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FEATURE RACE COMMENT

 

YEAR: 1915

Frandocia was started on four occasions last week, but not once did he leave the mark. On the evening of the second day's trotting at Addington he jumped over the door of his box and fell on top of Bill Black's two babies, the eldest boy got knocked aside, and escaped with some ugly bruises, but the baby was underneath the horse, and marvellous to relate got out of the squashing with nothing more serious than a badly bruised hand.

Don Caesar showed all his old speed during the meeting, but he was not seasoned enough to see out his races when tho pinch came.

In the Enfleld Handicap for horses that could do 2.16 or better, Mountain Rose began smartly and turned into the straight with a good lead, only to have one of her hobbles snap. Breeze, coming behind ran into the mare and gave F. E. Jones, who was riding him, a very ugly fall.

Ludski's people thought it was only a matter of going round to the machine and getting some easy money when they started him in a mile saddle race. He showed speed and went out to tho front, but it was only on sufferance, for on each occasion they went after him and got the Auckland gelding when they wanted him.

Admiral Wood ran a wretched race in the New Zealand Trotting Cup, he was hitching and skipping all the way.

If Our Thorpe had not mixed it at the start of the Trotting Cup, and by so doing lost four seconds, Country Belle would have run another second, instead of having her name down in the list of winners. Without doubt the O.Y.M. — Lady Thorpe horse put up a fine performance when he won easily in 2.41 2-5, the time for the various distances are: Quarter. 31 2-5; half 1.3 1-5: six furlongs, 1.37; mile, 2.9; mile and a-quarter, 2.41 2-5. Our Thorpe was a long way from the leaders at the end of the flrst quarter, and he must huve run his last mile better than 2.7.

The South Canterbury owned and trained St. Kevin, was made a hot order in both of his starts on the last day of the trotting meeting. The Rothschild horse showed plenty of speed, but he was as fat as a hog inside and could not see a fast run mile out.

Next November the mile races on the last day are sure to be 2.15 class, and it is quite possible that they may be tighter.

Chub's people went for a win last Friday. They were very lucky a get second place.

Country Belle is a fine pacer and a rare good beginner. This is the only part of the game that she can beat Our Thorpe at.

Bonista, the imported American mare by Star Pointer — Bonny Jenny, has foaled a colt to Wlldwood jnr.

Adventuress does not look right, and does not move with anything like her one-time freedom .

Quiie a number of people are kicking themselves for not backing Persuader on the last day of the Addington meeting especially when they saw Pringle behind him.

Parole Bells was well supported by her people for the Whiteleigh Handicap, but she stood on her mark and lost all her handicap.

Little Jewel Chimes raced very solidly throughout the meeting. He is only a pony, but a very honest one.

A short time back Icicle was well in the boom, but nowadays bis name is never mentioned.

Hardy Wilkes, who is by Marvin Wilkes, only had to keep down in the Sockburn Handicap, and he would have strolled home.

We have seen the best of Emmeline. Country Belle gave her the go by in the Free for All.

Little Tib was handicapped on the 2.16 mark in the Railway Handicap, and it was very galling to his owner for the Flower of Tyron gelding to go 2.12 4-5 and get beaten into second place.

After the decision of the Cup there was some talk of a match for a good stake between Country Belle and Our Thorpe, but it fell through.

Credit: 'The Looker On' writing in NZ Truth 20 Nov 1915

 

YEAR: 1998

Alister Kerslake
ALISTER KERSLAKE

Alister Kerslake, who had been in ill-health over recent months, died at his Methven home on Monday.

Aged 73, Kerslake was a straight shooter who made a name for himself as a breeder, owner and trainer, and over the years prepared some of the country's notable drivers and trainers. Champion driver Maurice McKendry, Phil Williamson, Ian Cameron and his son Lindsay all did their apprenticeship under Kerslake.

But it was his ability and knack of setting young horses for big races and winning them that set him apart from most others. He won the 1971 NZ Derby with Bachelor Star, the 1975 NZ Derby with Main Adios, the Great Northern Derby three years later with Main Star, and the 1979 NZ Derby with Game Adios. All were out of the Captain Adios-Loyal Guest mare Adio Star who won the Broodmare of the Year in the 1977-78 season.

Kerslake was born in Rakaia, starting off riding trackwork for the local butcher, Bill Black, later for Dill Edwards, and also for Wally Tatterson. As a lad, he took the Tatterson-trained Emulous into the birdcage for the New Zealand Cup. His early working life was at the Railways, then as a butcher in Methven, before doing what he had always wanted to do, work with horses.

That came in 1968, though he had started a lot earlier, winning five races with Lady Knight, and others with Burns Night in the 50s. On shifting to Highbank, his first winners were Loyal Adios and True Forbes, he sold New Guest who became the dam of the outstanding racemare Hilarious Guest, and near the end of his career he raced Bionic Chance, a cracker filly who he maintained should have won a Derby. Bionic Chance won the NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes, 17 other races and $323,630 in stakes.

Kerslake trained more than 180 winners. They were all well bred, well trained, and he always used top drivers. He stood three of the horses he trained at stud, Adios Bachelor, Main Star and Bionic Adios; Main Adios and Bachelor Star were sent to Australia.

When interviewed just recently, Kerslake said: "Horses were everything to me. They were my life from the time I could run around. I was always around them and I always wanted something to do with them.

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 27May98



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