Park Ash shows promise

Press, 24 May 1988, Page 35

Park Ash shows promise

By

DAVID McCARTHY

A young Riccarton trainer, Roydon Bergerson, must have been pleased with the end result of his day’s work at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday, as Park Ash in the hands of Grant Davison scored one of the easier wins on the programme in the Sockburn, but it didn’t start out that way. Bergerson’s first runner on Saturday, Princess Sun, had to settle for second placing in the Chokebore. It was the second time in as many starts but that was not the sticking point with Bergerson. It was the seventeenth time this season one of his horses had posted a second placing, even though he has produced a relatively small number of horses. And being placed second is not same as winning. Bergerson trains Park Ash for Arthur Williams of Wellington for whom he was formerly private trainer. Mr Williams bought the mare from her breeder, Clive Kerr of Wellington, and Bergerson maintains she is not finished winning yet by a long shot. “I think she could go to open company in the South Island. She’s five but she hasn’t done a lot of racing and she’s tops in bad ground,” lie said. Park Ash is from the Sovereign Prince mare Park Lady, winner of four races to 2200 m, which suggests Park Ash will be seen at her best over ground. Even if plagued by second placings Bergerson has a high strike rate since shifting south with Martelomeo (spelling at present) Goladona, Princess Sun and now Park Ash being in the money virtually every start. Stanley Frank resumed in the sprint on Saturday and will improve with the turn. Goladona repesents the stable at Oamaru this week. Bergerson learnt much of his craft from his father, Herbie, a respected Central Districts trainer for many years. He intends restricting his team to about 10 in the south, placing great importance on . personal attention. He spent several months in the United States some years ago working in stables, mainly in California.