Tussle never better

Press, 5 March 1987, Page 30

Tussle never better

By

JEFF SCOTT

New Zealand’s greatest stakes-winning trotter, Tussle, firmed in favour for the $125,000 Trotters’ Inter-Dominion Grand Final on Saturday evening with a superlative win in the Fourth Trotters’ Heat at Addington Raceway last evening. The 10-year-old Halswell mare dashed over the mobile 2000 m in 2:32.2, only .3 of a second outside her own national record for the distance. She went to the line untouched after trotting her last mile in 2:1.4, her closing 800 m in 59.95. and her last 400 m in 29.45.

“She’s just amazing at her age. She’s never been better than she is now,” said her owner-trainer, Dr Cliff Irvine. Driver Peter Jones didn’t have to move a muscle on Tussle as she charged past the pacemaking Admiral Soanai 100 metres out and this was after being out three wide in the open from the 1000 m and handy in the open over the last 700 m. Jones combined with

Tussle to run third behind Sir Castleton and Scotch Notch in the 1984 Trotters’ Final in Adelaide, his only drive in an Inter-Dominion Trotters’ Final to date, and rates Tussle “definitely a much better mare now.”

Tussle gained maximum qualifying points — (30) — with her two heat wins, while others to qualify for Saturday’s final are:—

Landora’s Pride (28. Laredo (25). Admiral Soanai (22). My Trinket (21). Jamie Higgins (20). Westham (20).Troppo (18).

Melvander (18). Borrowed Time (17). Firm Offer (17). Simon Katz (16). Game Ebony (16). Great Life, Wedgewood and Shylock all finished the heats with 15 points, dead-heating for the last

vacancy in the field. But Great Life gained selection for the field because he finished fourth on the first night. Wedgeood was named as the first emergency for the final, with Shylock the second emergency.

.Melvander, which has been in a race against time to gain race fitness for the series, produced a storming late run to get up for second to Tussle last evening, shading Admiral Soanai, which- was caught three wide over the opening 800 m before making the lead, by a short head.

Tobago, which moved up wide to track Tussle over the last 1000 m, was third for much of the run home, but wilted over the last 100 m to finish fourth. Game Command, which broke early, did well to hold fifth.