Felix Newfield top driver in championship

Press, 17 March 1977, Page 29

Felix Newfield top driver in championship

Felix Newfield enjoyed most consistent success among the fifteen competitors in the Drivers Championship run at Addington Raceway

last evening. He gained two wins, a fourth and a fifth and finished with 55 points, 5 in front of Doody Townley, who had one win, two seconds and a tenth.

I In third place was Pat : O’Reilly, w'ho looked to hive . a winning chance until Lo<j ’ Burlington broke when lyinj 1 about fourth with 500 m to ' run in the final event.

Fourth was Jack Carmichael with 40 points, followed by Bob Cameron with 36, Henry Skinner 35, Jack Smolensk! 34, Peter Wolfenden 28, Wes Butt and John Langdon 26, Derek Jones and Paddy

I'mimins 24, Alistair Maicolmson 21, Mike de Filippi and Tom Knowles 19. Although some of the lorses gave their drivers a difficult time the reinsmen all siowed the skill which had gi'sn them great successes ove. many years. In fact some of the 'horses showed form 'ar in advance of anything tiey had done for some time.

The club must have been disappointed with the crowd of 5500 which was down some 500 on the corresponding meeting last year. This could hardly be blamed on the standard of driving but rather on the poor class of horses engaged. Tom Pepper, which graduated from maiden company at Wyndham on Saturday, got Felix Newfield away to a good start in the first race of the series, the A.W.A. Deep Image Handicap He was well back early and rushed to the front before the 600 m. He opened up a handylead on the home turn and lasted it out well by a length and a half. In a keen tussle for the minor placlngs Butler Belle got up for second, ahead of Gay Jaydee, with Te Anau Lady a rather unlucky fourth, shading Stephen Direct, Emanar, Exterminator, Suzy Del and Ungava. TOWNLEY SCORES Doody Townley, who drove Butler Belle, went one better In the Teachers Whisky Handicap, when he drove the 27-to-l shot, Stenhousemuir, to beat the unlucky Del Revue by half a neck. Harlem Cherie, badly \way and in front from the J)om, was only a head away Hird, with a neck to Pecos "H, which was clear of Maruakol Lad. D\l Revue, after receiving a good run, was pushed back six on the home turn. Pat OTteily had to switch him wide to sedire a run and there was much herit In his placing. r. E. Newfield took a lead of S J, after the third race, which he won with the Rangioratrained S»armbro. He led the chase up \o the five horses to open up a handv lead in the early part of the race and waited on the leaders till the home turn.

Sharmbro lad too much in reserve for others and won bv two lengths from Wesenelli, with a longer sreak to Plcotee. Dickey Bill trowed a fair race for fourth ahead of the pacemaker, Bankstowx, The hot favouXte, Not Surprise, broke twice and finished at the rear. Another well-backed runner in Question, Mark, vzas never a chance ard finished eighth. Lordable driven by lohn Langdon, put In a late claim in the Coruba Rum Handicap and got up In the last stride io shade Dannymlte which attennpted to lead for the last 1300 m. Miss Honour was beaten off this! with gans to Jollification and Fallacy Lass.

Newfield got Fallacy Lass sway splendidly and nursed her along In about fifth position. She vas beaten at the straight entrance but Just lasted long enough to ensure that Newfield maintained his lead In the competition.