Odds Shortened On Robin Dundee

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30982, 11 February 1966, Page 12

Odds Shortened On Robin Dundee

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY. Bookmakers clipped the odds of the New Zealand pacer Robin Dundee for the 1966 Inter-Dominion Championships after the mare’s magnificent win at Harold Park, Sydney, on Wednesday night.

Robin Dundee gave one of the greatest performances of her career in the third heat of the second qualifying division. She is now 2/1 favourite to become the first pacer to win two Inter-Dominion titles since 1953. After being in an apparently hopeless position 11 lengths behind the leader a furlong and a half from home and appearing to be blocked, she came wide on the outside to win by four yards. It was a memorable performance and the crowd of 16,792 roared their approval as the track commentator gasped: “What a performance, what a performance. That must be one of the greatest performances we have ever seen at Harold Park.” The New Zealander, Tactile, was unable to add to his two points gained on Saturday and was a surprise failure in the

first heat of the night after being heavily backed from 6/4 to even money favouritism.

He finished ninth of the 11 starters in the race, which was won by the Tasmanian Chamfer Star, which had beaten Minuteman on Saturday. Chamfer Star’s trainer, M. Truer, said the pacer was a “good thing” for the final. He has firmed in the betting to fourth favourite at 8/1. The former New Zealand reinsman, B. Forrester, played a big part in Chamfer Star s win by letting him take the lead and then disrupting the running by slowing down in the straight and sprinting him on the bends. As well as the eight pointsscorers in the trotting championship Hammerhead (New South Wales) and Palmara Bay (New South Wales) —both fourth in their heats on Wednesday—are likely to get a start in Saturday’s grand final. The other New Zealand trotters, Fourina and Last Bob, did not qualify for the final. Neither scored a point in the two qualifying divisions. Points after Wednesday’s heats are:— Pacers’ Championship Dale’s Gift (Vic.), 14; Robin Dundee (N.Z.), 12; Chamfer Star (Tas.), 8; Minuteman (S.A.), 5; Scotirra (N.S.W.), Tarcoola (N.S.W.), 4; Double Adios (N.S.W.), 3; Tactile (N.Z.), Lookout (N.S. W.), Tenth Rose (Tas.), 2; Golden Rule (N.S.W.), Flaming Star (N.S.W.), Jacobite (N.Z.), Blue Pennant (W.A.). 1. Trotters’ Championship Sugar ‘n’ Spice (S.A.), 9; Maori Miss (Vic.), Corop McElwin (Vic.), 8: Gramel (S.A.), 5; Panther’s Flight (Vic.), 3: Queen’s Cord (N.Z.) 2; Lucky Song (N.S.W.), Yamamoto (N.S.W.), 1.