Getting Closer’s

Press, 12 July 1984, Page 36

Getting Closer’s

NZPA staff correspondent Sydney New Zealand raiders put in solid efforts for little reward in the delayed Rothmans 100,000 meeting at Doomben, Brisbane, yesterday. The $lBO,OOO feature race over 1350 m, which had been widely regarded as sewn up by the New Zealand sprinter, Mr Illusion, went to one of his two major rivals for the spring, Getting Closer. With Mr Illusion scratched yesterday morning because of a leg injury, it was left to Final Affair to

give the New Zealand camp some satisfaction with a return to his early form in a photo finish. The Mussorgsky four-year-old shrugged off the problems that have dogged him on this campaign to come flying home for a place in the three-way photo to sort out the minor placings. The other New Zealander, Noble Note, also put in a good run, coming home tenth in the 19-horse field after racing midfield most of the way. The race was turned into something of a lottery when

Lord Ballina missed the start, and coming into the straight it was the Taipan II filly, Anything Tudor, which skipped clear. But she had not gone 50m before Getting Closer caught her, while Final Affair came fast down the outside to stake his claim as they crossed the line. Getting Closer finished threequarters of a length clear, with little more than a neck separating Mr Magic, Prince Hervey and Final Affair.

the run by Final Affair will give the trainer, Nigel Landers, plenty of heart after he saw the gelding run last on his previous outing, just a fortnight after he had set the pundits talking with a first-up third in the Elders.

But it was the two legs of the 2020 m Chairman’s Handicap which held the most importance for the New Zealand camp, because of its preview value for thes2oo,ooo Fourex Cup on Saturday. With both the Tattersail’s Cup and last Saturday’s racing lost through industrial action, trainers were desperate to get a line on their charges under race conditions, and the results will have given the New Zealanders some satisfaction.

The first leg of the Chairman’s went to the Habitation mare, Hayley’s Hope. She scored from Hussar's Command and the One Pound Sterling colt, Old Currency.

But the New Zealanders, Coober’s Gold and Miles Better, were fast-finishing fourth and fifth placegetters. Beaver Boy, Il Vento and The Dimple were right behind them. The disappointment for the punters was the failure of the favourite, Librici, which pulled hard in the early stages, settled down, but had no fire when the question was asked in the straight, finishing just ahead of Compromise in the rear bunch.

But Librici was having his first run since winning the glamour Grand PrixQueensland Derby double at the beginning of June, and providing he has given himself no problems will be much fitter for his outing.

The second leg of the Chairman’s was won by the favourite, I Will (by Sound Reason), from the former New Zealander Row of Waves, with Riccarton’s Handsome Heir third. Handsome Heir was another which flew home, and he came from near the back of the field at the turn to outdo Jimmy Cassidy on Royal Regatta, which has

made a habit of coming from the back with fast finishes.

(T.A.B. CODES: BRIS, RF) ROTHMANS 100,000 $180,000; 1350 m 5-4 GETTING CLOSER 2 54 G. Hall 1 13-13 MR MAGIC 10 50.5 P. Aiderman .... 2 7-7 PRINCE HERVEY 6 52.5 L. Harris. ... 3 Others in finishing order: 3-3 Final Affair, 11-11 Anything Tudor, 2-1 Lord Ballina, 14-13 Royal Cress, 10-8 Vif, 8-9 Mighty Supremo, 4-5 Noble Note, 1-2 Daybreak Lover, 15-16 Dynamo, 9-10 Fixed Flush, 1717 Sir Rocket, 12-14 Roman Knight, 6-6 Royal Deal, 16-15 Plush Lady. % len, nk. Time: 1:18.5. Win: $8.15. Places: $2.90, $11.50, $4.15. Quinella: $131.50.