The finish to last season’s SBG Accountants Metropolitan Driver of the Year premiership couldn’t have been scripted any better.
Going into the last race at Melton on Sunday’s Breeders Crown Day – the final metropolitan race of the season – just one win separated two of Australasia’s champion reinsman, Chris Alford on 41 wins and Gavin Lang on 40.
Lang was aboard Whereibylong for the state’s dominant trainer, Emma Stewart, who took out both the Taylors Metropolitan Trainer of the Year and the Renown Silverware State Trainer of the Year titles, while Alford was on Milly Perez for one of the training stories of the year, Larry Eastman (of Menin Gate fame).
What ensued was engrossing.
Whereibylong hit the front at the 150-metre mark, with Milly Perez emerging strongly a length and a half behind.
Race caller Dan Mielicki called it beautifully: “Two great drivers Lang and Alford, Lang and Alford, they hit the line … oh nearly a dead heat. Nearly a dead heat. Might be Lang Whereibylong from Milly Perez and if it is it’s a draw in the metro drivers … but this is very close.”
Indeed “Dead-Eye Dan” was spot on again.
Lang’s short-half-head win on Whereibylong meant the two reinsman split the premiership spoils at 41 wins apiece, an extraordinary finish to the 2014-15 season.
Meanwhile, Greg Sugars won the Melton Saddlery State Driver of the Year title with 251 wins and Terang’s Jason Lee took out the Muir Equine Supplies Concession Driver of the Year with 78 wins.
>> Re-live the exciting final moments of the final metro race of season 2014-15
FINAL TRAINER/DRIVER PREMIERSHIP STANDINGS FOR SEASON 2014-15
Melton Saddlery State Driver of the Year: Greg Sugars (251 wins)
Renown Silverware State Trainer of the Year: Emma Stewart (170 wins)
SBG Accountants Metropolitan Driver of the Year: Chris Alford and Gavin Lang (41 wins)
Taylors Metropolitan Trainer of the Year: Emma Stewart (48 wins)
Muir Equine Supplies Concession Driver of the Year: Jason Lee (78 wins)
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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