N. L. BERKETT’S TEAM

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27098, 22 July 1953, Page 4

N. L. BERKETT’S TEAM

ALADDIN NOW AT YALDHURST

SMART GRATTAN LOYAL GELDING

A recent addition to N. L. Berkett’s Yaldhurst team is the Grattan Loyal gelding, Aladdin. Along with Inglewood, Schwanda, Blue Admiral, and Captain Cuddles, Aladdin is being prepared by Berkett for eyents at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s national meeting next month. Raced by Mr P. A. Watson, of Methven, Aladdin has been trained during most of his racing career by J. L. Behrns. He was first produced as a three-year-old last season. At his third appearance, he finished second to Milford Maid over one mile and a half at Oamaru. After an unplaced effort, he finished the season with a win in the Washdyke Handicap, one mile and a half, at the South Canterbury Hunt Club’s meeting. At his first start this season, he made up considerable ground after a, slow beginning, to finish third to Brava and Paia Royal in the Metropolitan Stakes at Addington. He won his next three races, all at the Wellington Trotting Club’s two-day meeting in September. Three starts later, at Forbury Park in October, he beat Brava and Luck Ahead over one mile and five furlongs in the Domain Handicap. His inability to begin well proved too much of a handicap from then on, and from his seven subsequent starts, the best he could do was to finish third in the Epsom Stakes in December.

Berkett has a reputation for working wonders with additions to his team, and the task of inducing Aladdin 10 begin smartly at barrier rise may not be beyond him. On breeding, Aladdin lacks nothing. His dam, Anita Patch, is a full sister to Countless and Ingle Belmer and a half-sister to Loyal Rey, Inherit, Direct Link, and Inglewood. Aladdin will be a five-year-old in the new season. It will be surprising if he does not have further success. Inglewood’s Record The U„ Scott mare Inglewood, which is also raced by Mr Watson, joined Berkett’s team last April. Before that, her record for the season was three wins, three seconas, and three thirds. At her first start under Berkett, she recorded 4min 15 2-ssec for two miles to finished second to Trixie Milne in the Ritchie Handicap at Forbury Park on April 18. After an unplaced effort, she had her last start for the season in the James Handicap, two miles, at Forbury Park on May 2, and won easing up from Lahore and Maori Queen.

Inglewood is rising six years. She is a grand stayer, and races well on all types of tracks. Schwanda’s 11 starts this season resulted in three wins and one fourth placing. This U. Scott—Double Measure five-year-old has clearly shown that he is well above average. His best efforts have been recorded when contests have been run to suit him. He has lost valuable ground at the start of some of his races and has nevertheless won. On some occasions, after starting correctly, he has raced disappointingly. That he has not been extensively raced is in his favour, and he should be at his best in August. Smart Trotter Blue Admiral, which had a very consistent record when owned and trained by A. Dawson, of Invercargill, earlier in the season, entered Berkett’s team after the Ashburton Trotting Club’s winter meeting last month, under the new ownership of Mr N. V. Bee, of Oamaru. It is understood that Mr Bee paid a four-figure price for the gelding. Blue Admiral recorded two exceptional efforts at the Ashburton meeting. On the first day he had to make up a lot of ground to win the Stewards’ Handicap, and he accomplished it with ease. On the second day, after breaking early and covering extra ground, he just failed to hold off Battle Royal in the Mayfield Handicap. From 60 yards behind in that event he recorded 4min 28 l-ssec for the two miles. His only race for Berkett was at Addington on June 13, when he broke badly at the /Start and lost all chances. Blue Admiral is a rising six-year-old gelding by the Australian-bred sire, Admiral Nelson, from Lily Pointer. He possesses both speed and stamina, and he should race well against the intermediate trotters next month. Front Runner

Since being taken over by Berkett early in the season, the trotter Captain Cuddles has won four races and secured three minor placings from 12 starts. A rising nine-year-old chesturit by Gaillard from Abbess Maid, Captain Cuddles is a smart front-runner which is at his best up to one mile and five furlongs. He is now on a farily tight mark, but over the shorter distances he should still prove hard to beat in the new season.

Another recent addition to Berkett’s team is the Springfield Globe gelding Imperial Globe, which Berkett has leased from the Methven owner-trainer, F. McKendry. Imperial Globe, which will be eight in the new season, did little of note this season. He gained one third placing from five starts. Last season, however, he won two races from six starts. Berkett’s methods of training may help the gelding to reproduce winning form. Another horse on the active list at Yaldhurst is Ponty, a rising three-year-old half-brother by U. Scott to El Supremo. Ponty, which is raced by Berkett in partnership with Mr J. X. Ferguson, had his only race to date in the Timaru Nursery Stakes in March, and finished unplaced. He is bred to race well.