TROTTING Plans For Lookaway To Race In America

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29747, 14 February 1962, Page 4

TROTTING Plans For Lookaway To Race In America

Negotiations are under way for the 1957 New Zealand Cup winner, Lookaway, to race in the United States later this year. If arrangements are completed in time, he will probably travel to the United States in an aircraft chartered to take horses from Australia and New Zealand engaged in the international pacing series at Yonkers Raceway, New York, in June. Lookaway, one of the most tightly-assessed pacers racing in New Zealand, has been an outstanding winner. He has had 21 wins and 18 placings for £20,967 5s in stakes.

Lookaway’s breeder-owner Mr C. L. Rhodes, of Christchurch, said yesterday that he had made no definite plans on a racing campaign for his horse. However, he felt that if Lookaway struck form, he would have plenty of richlyendowed races to suit him. It was most improbable that he would contest the international series at Yonkers Raceway, he said. Lookaway has shown great brilliance over aU distances on grass or clay tracks. He has taken racords of 2min 1 3-ssec for one mile. 2min 33 3-ssec for one mile and a quarter, 2min 53 4-ssec for one mile and three furlongs. 3min 12 l-ssec for one mile and a half, 3min 22 3-ssec for one mile and five furlongs, and 4mm 12 l-ssee for two miles, the last time being recorded at Addington in November, 1960, when he finished third to False Step and Sun Chief in the New Zealand Cup. Lookaway showed brilliant handicap form as a three-year-old when trained by M. Holmes and the following season he became the first horse of his age to win the New Zealand Cup. beating Thunder by five lengths, with La Mignon and False Step next after recording 4min 14 4-ssec for the distance.

Lookaway failed in the 1958 New Zealand Cup and some months later his form fell away. Late in 1959 he was sent to Invercargill where he was prepared by C. H. G. Irvine. He soon struck form and at his la* start in that season he recorded one of the mo* brilliant sprint efforts ever seen at Addington. Well Back Driven by Irvine, he was almost last into the straight and so far back that his chances looked hopeless. He was switched almost to the outside fence Mid he unwound a tremendous burst of speed which carried him past Guiseppe short of the post and enabled him to win by two lengths. Lookaway that day paced the mile and a quarter in 2min 33 3-ssec, one of the fastest times recorded in New Zealand. Lookaway later contested the Inter-Dominion Championship series at Addington when trained by Irvine. He failed to qualify for the Grand Final, but paid expenses at the meeting with a grand win in a consolation race. Lookaway then returned to Templeton and rejoined L. C. Roper’s team. He has had eight starts for him this season, gaining one win and one placing. He paced an outstanding race to finish fourth to Invicta. Patchwork and Scottish Command in the New Zealand Cup and a few days later he beat Aldora most convincingly in the Ollivier Handicap after starting from 36 yards. He paced the mile and five furlongs that day in the outstanding time of 3min 22 3-ssec.

Lookaway raced most recently at the Festival Cup meeting at Forbury Park, but he failed to reach a place. However, he paced some sound races and on the first night when he rushed to the lead in the middle stages of his race, he impressed officials from Yonkers Raceway by pacing his first mile in 2min 3 2-ssec. Luck was again* him later at the meeting. Lookaway is an eight-year-old gelding by Light Brigade from the U. Scott mare Raceway, which traces back to the imported mare, Bonilene, founder of a highly-success-ful winning family. In Sydney A four-year-old mare by Meadow Chief from Dora Patch, in foal to Johnny Globe, has arrived in Sydney. She was purchased by Mr J. Johnston, of Oamaru, acting as agent for Mr N. Dunstan, of Sydney, from Mr C. Smith, of Winchmore.

Dora Patch was by V. Scott from Purple Patch, founder of an outstanding winning family for the Metftven breeder-trainer, P. A. Watson. Three Wins The young Papatoetoe trainer, J. S. Butcher, added to a fine record this season with three wins at the Auckland meeting last Saturday. He won with Susan Blue. Lorator and Lavengro, all of which are engaged on the second night of the meeting. In addition he will be represented by Nimble Grattan and Desiree, both of which were placed on the first night. Overdue Win Val Averil, which had been placed in four of her other eight starts this season. gained an overdue win when she beat Early Wynn by half a head in the Massey Memorial Stakes at Auckland last Saturday. She will again be a prospect in the Epsom Stakes, a similar race on the second night at Auckland this Saturday. Val Averil is trained at Otahuhu by A. Bryce for Messrs R. Lewis, of Auckland, and D. H. Blackie, of Cambridge, both of whom are members of the executive of the New Zealand Trotting Conference. Val Averil is a four-year-old mare by U. Scott from a New Zealand Cup class mare. Lady Averil, by Dillon Hall. Lady Averil was shipped to Australia in April, 1960. Improver Beau Clair was having his first start since November, 1960, when he finished seventh in the Holmes Handicap at Addington on Saturday. He was well back early and did well to finish so close up. He will race next in the Autumn Handicap at New Brighton this Saturday and in spite of his handicap of 36 yards he could make a bold showing. Beau Clair, which is being trained at Addington by W. K. Tatterson,

was one of the most promising trotters in his class two seasons ago. Unfortunately he has been dogged by recurring soreness and his racing has been most restricted since then. He appeared to pull up well after Saturday’s race and if he trains on as well as expected he could be a good winner later in the autumn. Not For Sale Several substantial offers have been refused for Deft and Otikerama Boy. two of the most highly-regarded three-year-old pacers in Southland this season. The connexions of both horses have said that neither youngster is for sale. Deft, a filly by Captain Adios from Tactics, is raced by Mrs A. A. Wilson, of Wyndham. She is a half-sister to Adroit, Guile and the brilliant colt, Tactile. Deft has had two starts this season and at her most recent appearance she finished second to Otikerama Boy at Gore on Boxing Day. Otikerama Boy; a gelding by Garrison Hanover from Barbette, the dam also of Halyard, is raced and trained at Invercargill by J. C. Purdue. He has won at two of his four starts this season and at his last start, at Invercargill on January 20, he met trouble and lost his driver.