Rousing ovation expected for Basil Dean tonight

Press, 5 January 1987, Page 26

Rousing ovation expected for Basil Dean tonight

JEFF SCOTT

Basil Dean will be deserving of a rousing ovation if he can overcome the odds and win the Radio 3ZB Canterbury Park Trotting Cup — alias the “Basil Dean farewell trot” — at Addington Raceway this evening. The Canterbury Park Cup three years ago almost signified Basil Dean’s last raceday appearance, but this evening’s race is definitely his last race in New Zealand. One of the best squaregaiters New Zealand has produced, the 10-year-old gelding will be flown out of Auckland for California on Friday where he will attempt to extend his record in similar fashion to fellow Dominion Handicap winner, Cal Brydon, now a leading trotter in that state. Cal Brydon was foaled the same year as Basil

Dean, won $149,050 in New Zealand, and has extended his career earnings by over SNZIOO,OOO in the last four months in California, according to Willowby bloodstock agent and trainer, Wayne Ross. Ross took over the training of Basil Dean after the horse was purchased outright by his part-owner, Tim Newton, of Ashburton, for $lO,OOO, from his former trainer and other owner, Bob Jamison. Ross has negotiated the sale of a halfshare of Basil Dean to North American millionaire, Paul Actkinson, who will place the gelding into the stable of Frank Sherran, a leading trainer of straight-out trotters in California. Ross, who has enjoyed much success in California with earlier exports, also has the capable C 7 pacer, El Victory (the winner of $30,175 from 30

starts here), on the flight with Basil Dean on Friday. El Victory, a five-year-old El Patron gelding formerly owned by Paul Newton (a cousin of Tim) and his wife, Margaret, of Lyndhurst, is eligible to start in the $20,000 plus Fireball Series at Los Alamitos later this year. French Heritage, which was exported by Ross last year, has won her last three races on end, the latest in 1:58.3 (last half in 57.1) on a five-furlong track, and is a hot favourite for the $50,000 Rising Stars Series at Los Alamitos. Basil Dean, New Zealand’s fourth greatest stakes-winning trotter with earnings of $171,025, the result of 64 starts for 23 wins, will begin his California programme with five “easies” racing against non-winners which

did not earn SUS26OO last year. The Great Evander— Royal Fault gelding will start cheaply there then be allowed to “find his feet” under the new conditions. He is to be aimed at the $20,000 Voyager Series at Los Alamitos (won by Cal Brydon last year), then, if he comes up to expectations, he will be entered for a three heat series at Canterbury Downs, Minnesota. The series consists of heats for approximately SUSIS,OOO over one mile and one furlong, $17,500 over one and a quarter miles, and $25,000 over a mile and a half. Basil Dean will be eligible to race until he is 14 years old. No decision has been made whether he will be returned to New Zealand at the end of his North American racing.