UNFIT FOR TRAINING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 25, 29 July 1939, Page 22

UNFIT FOR TRAINING

Most of the horses in training at Addington with engagements on Saturday next have been exercised on the roads owing to the track at Addington having been closed for fast work for the past three weeks. Some trainers have made use of the inside course on occasion, but nothing better than a 2.30 to the mile speed has been attempted. It is therefore possible the horses trained privately are in the better racing condition, says the "Christchurch Star-Sun." R. J. Plumphreys has taken full advantage of the grass roads, which have provided numerous opportunities to do strong pace work. His track dries faster than those at Addington, and has been available often enough for him to give his team essential speed efforts. R. B Berry's candidates are models of fitness. Early in the winter he had one of his tracks specially prepared for training his horses on during wet weather, with the result that Parisienne, Lucky Jack, Southern Chief, Fremont, and Great Jewel are in the pink of condition for an early spring campaign. M. B. Edwards is also fortunate that he has one of the best winter tracks in the Dominion, and is able to work his horses when members of other establishments have to remain in their stalls F. C. Dunlevey has only one horse engaged at the August meeting. It is Gallant Knight, who had done a series of fast tasks before the wet weather set in about three weeks ago. What with intermittent speed efforts, and judicious jogging work, Gallant Knight is in grand order, and capable of repeating his best form at the meeting. M. Holmes has also been able to use his track when some other circuits have been out of commission. He has four horses in course of preparation for immediate racing. They are Renown's Best, Attain, King Franz, and Gerfalcon. C. "S. Donald is not as well placed for winter training as several of his colleagues, but is able to take his horses to places that are suitable for speed work. Plutus is in fine fettle and ready to receive the necessary fast efforts to bring him to the peak of his form. He is a horse that thrives with racing, and although he may not be trained to the minute for his first day's engagement he will be ready to do good service later at the meeting.