TROTTING Ovation For Purdon After Forbury Win

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30575, 19 October 1964, Page 6

TROTTING Ovation For Purdon After Forbury Win

The Prebbleton trainer, A. M. Purdon, received a wonderful ovation when he drove Gay Robin to win the Ptresident’s Handicap at Forbury Park on Saturday night.

Purdon was applaused for holding on to the driverless favourite, Avante, for three furlongs, releasing him when the horse was taken in charge by the clerk of the course (Mr A. McKay). Gay Robin later was forced very wide near the three furlongs and tiiere was considerable merit in his win.

Avante broke and lost his driver, R. Young, after the first few yards of the race. The driverless horse paced in behind the bunch. Purdon was at the rear with Gay Robin and when he saw Avante moving about and likely to cause trouble he took hold of that horse’s bridle.

The clerk of the course set off after the field as they left the straight and took Avante away from Purdon near the mile post. Both Purdon and Mr McKay were warmly applauded as they passed the stands. Purdon was again warmly applauded as he brought Gay Robin back to the birdcage after the race.

Raced by Mr G. Chesmar, of Baisweil, Gay Robin is a showy five-year-old by Johnny Globe from Shadow Maid. He has been placed in three of his five starts earlier this season and bis win was overdue.

Rannack Song looked a shade unlucky when he finished second, half a length from Gay Robin. He was pushed back when Glenurquhart tired at the straight entrance. It was late when he worked clear and he came home at a great rate. Lakeda broke and was pulled up just after the start. Rannack Song began best, but Glenurquhart took over with 12 furlongs left He set a fairly easy pace and was followed past the 10 furlongs by Rannack Song, Ahumai, Procella, Stormont Bonnieburn, Flying Note and Gay Robin. Gay Robin was the first to move, starting to improve with three furlongs and a half left. Stormont went inside him forcing him four wide.

Glenurquhart and Stormont turned for home together, with Gay Robin on the outside of Ahumai and Rannack Song, with Bonnieburn, Pro

cella and Flying Note following.

Stormont had charge inside the furlong, with Gay Robin joining him soon after, and Rannack Song showing up. Gay Robin finished too well for Stormont and held on to beat Rannack Song, which came home strongly, by half a length. Stormont was another half-length back third, with half a length to Bonnieburn and a head to Flying Note. Procella was close up, just ahead of Ahumai, with a gap to Glenurquhart. £222 Double Soanfra, the outsider of the field, upset calculations with an all-thfrway win in the second leg, the City Handicap. The Gay Robin-Soanfra double paid £222 12s for £l. Soanfra, which is trained at New Brighton by C. C. Keats, who races him in partnership with Mr W. Adair, had not flattered in three starts this season, but on Saturday he hit out much more freely. Soanfra led to the straight ahead of Miriam Hall, with Lochgair showing up on the outside of Central Range, Winona and Pancho Boy. Idaho was awkwardly placed next.

Soanfra showed no signs of wilting over the final furlong and he won handily by

two lengths from Lochgair, which showed speed after breaking at the start. Miriam Hall was a nose back third, a nose in front of Idaho, which had trouble working clear and was full of running. Wynona was right up fifth, clear of Pancho Boy, with a longer gap to Spring Garrison. Spring Garrison and Massacre broke badly at the start.