By Matt Markham
A dominant couple of hours on the track at two different venues on Friday night has set the tone for what could be a big few months for New Zealand’s leading harness racing stable.
Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen enjoyed a golden two hours at Alexandra Park and Addington on Friday night winning six races – four at Auckland and two in Christchurch.
They then backed that up with success in Saturday’s Geraldine Cup with Alta Ronaldo to put the icing on the cake of a good 24 hours for the All Stars stable.
“It’s been one of those good wee periods of time for us,’’ Purdon said on Saturday.
“You set horses for races and hope that it comes off and it in most parts it has this weekend.’’
With a plethora of action in the coming weeks across New Zealand the All Stars operation will continue to cast the net far and wide with feature races in the both Islands also on the agenda.
They won on Friday night at Addington with both Golden Goddess and then with Motu Premier – one a small surprise and the other an expected victory.
Punters threw heavy support towards Arden Choice in the Sires’ Stakes Fillies heat but it was Golden Goddess who shone as she waltzed past her stable mate to win in emphatic fashion.
“I wasn’t that surprised to be honest,’’ Purdon said.
“She’s a very good filly and I think she will do a big job this season, I’ve got a bit of time for her.’’
Up at Auckland, Tim Williams delivered the goods winning with Emmanuel, Petite One and also Piccadilly Princess and was also second with Mastercraftsman who was beaten by stable mate, Bevan’s Cullen who was driven by Zac Butcher.
Butcher has become a strike-rate driver for Purdon and Rasmussen to turn to in the North Island and from five drives thus far on their North Island assault he remains unbeaten.
“It’s working out really well, Tim’s doing a great job up there and Zac is getting the job done for us as well, we are lucky to have those sorts of people around us which allows us to keep things going down here in Rolleston.’’
Saturday was touted as another potential big day for the stable with strong winning hopes for He Can Fly, Mackenzie, Superfecta and Benicio as well as their Geraldine Cup aspirants Itz Bettor To Win and Alta Ronaldo.
It was the latter though who went home as the stable’s only winner on the day and continued his march through the grades.
“He’s developing into a really nice Country Cups type of horse,’’ Purdon said.
“He showed some real fight today because I thought Natalie was going to get past me with the other horse there for a while.’’
Purdon has plans to head to the Ashburton Cup with the four-year-old and stick to those types of races until later in the season when the age group riches are up for grabs
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