NZ HARNESS NEWS
The result on the track was near perfect but the big win from Thursday night’s National Handicap for Natalie Rasmussen came when she walked into the All Stars stables on Friday morning.
It was there that the brilliant horsewoman found both Thefixer and Dream About Me bright and bubbly, the morning after their first-up performances for the season, where they quinella’d the National Handicap.
“I was rapt with how they were this morning (Friday),” Rasmussen said.
“They’ve bounced back as good you could have expected them to considering where they are at in their preparations.”
Thefixer was able to come from off the speed and run down Dream About Me, who sat parked for the last half-mile, and while many might have found it a surprise that he could run down an Auckland Cup winner, Rasmussen said that it wasn’t such a shock to her.
“Dream About Me is a quality mare, there’s no doubt about that – but I think Thefixer is a really good horse, too.
“He probably hasn’t looked it because we’ve had to drive him pretty tough in his career, but he’s got a really strong turn of foot too which he showed last night.
“I just loved the way he let down and really showed his will to win.”
With a strong contingent of Cup horses still to emerge from the woodwork from the Rolleston stable, the future plans for the pair might see them take a completely different route to the normal path to the Cup.
A route that may see them end up in Australia in late September and early October.
“Both are chances of heading over for races like the Kilmore Cup and then the Victoria Cup before coming back for our Cup.
“The timing works and with the horses we still have to step out, placing them all is a big challenge.
“But at this stage, they’d both be the most likely contenders for us over there.”
Rasmussen said that Ultimate Machete was about two or three weeks away from a trial while they still had Eamon Maguire and the forgotten Spankem waiting in the wings, too.
The A$200,000 Victoria Cup will be held at Melton on October 13.
Also at Addington last night, Robert and John Dunn had a meeting to remember, Robert training four winners, John driving three of them.
Three-year-old debutant Pro Surfer was the most impressive, landing a sustained betting plunge to win his maiden well.
- NZ Harness News
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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