Stormy Morn wins

Press, 1 March 1982, Page 26

Stormy Morn wins

NZPA’ Melbourne. The New. Zealand gelding) Stormy Morn, Hooks to have a stranglehold on .the $30,000' Australasian Trotters’, Cham-. pionship following a brilliant win in the first round heats at.Moonee Valley/ Melbourne, on Saturday evening: Stormy Mom made light work of his. 30m handicap to • score a comfortable victory. He won by a metre from Fairlane Park. - Big Jake,, which firmed from . 3-1 jo 2-l ? _ finished strongly to be a metre and a half away third.;, " \ • Stormy Morn’s perform-'. ance was even more impressive considering he raced three wide for the last lap ard a half. However, his Australian trainer-driver, Jim O’Sullivan, was unperturbed at being caught wide. O’Sullivan did not call on Stormy Morn for his final effort until the last 100 m. The gelding responded and went on to win in convincing style, running his last mile in the smart time of 2min 3s. . Stormy Morn has now won

!■ ’ lus. four starts in Australia > on-this . campaign and -•!& > f Jikely to be too strong for his ini the - Tina!.. of the •/ championship' afe-Modpee ■ Valley, on March 13/ ' :' -. The . ’second • ; ’qualifying heats will'be run at Moonee. . Valley next Saturday. ■ Stormy Mom rated 2min 08.8 s in winning, his heat, which was seven-tenths of a second slower than Courting Appeal’s , time in the first qualifying heat. Stevie Prestige finished sixth behind Stormy Morn . but had an eye-catching run. '. He was blocked and did not get a clear run until the race was virtually over. When the seven-year-old got dear he charged home to finish close behind’ the place getters. . Results:-^) (T.A.B. code: WC) ' FIRST AUSTRALIAN-TROTTERS • ..CHAMPIONSHIP ' $5000; 2870 m 2-3 COURTING APPEAL (5) •It K). F0rd’....... . 1

■ M HAMPDEN'S PRIDE (11) . I'o L-Lee .-. 2 3-1-CAL BRYDON (12) 15 J. Newberry..... 3 •Others’ in finishing'order: 7-5 Jodie Armagh. 6-8 Kinnoul, 1-2 Super Spree, 8-9 Big General, 1010 Pacing Pixie. 11-11 Bigrow, 46 High Car], 9-7 Skipper Don. 1 metre. 1 metre. Time: 3:48.5. N.Z. T.A.B. dividends.- Win: $6.65. Places: $2.25, $2.50, $l.BO. SECOND AUSTRALASIAN TROTTERS CHAMPIONSHIP $5000; 2870 m 1- STORMY MORN (12) J. . . O’Sullivan. ........ 1 7-9 FAIRLANE PARK (2) It M. Donaldson 2 2- BIG JAKE (5) It. B. Gath 3 Others in finishing order: 9-7 Port Jet, 4-4 Mighty Miller, 3-3 Stevie Prestige, 12-10 Balholmen Court. 5-5 Proud Stella, 10-11 Christian Leslie, 8-8 Spin Attack, 6-6 Our Evander, 11-12 Earls Folly. 1 metre, Bz metres. Time: 3:52.1. N.Z. T.A.B. dividends.— Win: $1.70. Places: $l, $9.30, $2.45. Quinella: $33.10..