 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1948
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
1948 NZ SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP (NZ FREE-FOR-ALL)
Highland Fling's mile against time at Addington on Friday morning in 1:57 4-5 was a further triumph for the unconventional training and driving methods of L F Berkett. The usual procedure in trials against time is a strong warm-up and a galloping pace-maker. Berkett dispensed with both and shattered the previous record jointly hed by Highland Fling and Lawn Derby, by 1 3-5 secs. The spectacle of Highland Fling's lone role was a thrilling one - probably much more so than it would have been with a pacemaker, and the public appeal of the trial was emphasised by packed stands and enclosures, although the starting time for the first race was still half an hour away.
Berkett rated Highland Fling to perfection: the first quarter in 29secs, half-mile in 58 2-5secs, six furlongs in 1:28 3-5 and full-journey in 1:57 4-5. The last half-mile showed 59 2-5secs and the last quarter 29 1-5secs. A warm ovation awaited Highland Fling and Berkett when they returned to the birdcage, and Berkett's deep satisfaction with the greatest mile paced outside of America was betrayed by his permitting himself one of his isolated smiles.
Six hours after breaking the mile record, Highland Fling was harnessed up for the New Zealand Sprint Championship, which he won by a safe margin after being left flat-footed at the start. Berkett's coolness and unconcern at this initial setback was not lost upon the crowd, and also made a profound impression upon many of the sport's oldest adherents.
Highland Fling's time for the mile and a quarter journey was 2:37 2-5. Single Direct was second two lenghts away, with Integrity a further length and a half back. Ingle Belmer was fourth.
Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 17Nov48