Olympic Medal has change of fortune at Addington

Press, 4 October 1984, Page 30

Olympic Medal has change of fortune at Addington

By

G. K. YULE

The royally-bred Olympic Medal showed an abundance of ability and courage when he led throughout the first heat of the Lion Brown Pace at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington Raceway last evening.

While his connections were delighted with his success, they still look back on a race incident at Ashburton last Saturday. Olympic Medal suffered interference in the early part of the race and he was sent to a break just before Samson broke and disorganised some of the field. This resulted in Olympic Medal . being knocked out of contention.

Olympic Medal will still have to qualify for the 5100,000 Sires’ Stakes. He will probably do this on November 6. In the meantime, he will contest the $lO,OOO final of the current Lion Brown Series on October 19. Olympic Medal, raced by Messrs John McDermott and Peter Andrews, both officials of the Metropolitan Trotting Club, is trained by Robin Butt.

He quickly hit the front last evening and Sped over his opening 400 m in 27.65. He slowed the field inside the last 800 m and when the challenges came over the final piece, he rallied bravely and won handsomely'by a short length.

Nardin’s Hall and Loveridge, both well enough placed on the outer through-

out the race, charged home wide out on the track, but could not get to the winner. They dead-heated for second, a length and a quarter in front of Greg Patron, with two lengths to Mighty Son, which was in the open for most of the way. The firm favourite, Malaz, could do no better than seventh, one place behind Samson, which came

on boldly. Olympic Medal is a gelding by Out to Win from Olga Korbut, a half-sister to a champion juvenile in Noodlum. Olga Korbut, too, was a top juvenile, but her later race career was interrupted by injury. Melvander provided one of the minor highlights of the night when he won the French Bakery Trot. He was a dominating favourite, but few of his host of

supporters could have held out any hopes of a collect when he came into the straight about four off the fence and some lengths from the leader, By The Way.

David McGowan switched Melvander down towards the inner with 200 m left and even then his chances did not look bright. However, he

unwound a spirited sprint and at the line he was out by almost two lengths. His 3min 26.2 s for the 2600 m was a class record, earning him an extra $5OO. The previous best was 3min 29.6 s by Rip Silver. By The Way was far from disgraced as she broke at the start. Springfield Command came from a fair way back for third, ahead of Barracuda.

Isel brought a change of fortune to her Marshland owner-trainer, Mrs Nellie Winter, when she got up in the last few strides to shade Motu King in the Marque Vue Pace. Isel moved up to lead at the 1200 m and dropped in behind Toliver Twiggy 600 m out. lan Cameron pulled Isel out near the 200 m and she responded gamely. Motu King beat Toliver Twiggy quite comfortably for second.

Stardell Lad, improved by his race at Ashburton, beat Call Me Poplar by only half a length in the Canterbury Authentics Pace, but he coasted across the line. Falcon Frost came on strongly for third, ahead of Ripper’s Wink, which shaded Gold Row, Crackerash and Play It Benny.