Field of 13 for $350,000 Pacers’ Grand Final

Press, 9 March 1987, Page 28

Field of 13 for $350,000 Pacers’ Grand Final

By G. K. YULE New Zealand will have eight runners and Aus- ; tralia five in the $350,000 Lion Brown IriterDominion Championship »> Grand Final at Addington Raceway next Saturday. The final round of heats ’ on Saturday saw victories .... for Paleface Bubble, from Sydney (at the expense of Master Mood), Skipper Dale, from Mid-Canter-bury, and Luxury Liner, from Clevedon. As was the case last Wednesday, the heats were extremely keenly contested with the pace strength-sapping throughout and the performances of all three winners were as good as anything seen on the course for years. Both Colin de Filippi, from Ladbrooks, and Vin Knight, from Kilmore, qualified two horses for the final. De Filippi has Michele Bromac and Our Mana while Knight has Alpine Fella and Bay Limit. They will make their decision about which horse they will drive after the barrier draw, which « will take place at Addington about 4.30 p.m. today. * The field for the final, in order of the points they “ scored in the heats is: Luxury Liner, Paleface ’ Bubble, Master Mood, Skipper Dale, Sunset CanK ! dios, Prince of Princes, Metal Mickey, Rolls Han- =» over, Bag Limit, Michele Bromac, Our Mana, Lord Louie, Alpine Fella. ” Emergencies: Lightning Blue, Paia Royal, Dreaming Neebray. The Victorians, Light- » ning Blue and Paia Royal, X. missed the cut-off for a «■ start in the final by one point. In both instances «• the horses went off-stride.

Lightning Blue made a «o valiant attempt to chalin the run home, .--but the pace was such that he could not progress XL and he actually finished - last, two places behind X 'Pala Royal.

»• Master Mood looked x.-‘ likely to carry his army of supporters through in the LT,. opening heat of the night, . but in the shadows of the “• post Paleface Bubble “ surged up to him and won going away by a neck in 2min 26.655, a mile rate » of Imin 58s. His time was X-, some three seconds outside Armalight’s record of " 2min 23.5 s set in nearperfect conditions in 1981. On Saturday the horses had to battle twice into , * the teeth of a strong, cool •0 easterly wind, which had to have a slowing effect on the horses and gave added merit to their performances. | The Western Australian

horse, Prince of Princes, driven by Anthony Butt, was responsible for a pace which found the majority of the field wanting. He tore over his opening 400 m in 26.55, the 800 m in 56.55, 1200 m in Imin 26.85, and 1600 m in Imin 565.

Master Mood back early and wide as he improved from the 1400 m, sat in the open from the 1000 m, took the lead on straightening up for the run home and fought gamely to the line.

In the meantime, Paleface Bubble and Michael Ilsley were sitting back beyond mid-field. He had trouble working clear, but once in the open near the 100 m, he dashed up to Master Mood and gained a narrow but

stylish victory. The Queensland gelding, Sunset Candios, raced right up to his fine efforts of earlier at the carnival by taking third, some two lengths from Master Mood, and a head in front of Trident, which had his chance and continued to show improvement. That Prince of Princes tired a shade was not surprising, but he was fifth, threeparts of a length back, clear of Premiership. The antics of Lightning Blue and Paia Royal left the way open for Skipper Dale to log up another win . in the second heat. He showed tremendous speed out of the barrier from No. 9 and was in the open not far from Saucy Star as she went over the opening 400 m in 27s and the 1600 m in Imin 58.65.

Once into the straight Skipper Dale was quickly in control and he came on to win in 2min 27.85, a mile rate of Imin 58.95. The last 800 m took 57.95.

Skipper Dale won by almost two lengths from Metal Mickey, Our Mana and Laser Lad, with Gaelic Skipper making ground for fifth. Once Luxury Liner hit the lead after about 500 m in the final heat, the result was never in doubt and he won easily by almost two lengths from Michele Bromac, which shaded Alpine Fella by a nose. Rolls Hanover came on splendidly for fourth, clear of Quite Famous. Luxury Liner took 2min 28.08 s for the 2000 m, a mile rate of Imin 59.25. The opening 1600 m in this heat took Imin 58.65.