BARTENDER AT YALDHURST

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26987, 12 March 1953, Page 4

BARTENDER AT YALDHURST

WINNER OF FOUR RACES THIS SEASON Bartender, winner of four races in the North Island since last November, is among the latest additions to N. L. Berkett’s team at Yaldhurst. The Gold Bar stallion has created a good impression in the little racing he has had 5n the north, and he is expected to do well in Canterbury, where he will have more opportunities. In nine starts so far this season, Bartender has had four wins and one placing ior £1145 in stakes. He had his .first win on November 22 at New Plymouth, when he beat Good Time by a nose in a division of a maiden race. His next win was at the Auckland Cup meeting, where he beat Special News and Aladdin in the Epsom Stakes. In that event, he led all the way and held on well under pressure. He then won the Frankton Handicap at Claudelands on January 17, and the next week he beat Queen Anne and Sleepy Hollow m the main handicap at the Thames meeting. He had two starts at the Auckland meeting last month, but he failed to show up from awkward marks. He has had a chance to freshen up since then, and he may make a bold showing in his first race from his new quarters. This will probably be at Addington next week, when the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club will open its Easter meeting. Bartender is a four-year-old entire by Gold Bar from Three Bars, by Jack Potts from Summit, the dam of Bantam (the dam of Whipster) and Alec Potts, by Wrack from Lady Superior, the dam of Cardinal Logan. Quality and Richore and the granddam of Royal Drusus, Royal Doulton the dam of winners in Australia, Superior Rank, Sans Pariel and First Call. Bartender is raced by Messrs N. Norton and S. Mathews. He was formerly trained at Orewa. North Auckland, by C. Mattson and then by R. W. Squire. Village Lord, which was formerly trained at Orewa, is also a member of Berkett’s team. Village Lord, winner of a maiden race earlier in the season, is by Worthy Bel win from Gaul Bingen, a half-sister to Great Bingen. Draw for Match Race

The barrier draw for the flying mile match race to be run after the third race at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting at Washdyke on Saturday is:—Bums Night (2), Johnny Globe (4), Soangetaha (3), Van Dieman (5), Vedette (1).

Royal Brigade The Light Brigade stallion. Royal Brigade, will have his first start since joining P. P. Gallagher’s team when he parades in the Timaru Handicap at Washdyke on Saturday. Royal Brigade won most impressively from Peter Grattan in the Eclipse Handicap at New Brighton last month, at his most recent appearance. He has more ability than most others in his class. but is not always reliable at the start of his races. If Gallagher can make him begin smartly he will not be without prospects on Saturday. Timaru Brackets

Brackets for the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting at Washdyke on Saturday are:— Claremont Handicap: Lothario and Wee Raider.

Timaru Handicap: Au Revoir and His Majesty. Timaru Nursery Stakes: Brahman and Buccaneer, Caduceus and Grand John, Epsom Hall and Triad, Hula Rose and Hyperbole.

Washdyke Handicap: Swanee River and Prince Charming.

Wai-iti Handicap: Au Revoir, His Majesty, and Jack Peterson. Gold Horizon’s Prospects Gold Horizon’s performance in the Timaru Handicap, the main event at Washdyke on Saturday, will give a line on his prospects in important events for trotters at Addington later in the month. The Quite Sure gelding has some outstanding - staying performances to his credit, and he will not be out of his depth here. When he finished third in the Ashburton Trotting Cup he was timed to trot the two miles from post to post in 4min 15 4-ssec. If he reproduces that effort on Saturday against the pacers he will take catching, and could easily upset calculations. Visitor from Australia

A well-known Australian studmaster, Mr E. Tatlow, is visiting New Zealand. He attended the Invercargill Trotting Club’s meeting last Saturday and hopes to be at Addington for the Easter meeting later in the month. Mr Tatlow has bred a host of winners in Australia, including Kellett, third in the Grand Final of the Inter-Dominion Championships at Perth recently. Attain, the dam of Kellett. was a daughter of Grattan Loyal and Swift Pointer. She won several races when trained by M. Holmes for Mr H. Stafford, of Christchurch.

Promising Trotter See All, a three-year-old gelding by Dillon Hall from a grand trotting mare in Sea Max, has shown considerable promise in his two races this season. He has not shown much stamina over the final part of his races, but he should be vastly improved by the experience. Owned and trained by S. V. Todd, who raced, a good mare in Mistydale, See All will probably contest the New Zealand Trotting Stakes at Addington later in the month. A southern correspondent says it is understood that See All will be trained by W. J. Doyle, who has had considerable success with .straight-out trotters. Scottish Brigade

Scottish Brigade, which has drawn a good position, No. 5, at the barrier in the Timaru Nursery Stakes on Saturday, is bred to go a long way, being by Light Brigade from Scottish Lady, winner of the 1942 New Zealand Derby Stakes. Scottish Lady, which took a record of 4min 18 4-ssec, was by U. Scott from Rustic Maid, dam of a host of winners, including Chamfer, Free Fight, Highland Scott, Gallant Maid, Slavonic, and Helali. Scottish Brigade was most impressive when she won her qualifying heat at Washdyke last week and, if she reproduces that effort, she will have to\be respected on Saturday. She is trained at Gore by C. C. Scott, who has had fair success with a small team in recent years.

Wyndham Handicap Canterbury stables have excellent prospects of filling all three placings in the Wyndham Trotting Handicap, the main race at the Wyndham Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. They will be represented by Grange Lady, Roy Grattan, Midnight, and Queen’s Honour. The best of these four will probably be the brilliant Grattan Loyal four-year-old, Roy Grattan, which has had four wins and two placings from seven starts this season. His last three wins were in succession. Roy Grattan is one of the most promising improvers seen out this season and, if he races up to his best, it is difficult to see him beaten on Saturday. A former Southland pacer, Grange Lady has been placed in three of her four starts from A. M. Purdon’s stables. She will again have prospects of reaching a place, but it is doubtful whether she will trouble Roy Grattan.

Midnight won over two miles on the Blenheim-Nelson circuit in January. He would probably be better suited by the mile and a quarter in the Final Handicap later in the day. Queen’s Honour, which is owned by Mr C. E. Dillon, of Gore, has had four wins and three placings from 11 starts this season. The Dillon Hall mare is a great stayer, and is one of the gamest pacers in her class. With a favourable run she will have a good chance, and she may extend Roy Grattan. Her stablemate, Nadine, is engaged in the second leg of the double.