Lord Module beaten by Pure Steel

Press, 15 March 1980, Page 6

Lord Module beaten by Pure Steel

From

G. K. YULE

Sydney Second placing by Lord Module and Locarno gave New Zealand some hopes of playing a major part in the $130,000 Grand Final of the Intoer-Dominion Pacing Championships on March 23. However, their efforts, in particular that of Lord Module, last night were not quite as good as their many admirers might have hoped. The trotters, Stormy Mom and Hano Direct, also recorded second placings in their heats, both giving the impression that they would benefit in the result of their races.

The first two heats for pacers were noteworthy for the fact that the winners were trained by women. Lehigh Lad is prepared by Mrs Fran Donoghue while Double Agent is trained by Mrs Margaret Frost. Paleface Adios, the idol of Harold Park crowds, was successful in thefir st heat, while the Western Australian champion was more than a match for Lord Module in the final event in the programme. Pure Steel surged up to the leaders on the home turn and drew out to win by six metres from Lord Module which lasted to beat Taronga. Lord Module began safely from his outside barrier position and settled in fourth position. Devine took him out into the open and he was being tracked by Pure Steel when according to his driver he jumped a piece of paper on the track near the 1600 m and broke. He settled fairly quickly and dropped in behind 'Pure Steel but was under pressure at the 700 m. He gave the leaders a start of a good 6m with 500 m to run and displayed great courage to get into second place. Devine, who received a roasting from the crowd as he took Lord Module towards the track for the race, said that he felt that had the horse not broken he would have won.

The Harold Park favourite, Paleface Adios, made no race of the third pacing heat, his

win being warmly received by the crowd which gave him a standing ovation when he paraded in front of the stands. It was the 10-year-olds 102nd win. He sped out of the barrier and Was soon a clear leader. The second favourite, Frosty Imp, improved to second in the open with about 1200 m to run, and made a vain effort to overhaul the old champion, failing by seven metres. Lea Sands, handy all the way, battled on for third three metres back, with Eximio, owned and trained by a former Christchurch man, John 'O’Leary, next. The Auckland mare, Katy’s Command, began safely from the second line but appeared to object to being checked off the horse in front of her and broke badly. She showed speed to pass two other runners but will have to Show better form to have much chance of wining a heat. Stormy Morn, an odds-on favourite in the second trotting heat, raced in the open for the last 1600 m and failed by a head to catch the pacemaker, Hampton’s Pride. Gin Gold after trailing and breaking with 1800 m left, struggled in to third placing nine metres away with Splashdown at the head of the others.

1 Stormy Mom’s run was i J sound one even though thj i pace was not exceptionally 5 strong. He has thrived since - his arrival in Sydney and should be all the better foj - the race. Concluding results:— > PACING CHAMPIONSHIP Third heat; 1960 m. i PALEFACE AOIOS (N.S.W.) ‘ FROSTY (N.S.W.) C 'J> lk lt 1 '■ LEA SANDS (Vlef ’ ... . K - Innes I , _ Othsrs in finishing order [ Exunio, Local Motive, Bral 1 Adios, High Morre, Katy’s Com , mand, Watbrbo Del Eva Thos 7m. 3n i Time: 2:23.2. Wii? $4.20. Places: $1.70, ?2.75, $4.33

TROTTERS CHAMPIONSHIP Second heat; 2700 m. HAMPDEN'S PRIDE (Vic.) (7) 10 T Lee I STORMY MORN (N.Z.) (5) T - Thomas | GIN SOLD (N.Z.) (2) It -. K. Newman 1 _ in finishing ordei Splashdown, Billboard, Christia} Leslie, Mighty Miller. Hiltoj Adios. Hd. 9m. Time: 3:41.4 Wim s ' ls ’ places: $3-90. 85} PACING CHAMPIONSHIP Fourth heat; 1960 m. PURE STEEL (W.A.) (4) It LORD MODULE (TLZ.HT?™ 1 " ' TARONGA (Vie.) (3) C ’lt DeViße C- PoweU ... - rs ln finishing order: Apt nte, Single Again, Chime Baj Talcum, Gay Hondo, Jacraj Adios, Toughkenamon. 6m, h( Time: 2:31.8. Win: $2.30. Placet $l. 80c. $9.30. Quinella: $2.50.

Early races, page 21.