Satinover in the first round of heats. It was a 17th consecutive win for Satinover, but after he was injured Pure Steel won the WA Cup final for a record fourth time becoming the leading stakeswinner in Australian racing passing the thoroughbred Family of Man and then won the Fremantle Cup from the 35m backmark. Heading east, Pure Steel won a record third Hunter Cup outstaying Koala King who'd had an easier run, and finished second behind New Zealander Locarno in the Miracle Mile. After three unsuccessful Interdominion campaigns, wins in all three rounds of heats indicated that 1980 at Harold Park might be his year. It was not to be, however, with a 15m handicap combined with rivals the quality of winner Koala King and runner-up Locarno too difficult to overcome. On the night of 2 May 1980 Pure Steel took part in one of the most anticipated events in Perth harness racing history, a $50,000 match race with Satinover. Satinover's winning streak had reached 19 and he had defeated Pure Steel at their only meeting. But this time the result was very different with Pure Steel parking outside Satinover for much of the race but still winning convincingly. There was a crowd of nearly 20,000 in attendance and sufficient interest in the race for television coverage. He was subsequently voted Australian Harness Horse of the Year. The 1980/1 season began with Pure Steel finishing second in the Winfield Cup for the third time and second off a 30m handicap in the Kilmore Cup. He was then injured during the Australian Pacing Championship in Melbourne. Returning to racing in time for the 1981 Interdominion in Hobart, Pure Steel finished fourth to new sensation San Simeon in the final. After overcoming a serious illness in August 1981 Pure Steel defeated Satinover at Gloucester Park in Perth before breaking that horse's state mile record with a 1:56.9 time trial. However age was catching up with him and he failed to make the WA Pacing Cup final, and the final of the Interdominion even though it was at home in Perth in 1982. After the 1982 series he was retired but then was brought out of retirement for one run which was a fourth place in the 1983 BOTRA Cup before being retired again. Pure Steel also won the 1981 Stratton Cup, 1982 FTC Members Mile and 1980 Mount Eden Sprint. All