Rocking Berry’s run of success continues

Press, 23 June 1981, Page 22

Rocking Berry’s run of success continues

By

G. K. YULE

Blenheim Rocking Berry brought his record on his northern campaign to four wins and a third from five starts when he came from far back starting the last 1000 m to win the Trevor Hodgen Handicap at Waterlea Park yesterday.

It was his only start at the Marlborough Trotting Club's winter meeting and he will now return to Gore for a well-earned winter let-up as his win took him outside the classes being catered for at Addington Raceway on Saturday. Rocking Berry tangled away from 20m, but recovered fairly quickly although he was a long way back in a spread-out field. The race developed into a sprint over the last 800 m, with Rocking Berry looping the field wide out on the track to be showing up at the straight entrance. He hit the front a few strides later and

although strongly challenged by Lord Derek over the final stages, he had too much in reserve to win by threequarters of a length. “I had hoped to. follow someone else up, but when I went they all went and I was forced out until I was five wide.” said Rocking Berry's driver, Robin Swain. “He seemed to be flat when Lord Derek came at him, but he kept fighting on and wonquite easily at the end,” he said. Swain is employed by Rocking Berry’s Gore ownertrainer, Colin Baynes, who also earned place money on the trip with the four-year-

old's half-brother. Kamahl. Lord Derek was in the leading group all, the way and he fought on gamely for his placing, a length and a quarter in front of the firstday winner. Roseland Adover, from Edendale. Bonnie Lass, which will race at Addington on Saturday, fought on for fourth, ahead of Worthy Del and Vivian Peter, with Regal Law, which had his chance, a disappointing seventh. Sioux, which won three times at the recent Nelson meeting, lost his chance at the start, while Localism was slow away and not disgraced when eleventh.

Hindu Abbe made an overdue return to winning form in the Mcßaes’ Fashions Handicap. After being handy he joined issue with Joe Marsh and Lord Tarport inside the last 200 m. They battled hard to the line with Hindu Abbe getting there by a short head. Lord Tarport, after rushing up from the rear on the home turn, did well to hold third a length away, six lengths clear of the longshot, Now's Your Chance, with Jovalight and Jonroy next, ahead of the disappointing favourite, Fonzarelli, which looked to have every chance.