First Grade back

Press, 15 January 1988, Page 24

First Grade back

Special correspondent Auckland The veteran trotter First Grade will have his first race for almost nine months at the Waikato Trotting Club’s meeting at Claudelands this evening and his Mangere owner-trainer, Ted Edwards, says the horse feels better than ever. “He’s as sound at this stage as he ever was,” said Edwards, “and we’ve got all our fingers, toes, legs, the lot — crossed about tomorrow. He may be 10 years old, but he feels like he just turned five.” After recurring tendon trouble, First Grade was turned out by Edwards last April and, at first, it was thought

the horse’s career may have come to an end. First Grade was placed with a Pukekohe galloping trainer, Laurie Short, for a course of beach work and, after about four months of the routine, as well as constant poulticing with seaweed compresses, the horse’s condition improved to such an extent that he returned to full training with Edwards last November. It was intended for First Grade to begin racing again at Auckland over the Christmas period, but, being out of training for so long, the horse took a little longer than usual to reach the desired level of fitness.

Edwards will be content if First Grade pulls up safely after the Telecom Mobile Trot this evening. “There’s no doubt he will need the run,” he said, “but I’ll be happy if he’s fighting on in the run home.” Edwards gave some thought to entering First Grade for the InterDominion Trotting Championships in Melbourne next month. The break from training and lack of race fitness, though, has put paid to those plans. First Grade, when driven by Doody Townley, managed to win a consolation at the Christchurch Inter-Dominion series last season.