Elle Mac triumphs as disaster hits rival
CHRISTCHURCH/AUCKLAND: It was a story of triumph and tragedy in last night’s group 1 $125,000 Pascoes The Jewellers Northern Oaks at Alexandra Park.
Race favourite Elle Mac got a luxurious lead and recorded an easy victory in the timehonoured race.
But her main rival, Bettor Joy, suffered a nasty check shortly after the start of the 2700m race and lost a huge stretch of ground.
It was the losing of the race for her and a huge recovery for fourth only served to remind her connections and punters of what might have been.
‘‘Characterbuilding,’’ was trainer Cran Dalgety’s summation of events.
‘‘We’ll turn the page and move on to the next one.’’
Elle Mac whipped home in 56.8 and 27.0 to record a comfortable threelength victory in the hands of cotrainer Natalie Rasmussen, who prepares her with Mark Purdon.
Her time of 3.24.5 was the slowest in nine years and underlined the sedate sectionals that Rasmussen got away with in front.
It was the third group 1 win at Alexandra Park for Elle Mac in her short career to date, one in which she has won six races.
It’s an intriguing strike rate and one Rasmussen says is testament to the idiosyncrasies of the filly.
‘‘She’s quite a lazy girl and you have to really set her a target and get her wound right up for it.’’
While winning a group 1 is always a thrill, Rasmussen was slightly deflated to have learned Bettor Joy met misfortune.
‘‘It’s always nice to win a big race, but you want to see every horse get a fair chance.’’
But it was not all plain sailing for All Stars hotshots in the 3yrold features last night as the Woodlands Northern Derby market was turned on its head when Chase Auckland tasted defeat for the first time in the Derby prelude.
He was forced to sit parked and could not grab stablemate Sicario, who was having his first start since last winter.
The result suggested Monday’s barrier draw will play a bigger role than expected in who wins next Friday’s Derby.
The other stars of the night were the Michelle WallisBernie Hackett training team, who won both early trots, including the Breeder Stakes with Majestic Ali. — NZ Harness Racing/Michael Guerin, NZME