Stablemates to race next in final

Press, 26 October 1984, Page 11

Stablemates to race next in final

Special correspondent Auckland Plans to race Placid Victor and Frederick before the 6100,000 final of the New Zealand Sires -Stakes Series at Addington Raceway on November 13 have been abandoned. Sandy Purdon, their trainer, said at Pukekohe yesterday that efforts to have them flown to Christchurch the day before the race had been successful. “If we hadn’t been able to fly them down then, both horses would have gone to Christchurch before the first day of the meeting,” Purdon said. "And they would have raced on one of the first two days and possibly both.” Billbob and Bardon Bridge, which are trained by Sandy Purdon’s brother, Roy, will be on the same flight if they qualify in the second North Island Semifinal at Cambridge tonight. Both horses are in fine trim, according to Roy Purdon’s training partner, his

son, Barry. “They should go well at Cambridge,” said Barry .Purdon, who confesses he will be “very surprised” if Billbob, especially, does not qualify. The first two in the nontotalisator race, will join Placid Victor and Frederick in the field for the final. Sandy Purdon said Frederick would not race, or even have a run at trials, before the big race. “I will keep him fresh, which is the way he races best, just like I did for the Juvenile Championship.” Frederick was a close second to Nardinski in the New Zealand Juvenile Championship last June. But Placid Victor will compete at a matinee meeting at Pukekohe on November 7. Maurice McKendry will drive Placid Victor at Addington. If the unexpected happens and Billbob fails to qualify, Peter Wolfenden will drive Frederick. Otherwise Purdon plans to. ask Peter Jones to drive him.