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MIGHTY BENNY

1952/53 Season

1952
Sat Nov 12 Invercargill – Innovation Hcp
Won by 16 lengths. Trained by D Todd, Mataura, Driven by K Balloch
Extract from NZ Trotting Calendar 12 November 1952
“It is a long time since such confident support has come for a three-year-old making his first appearance as was shown in Mighty Benny in the Innovation Handicap, which he finally won by 16 lengths. K Balloch handled the Blaydon three-year-old with kid gloves over the first furlong, but once into his stride he was soon sharing the lead with Belle Renarde, who was in trouble at the home turn. Mighty Benny did not look like being beaten over the last three furlongs, and it was certainly a clear-cut success.
He is a big colt and is raced by his breeder, Mr L L Abernethy, and trained by D Todd. Grey Hall, the dam of Mighty Benny, is a Dillon Hall mare from Grey Girl, a useful sprinter some seasons back. Grey Girl had little in the way of breeding, being by Charlie McKinney from a General Pet mare.
Mighty Benny promises to make matters awkward for Southland three-year-olds in the current season’s juvenile events.”

Sat Nov 29 Wyndham – Second Mercantile Hcp
3rd to Peace Pipe and Black Beauty( ½ length & Neck). Driven by K Balloch
Extract from NZ Trotting Calendar 3 December 1952
“The Blaydon three-year-old Mighty Benny gave a further taste of his worth in finishing third in the Mercantile Handicap No2 after losing a big stretch of ground at the start. He was credited with running his last mile in better than 2.12 and he finished the final furlong in genuine style. He is certainly a cut above the average.”

Sat Dec 20 Gore – Longford Division of Improvers Hcp
2nd to Recent Choice (4 Lengths) Driven by K Balloch.

Fri Dec 26 Gore – Eastern Southland Three-Year-Old Hcp
Won off 12 yards by 6 lengths. Driven by K Balloch
Extract from NZ Trotting Calendar 31 December 1952
“Mighty Benny further established his claim to being the best juvenile pacer in Southland this season by the manner in which he won the Eastern Southland Three-Year-Old Handicap at Gore.
He ran to the front at the home turn and won pulling up in 3.20 3-5 for the mile and a half. His next appearance will be at Wyndham on New Year’s Day, when the Blaydon colt will see a short price.”

1953
Thu Jan 1 Wyndham R C – Victory Hcp
Unplaced off Scr behind Regal Gold, Eynsford Oak & Recent Choice
Extract from NZ Trotting Calendar 7 January 1953
“On the strength of his runaway win at Gore on Boxing Day, Mighty Benny was backed as unbeatable in the Victory Handicap at Wyndham. He had been suffering from a bruised foot and looked sore when he went out, but he was well placed in his field until three furlongs from home when he hung out badly and collided with Neon and unseated K Balloch.
The Blaydon colt is certainly a capable three-year-old, but he still acts greenly and is inclined to run about in his races.”

Sat Mar 28 Winton – Stewards Hcp
Won off 12 yards by 1 length. Driven by K Balloch
Extract from NZ Trotting Calendar 1 April 1953
“Mighty Benny gave a taste of his worth when he beat a strong field over two miles in the Stewards Handicap. K Balloch had him tucked in behind the leaders until the last half-mile, where he took over. Although his stablemate, Peterhead, was on terms with him at the straight entrance, Mighty Benny always had the situation in hand. It was a sound staying effort on the part of the Blaydon three-year-old, as he completed his task with a minimum of effort and did not act as greenly as in some of his earlier races.”

1953/54
Sat Oct 31 Invercargill – Southland Hcp
Won off 36 yards by 15 lengths. Driven by K Balloch
Extract from NZ Trotting Calendar 4 November 1953
“It is many a long day since a performance approaching that put up by Mighty Benny in winning the Southland Handicap on Saturday has been witnessed in Southland. The Blaydon stallion was making his first appearance as a four-year-old and, after being at the rear over the first mile, he moved round the outer racing to the final half and from then on he had the opposition completely routed. He won pulling up by 15 lengths, running the two-mile journey in 2.23 2-5, only 1 2-5 seconds outside the record for the track.
The merit of Mighty Benny’s effort was the ease with which it was accomplished. He looked like being hemmed in on the rails with five furlongs to go, but K Balloch immediately eased him back to the rear, raced round the field and was in front inside a furlong. The first mile was run in 2.17 and the mile and a half in 3.22 2-5, Mighty Benny ran his last mile in 2.06 2-5, the last half in 1.04 pulling up, and the last half of the final mile in 1.02 2-5. It was a phenomenal effort on a grass track.
D Todd, the trainer, said afterwards that he thought he may have been a little easy, if anything, on him a week before the meeting. “But he is a bit of a freak and is liable to run anything,” he remarked.”

Sat Nov 7 Invercargill – President’s Hcp
Won off 72 yards by 5 lengths. Driven by K Balloch
Extract from NZ Trotting Calendar 11 November 1953
“Although he did not win by the same wide margin, Mighty Benny’s success in the President’s Handicap was achieved in much the same manner as when he won the first day.
With little pace on over the first mile, he was allowed to join the rear of the field at the end of two furlongs, and K Balloch was content to wait there until five furlongs from home, when he set Mighty Benny after the leaders. The Blaydon horse had reached the front with about three furlongs to go, and from then on he had the opposition completely tied up, running his final mile in 2.07 and his last half in 60 2-5 secs.
Mighty Benny now goes back to a 4.35 two-mile mark, and his opportunities in Southland will be at an end. It is likely that he will appear on the third and fourth days of the New Zealand Cup meeting at Addington.”

1954
Fri Jan 1 Canterbury Park – Islington Hcp
Unplaced off 12 yards behind Brava, Moss Hall & Trout Stream

Sat Jan 2 Canterbury Park – Selwyn Hcp
Unplaced off 12 yards behind Moss Hall, Venetian & Our Roger
Extract from NZ Trotting Calendar 6 January 1954
“The Southland pacer, Mighty Benny, was disappointing in both his appearances. A hot favourite in the Islington Handicap on the first day, he worked his way into a handy position with a mile to go and was prominent turning for home. He failed to run on in the straight and was fifth to finish. In the Selwyn Handicap on the second day he was always well placed, but could make little impression over the final stages.
This may not be his true form, but he will have to improve considerably to extend his record in Canterbury.”

Sat Jan 30 Forbury Park – Summer Hcp
Unplaced off 12 yards behind Onward, Our Roger & Recent Choice

Sat Feb 6 Forbury Park – St Clair Hcp
Unplaced off 12 yards behind Our Roger, Midnight & Recent Choice

Sat Mar 13 Wyndham – Wyndham Hcp
Unplaced off 36 yards behind Chimera, Kaka Hall & Direct Power