In 1975, the Western Australian Pacing Derby produced a standard bred pacer that would in the next five seasons, earn a much loved place in the thoughts of racing fans across the country. His name was Pure Steel. And if ever a horse lived up to his name, it was the angry stallion, affectionately known to his legion of race fans as the Tungsten Terror. After stamping his authority by winning the Derby in the West, Pure Steel was given a breather before his invasion of South Australia and the Eastern states as a four year old. Initially things wouldn't be easy for him as he lacked the brilliant gate speed needed for success on short course racing. He would be competitive against the very best Group 1 horses in the country, but would often be pipped by those with outstanding early speed and a decent heart. He was a horse that had to work home three and four deep from a long way out, against proven, multiple G1 winning horses. By his sixth year, the Tungsten Terror had matured into some kind of beast. He tore the heart of those who dared to stand in his way. He'd been crowned the 1978 Australian Horse of the Year, and would be again 1980. He would also be the Grand Circuit Champion that same year. But things in his own back yard, were beginning to heat up. For while the Grand Champion was away laying waste to others across the country, a brash upstart had begun to make his presence felt in Perth. His name was Satinover, known to his adoring supporters as The Black Flash. He was a breathtakingly handsome individual known for his scintillating speed from the gate. He'd ping and fly, defying all to run him down. He also held a world record for 1900m, a record he's taken from Pure Steel. At the time, they were the two fasted horses in the world over that distance. Long had been the cry for these brilliant horses to meet, but their individual programmes always seemed to clash. Both camps wanted the match up, as each thought their champion held the aces. Satinover's connections figured that now that the Black Flash held the world record, and possessed heaps more speed from the gate, there was no way Pure Steel could run him to ground. Pure Steels owners though were of the opinion that once the Tungsten Terror applied the blow torch, Satinover wouldn't be able to withstand the heat. Someone had to be wrong. And so it stood, two great horses in need of a personal duel. In stepped the WATA. They arranged for the pair to meet at Perth's Gloucester Park on May 2, with $50,000 up for grabs, winner takes all. And it wasn't just the owners at loggerheads, the stallions wanted each other as well. In the week leading up to the race, both Pure Steel and Satinover wanted to savage each other at a press event where they were brought together for photographs. Come race night, Gloucester Park was packed to the rafters. The 8 year old Grand Circuit Champion and 2 time Horse of the Year against the brilliant 5 year old Satinover, with a World Record to his name and 19 straight wins under his belt. One would be crushed to the extent that he'd only win only one of his next eleven starts. It was promoted as the Match Race of the Century. 1980, May 2. (Crank up the sound.)
**** Cyc. I am not the least interested in Trotting but that, following on from your preview, was very exciting.
I've been watching this match up for years Ron, and every time I do, my adrenaline kicks in big time. What I liked so much about this race, was the way they went for each other, so far from home. It wasn't a matter of backing off the pace then sprinting the last 400m, it was a true test of man and horse.
Which one never one another race? I assumed it was the young horse as he had given all and lost for the first time, and seemed to be getting punished for his efforts (driver was frantically using the whip some way out). Then I thought maybe the older horse as it was a magnificent effort at his age and maybe thought that was enough. Shame one had to suffer like that. Reminds me of the days of Ribot when some of the horses he beat were never the same again
It was the beaten horse Satinover Ron. As mentioned, he won just the once in his next 11 starts, but ended up returning to some sort of form again. He contested G1 racing the following year, but wasn't the same force he once was. Pure Steel raced into his 9th year and still hurt a lot of others. He was a real warrior that suffered no damage from the match race.
