Purvis poised to make return from injury

If trotter Madison Jane can run as quickly her Oamaru junior driver Charlotte Purvis can heal, then she is a sure bet at Forbury Park tonight.

But with the rate at which the reinswoman has returned to the sulky after injury it is a big ask for the trotter to produce the same lightning speed.

Purvis tore her acromioclavicular (AC) joint when she landed on her shoulder during a spectacular crash in the lead-up to a race at Waikouaiti in late February.

Medical advice at the time suggested that her arm would still be in a sling tonight, but instead Purvis will be using them to hold on to the reins of the Phil Williamson-trained Madison Jane.

It was estimated Purvis would be out of action for three months, but tonight's meeting is just six weeks after her injury.

''It is unbelievable how fast it has healed. I listened to the doctors early so that helped,'' she said.

Purvis has no nerves about going back on the track for the first time since her tumble from the sulky at Waikouaiti.

''No, I am just ready to get back out there. I have been driving at home so I am ready to get right back in to it.''

Madison Jane could not only provide Purvis with a comeback win, but also with an early birthday present - she turns 24 hours after the race. .

Like her driver, Madison Jane returns to racing without the benefit of a recent race. The 4yr-old has been working well in preparation for her first race since June last year, Purvis said.

While his former driver has been on the sidelines, veteran squaregaiter Holdon Toyaspurs has taken his game to new levels. Purvis has had to watch as her brother, Matt, and Nathan Williamson have both won on the horse she had driven regularly.

Nathan Williamson and the 10yr-old Holdon Toyaspurs will be in action again tonight. They meet a field similar to the line-up they defeated at Forbury Park last week and should prove tough to beat in race 7.

Linton Shard and Dexter Dunn were also convincing winners at last week's meeting and they, too, should go close in race 10, tonight's feature pace.

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