Rasmussen on the verge of more history

No female has ever driven the winner of the Auckland Trotting Cup in its 126 year history, but after last night’s (Friday) meeting at Alexandra Park, Natalie Rasmussen now looks on the verge of creating history.

 

The former Queenslander drove the winner of both the major races at ‘Northern Headquarters’ and she now has the choice of getting in behind the first or second favourite for the $250,000 Group One feature on December 31.

 

Cup favourite, Dream About Me, was impressive in the Group Three $30,000 Caduceus Club Northern Breeders Fillies & Mares Stakes, while second favourite, Titan Banner exploded away to win the Group Three $30,000 Summer Cup.

 

Those wins came a few hours prior to Smolda and Mark Purdon’s neck win over Hectorjajay in the $1.1m Inter Dominion grand Final in Perth.

 

For good measure the Mark Purdon-Rasmussen Stable also quinella-ed the $22,000 Auckland Co-Op Taxis 3yo Stakes when Ultimate Machete Rasmussen) and More The Better (Tim Williams).

 

Rasmussen was rapt with another successful night at the office, but she wouldn‘t commit to an Auckland Cup drive three weeks out from the great race.

 

Her best placing in the race was fifth behind Smolda in the March 2015 Auckland Cup.

 

“I don’t mind who I drive in the big race. We will sit down as a team and talk about it, but I’m not too perturbed either way. I just know they are both very good chances in the big race,” Rasmussen said.

 

The Canterbury-based horseman was full of praise for both Dream About Me and Titan Banner, and believed the former deserved to be the Cup favourite. In that case Purdon is likely to return from Australia to take the reins of Titan Banner.

 

“Wow he (Titan Banner) really made a statement tonight didn’t he? I think gained a lot of respect,” Rasmussen said.

 

It was a gutsy performance by the Art Major gelding. In fact the win was so comprehensive the New Zealand TAB reacted by slashing his Cup odds from $7 to $3.

 

Rasmussen settled Titan Banner at the rear from their awkward nine-draw. They made their move at the bell and were three-wide without cover down the back straight.

 

In the home straight the 5-year-old simply said goodbye to his eight opponents running away to win by two-and-half-lengths from New Zealand Cup runner-up Tiger Tara (Gerard O’Reilly). No Doctor Needed (Ricky May) were two lengths back in third.

 

It was Titan Banner’s 11th win in 31 starts. He’s also placed 12 times for $169,213 in stakes. He was the $6 third favourite.

 

He paced the 2200m mobile in a slick 2:38.8 (mile rate 1:56.1) with final 800m and 400m sprints of 56.1 and 27.6.

 

“That was a very impressive first-up run at Alexandra Park. He’s come of age tonight, but in saying that he did do a similar thing when he beat Christen Me in the Winter Cup back home in May.

 

“We will have to speak to the owners but I’d say he would by-pass next week’s Franklin Cup and then go straight into the Auckland Cup. He’s not the sort of horse who likes to race week-after-week,” Rasmussen.

 

One pacer who will race next Friday night, but not in the Franklin Cup, is New Zealand’s best female pacer, Dream About Me.

 

The talented 4-year-old Bettor’s Delight mare will be a hot favourite for the Group One $100,000 Rosslands Queen of Hearts Fillies & Mares Pace.

 

Last night she paid a paltry $1.10 when winning the Caduceus Club Northern Breeders Fillies & Mares Stakes. As expected she was a class above her seven opponents and won as she liked, virtually untouched.

 

That three-and-a-half length victory saw TAB bookmakers reduced her opening Cup odds from $2.90 to $2.80.

 

“She felt good tonight and as well all know she is a serious racehorse. I liked the way she hit the line. She’s now unbeaten in four starts on the track. She’s a gem,” said Rasmussen.

 

Dream About Me and Rasmussen started from the outside of the front line and then found themselves in the one-one on a slowish pace down the back straight the first time.

 

They then went and sat parked at the 1500m before taking over at the bell. That was the winning of the race.

 

Dream About Me then cruised to victory pacing the 2200m mobile in 2:40.2 (mile rate 1:57.2) and home in 57.4 and 27.2. It was her 17th career win in 20 starts. She's also placed twice and now banked $809,989 in stakes.

 

Three-year-olds Ultimate Machete and Spanish Armada also impressed Rasmussen.

 

“Ultimate Machete has carried on from where he left off in the Sires Stakes (3yo) Final. I had to nurse him around a couple of the bends, but that was an impressive first-up look at the track. He’s a bit special.

 

“And so is Spanish Armada. She got back and I really liked the way she ran on for second. I think we will have a good month in Auckland,” Rasmussen said.

 

One of the other highlights of the night came in race three when the Ken & Tony Barron trained Dom Domingo won by nine lengths – on debut.

 

The American Ideal gelding and Blair Orange ran away and hid stopping the clock in 2:41.1 and home in 58 flat and 27.7.

 

His winning mile rate for the 200m mobile was 1:57.8. On that run the 4-year-old will be winning again soon.

 

Next Friday’s Group meeting at Alexandra Park will comprise:

 

Group Two $75,000 Peter Breckon Memorial Ladyship 3yo Fillies Stakes

 

Group Two $40,000 Lyell Creek Stakes for the open class trotters

 

Group One $100,000 Rosslands Queen of Hearts Fillies & Mares Pace

 

Group Two $50,000 Alabar 3yo Classic

 

Group Two $40,000 Franklin Cup