FALSE STEP IN FINAL

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28531, 10 March 1958, Page 5

FALSE STEP IN FINAL

Inter-Dominion Championship (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) ADELAIDE, March 9. New Zealand will have two representatives, False Step and Gentry, in the Grand Final of the 1958 interDominion championships in Adelaide nex| Saturday. , This was the result of the four qualifying heats necessary to restrict the finalists to 12.

The horses to contest the £lO,OOO race, and the points they scored to qualify, were:—False Step (N.Z.) 11 points, Beloro (South Australia) 8, Sibelia (N.S.W.) 8, Fettle (N.S.W.) 7, Kiwi Dillon (Western Australia) 7, Radiant Venture (South Australia) 7, Dillon Tower (Western Australia) 7, Para Step (South Australia) 6, Free Hall (South Australia) 6, First Division (Victoria) 6, Gentry (N.Z.) 5Y2, and Taminga (South Australia) s’/ 2 .

The only New Zealand representative that did not qualify was Caduceus, but injury to a leg prevented him from contesting more than one heat.

It a well-balanced field for the final with four horses from scratch, five from 12 yards and two from 24 yards. This is the first time since the inception of the championships that all competing States have gained representations in the final. Gentry was the luckiest horse at the carnival to .gain a place in the final. He was battling .for points before the final qualifying series and before Saturday night had gained only four points, which was insufficient to assure him of a place in the final.

In his last qualifying heat he finished fourth to Taminga and shared the three points for fastest time.

Taminga was being eased up as he went on to victory and there is no doubt that had N. Webster driven Taminga right out he would have gained full points to the detriment of Gentry, which then would not have got into the final.

Second Heat In the second heat Sibelia beat Crown Law and False Step with a brilliant run. Sibelia was also battling for points and she gained a full tally with four for her win and three for fastest time.

By a tenth of a second she bettered False Step's time with 2min 12 3-ssec as against False Step’s 2min 12 7-10 sec.

False Step, from 24 yards, was giving Sibelia 12 yards start and found the New South Wales mare too brilliant.

Last year’s inter-Dominion winner, Radiant Venture,- regained form to win his heat from Fettle and Chief Spring. Radiant Venture gained the'

full seven points, his first of the series, to take him into the final. Order of betting for the final is: 3/1 Sibelia, 4/1 Fettle, 7/1 Taminga, Radiant Venture; 10/1 False Step, 14/f Beloro, 20/1 Kiwi Dillon, First Division, Dillon Tower; 25/1, Gentry, 33/1 Free Hall, 100/1 Para Step. Details of the third and final heats, run over two miles, less 136 yards, were:— First Division • TAMINGA 12 N. Webster 1 Dillon Tower 12 .. J. Schrader 2 Bungulla scr .. F. Ehlers 3 Gentry 24yds .. .. D. Watts 4 Twelve yards; neck. Time: 4min 13 4-ssec.

Betting: 6 to 4 (Taminga), 9 to 2 [Dillon Tower), 25 to 1. (Bungulla). Dividends.—Win: 6s 3d. Places: 3s Jd. 3s 3d, 7s 3d.

Fastest time: Taminga and Gentry, 2min U.ssec.

Second Division SIBELIA 12 .. J. Watts 1 Crown Law 12 .. ..J. Barron 2 False Step 24 .. F. Kersley 3 Findon Joe 12 D. Brook 4 Six yards; six yards. Time: 4min 14 4-ssec. Betting: 10 to 9 on (Sibelia), 3 to 1 against (False Step),' 7 to 1 (Crown Law). Dividends.—Win; 4s. Places: 2s 6d, 4s 6d. 3s 9d. Fastest time: Sibelia, 2min 12 3-5' sec. Third Division BELORO scr ..' .. K. Brook 1 First Division scr .. G. Wilson 2 Malniri 12 .'. .. J. Watts 3 Fire Chief scr .. N. Webster 4 Yard; yard. Time: 4min 20sec. Dividends.—Win: 9s 3d. Places: 3s 3d, 3s, -9s. Fastest time: Malniri, 2min 14 9-10 sec. Fourth Division RADIANT VENTURE 24 F. Connor 1 Fettle 12 .. .. R. Hayes 2 Chief Spring scr .. N. Webster 3 Kiwi Dillon scr .. M. Johnson 4 Short head; 20 yards. Time: 4 min 13.5 sec. Betting: 10 to 9 on (Fettle), 7 to 2 (Radiant Venture), 20 to 1 Chief Spring. Dividends.—Win: 6s. Places: 2s 3d. 2s 3d. 7s 3d. Fastest time: Radiant Venture, 2 min 10 4-ssec.

TRIALS AT HORORATA NOMINATIONS for Qualifying Trials (details “Calendar,” March 5, 1958), close at 5 p.m. TODAY. MID-CANTERBU&Y OWNERS' AND BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION, L. E. CARTER, Box 10. 'Phone 5770, Ashburton. —Advt,