Blue Heather’s Surprise Win In Photo Finish

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30539, 7 September 1964, Page 5

Blue Heather’s Surprise Win In Photo Finish

“The Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND, September 6.

Blue Heather, a Takanini mare, which had hardly entered discussions on the race, won a packed finish to the £2OOO Coronation Handicap at Avondale yesterday.

From most angles there was no say ing who had won but the photo-finish had Blue Heather in front by half a head.

In the last few yards Tardini made a great rush at Blue Heather and he was only a fraction too late. Paromac was next, then Craddock. The big disappointment was Kiwi Fox, the each-way win and place favourite and the most popular runner by a long way with doubles bettors. The rider of Kiwi Fox, R. Fisher, said his mount was lifeless and “seemed sluggish throughout the race.” This explanation was accepted by the judicial committee who inquired into the horse’s performance. The owner of Kiwi Fox, Mr R. Hjorth, said he was disappointed but not too dismayed by the run. Kiwi Fox would be going to Melbourne early in October and would race meanwhile at Matamata or Te Aroha. He thought the gelding’s failure was due to the holding ground. A six-year-old raced by her trainer, D. R. Wells, Blue Heather had not been successful since she took a middledistance at Whangafei in March. But in between she raced very well once or twice without much luck.

Overdale moved quickest from the start of the second

leg, the Shorts . Handicap, but in a few strides Gold Chat sprinted ahead. Thunderhead was slow and Crojack and Gay Cobbler also lost ground. Gold Chat was clear in front by* three lengths passing the half-mile. Good Day Peter had a good position next, a length ahead of Overdale, Dry Martini, General Derby and Astarito, Which were in a tight bunch. Gold Chat kept his lead on the bend into the straight. Overdale began to press Good Day Peter. General Derby and Astarito were handy fourth and fifth, clear of Dry Martini. With a furlong to go Over-

dale was challenging Gold Chat hard. Blue Bay started to improve and Dry Martini was prominent right on the inside. Overdale was spent well before the finish. Gold Chat did not have much in hand but he carried on sufficiently well to score by a length and a quarter. Overdale nosed Blue Bay out of second and there was a gap to Caballero, which came from the back into fourth. Thunderhead made ground to fifth followed by Dry Martini, General Derby, Astarito, Gay Cobbler. Dashing Star and Earl of Foxwood.