Hassendean run down in Prime Minister’s Cup

Press, 22 May 1986, Page 31

Hassendean run down in Prime Minister’s Cup

NZPA staff correspondent CHRIS PETERS Sydney The courageous New Zealander, Hassendean, was cut down in the last stride and had to be content with second money in the $ Austlso,ooo Prime Minister’s Cup over 2015 m at Southport yesterday. The chestnut gelding led for most of the way, set a torrid pace and shrugged off all the challengers in the straight except the Sydney runner, Colour Page, which

flashed down the outside 1 in a run timed to perfec- ! tion. < Hassendean, one of the forgotten horses of the ■} I six-pronged New assault on the cup, came within half a head of I giving the trainer, Bruce i Marsh, his second Prime i Minister’s Cup to go with , ] that won by Shamrock in i 1981. 1 The five-year-old, i which has never won past 1400 m, was expected to 1 set the pace then fade i away in favour of the i bigger names in the 16- < horse field but had other 1 ideas. 1 He kept the lead, dis- i missed the challenge by i the favourite, Sea Pictures, with 150 m to run i and in the shadow of the 1 post looked to have the i cup won before Colour i

Page swooped and snatched victory in a course-record time. Colour Page, which set his middle distance credentials with his 2000 m Rosehill Cup victory last August and second in the 2100 m Gosford Gold Cup behind Sea Pictures last time out, was ninth into the straight, then charged down the outside to score. Hassendean began perfectly from barrier No. 2 and bowled along comfortably in front while his compatriots — stablemate Marlon, Tunaeke, Atrapar, Mr Duthie, and Exocet — raced midfield or near the back. Of the rest of the Kiwi quintet, Atrapar finished the best after racing in midfield with Colour Page for much of the journey

and put in a solid finish for sixth, while the next of the visitors was Tunaeke which came home eleventh, ahead of Exocet and Mr Duthie. Marlon brought up the rear. Result with favouritisms and dividends on the New Zealand T.A.B. is:— THE PRIME MINISTER’S CUP SAustlso,ooo; 2015 m. 10- COLOUR PAGE 8 51.5 G. Dufty 1 11- HASSENDEAN 11 50 N. Williams 2 3-3 SEA PICTURES 7 52 J. Cassidy 3 Others in finishing order: 1313 Persian World, 8-9 Jewel Planet, 5-5 Atrapar, 14-14 Reputed, 15-15 Calm Gent 12-12 Poachinellar, 4-4 Prince Frolic, 2-2 Tunaeke, 6-7 Exocet, 7-6 Mr Duthie, 9-8 Tierra Rist, 16-16 Arctic Haze, 1-1 Marlon. hd, y 4 len. Time: 2:02.64 (course record). Win: $21.95. Places: $7.10, $5.70, $2.25. Qulnella: $412.75. T.A.B. trifecta: $6515.20.