Dead-heat in Ellerslie feature

Press, 10 November 1986, Page 32

Dead-heat in Ellerslie feature

PA Auckland Dead-heats in feature races are few and far between and the prize shared between Cosmetique and Abit Leica at Ellerslie on Saturday is the first for an Auckland meeting in over 20 years. As far as anyone can remember the most recent dead-heat in a big race at Ellerslie, before last week-end, was in October 1966, when Gold

Chick and Geyser Land dead-heated for first in the Mitchelson Cup. On that occasion first place was nearly shared three ways, with Blue Lodge just a head behind the first two. By a remarkable coincidence Rationale, next home after Cosmetique and Abit Leica, was also only a head away making one of the most exciting Ellerslie finishes in years. With 50m to go, when she got the upper hand on Rationale, Cosmetique looked the winner and Abit Leica, making a great bid on the outside of the other two, joined her in the last stride. Royal Heights was a length and a quarter further back, in fourth place, but running on in a style that suggested she is on the way back to winning a middle-distance before long. The other seven came in upward of two or three lengths behind, with Dare (seventh) and Solveig (eighth) particular disappointments. Axeman was even further back, beating only Just a Star home but not before he had enlivened the race with his front running.

Dare and Solveig, according to their respective riders, Kim Treweek and David Peake, “did nothing.” Axeman sped away in front, from Rationale, reaching the halfway in a cracking 45.60 s for the 800 m. He had begun to ease off by the time he

reached the home turn but was responsible for the near-record time. Cosmetique and Abit Leica were timed at 1:33.08, less than half a second outside the best for the old course, set by Burletta in 1984.