By Mike Love
The New Zealand Amateur Drivers championship will conclude today at Addington raceway with two final heats.
Currently there are three leaders in the series locked up on seven points in Bruce Hadley, Cheree Wigg and Frank Phelan, while each driver has a mathematical chance to take out the series with only seven points separating all of the drivers.
At the opposite end of the table on zero points is Craig Sharpe. However, Sharpe will drive the two warm favourites – the Matt Purvis trained Almighty Clever in Race 1, the Beauty Barry NZ Amateur Driver Champs (Heat 3) Mobile Pace over 1980m while in Race 3, the Braxton Farriers NZ Amateur Driver Champs (Heat 4) Mobile Pace over 1980m he links links up with Stephs Boy for trainer Bob Butt.
Sharpe will be looking to finish off the series with a strong late burst having landed these two significant drives.
““They’re both in-form and are both live chances. I haven’t had a lot of luck so far in the series – so it’s good to be lucky enough to land these drives today,” said Sharpe.
“They’ve both got good form, but have just got niggly draws.”
Almighty Clever was a strong winner in the second heat at Addington on Friday night. Sharpe and Almighty Clever have drawn somewhat awkwardly in five today, though there is some confidence.
“I followed it in the run the other night, so he went good to win from where it came from.”
Other chances in the event include Gliding High for driver Michael House, and Kowhai Nugget for Colleen Negus.
Stephs Boy in the final heat (2.35pm) comes into the race second up after winning at Addington last week.
Sharpe and Stephs Boy have drawn the outside of the gate, and will therefore need to work at some stage in the race.
“They led pretty easily last week, but I don’t think it’ll come that easy this time. I’ll just have to see what instructions they give me.”
Race one gets underway at 1.24pm.
