Driving title now within Addison's reach

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33814, 10 April 1975, Page 8

Driving title now within Addison's reach

CBi.’

G. K. YULE)

Keith Addison (Australia) looks almost assured of taking first place in the World Trotting Drivers’ Championship which will end in Auckland on Saturday night. He finished last night at Addington Racewax with 132 points. 10 more than his nearest rival. Peter Wolfenden (New Zealand i.

Shelly Goudreau (Canada), as the result of an inelegant but effective winning drive behind Scottish Chat in the final event of the night, the Dominion Breweries Stakes, is now in third place with 111 points.

Others to drive winners on the most thrilling of the five nights of the series were Joe O’Brien (United States), Ulf Thoresen (Norway) and Wolfenden. Addison started the night well with a second but from then on a sixth and two I fifths were the best he could I manage. The racing throughout the night was of a particularly high standard, with the visiting drivers’ tactics providing interest for the crowd of about 9000. The drivers were delighted to race at Addington Raceway. They all agreed that it was the best surface and the horses were of the best overall standard that they had encountered in the series. : “We have all heard about] Addington and everything] that has been said about it] is true,” said the defending] champion. Joe Marsh jun. 1 AMAZEMENT The Europeans, too, en-| joyed their night. Through] interpreters they expressed i amazement that there are! only 23 meetings a year on the course. “There should be racing here every night,” said the West German representative, Horst Bandemer. “They certainly go fast on that track,” he said. All agreed that it had been a wonderful experience and hoped some day to drive again in Christchurch. Points at the end of the fifth night of the series are:

K. Addison 132, P. Wolfenden 122, S. Goudreau ill, J. O’Brien 106, J. Marsh jun. 104. U. Thoresen 101, H, Bandemer 107, J. Wagenaar 67. “Not a bad horse; certainly a lot better than most I’ve driven in the series.” was how Joe O’Brien described Noble Escort after he had driven him to win the Air New Zealand Stakes. Marsh waited at the tail of the field until Jan Wagenaar moved with Select Circle near the 600 m. Arntbro Song (Keith Addison) followed Select

Circle, with Noble Escort (tracking them. Brother Eden was still in ifront racing to the straight, but there was little between ! the whole field. Noble Escort, wide, out on the track, outfinished the field, with Armbro Song holding on gamely for second, a head in front of Ryai Ann, which came strongly once in the clear. Keremoana dropped out to fifth, with Brother Eden clear of Royal Tango and a long break to Thelmaur, which

dropped right away and wa; most disappointing. Wolfenden reduced Addison’s advantage to 11 points , when he drove Song Key to win the Mazda Motors Slakes (Jan Wagenaar set a slack pace with Doctor Voss. Joe ■ O'Brien trying to take over | near the 1800 m. However. I Wagenaar gave his horse a I little more rein and main- | tained the lead I Song Key was one out and I one back throughout and did I not move until after the 1 800 m. He gathered in the leaders with ease and had charge before the 200 m. From then on he had them well covered and won by three lengths and a half, with Fly- | ing Tufts beating Cyclone i Lad by half a neck for second. Cyclone Lad gave Shelly Goudreau an awkward drive | early by pulling hard. Howi ever. Goudreau yanked him • back on several occasions and i it was remarkable that the I horse could come on and take i third under a hard drive. Doctor Voss held on for fourth, ahead of Ascot Chance. First Count broke a hopple •.near the 400 m. I THORESEN WINS j - Ulf Thoresen advanced his j points tally to 100 and moved (into fourth place when he ‘gained the easiest of wins I with Lord Rodney in the Benson and Hedges Handicap. It came after two poor runs Ibv the pacers he drove earlier in the night and was well (received.

i Thoresen drove with great ['confidence, moving up from sixth near the 700 m. He took jthe lead from Bloxon near the 400 m and raced right (away to win by five lengths. Aka Boy, which led for a [time in the middle pan, made la renewed bid for Joe Marsh Jun. to take second, two iiengths in front of the outIsider. Bloxon. Be Free, Metronome and I Sunshield were not far away. Metronome and Nigel Craig ‘both broke at the start, while jNigel Craig broke again later (after showing speed for a time.