NZ HARNESS NEWS
Leading New Zealand trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen have yet to notch a winner this season, but their return from the world driving championships in Canada and a slew of stars having a hit-out at the Rangiora trials yesterday showed they won’t be long out of the winners’ circle.
The All Stars stable totalled 110 wins to seal the premiership last season for just over $4 million in stakes, with Robert Dunn on 87 wins and Greg and Nina Hope 83.
The All Stars produced four-year-old mare Renske B to win her 2000m mobile heat yesterday in 2:27.9, a mile rate of 1:58.9, with her last 800m in 57.2sec.
She hasn’t raced since June last year when she ran some sound placings behind top fillies Spanish Armada and Delightful Memphis as a two-year-old.
American trotting import Aldebaran Eagle (six wins, $304,000) had his first public outing for the stable and won off 40m over 2600m in 3:30, the last 800m in 58.9.
Open-class pacers Have Faith In Me and Dream About Me ran a close-up second and third off 40m behind five-win pacer Imola over 2600m (stand), the winner clocking 3:19.7, with the last 800m in 58.
The All Stars also qualified Chase Auckland (3g Auckland Reactor-Delicata) and Bettor Trix (3f Bettor’s Delight-Tricky Woman).
The former won by three lengths over 2000m (mobile) and went four seconds under the qualifying time in 2:32.2, the last 800m in 57.8.
Changeover three-year-old colt Friend won his 2600m stand qualifying heat by seven-and-a-half lengths for Fernside trainer Phil Burrows, going nearly seven seconds under the time required in 3:24.5, the last 800m in 56.7.
He is a half-brother to Huey Hewett (seven wins), Amboseli (eight wins) and the talented Freedom Fighter (two wins so far).
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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