Chance With Vance successful

Press, 13 July 1989, Page 34

Chance With Vance successful

PA Auckland Chance With Vance bounced back from a three-month break from racing to win the first leg of the T.A.B. double at Alexandra Park on Tuesday.

After a couple of disappointing efforts in April, trainers Les Purdon and Steven Reid put the promising four-year-old aside for six weeks. On Tuesday, Reid, driving Chance With Vance, put on the pace with the gelding, when the mobile barrier pulled away and the horse quickly took up the running. But Chance With Vance did not have everything his own way. Firstly Bold Sharvid then Sharlene’s Pride had brief tussles for the lead, then Hayden Bromac moved forward to attack a lap from the finish. “On the turn I felt pretty confident we’d win but then he started to tire a bit and the others started to come at us hard,” said Reid, “but he is a good horse, a lot better than people think, and like good horses he found a bit extra when it mattered.” Chance With Vance lasted to win by a short neck from Bold Sharvid, which finished strongly down the middle of the track. His time for the 2200 m was a swift 2:44.9, which represented a mile rate of 2:00.7. “We might have to back off him a bit after that,” said Reid. “I wasn’t wanting to go that quickly really as it was his first race for some time, but we’ll have to see how he comes through the race before making any decisions.” The warm favourite, Noble Fella, raced three wide without cover most of the way and, after getting into tight quarters turning for home, rattled home late for third 1-1/4 lengths from Bold Sharvid. Mullaghmena, which raced three back on the inner, rallied well for fourth a head away with Full Alert, which trailed the winner all the way, and Wellsford lad, closeup next. Chance With Vance, a gelding by the champion sire Vance Hanover from Mama Cass, has won six of his 16 starts and managed four minor placings for stake-earnings of around $28,000.