Norton’s Team Has Won $12,605

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31843, 22 November 1968, Page 4

Norton’s Team Has Won $12,605

With his team of three winning $12,605 in less than six weeks, the Whenuapai trainer, R. P. Norton, has found his trip to the South Island a most profitable one. Norton came south with Great Adios, Monsignor and Vindicator, which between them have gained eight wins and one placing from 14 starts. The star of the team has been the five-year-old. Monsignor, which finished fifth at his first start and has then been unbeaten in five starts. He has won $6230 so far on the trip, and will try to graduate to within one distance win of Auckland Cup class when he contests the Flying Handicap at Addington Raceway tomorrow. So far he is unbeaten in three starts at the cup meeting, a feat not equalled by any of his rivals. Monsignor is raced in partnership by Norton and his wife, while his mother. Mrs P. M. Norton, of Auckland, races Great Adios and his half- ! brother, Vindicator, which won at his first start, but failed ’ badly a week later when a cold was 'developing. ' He has just started to return to normal and hopes are held that he will be ready to race in about a month-

Great Adios has won twice at the cup meeting, and will be strongly supported to win again in the Ollivier Handicap tomorrow. Norton’s run of success has not been approached by anv northern trainer for years, and it is doubtful that even the late F. J. Smith, one of the most successful northern trainers ever to campaign teams in the South Island, ever enjoyed such a run.