INTER-DOMINION Robin Dundee 2nd, But Still Favourite

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30978, 7 February 1966, Page 5

INTER-DOMINION Robin Dundee 2nd, But Still Favourite

(N.Z. Press' Association—Copyright) SYDNEY. Robin Dundee lost no admirers and remains favourite for the Inter-Dominion Championship final in spite of her narrow defeat in the third heat on the opening night of the series at Harold Park Raceway, Sydney, on Saturday.

The little New Zealand mare failed by a long head to catch the Sydney pacer; Scotirra, after an unlucky run in which she was blocked in a pocket until less than two furlongs from the finish. Robin Dundee was forced to run wide entering the straight and nearly hit the outside fence as she made her final bid. She appeared to get the better of Scotirra halfway down the straight, but the Sydney mare came again to hold off the challenge. Robin Dundee’s second placing gained her five points in the championship table, against Scotirra’s four for winning. Robin Dundee picked up two for being second, and another three for fastest time. The New Zealand reinsman, M Holmes, said after the race that Robin Dundee had every chance and “was just not good enough,” but most observers considered that if the New Zealander had got a run she would have won by yards. Scotirra was receiving 12 yards from the backmarker, Robin Dundee, and avenged her defeat at the hands of the New Zealand mare when both ran off limit in a free-for-all at Harold Park on January 28. Began Well

The other New Zealander In Robin Dundee’s heat, Garry Dillon, began weH, going quickly to the lead in the first lap. He held tt throughout the mile and was sttH in front at the bell, but he tired and passed the post ninth in the 12-horse field. Apart from Robin Dundee, the only other New Zealander to figure in the pacers' points table at the end of the night was Tactile, which ran second to the champion Victorian pacer. Date's Gift, in the first heat.

Dale's Gift and Tactile were both lying towards the rear at the bell and they fought out a terrific finish in the final tap. with Tactile enjoying the inride rumtiijP after both bad to

go wide, three furlongs from home.

Tactile just missed the verdict in a photo, with victory going to the Victorian by a long head. The pair were 15 yards ahead of the third horse, Golden Rule (New South Wales).

Tactile ran a great race after suffering an early check when his wheels locked, and he picked up three and a half points, two for second, and one and a half for shared fastest time with Dale’s Gift. Dalle’s Gift moved up to the second line of favouritism for the final with Scotirra and the New Zealander, Jacobite, behind Robin Dundee. Broke Badly Jacobite broke badly soon after the start in the second heat and was tailing the field at the mile. His driver, D. J. Townley, then moved him three wide up the back straight to second place a head behind Minuteman. The two were racing neck and neck at the bell, but were unable to hold off a late challenge by the Tasmanian pacer, Chamfer Star, which had pulled wide from eighth at the bell to gain a clear run and finish strongly. Chamfer Star won by two yards from Minuteman, with Double Adies, which finished brilliantly, a nose behind at the post. Jacobite battled on gamely for a close fourth. Chamfer Star was driven by a former New Zealander, B. Forrester. The only New Zealander in the points table in the trotters' section at the end of the night was Queen’s Cord, which ran second to the Victorian horse, Corop McElwin, in the second heat. Queen's Cord broke in the first tap, but recovered to be third at the bell. She ran on well to finish eight yards behind Corop McElwin, with Lucky Song half a head away third. Gramel Fifth The favourite for the trotters’ title, the South Austra Han champion mare. Gramel, had a good run from her 72yard back mark, but was made to run four wide in the second to last tap. She was severely checked approaching the turn and finished fifth behind the early leader, Yamamoto, which broke when leading naif way down the straight. The other New Zealand trotter in this heat. Last Bob, which stgried the 96/1 outrider, was Urir7and fourth early, but

dropped out and finished last. In the other trotting heat New Zealanders, Fourina (off 36 yards) and Vague (12 yards), failed to make any impression. Fourina ran well back throughout and finished eighth of the 12-horse field and Vague broke early and tailed right off. failing to finish. RESULTS FIRST PACING CHAMPIONSHIP HEAT; 13f and 98yds.— DALE'S GIFT 12 J. P. Moore 1; TACTILE 12 R. Cameron 2; GOLDEN RULE It L. Moulds 3. Long head; 15 yards. Time, 3:34 2-5. Mile rate, 2:7 3-5. Win (for ss): 14s. Places: Bs, 9s, 17s. Betting: 6/4, 9/2, 10/1. SECOND PACING CHAMPIONSHIP HEAT; 13f and 98yds CHAMFER STAR It B. J. Forrester 1: MINUTEMAN 24 E. R. Hurley 2; DOUBLE ADIOS It J. C. Caffyn 3. Two yards; nose. Time, 3:37 1-5. Mile rate, 2:9 1-5. Win: £3 14s. Maces: £l, 10s, 16s fid. Betting: 8/1, 3/1, 9/1. THIRD PACING CHAMPIONSHIP HEAT; 13f and 98yds.—SCOTIRRA 12 J. Baker 1; ROBIN DUNDEE 24 M. Holmes 2; FLAMING STAR It R. Fitzpatrick 3. Long head; three lengths. Time, 3:35 2-5. Mile rate, 2:8 1-5. Win: 16s 6d. Places: 7s, 6s 6d, £1 7s. Betting: 2/1, 5/4, 25/1. FIRST TROTTERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP HEAT; 13f and 98yds.— MAORI MISS 12 N. Gath 1; PANTHER’S FLIGHT It R. J. Birthisel 2, SUGAR ’N SPICE 48 B. J. Forrester 3. Five yards: neck. Time, 2:44 3-5. Mile rate, 2:13 3-5. Win: £1 15s 6d. Maces: Ils, 16s fid, 14s. Betting: 6/1, 14/1, 10/1. SECOND TROTTERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP; 13f and 98yds.— COROP McELWIN 24 B. Gath 1; QUEEN’S CORD 36 D. Townley 2; LUCKY SONG 48 P. J. Hall 3. Eight yards: half head. Time, 3:41 1-5. Mile rate, 2:11 2-5. Win: £3 18s 6d. Maces: 13s, 10s fid, 7s fid. Betting: 14/1, 9/1, 3/1. POINTS Points tables at the end of the first night:— Pacing Championship.— Dale's Gift (Vic.) 51; Minuteman (S.A.), Robin Dundee (N.Z.) 5; Scotirra (N.S.W.), Chamfer Star (Tas.) 4; Tactile (N.Z.) 3i; Golden Rule (N.S.W.), Double Adios (N.S.W.), Flaming Star (N.S.W.) 1. Trotters’ Championship.— Sugar ’N Spice (S.A.), Maori Miss (Vic.), Corop McElwin (Vic.) 4: Queen’s Cord (N.Z.), Panther’s Flight (Vic.) 2r Lucky Song (N.S.W.) 1. V'