Relive a couple of notable match races
AS ENTHUSIASTS embrace the buzz of a possible match race between a pair of Victoria’s star pacers, let’s take a trip down memory lane to relive a couple of the most notable head-to-head encounters.
Just to touch on today’s development, connections of Lochinvar Art and Ride High have revealed they are open to a match race between the stallions.
No details – such as prizemoney, conditions, venue or date – have been organised, but the idea of the two going head-to-head has generated plenty of debate.
David Moran, who trains Lochinvar Art, stated any such event, be it a time trial series or two speedsters matching strides, would have to offer a substantial incentive.
Moran also stated the August 15 date being touted is “not within reason” given Lochinvar Art is yet to return from two-month spell.
Ride High, however, is close to peak fitness following three recent starts for trainer Clayton Tonkin.
GRAMEL
As we wait in anticipation for the pipedream to become a reality, it is a prime opportunity to recall some previous match races – Pure Steel versus Satinover and Gramel versus Braganza.
While the former is widely-known, the latter is unique given Gramel was a squaregaiter, while Braganza was a pacer!
At its final meeting of the 1964 season, the South Australian Trotting Club hosted a clash between Gramel and Braganza over a mile.
Gramel was the state’s – and arguably Australia’s – premier trotter, while Braganza was one of Adelaide’s best fast class pacers.
Driven by Jack Roberts, Gramel went to the front soon after the start and covered the first lap in a mile rate of 2:04.8.
Braganza, vigorously driven by Dick Webster, joined Gramel around the final bend as the pair matched strides along the home straight.
Braganza grabbed the lead in the shadows of the post to score by a short neck – covering the flying mile in 2:06.2!
The better part of two decades later, ageing warrior Pure Steel taught new sensation Satinover a lesson around Gloucester Park.
In fact, it is widely believed Pure Steel broke Satinover’s heart as the latter never raced to the extent he had before the match-up.
Satinover had won 23 of his 32 starts, with two placings for earnings of $183,431. and went into the race on the strength of 19 consecutive wins.
The son of Velvet Hanover only won five of his next 31 starts before being retired!
Pure Steel left no doubt he was the best horse in Australia with his trouncing of Satinover.
Although the margin was only four metres, Pure Steel had the race won 600 metres from home and went to the line untouched by reinsman Phil Coulson.
Satinover, the 4/6 favourite, led for most of the journey, but Pure Steel, which started at even money, sat outside him for the last 1300 metres and literally ground him into the dust.
Pure Steel rated 1:59.4, which was only five-tenths of a second outside Satinover’s world mark.
Coulson, who died in 2010, would refer to the match-race as one of his proudest moments in the sport.
In fact, Coulson’s lounge room wall had a photo of the night…not the finish, however, but when Pure Steel intimidated Satinover with a ‘hip and shoulder’ before the start.