DESERT TREK'S RECORD

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27038, 13 May 1953, Page 4

DESERT TREK'S RECORD

THIRD SUCCESSIVE WIN IN RACE

The veteran Desert Trek—now in his twelfth year—was given a great reception when he returned to scale after winning the Clifden Steeplechase for the third sucoessive year at the Southland Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday. He carried top-weight ot H-5, and brought his record to five successes in as many starts over the Invercargill brush steeplechase course. On Saturday, Desert Trek was at the rear of his field until the home turn, where he began to. move up. He jumped the. last fence on terms with the pacemaker, Fort Silver, which he beat in the run home. The only fence Desert TTek hewked was the second of the stand double with a round to go, when he lost ground and dropped back to last. The Nightmarch gelding is a hardy veteran. In B 8 starts in 10 seasons of racing, he has won 13 times and has been placed 22 times for £7745 in stakes. Unsoundness has interrupted his racing at various stages, but he has always been a noted mudlark, and is far from being a spent force. ...P s . a five-year-old, Desert Trek won the Winter Hurdles at TTentham, and the next season he finished fourth in the Grand National Hurdles, won by Boolamskee. He won the Otago Hurdles as a seven-year-g r ld l 4l and Grand National Hurdles finished third to Gay Fellow and Wee Mac. The next season he was run-ner-up to Gold Song in the Otago Steeplechase, and he won the Riverton SteepleA?‘£L2 f !£ r ing In the Great Western. At both the 1951 and .1952 winter meetings ™l!? ver '£f gSll ’ he won the Monowaj and Clifden Steeplechases. Last winter, he won the Otago Steeplechase, which will 8 be bJg mission at the Dunedin winter meeting. Desert Trek was bred by a well-known Central Otago sportsman, Mr Con White, J5 d ,? ai ’w‘j2H e .? 11 hls racing in the colours of Mr White s sons, for whom he is trained by H. A. Anderton at Wingatul; h„ B £.? l ? htl ? arch l, he is ° ut 01 Lady Lizzy, by Tractor from Winsome Lady, by Markhope from Pretty Face, a Clanranald mare tracing back t o Eleusis (imp.). This has 1 e ? an outstanding family in New Zealand, ana has produced such winners as Surveyor (Wellington Cup and successful ?S e) ’A Fa ? t , Pa J Ss 2, ge (New Zealand Cup and two Auckland Cups), Synagogue, Winning Bat’ T ° P Notcb ’ Waterline, and Cricket

Desert Trek's record to date reads:— At 2 years Starts. .. 1 Wins. Places. Stakes. At 3 years .. 4 ■III. At 4 years .. 15 2 3 450 At 5 years .. 18 2 6 1940 At 6 years .. 12 1 6 835 At 7 years .. 5 1 700 At 8 years .. 9 2 70 At 9 years .. 11 ~a 3 1300 At 10 years .. 16 3 1 1950 At 11 years .. 7 2 1 500 Totals . 98 13 22 £7745