Berkowitz preparing for hurdle races

Press, 17 June 1983, Page 17

Berkowitz preparing for hurdle races

Special correspondent Dunedin Berkowitz, a useful performer on the flat, is being switched to jumping. Berkowitz (Paul Richards) prepared for brush hurdle races when he led Karayarkin (Teoni Gibbs) in a run over six fences at Wingatui yesterday morning.' A winner over 2400 m at the Otago meeting in December, Berkowitz has turned in useful efforts in open races, including a second to Noble River over 1600 m at Wingatui last month and a third to Noble Jewel and Imperial Helen at Beaumont. He could put his stamina and ability in wet ground to advantage over jumps.

Baliwick, a two-year-old stablemate of Berkowitz, shaped attractively for the Second Weston Maiden at

Oamaru on Monday. He ran 800 m with My Anui in 51.25, the last 600 in 38.5 s on a semi-frozen sand. Fun Run, now with John Dowling, finished four lengths clear of Anbolin at the end of 800 m in 51.55, the last 600 in 39. Lorna Justine and Warning Note sprinted 600 m in 38.8. Lorna Justine is with Stan and Peter McKay. She won a maiden race at Wingatui in December at her third start, but had to be scratched from, her engagement a week later when found to be sore. Leisure Lass and Bon Fier sprinted from the 600 m in 38.9. Leisure Lass is a promising two-year-old filly by Causeur from Touraine, a half sister by Trelay to Sandy’s Girl and Decieboy, easy winner of the two-year-old race at Washdyke last Friday. Leisure Lass and Decieboy are owned by

Mr Ces Wallis and trained by Jim Pankhurst.

Mr Wallis was not on hand to see Decieboy win.

“I thought he was a little green to win first up,” said Mr Wallis yesterday. Decieboy, by Decies, will be taken along quietly and he may race at the Grand National meeting at Riccarton. If so he will follow the same programme as Candyboy, which won the corresponding race for two-year-olds for the WallisPankhurst combination at Washdyke in 1975. Candyboy won the Cashmere Plate at the National meeting and the Dunedin Guineas.

Touraine, the dam of Leisure Lass, injured a neck as a foal and did not race.

Justa Pique, Bold Ambassador and Copernicus have returned to work with Arthur Didham, Jun.