A. M. PURDON’S TEAM

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27097, 21 July 1953, Page 4

A. M. PURDON’S TEAM

IMPERIAL TRUST WELL FORWARD PORANUI PROMISING IMPROVER In work under the Prebbleton trainer. A. M. Purdon, in preparation for the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s national meeting at Addington in August, are Imperial Trust, Poranui, Mobile Globe, and Icicle Lad. This quartet should further enhance the good record as a trainer that Purdon has established in the last two seasons. , Imperial Trust is a rising seven-year-old gelding by Quite Sure from Atarua Queen, raced by Mr T. Lilley, of Christchurch. At his best he can produce brilliant speed on all types of tracks, and he ife hot lacking in stamina. His two latest appearances were at Addinfeton last month. In the Haughty Handicap of one mile and a half he beat Real Globe by a long neck in the brilliant time of 3min 8 3-ssec. Later in the day, from 12 yards in the Highland Fling Handicap, he paced the one mile and a quarter in 2min 38sec for fourth placing behind White Angel, Mighty Song, and Real Globe. He has the form credentials for an early winning return. Mobile Globe did all of his racing this season from N. L. Berkett’s Yaldhurst stable. Under the ownership of Mr C. Smith, who was previously a part-owner with Mr J. Findlay, the Springfield Globe gelding recently entered Purdon’s team. Berkett produced Mobile Globe to win an impressive double at the national meeting at Addington last August. Then, on a heavy track at Addington in November, he gained an easy win in the New Zealand Cup with him. His form fell away after that, and he was unplaced at his six subsequent starts. Mobile Globe will be nine in the new season. Purdon Will not find the task of winning races with him in the best company an easy one.

Poranui has won four races since last August, and at her 12 latest starts has been only once unplaced. She has improved beyond measure with racing, and is likely to carry on with success in the new season. She is a rising six-year-old bay mare by Grattan Loyal from Acuity, and is owned by Mr W. E. Desmond, of Christchurch. Icicle Lad

icicle Lad was taken over by Purdon towards the end of this season, and at his sne starts since then has never been further back than fourth. His best efforts included a win in the Stewards* Handicap at Otaki in May and a fourth placing in the Gold Bar Stakes, won by Black Douglas at Addington last month, in the smart time of 3mln 13sec for one mile and a half. A rising four-year-old gelding by Icevus from Algerian Lady, Icicle Lad is raced by Mrs D. M. Kennedy. He has a fine turn of speed, and may develop stamina with age. Other members of Purdon’s team are Mighty Maori, Colonel Scott, Denver Hall, and a rising slx-year-old gelding by Josedale Dictator from Real Gift.

Mighty Maori now appears to have thrown off the unsoundness that was troubling him. and he will have particularly bright prospects among the improvers next season. A brother to a high-class performer in Maori Home, Mighty Maori has done nothing so far to disgrace the family name. From 16 starts this season, the gelding won four races and secured eight minor placings. He is rising seven years, but if age has as little adverse effect on him as it has had on Maori Home, the gelding is likely to have several further successful seasons of racing. Fractious at Barrier

Colonel Scott has only recently entered Purdon’s stable. This rising five-year-old U. Scott entire has ruined most of his chances by failing to begin correctly in his races, and his record to date is 'a poor one. He is fast, and Purdon may be able to equip him with better barrier manners. Denver Hall, a rising six-year-old Dillon Hall mare, is owned by Mr T. W. McFaul. When trained at Wyndham by P. P. McKay earlier this season she won two races and was four times placed from 13 starts. Since being placed with Purdon a few months ago, sne has started four times for three third placings. The Josedale Dictator—Real Gift gelding ranks as a half-brother to the trotter. Endowed. and to Gold Key and Wendy Grattan.

TRIALS AT EPSOM

NINE HORSES QUALIFY ON SHELL TRACK The problem of providing suitable conditions for trials in the Auckland Province at this time of the yegr was solved at Epsom on Saturday, wlten the shell training track was used. The Auckland Club was granted permission to hold trials for maiden horses on this track by the New Zealand Trotting Conference at its annual meetirig on July 8. From two heats, nine horses qualified, there being a dead-heat for fourth placing in one heat. Several young horses gave good performances, and two and three-year-olds filled most of the placings. Win Again, a three-year-old by Light Brigade from Infuser, trained by H. Purdon, narrowly beat the two-year-old Beau Marie (Croughton—Mary Grattan) in the first heat in 3inin 26 4-ssec. The last halfmile took Imin ssec. The aged Nandy finished third in 3min 27 3-ssec, with the three-year-old Sir Bexley and 'the six-year-old Marmion dead-heating for fourth in 3min 28sec.

Wayward Peter, a two-year-old by Peter Smith from Revision (dam of Level Best), trained by M. Allen, led all the way to win the second division in 3min 25 4-ssec, the last half-mile taking l<nin 4 4-ssec. Yvonne’s Own, a two-year-old filly by Light Brigade from Inchona, recorded 3min 26 3-ssec to finish second. With Beau Marie. Yvonne’s Own is trained by C. Paul. The three-year-old Bobbin (Dillon Hall —Ann Cotton), trained by J. K. Hughes, finished third in 3min 26 4-ssec, with the two-year-old Lynette (Van Whyte —Little Lynette) fourth in 3min 28sec. Jottings The Auckland pacers, Indian Game. Black Lace, and Quona have returned from Sydney, .where they met with moderate success.

The Josedale Grattan mare, Princess Dawn, has the ability to win races, but bad beginnings have proved costly at her two latest starts. On July 11. at Waimate, she broke at the start and then made up a lot of ground to finish third to Red Hackle and Kingsdown Grattan. Last Saturday at Washdyke, she was again slow away, and appeared out of the contest altogether with a mile to go. She again made up considerable ground, and her effort to finish sixth was very creditable. She is raced by Mr N. V. Bee, of Oamaru who recently purchased the trotter, Blue Admiral.

Doradel, the leading three-year-old filly for the season, is now being trained by her owner, T. H. Beeson, of Auckland. Winner of five races and eight times placed during the season, when trained by H. Purdon, she appears destined to reach the strongest class.