By Duane Ranger
Humbled and proud.
That’s how Natalie Rasmussen described her history-making drive in today’s NRM Group One Sires Stakes Final at Addington Raceway this afternoon.
The former Australian trainer/driver became the first woman to win the $170,000 feature behind the 3-year-old she co-trains with Mark Purdon – Ultimate Machete.
“It’s an absolute honour to have achieved this. I didn’t realise. If it can attract more young girls and women to our great game then I’ll be happy.
“I’m doing what I enjoy and today’s win was one of the highlights of my career,” Rasmussen said.
Ultimate Machete not only beat his stablemate and favourite More The Better (Mark Purdon) by a length but he also smashed the New Zealand 1950m mobile record by 0.8 of a second set by have Faith In Me in the same race two years ago.
He stopped the clock in 2:16.5 (mile rate 1:52.7) with final 800m and 400m bursts of 55.9 and 28.4.
Ultimate Machete did a bit of work to go and sit parked and then from the 800m to the 600m put paid to the pace-making North islander, Star Galleria (Tony Herlihy MNZM).
Then in the lane his characteristic toughness kicked in.
“He’s a such a strong horse. And he really displayed his toughness today. He’s is showing glimpses of what Lazarus showed us in the race last year.
“I’m not saying he’s a Lazarus but he is doing everything he should be at this stage of his career, and Lazarus went almost three seconds slower than him when he won last year,” Rasmussen said.
“I love driving him. He’s a lovely powerful horse,” she added.
Ultimate Machete is the fifth of seven foals out of the four-win Armbro Operative mare, Reality Check. He has now won three of his nine starts – all three at Addington Raceway.
The bay colt is owned by Glenys Kennard, Phil Kennard, Gavin Douglas, Kevin Riseley, Phil Creighton, Margaret Creighton.
It was a great day for Phil & Glenys Kennard and Kevin Riseley as they also have shares in the New Zealand Cup winner – Lazarus.
He was bred by Katrina and Graeme Walsh.
Purdon and Rasmussen have now won the last three Sires Stakes Finals thanks to Lazarus and Have Faith In Me’s victories in 2015 and 2014 respectively.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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