Billbob wins Stakes Final

Press, 28 May 1984, Page 28

Billbob wins Stakes Final

PA Auckland Billbob, a costly buy by Auckland trotting identity, Mr Max Harvey, returned his owner three-quarters of his purchase price when he won the Image International New Zealand Sires’ Stakes Final at Alexandra Park on Saturday evening. Driven by Peter Wolfenden, Billbob trailed three back on the inside until he got a gap on the home turn. From there he stormed to a three-quarter length victory. Malaz, an Invercargill visitor, finished gamely for second, a length and a half clear of Folie Bergere. The favourite, Loveridge, could do no better than sixth, and Master Mood was a disappointing seventh. Billbob, a two-year-old bay colt by Vance Hanover from Vai Trust, cost Mr Harvey $BO,OOO and earned $60,000 in winning Saturday’s $lOO,OOO feature event. Trained by Roy and Barry Purdon at Cievedon, Billbob’s stake earnings are now $79,000. Slugger completed the TAB. double with Billbob by taking the second leg, the Hosking Memorial Handicap. Driven by trainer, Dennis Scott, Slugger settled at the back of the 10-horse field, but made a sharp forward move with just over 600 m to run. Keeping up a game run, Slugger scored by a head from Kiwi Reign, which was closing on him over the final stages. Third, a neck

away, was the favourite, Direct Kiwi, the pacemaker for most of the 3200 m journey.