood Handicap after having a bad run all the way. He could not get clear at any stage and D. G. Nynan had to take him through on the rails on the heavy ground. The. Logan Derby colt had to be checked again at the furlong. He was not knocked about over the last bit, but he ran on well to be just over a length behind Young Charles and Te Maru. He was timed to run his last half in Imin 2 4-ssec and his last quarter in 31 1-Ssec, a grand effort on a slow track. He should not be long making amends. G. B. Noble, private trainer to Sir John McKenzie, also had a successful day, producing Commander Scott to win the National Handicap and Ohio to win the Metropolitan Stakes. Commander Scott, which had finished second to Van Dieman the previous week in the Louisson Handicap, raced in an American speed sulky. He was a good way from the leaders with half a mile to run, but Noble judged his run well and he was going away from the pacemaker. First Lord, at the post. First Lord was a surprise favourite for the race and he was at by Springfield Globe to Young Charles, had to be a high-class four-year-old ta win as he had to cover a considerable amount at extra ground. He won like a good horse and looks to have a bright future. The race resulted in one of the keenest finishes at the meeting. Monte Casino, a half-brother to Soangetaha, did well to finish second, just ahead of Tribal Song and Radiant Night, which dead-heated for third. Tribal Song might have been a little unlucky as he could not get clear in the straight. He was checked in the early run for positions and got a poor run all the way. First Victory, the third favourite, was moving back as the barrier was released and he took no part in the race, always being well back. Riviera was beaten with three furlongs to run.

Favourites Routed Favourites had a bad day and the only one to succeed was Gay Belwin in the Winter Handicap. The Worthy Belwin gelding was patiently handled by R. Young and he alwaj's appeared to have the measure of the field. J. Young also produced Single Task, winner of the main event for trotters on the first day of the meeting, and Indomitable, runner-up to Precaution in the Addington Trotting Stakes. M. Holme., driver of Walnut Hall, in the Wildwood Handicap, showed great control when a wheel of his sulky became locked with that of Great Wonder at the end of two furlongs. Holmes leaned over and unhooked the sulkies without either horse losing ground in the rush tor positions. At one stage Holmes s wheel was at least six inches off the ground. The meeting was held in cool but fine weather, before a surprisingly good attendance. Seacraft fell at the straight entrance in the National Handicap without interference from another horse. His driver, I. G. Holmes, later explained that the horse slipped and feU in a patch of bad going. in a pool of 23,714) tickets on the first leg of the double, the Queen Mary Handicap. 1480 were placed on Doris Grattan, the winner. One ticket was not redeemed on the second leg, the Wildwood Handicap, and 394 were placed on the Te Maru-Walnut Hall bracket and 233 on Young Charles. The Doris Grattan-Te Maru combination returned £24 17s for £1 and the Doris Grattan-Young Charles combination £42 Is for £l. The totallsator investments for the day amounted to £145,381 15s, including £11,857 5s on the double, compared with £181,803 on the corresponding day last year. The total for the two days was £276,519 15s. compared with £283,302 10s, a decrease of £6782 15s.

Van Dieman Well Beaten The rout of the favourites was continued in the Farewell Free-for-all, in which the odds on favourite, Van Dieman, could do no better than tenth after showing brilliant speed with half a mile to run. The race was won by the 7, 8 favourite, Fortuna, which came right away at the post. Maida Dillon set a muddling pace in the early stages, with Fortuna handy In sixth place, Van Dieman at the back of the bunch in eighth place, and Young Charles at the rear of the field. Just after passing the half-mile post, Van Dieman was taken to the outside, and he flashed round the field into tbe lead with three furlongs to run. He still had charge at the straight entrance from Dragoman, Fortuna, Congo Song. Young Charles, which had followed the leader through, Chamfer, and Prince Hall. Van Dieman appeared to stumble with a furlong to run, and he was not persevered with. Fortuna came through In fine style and won by two lengths from the fastfinishing Prince Hall. Yoiing Charles ran another grand race He was very slow away, and was still wen back with a round to go. He followed Van Dieman through and did well to finish so close up. He was clear of Captain Sandy, which shaded Culture, On Approval, and Chamfer for fourth. Parawa Derby, Congo Song, and Van Dieman were next. On Approval, Young Charles, Culture, and Commander Scott were slow, while Commander Scott broke again with six furlongs to run.

Commander Scott tn Form Although he was giving First Lord about six lengths at the straight entrance, Commander Scott finished strongly over the final furlong to win going away by one length and a half: First Lord began smartly and he set a solid pace. He slipped the field racing to the three, and

at the straight entrance he was five length* clear of the tiring Maida Dillon, Dragoman, Commander Seott. and Mobile Globe. First Lord tired badly over the last 100 yards, and he could not hold off Commander Scott's challenge. Dragoman came home well for third four lengths back, shading Maudeen by a head. Mobile Globe, which had had every chance after being slow away, was a long way back, fifth, ahead of Maida Dillon, which had received a good run throughout. She appears to have lost the dash which marked her races last season. Worthy Gold, which was pulled up with four furlongs to run, Seaeraft, and Good Review were slow away. Commander Scott also took time to settle down.

Keen Finish The Metropolitan Stakes resulted in one of the keennest finishes of the meeting, with Ohio, a half-brother to Young Charles, getting the decision by a head from Monte Casino, with a neck to the unlucky Tribal Song and Radiant Night, which dead-heated for third. Ohio was handy in the early stages of the race, but he had drifted ana had about 12 horses in front of him with six furlongs to run. G. B. Noble sent him after the leaders with just over three furlongs to run, and he raced almost off the track coming to the straight, where Monte Casino had worked through to lead Radiant Night, Esquire, Ohio, Adorian, Tribal Song, and Riviera, which was on the rails. Qhio was inclined to run in under pressure, but he came on to win narrowly, but Impressively. Monte Casino had every chance. He made the early pace, but he was passed by Flagship with a round to go. Tribal Song, which' had given the leaders about 80 yards with one mile and a quarter to run, finished on gamely to dead-heat with Radiant Night for third. Tribal Song met trouble when Live Wire broke at the end of two furlongs. He should develop good winning form in the next few weeks. Radiant Night was another to receive a poor run. Dourglo was a close fifth, with-Adorian right up next, ahead of Prominence. There was a gap to Irish Orator, Twilight, Esquire, and Inglewood. First Victory broke badly at the start and he was never In the race. Flagship, Regal Parade, and Inglewood were among others to lose ground at the start.

Dead-heat in Wildwood Young Charles and Te Maru fought out a desperate finish in the Wildwood Handicap, but they could not be separated at the post. Young Charles's was a fine effort. He was slow away, but had made up ground to be handy to the leaders with one mile to run. He was on the outside of Fabric Silk and Mundanity with six furlongs to run, and passing the half he went into a clear lead. Te Maru joined him turning into the straight ahead of Fabric Silk, Mundanity, Johnny Globe, and Aqua Laoy. Johnny Globe came through on the rails, but he could not bridge the gap to the leaders. Young Charles gave Berkett his third win in as many starts for the day. Johnny Globe received a shocking passage or he might have been harder to beat. He was handy early, but could not get clear until the straight, when D. G Nyhan was forced to take him through' on the heavy ground near the rails. In the circumstances he did well to finish so close up. Jack Peterson was beaten oft to fourth place, clear of Aqua Lady, Blue Mist, and Fabric Silk. Fabric Silk and Te Maru were slow away. Springbok was handy until the three, when he stopped quickly. Mundanity and Blue Mist dropped right out. Results:—

IMPROVERS’ HANDICAP, 6. 6—E. M. Breed’s BILLY BOY by BUI B.—Lady Imperious 6yrs 12 C. R. Berkett 1 3. 3—J. S. Dick's Pierre aged 12

R. J. Berry 2 4, 4—E. D. Masters and J. B. Pringle's Lahore 6yrs 24 J. B. Pringle 3 8, 8 Eileen Lillian; 1, 1 Lady Rowan; 5, 5 Gay Intric and Jimmy Dillon bracketed; 2,2 County Sheriff; 4, 4 Happy Joe bracketed Lahore; 7, 7 Flinders Bar also started.

Six lengths; three lengths. Gay Lyric fourth. Times—4mln ilsec. 4min 42 2-ssec, 4min 42sec. Winner trained by C. R. Berkett, Templeton. Dividends.—Win: £l2 13s. Pta«s: £3 Is 6d, £1 12s 6d, £2 3s. ADDINGTON TROTTING STAKE*, Of £750. For four and five-year-olds. Special conditions. One mile and five

furlongs. 2. I—A. Holmes's and J. Shelly’s PRECAUTION by Casanova—Margin syrs 60 .. .. C. King 1 1. 2—W. B. Oracle's Indomitable syrs 36 .. R. Young 2 3. 3—A. Todd’s Fairy Dell 4yrs scr H. I. Herbert 3 8, 8 Beryl Scott: 5, 5' Dasmaskeen; 11, 11 Helicon; 10, 10 Lillian Dale; 6, 7 Lordly: 9, 9 Dainty Joe; 4, 4 Lady Brigade: 7, 6 Braemarnie also started. Length; neck. Damaskeen fourth. Times—3min 59 4-ssec, 4tnin 2*ec, 4min 5 l-ssec Winner trained by A. Holmes, Yaldhurst.

Dividends.—Win: £3 13s 6d. Places: £1 Ils, £1 Ils 6d, £1 19s. QUEEN MARY HANDICAP, Of £950 4min 31sec class. Two miles. 5. 6—N. S. G. Watson's DORIS GRATTAN by Grattan Loyal—Doris Nelson aged .. .. C. R. Berkett 1 7. 7—L. A. Williams's Piccolo 6yrs scr Owner 2 9. 9—J. McDonald's Scotch Drift aged scr .. .. R. G. Cameron 3 10, 10 Carisbrook; 4, 4 Keymaster; 2,2 Scottish Nurse; 3, 3 Star Rosa; 8, 6 Hilda Scott; 6, 5 Proprietor; 1, 1 Realm Again also started. Four lengths; neck. Realm Again fourth. Times—4min 46 4-ssec, 4min 47 3-ssec, 4min 47 4-ssec, Winner trained by C. R, Berkett, Templeton. Dividends.—Win; £8 17s 6d. Places: £2 18s 6d, £3 10s, £5 8s 6d. NATIONAL HANDICAP, Of £1750. 3min 32sec class. One mile and five furlongs. 2. 2—Sir John McKenzie’s COMMANDER SCOTT by U- Scott—May Chenault aged 12 .. G. B. Noble 1 1. Ir—M. Andrews’s First Lord aged scr .. A. J. Motz 2 5. 5—H. I. Herbert’s Dragoman aged 12 .. .. .. .. Owner 3 6, 6 Maida Dillon; 3. 3 Mobile Globe; 7, 7 Seacraft; 0. 9 Worthy Gold; 4, 4 Good Review; 8, 8 Maudeen also started. Length and a half; four lengths. Maudeen fourth. Times—3min 41sec, 3mln 42 2-ssec, 3min 42 l-ssec. .Winner trained .by G. B. Noble, Yaldhurst. Dividends.—Win: £5 Bs. Places: £1 15s 6d, £1 7s 6d, £2 2s 6d. WILDWOOD HANDICAP, Of £1250. 4min 28see class. Two miles. 2. I—A. Woods's TE MARU by Sandydale—Daisy Scott 4yrs scr S. A. Edwards f 4. 5—R. Mayne’s YOUNG CHARLES by U. Scott—Aurie’s Star syrs 36 C. R. Berkett t 1. 2—D. G. Nyhan’s Johnny Globe 4yrs 24 - .. .. Owner 3 8. 8 Springbok; 2, 1 Walnut Hall bracketed Te Maru: 9, 9 Fabric Silk; 6, 7 Great Wonder; 5, 4 Mundanlty and Blue Mist bracketed; 7, 6 Aqua Lady; 3, 3 Jack Peterson: 10, 10 Bonny Scott also started.

Dead heat; length and a half. Jack Peterson fourth. Times—4min 38 4-ssec, 4min 35 4-ssec, 4mln 37sec. Te Maru trained by M. Holmes, Riccarton; and Young Charles by C. R. Berkett, Templeton.

Dividends.—Win: £1 12s 6d (Te Maru). £4 Is 6d (Young Charles). Places: £1 4s 6d, £2 8s 6d, £1 78.

WINTER HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. Trotters. . 3min 43sec class.

One mile and five furlongs. 1. I—Mrs E. A., Berryman’s GAY BELWIN by Worthy Bingen—Gay Moko aged 36 .. .. R. Young 1 3. 3—G. J. Barton and A. Ferguson's Bulls Eye aged scr .. R. J. Jones 2 5. 4—L. M, and M. J. Argyle’s Swanee River aged 12 .. ~ C. King 3 10, 10 Belshazzar; 7. 7 Endowed; 4, 5 Gold Horizon; 9, 9 Mine'Host; 7, 6 Barrier Reef; 8, 8 Belmoral; 2,2 Two Step also Started. Two lengths; nose. Two Step fourth. Times—3min 40 2-ssec, 3min 43 4-ssec. 3min 43sec. Winner trained by J. Young, Halswell. Dividends.—Win: £2 10s. Places: £1 6s, £1 14s, £2 4s 6d. METROPOLITAN STAKES, Of £lOOO. For four-year-olds. Special conditions. One mile and five furlongs. 6. 6—Sir John McKenzie's OHIO by Springfield Globe—Aurie’s Star 12 G. B. Noble 1 8. 9—J. X. Ferguson's Monte Casino scr .. .. N. L. Berkett 2 4. 4—R. E. Cole’s Tribal Song 12 T. C. Nyhan f 11. 10—R. Marshall and V. Caldwell’s Radiant Night 36 .. J. B. Pringle t 5, 5 Esquire and Dourglo bracketed; 3, 3 First Victory: 10, 11 Gay Dene; 15. 15 Live Wire: 7, 7 Prominence and Critic bracketed; 13. 13 Twilight; 14. 14 Flagship; 2,2 Inglewood; 16, 16 Regal Parade: 9. 8 Adorian; 12. 12 Irish Orator; 1, I Riviera also started. Head; neck; dead-heat. Dourglo fifth. Times—3min 39sec, 3min 40 l-s»ec, 3min 39 2-ssec, 3min 37 2-ssec. Winner trained by G. B. Noble Yaldhurst. Dividends.—Win: £l9. Places: £2 17s 6d. £4 7s, £2 is 6d (Tribal Song), £6 Is (Radiant Night). FAREWELL FREE-FOR-ALL, Of £lOOO. 2min 44sec class. One mile and a quarter. 7. B—E. J. August and D. H. Blackie's FORTUNA by Springfield Globe— Betty Wrack 6yrs .. R. August 1 2. 3—F. Ruck's Prince Hall aged D. C. Watts 2 4. 4—R. Mayne’s Young Charles Syrs C. R. Berkett 3 8. 7 Captain Sandy; 3,2 Chamfer; 5, 5 Commander Scott: 11, 11 Congo Song; 6. 6 Culture; 10, 8 Dragoman; 13, 13 Gantree: 12, 12 Maida Dillon; 9, 10 On Approval; 2. 3 Parawa Derby bracketed Prince Hall; 1, 1 Van Dieman also started. Two lengths; half length. Captain Sandy fourth. Times—2min 45 2-ssec, 2min 45 4-ssec, 2min 46sec. Winner trained by'R. August. Rolleston. Dividends.—Win: £3l 14s 6d. Places: £5 9s. £1 14s, £3 0s 6d.

New Brighton Trotting Club Nominations for all events at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s spring meeting, to be held on September Bth, close at 5 pm. to-morrow. Advt