Clash with Winx considered

Atesting 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 1. 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 were 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 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.