Two N.Z. trotters in Saturday’s Final

Press, 9 March 1978, Page 20

Two N.Z. trotters in Saturday’s Final

From G. K. YULE in Melbourne

New Zealand will have Spartan Prince and Waipounamu to do battle with Maori’s Idol in the final for trotters on Saturday. However, neither was particularly impressive in the third qualifying heat.

Spartan Prince trotted beautifully in the lead but he almost became unbalanced as Weeona Dancer rushed up to him near the 300 m. Doody Townley was unable to let the four-year-old go. Had he released the reins the horse would have broken. It was left to Storm Rider to dash past him and come on to win by six metres; with Touch Merchant cutting Spartan Prince out of second by two metres. Silken made ground for fourth. “He went a lot better than he did on Saturday and 1 thought he would still win until the other horse joined

him on the home turn after which he felt horrible,” said Townley.

Waipounamu raced back in the field but he was not at ease on the bends. He rushed up to'be fairly handy only to break at the 350 m. He came again for seventh. “He was great in the straight but hopeless on the bends,” said Peter Jones. Permission to use a boring pole on Waipounamu in the final is to be sought from the stewards.

New Zealand’s hopes of having perhaps more than two pacers in the Grand Final were increased when Wee

Win failed by the barest of margins to overhaul the pacemaker Don’t Retreat in the fourth- Pacers’ heat.

Wee Win was heavily backed to start at 3-to-l. He enjoyed a perfect trail behind Don’t Retreat and when that runner drifted out in the run home he charged through along the rail, missing by half a head. Don’t Retreat, under treatment until yesterday afternoon for a leg ailment, fought on gamely for his win, with Dimante Hanover almost in line in third place. Abidair and Hermosa Star dead-heated for fourth „ a nose in front of Regal Light, which made ground from the rear but was forced almost off the track. Don’t Retreat which has now won $338,317 paced the mile in Imin 59.95ec with the last 800 m in 57.75ec. Results:—

INTER-DOMINION TROTTING CHAMPIONSHIP Third heat; 2900 m. STORM RIDER (1) It N. Shinn 1 TUCH MERCHANT (12) 10 G. Wilson 2 SPARTAN PRINCE (3) It D. Townley 3 Others in finishing order: Silken, Weeona Dancer. El Cordobies, Waipounamu, Billboard, Olympic Medal, Strong Flex. Six metres, two metres. Time: 3:53.2. Win: $6.85. Places: $1.75, $1.70, $1.65

INTER-DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIP Fourth heat; 1609 m. DON’T RETREAT (2) It L. Moulds 1 WEE WIN (1) It W. Butt 2 DIMANTE HANOVER (10) It T. Hutchings 3 Others in finishing order: Abidair and Hermosa Star (equal fourth), Regal Light, Michael Frost. Apre Ski, Dillon Titian, Nixon Adios. Half a head, head, dead-heat. Time: 1:59.9. Win: $4. Places: $1.55. $1.15. $4.70.

INTER-DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIP Fifth heat; 1609 m ROYAL GAZE (1) it K. Pocock 1 VELVET PRINCE (3) It F. Kersley 2 JUNCTION ROAD (1) It R. Treasure 3 Others in finishing order: Lincoln Star. Markovina, Transpec. Captain Harcourt. Sporting Son, On Credit, Time: 1:59.4. Win: $4.80. Places: $1.45, $4.30, $7.75.