The most amazing training year in the history of New Zealand harness racing has ended as it should — with an exclamation mark from our greatest ever stable.
Trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen won three more group ones at the Breeders Crown yesterday, headlining one of the most successful days in New Zealand harness racing history.
All told six New Zealand-trained horses won group ones, including the trifecta in the three-year-old fillies pace won by The Orange Agent.
Earlier Speeding Spur had won the three-year-old trot just hours before part owner Kieran Read was named in the All Blacks Rugby World Cup squad.
And Conon Bridge added to the New Zealand domination when he led throughout to win the two-year-old trot, with Cyclone Chief adding a NZ quinella.
But it was the Purdon-Rasmussen stable’s trio of wins — High Gait, Dream About Me, Waikiki Beach — who were the story of the day, while they also finished second with Follow The Stars and third with Linda Lovegrace from their five starters.
With the Australian harness racing season ending today, a month later than the New Zealand season, it makes sense to counts the stable’s achievements in the 12 months from September last year, seeing how All Stars basically don’t race in New Zealand in August.
Yesterday capped a year in which they have won an unbelievable 27 group one races Australasia-wide, completely dominating meetings as tough as yesterday and New Zealand Cup day.
Their horses have earned close to $6million in that time, the sort of money no trainer in either code can seriously dream of unless you are blessed with a Melbourne Cup winner of superstar thoroughbred capable of capturing the group ones at The Championships at Randwick.
While it hasn’t been all glory and glamour in the last 12 months — New Zealand Cup winner Adore Me’s career-ending injury was a low point — what Purdon and Rasmussen have achieved defies belief.
They have won every major two-year-old race in Australia or New Zealand they have aimed their heavy artillery at, claiming the last two, both worth A$288,000 yesterday, with Waikiki Beach and Dream About Me.
“It has been an amazing year and we have had a great bunch of horses,” said Purdon, or Mr Understatement as he should be known.
“New Zealand Cup day was special but this would be close to our best day in Australia.”
Waikiki Beach equalled Noodlum’s 41-year-old record for wins in a season by a New Zealand juvenile pacer with his 12th straight victory to remain unbeaten.
While Purdon is loathe to declare him better than his army of previously amazing juvenile pacers, the ease with which he wins his races suggest he should have few problems carrying his two-year-old form on to his classic season.
Dream About Me was the real show stopper yesterday though, sitting parked throughout before bolting away from her rivals, remaining unbeaten in eight starts.
“That was the run of the day for me,” said Purdon. “It was the special one.”
Being a half-sister to Christen Me by Bettors Delight with a stellar race and broodmare career ahead of her, Dream About Me must rank as one of the most valuable female pacers in the world.
Speeding Spur win in the trot was testament to his courage as co-trainer and driver Josh Dickie wasn’t thrilled with how he warmed up, suggesting the final race of his long season could have been a bridge too far.
The Orange Agent had had even a longer season but some masterful training from Brian Hughes has enabled her to carry her form throughout and she ended her break out season with a comprehensive win over a very brave Start Dreaming.
“She has made my job easy and we will take her home now and set her for the Queen Of Hearts at Alex Park in December,” said Hughes.
He paid tribute to the perfect drive of Maurice McKendry, who had previously only reined one Melton winner and was tasting Breeders Crown success for the first time yesterday.
And Conon Bridge gave master trainer Paul Nairn his first Breeders Crown after nervous times with a score-up gallop and false start.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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