Harbor Flo’s record under investigation

Press, 27 January 1986, Page 27

Harbor Flo’s record under investigation

By

J. J. BOYLE

The time of 1:19.56 credited to Harbor Flo when she won the 1400 m City of Sydney Handicap at Trentham last Monday has come under some official investigation. Such a time would be a New Zealand record for the distance, but some doubts about the accuracy of the electronic timing equipment were raised after the video film of the race was shown several times, and repeatedly hand timed.

It is believed that with this method the fastest time recorded was no better than 1:22.

“Further inquiries will be made,” it was stated in a brief official report from the stipendiary steward, Mr Noel Cutcheon, after the racing at Trentham on Saturday. Harbor Flo is a stablemate of Samasaan, winner of the Wellington Cup. She attempted to complete a tough double for the Trentham carnival with a bid to win the Jarden

Mile on Saturday. John Hayes was engaged to ride Harbor Flo but became unwell and had to stand down, and Grant Elliott was the substitute. Elliot rode the Riccarton mare at 2.25 kg overweight, found a trailing position for her but had given up hope of winning early in the run home. Harbor Flo’s stablemate, In the Glen, and Nobel Note then had to sustain South Island interest.

In the Glen, in her only start at the meeting, battled well for fourth. Noble Note did better with a second to Pinson and could be considered one of the unluckier runners.

His rider, Grant Davison, dropped his whip on the home turn but the Noble Bijou gelding finished doggedly to get within a length of Pinson, a stablemate of the Auckland Cup winner, Kerry Lane.