Upcoming Ryedale filly Evening Press is already developing into a finely tuned horse, despite still being six weeks away from full training.

That is the view of trainer Tim Etherington, who says he couldn't be happier with the progress being made by the filly leased by readers of the York Evening Press newspaper.

"As in football you do the groundwork before the season and we're still doing that groundwork and strengthening work with Evening Press before the serious stuff starts," he said.

"But she is growing into a beautiful shape of animal. We could not be more pleased with her."

Evening Press is regularly taken for gentle gallops at Etherington's stables at Wold House, Malton, but will not be rushed ahead of schedule into full-on sprinting. The signs of her potential, however, are still clear.

"We're going to keep doing this for another month or six weeks before pushing on. I don't like rushing horses and Evening Press is not two years old until the middle of May so you're still dealing with an immature horse. We won't push her on until she reaches two.

"But she is coming on very well and as it is I'm cock-a-hoop with her. I couldn't be happier."

Etherington is refusing to set a date for Evening Press's first race, but late June or July remains a possibility, and there is still a big hope that she will race at the Evening Press-sponsored raceday at York scheduled for September.

"We have to wait and see how she reacts when we start pushing her on and it's difficult to make predictions before then," he added.

Readers can buy shares in Evening Press which is being leased via our newspaper from Etherington.

The syndicate is being organised by Paul Clarkson, The Paddocks, Strickens Lane, Barnacre, Garstang, Lancashire and there are still a handful of shares left. Anyone who wishes to have a share in Evening Press can contact him on 01995 605790 or fax 01995 606830.

Full details of how the scheme works were published in the Evening Press on Thursday, May 5.

Updated: 12:55 Thursday, April 19, 2001