Stormy Morn wins final

Press, 2 March 1981, Page 24

Stormy Morn wins final

XZPA Melbourne The New Zealand trotter, Stormy Morn, broke the class and track record in winning the 530,000 Australasian Trotters' Championship at Moonee Valley on Saturday evening. The New Zealand horses made a clean sweep of the final with No Response and Hano Direct finishing second and third and Kate’s Return, the only other New Zealand starter in the field, filled fourth spot. Stormy Morn, the 5-to-2 favourite, was rated to perfection by Jim O’Sullivan and scored by three metres from No Response, an 11-to-4 chance. Hano Direct (7-to-l) battled on well to be 12m away, third. Stormy Morn, which won the Dullard Cup early last month rated 2min 8.4 s for the 3300 m journey, eclipsing the class and

track record of the mighty . M3 ®’l dol idol, recognised as I Australia’s greatest square-gaiter rated 2min 8.9 s but Stormy Mora set such a blistering pace, that it 1 was always on the cards that the ■ "" M d orn P ?traightened up I only a neck clear of No . but it was soon obvious that me I six-year-old had more in hand. Hano Direct came from near ■ the rear of the never a serious contender, white Kate's Return was given every possible chance by tramer-dmer Jack Carmichael. The only other horae in the market Third Spot (3-t O-l ruined'its chance by galloping , twice during the run. i Third Spot looked to be a defii nite threat when he led | at tne I bell but broke into a gallop and

lost all chance, finishing a aos> erate eighth. ■ The result with New Z4sl lE ' a favouritisms and dividends 14; AUSTRALASIAN TROTTERS* CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL . ' $30,000; 3300 m 3/3 STORMY MORN (10) p. <; Moore’s b g by WestUni' King—Stormytime 6 yrs. 20 ■ J- O’Sullivan » i. 1/1 NO RESPONSE (11) 25 R. Brosnan * ; 5/6 HANO DIRECT (12) 25 D. rownley s Others in finishing order: t/i Kate’s Return. 7/7 Special Doi. lar, 8/10 Proud Stella, 9/11 R oyal Nandina. 2/2 Third Spot, 10/s Christian Leslie. 11/8 Jodie Armagh. 6/5 Regulation. 12/12 El, Cordobies. 3m. 12m. Time: 4:245, (Rate: 2:8.4, new class and track record). Trainer: J. O’Sullivan. Win: $7. Places: $2.20, sls5 t ’ $3.55. Quinella $5.65. •