Break Through Wins But Not In Final

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31323, 20 March 1967, Page 4

Break Through Wins But Not In Final

Although he gained an easy win in fast time and secured sufficient points to qualify, Break Through will not be able to contest the final of the New Zealand Trotting Championship next Saturday at Addington Raceway.

Break Through did not start in the first set of heats. He was withdrawn without the permission from the programme committee required by the conditions of the programme. The president of the club (Mr R. W. Saunders) announced on Saturday that Break Through was ineligible to start in the final, but would be able to start in the Consolation Race. The other heat was won by Asia Minor, which, like Break Through, is owned and trained at Leeston. Asia Minor did not complete the course on the first night after being involved in a mix-up near the straight entrance.

The heats of the Trotting Championship were the oncourse double. The Asia Minor-Break Through combination paid £94 for £1 and the Asia Minor-Mighty Chief concession combination paid £7 8s 6d for £l. Mighty Chief, with 13 points, headed the list of 13 horses to gain points in the four heats. With Break Through to start in the Consolation Race and Johnny Gee to be withdrawn, it seems likely that the other 11 will form the field for the final.

The scorers of points were: —Mighty Chief, 13; Asia Minor, Le Chant, seven; Tronso, five; Break Through, four; Direct Globe, Johnny Gee, Uteena, three; Flying Maiden, Poupette, two; Harbour Light. Logan Count, Towser, one. Glen Dee and Russell made mistakes in the first furlong of the third heat. Uteena quickly pulled to the front, with Asia Minor moving up outside Seven Nights in second place. Uteena led for home, just ahead of Asia Minor, with Tronso improving further out, ahead of Seven Nights, Flying Maiden and Harbour Light, which broke soon after. Asia Minor looked to be in for a comfortable win inside the last half-furlong, but Uteena fought back and Asia

Minor had to be driven out to win by half a head. Uteena held second a length in front of Tronso, with Logan Count making ground for fourth half a length back, shading Flying Maiden, Le Chant, which finished strongly from well back, and Seven Nights. Break Through was quickly in control in the other heat and he set a strong pace which had the majority of his rivals struggling well before the home turn. Towser was in second place in the middle stages, with Stylish Major, Direct Globe and Mighty Chief fairly handy.

Mighty Chief was in second place before the half-mile and he tracked Break Through to the straight. Break Through was not tested and won by more than two lengths. Mighty Chief trotted a fine race from the back mark to finish second, a length and a half in front of Direct Globe, with two lengths to Towser and a slightly longer break to Forward March. Then, after gaps, came Queen’s Cord, Johnny Gee, which showed no dash and will be spelled, and Poupette, another to race disappointingly. French Pass broke badly not long after the start and finished last.