Perfect record on line for Park Ash

Press, 17 June 1988, Page 31

Perfect record on line for Park Ash

By

DAVID McCARTHY

The young Riccarton trainer, Roydon Bergerson, and a rising six-year-old grey mare will be attempting to extend a perfect record when Grant Davison takes Park Ash to the post for the June Handicap at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting at Riccarton tomorrow. ,

Bergerson has produced her just twice in the South Island, so far, for two comprehensive wins. The first came on a soft track at Riccarton on May 21 when Park Ash went to the line easily, so far clear of her rivals in fact Davison must have wondered where they had got to. Taken south to Wingatui on Queen’s Birthday, Park Ash lined up in a 1600 m event restricted to apprentice riders and won nicely again this , time in the hands of Jackie Jamieson. Tomorrow the mare faces a harder test and is trying to win her fourth race from just 18 starts, but she looks capable of it. .

Park Ash may not be brilliant but the testing tracks of winter are more of a thrill than a challenge to her. Indeed if her winning trot continues Bergerson is looking at the feature flat

events at the Wellington meeting next month as suitable opportunities for a horse which so revels in bad ground. There seems no reason why her winning run should not be extended.

If Park Ash, the immigrant, is not to win tomorrow maybe it will be Daybreaker the visitor. He is a member of the Kevin Thomson team which quickly grabbed expenses for its short southern sojurn by winning three races. from four tries at Timaru last Friday. Daybreaker was not one of those four but he is well worth considering here. Admittedly his form line reads like a well used army target but it was rather better in the spring when the Rapier gelding beat a useful field at Trentham at tomorrow’s distance. He was unlucky last time out at Wanganui and before

that had been running over less ground in a new campaign. Free Bijou looked held by Pavlova’s Beau at Timaru after enjoying a lovely run but came , again strongly in the last 80m and his best form would find him in the finish here. Pavlova’s Beau must be considered too while the Parsons stable looks to have a very useful winter prospect in Lotus Major, which will find the footing here more testing than was the case when a handy third at Wingatui and should rise at least as strongly to the challenge. f , The return of Red Hawk is a'Aeature of the second leg, the Ferrymead Handicap, and while this is the first step on a comeback road with many turnings he should further encourage his connections that they are on the right route. The race features two highly consist-

ent geldings, overdue for a winning turn, in Berber and Seve, and one of the most consistent in commission is Silver Tussock which is resuming after a twomonth break. The testing ground could stop him making that a winning return but Silver Tussock has shown well fresh before and looks one of the handier southern hopes for features such as the Winter Cup later in the winter. Seve beat all but Native Era here at this distance three starts back in soft ground after running greenly in the straight and has done little wrong since. Berber is at his best distance and handles wetter ground though a shower or two overnight to loosen the going would help him. For longer odds Great Zeal in blinkers could show renewed zest for racing if he strikes the ground to suit.

Wingatui meeting. Likely favourite. 4 9006 Daybreaker 7 . . T. Kennedy 55.5 Unlucky sixth 2060 m at Wanganui June 4 and earlier moderate form over less ground. Won 2000 m (Hand Me Down second) class event at Trentham last November. and handles soft ground. 5 8931 Pavlova’s Beau 2 D. Wadley 55.5 Gritty win after leading throughout at Timaru and has handy record this track at middle distance. Respect 6 2591 Thanks A Million 3 R. McArass.o Doesn’t win out of turn and scored at good odds over 2200 m at Wingatui two weeks ago. This field harder, though must be considered. 7 6684 Tha Last Supper 6 55.0 Fair fourth in moderate line-up at Timaru and will have to improve. 8 0503 Lotus Major 10 54.5 Stablemate of The Last Supper. Has had just the four starts in this campaign and latest over 2200 m at Wingatui was the best. Chance. 9 8460 Dash O’Dublin 1 P. Falvey 53.0 , Failed in soft ground at Riccarton May 21 but better than that Bold effort at the trials last Sunday and could get some of this. 100604 Four Figures 11 C. Edmonds3.o Went solid race for fourth at Wingatui two weeks ago in first race since November. Second-up and others look stronger. 11 0448 Casey’s Lass 12 ..... J. Dowling 52.0 Best recent effort was good fourth this distance and track in soft footing on May 21. Upsetter, at least for a place, with another run like that. 12 385 Mr Big 5 D. Anderton 51.0 Fair fifth at Timaru in first run since Grand National last August. Others should hold. Race 9 D, T 3.45 FERRYMEAD HANDICAP $6500; C2; 1400 m. 1 06 Red Hawk 4 R. J. McCann 57.0 First race since disappointing Melbourne Cup campaign ended in injury last year. Has been in work for four months and has had two trials. Won fresh up on soft track as a four-year-old. Will improve with it but respect. 2 1128 Silver Tussock 8 R. Bruce 55.0 Had a rewarding autumn campaign and has failed to weigh-in only once in 12 starts this season. Sure to go a big race fresh. Win chance. 3 3223 Berber 9 .......... L. Didham 54.5 Has a consistent form and this probably his best distance. Overdue to win third race on this track and could do so. 4 4221 Godsin 10 .... . R. Bruce 54.5 Two grand runs at the Wingatui Queen’s Birthday meeting and won’t be embarrassed by this company though it is tougher than what she has been racing against 5 4232 Seve 5 S. Cook 54.5 Still waiting for overdue win but it could well come here. Beat all but Native Era when carrying featherweight here on May 21 and probably at his best distance. 6 1864 Penstrip 6 P. Richards 53.5 Solid effort on very heavy track against weaker opposition at Gore on Tuesday. This his best distance though some opponents here could test him. 7 Village Guy 1 53.0 Resuming after long spell. Last raced in October 1986 when serious leg injury threatened career. Should need this. .8 7767 Great Zeal 7 J. Jamieson 52.0 Big disappointment over the autumn but talented winter galloper being tried In blinkers. Leading upset chance 9 2211 Jazzman 2. T. Kennedy 51.5 Yet to be tried beyond 1200 m but has won two of four lifetime starts. Should handle softer ground though not yet tried in it. 10 8578 Puffasmoke 3 A. Hunsche 51.0 Long time off winning list

at Wingatui and made amends the second day. A danger here if it’s not too heavy. 6 6403 Benaro 10 R.. Saxton 55.0 Bold late bid for third at Wingatui, Queen’s Birthday, second up from a lengthy spell. Won twice in heavy going last season. Some good runs here in the spring including fourth to Ben Wilkinson and Mitchell Sage here in August. 7 6505 Don Pedro 14 L. Boake 55.0 Resumed at Timaru last week In first race since March and did well. Has a moderate record on this track. 8 9290 Puncher 4 .... 55.0 Only impressive run since coming south was second to Martelomeo over 1400 m on a firm track at Marlborough in April. Take on trust. 9 5529 Extra Bright 6 54.5 Ran on good second to Benji, first run back from a spell, this track on May 14 and then failed second-up a week later. Usually goes a good one here. 10 0544 Schomberg 9 J. Jamieson 54.0 Fair run at Timaru in first race from South Island stable and should improve with it. Shouldn't be far away on best northern form. 11 0517 Ataviar 11 . A. Hunsches4.o Won southern debut here, 1800 m on May 14 but not so impressive on soft track a week later at 1600 m. Worth considering. 12 3345 Palstep 12 S. Cook 54.0 Racing consistently over less ground and could feature in this finish. ■ 13 1 Tasmith 12 54.0 Won debut at Timaru over this distance. Style of racing should suit this track and not the worst. 14 Benlea Boy 3 T. Hazlett 53.0 First start in nearly a year but well seasoned in the hunting field. Previously not always genuine on the flat but might fire one in while fresh. 15 6000 Tawlist 5 53.0 Ran last resuming after five month layoff at Timaru. Hard to like on that. Race 8 D, T, TF 3.10 JUNE HANDICAP $5500; C 3; 2000 m. 1 8722 Free Bijou 4 S. Cook 57.0 Looked to have every chance going down to Pavlova’s Beau at Timaru though rallying strongly at the finish. Disappointing here in soft ground in May but over-all form entitles to respect. 2 0423 Doster 9 56.5 Doubtful starter. 3 5611 Park Ash 8 G. Davison 56.0 Bolted in here on soft track May 21 and' impressive too winning on the first day of the

Race 10 TF 4.20 LEY Dm SECOND RUSSI $4750; C4; 140i 1 68 Ann Bell 3 . . . R. Bruce 55.0 2 5096 Bayfair 1 55.0 3 1000 Brit 8 . .T. Kennedy 55.0 4 0384 Cool Ace 5 . .J. Jamieson 55.0 5 9022 Del Da Neil 6.... . . .G. Williams 55.0 6 0080 Glukus 9. . .B. R. Jones 55.0 7 0254 Kuz 14 . . S.- McCann 55.0 8 0060 Lucky Lady 12 ... . . . . . R. Low 55.0 9 0898 Meet Miss 15 ..... 55.0 10 9888 My Waltzing Friend 4 . . J. Dowling 55.0 11 0518 Rome 11 . . L. Didliam55.0. 12 9001 Sea Craft 7 ..... . . .' 55.0 13 0070 Sun Street 13 R. J. McCann 55.0 14 3439 The Snob 2 . . G. Davison 55.0 15 9380 Waffles 10 . .P. Richards 55.0