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RACING HISTORY

FEATURE RACE COMMENT

Advance Attack (outer) & Marika fight out the finish

There were any number of side issues during and following the Ferrymead Restaurant & Bars NZ Welcome Stakes. The race was won by Advance Attack, the In The Pocket brother to Courage Under Fire owned by John Seaton and trained by Mark Purdon.

The colt had no luck in the early settling of places, but had moved by the 800m and had joined Marika soon after. They cut away from the others in the straight, and it appeared Marika had the measure of Advance Attack 50 metres out.

Circumstances changed dramatically from there. Ricky May, the driver of Marika, lost his whip after it tangled with a back hopple. Then, just as Advance Attack levelled up near the line, Marika appeared to turn his head to the left, which may have been the slim difference there was between the pair at the end. "My horse is very genuine," said Purdon. "He is only little, but he has a big heart, just like his brother."

Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 7Apr04