 | RACING HISTORY |
YEAR: 1993
FEATURE RACE COMMENT
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| The Cup presentation to the connections of Chokin |
The real hero of the 1993 DB Draught NZ Cup finished at the back of the pack, driving one of the beaten runners. While Chokin dished up a serving of his best form to win the great race, Barry Purdon was a little too far back to observe the end of it. He came in 10th with Christopher Vance, who paid the price for a super fast beginning which left him parked in a race which really developed into a dash home from the 800 metres.
But it was Purdon who has been the key player in a fascinating tale of a brilliant 2-year-old who was put through the gauntlet at three, recovered from serious injury at four, and made the comeback complete at five by winning the Cup.
Well, almost complete, because he is almost certainly going to Sydney for the Miracle Mile later in the month, and if any race owes him something it is the Mile. In that race two years ago, as somthing of a new boy at the game, Chokin had a crack at Australasia's best and took an awful tumble when pressured hard during the race. There was much speculation beforehand, and more afterwards as the young star fell from grace. He had been trained by Roy and Barry Purdon for a glorious 3-year-old career, and on the night of the Mile moved to Bob Knight's stable. The Pacers Australia Syndicate was keen to run him in the race. So was Knight who by this stage had a share in him. Purdon was not.
After the Miracle, Chokin eventually returned to racing, winning the South Australian Derby and a heat of the Victorian one. But then he suffered a tendon injury to his near foreleg that put him out of the Victoria Derby. Chokin went out for a long spell after the operation, and the syndicate took time out to consider its next move.
In September, to the syndicate's credit, they sent the horse back to Roy and Barry Purdon. "When we took the horse away, Roy and Barry willingly let the horse go to another trainer," said syndicate manager Terry Henderson. "And then, when he recovered, they were only too happy to take him back," he said. "You can put it down to Barry's skills. He got to know the horse. He can be a bit piggie. Bob was very keen on starting in the Miracle Mile, and so were most of the syndicate. That was the worst day in my life in harness racing, but today, winning the Cup, is the pinnacle. It is a great sense of enjoyment, and this win is dedicated to Barry," he said.
Partners with the syndicate in Chokin are two Melbourne men, and Aucklander Bert de Boer. Like Henderson, Barry agrees that Chokin is "a bit of a one-man band horse. You have to pamper him, but he doesn't like a lot of fuss. In some ways, he has to be treated a bit like a stallion," he said.
Chokin was trained for a start by Brian Hughes, and after winning for of his five starts as a 2-year-old for Pam Hughes and Sue Meadows was sold and went to the Purdons where he remained unbeaten in eight starts before going to Sydney. "That was a bad experience in Sydney, for us and the horse," recalled Barry. "It was sad to see it, and Christopher Vance won the race. I guess he's old enough to handle it now," he commented.
With a formline this season of 1740, it was hard to know whether Chokin was on a winning course for the Cup, although there was little doubt in the mind of the public who backed him strongly. "He was a wee bit disappointing at Kaikoura; there's no point in saying otherwise. I thought he'd done the work, but perhaps the turns and the pole made him a bit unsettled. I backed off him a bit after that, and then he did work terrific on the Sunday before. It was as good a work as anything I've done with him," he said.
Chokin gave Tony Herlihy his third win in the race, following that of Luxury Liner in 1988 and Christopher Vance two years ago in 1991.
Chokin has now raced 34 times for 22 wins and five minor placings for stakes of around $730,000. He is racing testimony to the skills of great trainers, a great driver and what has been a great comeback to the top level.
Master Musician was a game second, being unofficially timed to run his last 800 metres in 54.6. Giovanetto and Blossom Lady came next.
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in the HR Weekly