R. Behrns takes narrow lead

Press, 20 January 1979, Page 20

R. Behrns takes narrow lead

By

W. R. Carston

The Canterbury-based Robert Behrns took a narrow points lead in the Air N.Z. Probationary Drivers’ Championship Stakes when he drove Idolmite to victory over Scotch Spot in the second final of the four-race series at Addington Raceway last evening. In getting the Palmerstontrained Local Light mare home by half a head Behrns earned 11 points to take his current tally to 15.5, one more than Alex Milne, who

drove Scott’s Mistake to victory in the first final at Invercargill last Saturday but did not have a drive in last evening’s race, and 1.5 points ahead of Peter McMillan and Peter Shand, who currently share third place. While Shand tried for an all-the-way win with Springfield Prince, Behrns had Idolmite sharing the third line with Waterton and just behind Scotch Spot, driven by McMillan, and Mandarin.

Springfield Prince held his lead until they were well into the run home but close to the end he was swamped for finishing speed by Idolmite and Scotch Spot. The Probationary Drivers’

Championship was the second leg of the on-course treble. No Excuses Little could be offered in the way of excuses for those which finished behind Bamboo in the first leg, the Mazda Stakes. The West-port-owned and trained four-year-old was last of 15 running into the last 1400 m, made good progress three wide down the back the last time and headed off the favourite, Harley, on the home turn. In the run home Bamboo kept all the challengers out to win by a length. In finishing second Rosewood Garrison rounded off a quinella, worth $78.25, for Westport stables. Lumber

Boy was a close third ahead of Springfield Maid and Noble Conauest. $449 Dividend

Flaxton rounded off tht course treble, worth $449.80, when he gave most of tht rivals a start into the last 600 m and a beating in the Christchurch Handicap. Flaxton saw the leisurely* run metric two miles out strongly to beat Hurricane Kirk, another fairly well off the pace till late in the. piece, by a neck. Ganelon which set much of the early pace then tracked Profiteer when the favourite dashedto the lead 800 m out, battled on gamely for third ahead of Smart Doll, which had tracked him all the way, and the weakening Profiteer.