TROTTING R. Purdon Now Second On List Of Trainers

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31062, 18 May 1966, Page 4

TROTTING R. Purdon Now Second On List Of Trainers

The Pukekohe trainer, R. Purdon, had one of his most successful nights at Alexandra Park Raceway on Saturday when members of his team gained four wins. As a result of successes by Henwood’s Pride, Amend, Tamaki Glen and Lonesome Valley he has now prepared the winners of 29 races this season, placing him second on the list of successful trainers behind the Templeton combination of J. Grant and D. G. Jones.

Until Saturday Purdon was in fourth place on the list. L. F. Norman, from Gore, with 28 wins and C. S. Donald, from Belfast, with 27 wins, were ahead of him.

Norman was represented at the Oamaru meeting, and Donald was represented at

both Auckland and Oamaru. However, neither produced a winner.

Grant and Jones had four horses at Auckland and several at Oamaru. Their only win was with Set Sail at Oamaru, and this advanced their total for the season to 35. Their advantage of six wins should be sufficient for them to maintain a lead to the end of the season.

Grant and Jones will have Medico, Disband, Flying Maiden and Colours Flying to represent them on the second night of the Auckland meeting. with Medico claiming two engagements. Medico, Disband and Flying Maiden finished second in their races last Saturday and will have to show very little improvement to win this week. They will also have Atabel, Summit Talk, Ulight and Efficacious to represent them at Washdyke. Purdon will have his four winners of last week racing again on the second night at Auckland. Swartz Pete, a failure on the first night, will be bracketed with Lonesome Valley in the Patrons’ Handicap. Tamaki Gien will be bracketed with another firstnight failure in Boy Trust in the Rodney Handicap.. Henwood’s Pride will contest the Puhoi Handicap, Amend is in the second division of the Wellsford Stakes, and Superior Chief in the Waiwera Handicap. Purdon is enjoying a great run this season and has his team in great heart at present. He could greatly reduce the lead of Grant and Jones in the next week or two, but will need more than average luck to pass their total. Record Total L. F. Norman, of Gore, set a record total of wins for a Southland trainer when Tryout gave him his twentyeighth success for the season in the Pacific Handicap on the second night of the recent Forbury Park meeting. The previous record was held by D. Todd, of Mataura, who prepared 26 winners in the 1953-54 season. Norman has a useful team

to race at the remaining winter meetings in Canterbury and should extend his total. The young West Melton trainer, J. S. Dalgety, moved into fifth place after racing at the week-end. Wins with Overtime at Oamaru and Ulove at Auckland brought his total to 20. Dalgety will be represented at the Timaru and Auckland meetings on Saturday and at other Canterbury winter meetings. He has a strong team and could increase his total. G. B. Noble, with 18, and P. Stewart and P. Wolfenden, each with 17, are next on the list of trainers. The drivers list, too. reached an interesting stage after last Saturdays racing. Before the Oamaru and Auckland meetings, P. Wolfenden had a lead of three over M. Holmes, with the seasons early leader. R. Young, in third place. Holmes won behind Kingsdown Chief and Set Sail at Oamaru and brought his total for the season to 40, a fine effort considering he missed about five weeks' of racing in late January and February. Wolfenden managed only one win at Auckland. This was behind Viking Water and it brought his total to 42. Holmes has seven meetings available to him in the South Island during the rest of the season, and Wolfenden Will have only four meetings. Holmes will not find it easy to reach Wolfenden’s total, and it seems that not until the last meeting of the season will the premiership be decided. Young is in third place with 35 wins, all gained before mid-February. Whether he will drive again during the remainder of the season is not certain. Even if he does, his chances of recapturing the lead look remote. D. G. Jones drove Towser to win at Auckland and advanced his total for the season to 33, three in front of T. H. Knowles, who has enjoyed a most successful season. R. P. Nyhan and F. Smith share sixth place with 26 wins, followed by J. A. Carmichael, with 25, W. R. Butt with 24, D. C. Watts with 22, and D. Mangos with 21.