Barry Purdon retains drivers’ title

Press, 4 March 1982, Page 23

Barry Purdon retains drivers’ title

By

G. K. YULE

Barry Purdon retained his New Zealand Drivers’ Championship title when the final four events of the eight-race series were run at The New Brighton Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington Raceway last evening.

The title was not decided until the final event, the Firestone Cavallino Radial Handicap., in which his nearest rival, Henry Skinner, finished third with Thurber Globe. Purdon drove Chance Fortune, which finished second last, but the four

points he received gave him a total of 87. Skinner was three points away on 74, ahead of Graeme Harris, with - 74, Owen Purdon and Richard Brosnan, with 68, and Peter Wolfenden, with 64. Wolfenden, who had had a trying time behind his other

three drives, dictated the pace over the last 1600 m with the Southland-trained Jilaire’s Chance. Kept up to her work in the run home, Jilaire’s Chance won untested by four lengths in a very slow 4min 19.65, with the last 800 m in 58.65. Twilight Mist. which

started from 20m and held the lead for a short time after the 1800 m, did well for second, ahead of Thurber Globe, which cut Panair out of third by a head. Cle Vallee came strongly for fifth, ahead of Auchen Bay and Braemar. The favourite, Tipperary, produced none of the dash which marked his win at Washdyke last Saturday and he finished a most disappointing eighth. Barry Purdon started the night well when he drove .Count Brandon into second place in the Mitsubishi Mobile Pace. He had no chance with Never Bend, driven by Peter Jones, but was not seriously challenged for second, taking that placing by three-quarters of a length from Spry Lad, which was subsequently disqualified for causing interference with 500 m to run. Purdon had to be content with ninth behind Proudfoot in the Manchester Fiat Handicap. a rather dismal contest due solely to the lack of ability of the majority of the runners. Geranee, driven by Graham Reaks, ■ covered some extra ground to win by a head from a solid finisher in Game Lark, driven by Richard Brosnan. Batal battled away for third, shading Tuft’s Best, which received a poor run in the straight. Purdon advanced his lead over his nearest rivals when he drove Ginger Creek in the Hutchinson Ford Stakes. He attempted to lead the field over the final 1400 m, but was caught in the last stride or two by Magda Sorrel, which responded well to the urgings of Henry Skinner to win by half a head. Duplex Hanover came strongly from well back for third, ahead of Joy Boy, which did remarkably well after being checked when the favourite, Kakama, broke badly with about 1600 m to run. Stormborn paced another honest race for fifth, with Buono Volato pacing an eyecatching race to ’finish a head back. Buono Volato is a candidate for the Greymouth meeting on Saturday. Those who invested tickets on Del Haven in the Federal Motors Daihatsu Handicap, the final leg of the second on-course treble, received a dividend of $3072.40 when she finished second to Miss Louise, on which no tickets were invested. Owned and trained by Ron Fergusson, Miss Louise was having her first start. She challenged strongly along the rails over the final 100 m and won by a length and a quarter. Del Haven held second by half a head from the favourite, Templar, which covered extra ground.