TROTTING Critics Enthuse Over Madam Peterson’s Form

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28368, 29 August 1957, Page 4

TROTTING Critics Enthuse Over Madam Peterson’s Form

Northern critics were full of enthusiasm for the former Canterbury-trained mare, Madam Peterson, after her win in the President’s Handicap, the main race at the Waikato Trotting Club’s meeting at Claudelands last Saturday. Madam Peterson had a perfect trail to the final two furlongs, and she came away to win without being challenged by two and a half lengths. Despite the fact that Madam Peterson requires three or four wins over a distance to become eligible, the New Zealand Herald said: “Already she is being hailed as a prospect for the next Auckland Trotting Cup.” Madam Peterson was leased late in the autumn by Mr G. Williams, of Cambridge, who gave her to P. Skousgaard to train. She failed to do better than one fourth in her' first three starts, but once tracks became heavy, she came into her own and ended last season with two wins, both on heavy ground at Claudelands. The track was easy on Saturday, and she took 4min 44sec for the two miles. Unless Madam Peterson has shown marked improvement since going north, her form will not be so good when tracks become firmer. She has always shown ability and as long as there is an easing in the tracks, she should have bright prospects. Madam Peterson has now won at her last three starts, and she has earned £7BO since being trained in the north.

Madam Peterson is a five-year-old chestnut mare by Light Brigade from Ivy Peterson, herself an outstanding pacer in heavy going. Ivy Peterson was got by Rey de Oro from the Petereta mare, Lady Peterson. She proved a great success at the stud, and as well as Madam Peterson she has left Lord Peterson, Sir Peterson, Admiral Peterson, Jack Peterson, Colonel Peterson, and Andy Peterson. Jack Peterson has been the best of her progeny to date. He was one of the best three-year-olds of his season, his best win being in the New Zealand Futurity Stakes at Ashburton. Jack Peterson had an extremely restricted career after his four-year-old season because of recurring soreness or he would probably have taken a high ranking. Several attempts were made to bring him back to form, but they were unsuccessful Track Available

The main grass track at New Brighton will be available for fast work next Tuesday morning. Horses engaged at the club’s meeting on September 7 will be the only ones allowed to use the track.

Highland Air’s Record Highland Air brought his record to 10 wins and seven placings from 25 starts when he finished second to Lookaway in the National Handicap at Addington on Saturday. His placing was worth £305, and advanced his total earnings to £6585. Order Changed The New Zealand Trotting Conference has approved an application from the New Brighton Trotting Club to transpose the Introductory Handicap and the Avon Handicap at the club’s meeting on Saturday week. The Introductory Handicap now becomes the third race and the Avon Handicap the first event. At Templeton Perekop, a seven-year-old halfbrother by Fourth Brigade to Precaution, is the latest addition to D. G. Jones’s team at Templeton. Perekop, which did his early racing in Canterbury, raced from G. A. Collison’s Ashhurst stables last season. He won four races for him, before being trained by his owner, Mr I. Schwamm. Perekop was taken to Auckland late last season, but failed to handle the track. He has plenty of ability and may develop useful form for Jones.

1931 Derby Winner The 1931 New Zealand Derby Stakes winner, Ciro, is still alive and in good health at Durbar Lodge Stud, Ashburton. Now 29 years old, Ciro won the Derby in 1931 for the late Mr H. F. Nicoll, whose son, Mr A. J. Nicoll, now lives at Durbar Lodge. Ciro was driven in his Derby win by M. Holmes.

Several years ago. there were three Derby winners at Durbar Lodge, their combined ages at the time exceeding 70. As well as Ciro there were Wrackler, winner of the race in 1928, and Arethusa, winner in 1930. Wrackler was destroyed after breaking a bone in a foot and Arethusa died from natural causes.

Also on the property at the same time as the three Derby winners was the dual New Zealand Cup winner, Indianapolis, which was also more than 20 years of age. Claim for Permit There is widespread support in trotting circles that the Hororata Trotting Club has strong claims for the remaining permit held by the New Zealand Trotting Con-

ference and available to a South Island club. The Central Otago Trotting Club at Omakau is also making strong representations for this permit.

The club claims that about 120 trainers reside within 30 miles of Hororata and the number of district meetings is still low in proportion to the number of trainers end horses. The middle districts of Canterbury were the majnstay of the main trotting events in the Dominion and it was vital that there should be sufficient slowclass races to protect the industry and owners there.

According to foaling returns received by the New Zealand Trotting Conference, there were 527 foals in Canterbury last spring, 169 in Southland and 49 in Otago. Inter-Dominion Stakes Heats of the Inter-Dominion Championship series in Adelaide next year will carry a stake of £lOOO, and the stake for the final will be £lO,OOO. On the final night of the meeting there will be two consolation races with stakes worth £ 1250. The carnival will be held at Wayville on March 1, 5, 8 and 15. Subsidies for visiting horses will be: New Zealand, £250 (with a limit of six horses); Western Australia, £100; New South Wales and Tasmania, £75; and Victoria, £5O. To be eligible for the subsidy the horses must start in two of the three heats, and leave South Australia within six weeks of the final.

It has also been announced that horses cannot compete at any meeting in South Australia other than those conducted by the South Australian Trotting Club from the date of nomination to the conclusion of the carnival.