Two Dunn and dusted
THE All Stars stable of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen as expected, dominated the Harness Jewels card at Cambridge Raceway yesterday.
They didn’t have a runner in the first race won by Rocker Band or in Monbet’s trot romp and the absence of one of their horses in the Three Year Old Ruby gave hot favourite Marcoola his chance to collect a big payday.
Punters who had collected off the All Stars roll of four wins and that of hot favourite Monbet had Marcoola labelled a must for multis and quaddies.
They were left lamenting when the $1.25 favourite flew into a break when challenging eventual winner Donegal Bettorgretch 100m short of the winning post.
The formidable trainer-driver combination of Cran Dalgety and Dexter Dunn were confident going into the race after the Bettor’s Delight filly broke a New Zealand 2200m record at Alexandra Park at her previous start.
‘‘It was a tough performance,’’ Donegal Bettorgretch’s driver Dunn said.
‘‘She’s a tough filly and I just kept her rolling – she felt good during the running.
‘‘When the other one [Marcoola] galloped, I think we were going too good for them.’’
Owned by the trainer’s wife Chrissie Dalgety and the filly’s breeder Murray Boyd, it was Donegal Bettorgretch’s fifth win from 13 starts.
‘‘She is a game filly and what a great win after smashing the New Zealand record last week,’’ her trainer said.
Wilma’s Mate ran second with Conon Bridge showing something of his ample ability in third.
Normal service resumed in the Four Year Old Emerald with favourite Field Marshal giving Dunn two for the day on the Tim Butt-trained entire.
‘‘He got a pretty easy run early and was too good for them,’’ Dunn said. ‘‘He’s getting better and better.’’ Butt is looking to an Australian campaign on the back of his charge’s seven race winning streak and 15 wins from 26 starts.
Usain Colt ran a strong second with Titan Banner third and Australian contender My Kiwi Mate next home.
The final race on an exciting, action-packed card fell to another favourite from the All Stars juggernaut, Heaven Rocks driven by the man himself, Mark Purdon, his fourth driving success and the stable’s fifth for the day.
It took classy trotter Monbet to finally get one on the board for the distinctive Jewels colours after four races at Cambridge Raceway yesterday. The powerful gelding lived up to the hype as New Zealand’s best trotter with an awesome display in the Four Year Old Ruby to win easily in front of a large crowd – the first horse to win yesterday in the yellow colours signifying that they’re the top stakes earner in their category this season.
The difficult eight draw was no hindrance as driver Ricky May made his move and drew away for victory on the $1.30 hot shot from Le Reveur and Reine Des Gitans.
Prepared by Greg and Nina Hope at Woodend Beach, the star made it seven Group I wins in an epic season furthering his claims for Horse of the Year.
It was his 20th win at his 31st start and his second Harness Jewels success and his driver predicts even bigger things ahead.
‘‘He’s only a 4-year-old and should just get better as he gets older,’’ May said. ‘‘He’s such a good-gaited horse.’’ No trotter of any age has previously won seven open class Group I races in a season so what he does if he improves further is mind boggling
Favourite Dream About Me needed luck in the running to win the Three year old Diamond but she didn’t get it from the inside of the second line.
She powered home from four back on the markers for third behind winner and stablemate Piccadilly Princess, with Golden Goddess completing a Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen All Stars stable trifecta.
Her stablemates, driven by Tim Williams and Rasmussen respectively, enjoyed economical trips from their front-line draws, Piccadilly Princess coming off the back of Golden Goddess to snatch victory.