By Michael Guerin
A testing workout on Wednesday morning has convinced co-trainer Natalie Rasmussen her glamour mares can bounce back in the $100,000 NZ Breeders Stakes at Addington tonight.
And she says while Dream About Me may still be the stable’s best mare Elle Mac is the one to beat in tonight’s 2600m group one.
The pair cost punters plenty when they led and trailed but were beaten out of a place in a similar race two week ago.
Post-race blood tests suggested a virus which was just starting to come on and, after that was treated, the open class mares have had their workload upped this week.
Rasmussen has spent much of the last month in Australia with partner Mark Purdon preparing their stars for Victorian and NSW assignments but she returned this week to put the polish on some of the stable stars set to race at tonight’s big Addington meeting.
“I am sure the mares will go better than last start,” she explains.
“It was just one of those things. The blood tests before the race was fine but the one after wasn’t, so it must have been coming on that day.
“They are good now and I really liked how they worked on Wednesday morning.”
Rasmussen drove Elle Mac in that workout as she will tonight and says she narrowly favours her as the stable’s best chance because of her front line draw tonight, whereas Dream About Me has to come off the second line.
“I would like to think my mare could lead and I’d most likely stay there and that makes it harder for Dream About Me, even though she might still be the better mare.”
Dibaba, who caused the shock beating the pair last start, looks at least a place chance again but if Elle Mac leads and races up to her national record 1700m setting form of two starts ago it will take a big performance to beat her.
Rasmussen admits to being as happy but not as confident with Ultimate Machete in tonight’s Summer Cup, even though he is clearly the best horse in the race.
Good enough to sit parked outside and beat Tiger Tara last season, Ultimate Machete has raced sparingly because of hoof issues this season but worked well this week.
“We know he is the best horse in the race but being drawn wide and it being 1980m he could have to work very hard so I can see it being a tricky race for him,” says Rasmussen.
“He is the top pick of our pair in the race but I can’t say he is a good thing and if Funatthebeach got the sit on him he could outsprint him.”
The richest stake of tonight’s meeting could come north as Barry Purdon-trained filly Havtime has the hot favourite in a moderate line-up for the $150,000 Sales Series Pace.
Barry also has the firepower to dominate the main pace at Alexandra Park tonight, with Jack’s Legend and On The Cards a great chance to repeat their last start quinella in the open sprint.
Meanwhile, heavy support has seen the Purdon-Rasmussen trained Chase Auckland tighten to favouritism for tomorrow night’s A$200,000 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle.
“He will be a lot better for his three starts over there and is getting fitter all the time,” says Rasmussen.
“I will drive him off the gate hard to use his ace draw and hopefully lead or trail and I think he will be hard to beat but it is a strong field.”
New Zealand Cup winner Thefixer makes his Menangle debut a race earlier and will be heavily supported but Kiwi horses can often be vulnerable fresh up in fast mile races at Menangle so punters should be careful.
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