John Brandon series for stablemates?

Press, 3 February 1986, Page 34

John Brandon series for stablemates?

From G. K. YULE Nelson

The West Melton trainer-driver, Robert Dunn, has the John Brandon series at Addington Raceway next month as possible missions for Jason Mac Faber and Here Comes Duke, impressive winners on the first day of the Nelson’s Trotting Club’s meeting oh Saturday. 1 Jason Mac Faber, having his first race start, drew away from his rivals over the final stages of the Globe Tavern Pace and had four lengths to spare over Johnny Bogart at the line after pacing the 2400 m in the splendid time of 3min B.ls. Raced by Mr Ken McDonald, of Christchurch, he is by Nat Lobell from Jenny Kenton and is highly rated by Dunn. Mr McDonald bought Jason Mac Faber about 12 months ago from Mr Bevan Smith after he had shown promise in training when being prepared by John Douglas.

Dunn races Here Comes Duke, the winner of the O. L. Goldsmith Jewellery Pace at the expense of

Timely Rule and Friendly Lord, in partnership with Mr Bert Penney, of Kaiapoi. The same combination raced a New Zealand Oaks winner, Lady’s Rule.

“Both horses are coming up well now and if they continue to improve I’ll definitely tackle the top three-year-olds with them next month at Addington,” said Dunn. Another impressive maiden graduate on Saturday was the Sapling gelding, Sycamore, a member of Brian Kerr’s team. He missed the start and gave the leaders a big start from the 2000 m. He improved on the home turn and ran on gamely to win by a length from Idle Thoughts and Skywalker. Kerr intends to race him on the second day of the meeting and then give him a brief spell. He is raced by Mr Dave Gilmour, a retired fanner, of Darfield, and his wife, Nancy, and is the first horse they have had.

Sycamore’s dam, Mary Miller, broke a leg in training and she was

saved for the stud. The Gilmours looked after her for Mrs Ivy Litten, who gave them the right to take a foal from her, Sycamore resulting.

The Leeston trainer, Terry McMillan, experienced the ups and downs of racing on Saturday.

He won the Redwood Caterers’ Trot with the eight-year-old, Don’t Forget, which he leased only two months ago from Bill Doyle. Later in the day he drove the eleventh favourite, Mystery Affair, which he also races, into second behind Polita in the Tenderkist Pace, a placing worth $7OO in stake money. After an inquiry, McMillan was found guilty of careless driving causing interference to the odds-on favourite, Viewfield Prince, about 200 m from the finish. The horse was disqualified from the race and McMillan was suspended until after February 10. He immediately withdrew his horses from the second day of the meeting and returned home.