Rosanna Hest NZ from NSW made the running, with Knight Pistol seemingly content to race outside its wheel. Purdon began his run with the backmarker when racing for the bell, and the grand New Zealand mare who had been conceived in the USA, powered home too strongly to win narrowly but decisively over Knight Pistol. The Kiwi star had posted its last quarter in a fast 29.8. There was little between the trio in betting on the final, with Knight Pistol having its share of supporters. This carnival would be one of the few occasions when both the trotters and pacers Grand Finals would be held on the same night, and the squaregaiters would add a special brand of colour and excitement to round off a memorable night.
Handicappers are a protected group.
Once again horsemen who believed their horse had been dealt a poor hand by handicappers, would be proven wrong in the final analysis, being upstaged by a great and wonderful display of trotting at Globe Derby Park in the 1997 Grand Final. This race, in the minds of many, will go down as one of the truly great finals of any Inter Dominion Trotters Championship as there was not a breath between the first three placings. Knight Pistol and Holdonmyheart USA ensured the speed on this smallish track was on right from the start, with Knight Pistol finding the early lead before being joined by the former American trotter. At the bell lap, both Wagon Apollo and Pride Of Petite USA were so far back that some punters may well have been prepared to discard betting tickets. Holdonmyheart USA finally swept past Knight Pistol 400 metres from home, only to have the much improved Victorian continue to grind away and actually have its nose in front turning for home.