Racing: Purdon team sparkles at Jewels

The intimidation factor of Auckland Reactor ensured he had the $200,000 4-Year-Old Emerald in safe keeping within the opening 400m at Ashburton Raceway yesterday.

New Zealand harness racing's pacing superstar was always going to dominate the one mile feature after drawing three and shifting in one spot after the scratching of Absolute Magic.

Rival drivers were not interested in testing the stamina and gate speed of Auckland Reactor, surrendering the lead to the hot favourite and allowing trainer-driver Mark Purdon to control the tempo of the race.

Purdon was allowed an easy time in front and made the opposition suffer, blazing over the closing 800m and 400m of the feature in 54.6 seconds and 25.4s.

When a high-class equine athlete like Auckland Reactor is allowed to dictate only bad luck can stop him, which was not the case yesterday.

The entire strode clear with 200m remaining to win by three lengths from Pembrook Benny with a further head back to Ohoka Dallas (third).

Auckland Reactor covered the mile in an effortless 1:53.85.

"Yes, it was tempting to chase the New Zealand record for one mile but this horse has had a long, hard racing campaign this season, we just wanted to get the victory.

"We got an easy second quarter in front and he relaxed beautifully for me. From the draw it was always my intention to lead and he was doing it easily," said Purdon.

The Purdon stable had a dominant day at Ashburton winning with Joyfuljoy (3-Year-Old Fillies), Pocaro (3-Year-Old Trot) and Auckland Reactor (4-Year-Old).

KIWI INGENUITY became the fastest race winner in New Zealand overcoming the second row to win the $200,000 4-Year-Old Mares Pace.

She started from the outside of the second row and looped the field to win by a length over Trigirl Brigade. A further six lengths away Eyecatcher Courage ran third.

The daughter of Christian Cullen scorched over the mile in 1:52.1 with closing 800m and 400m sectionals of 55.1 seconds and 26.8s.

MARK PURDON has had a difficult time over the past two months getting speedy filly Joyfuljoy to perform on the racetrack, but the master trainer had the last laugh on a premier raceday.

Purdon achieved a training quinella result in the $200,000 3-Year-Old Fillies Final when Joyfuljoy led throughout to defeat Imagine Me by 1 lengths. A further head away was Crystal Star.

Joyfuljoy has staggering gate speed and wayward racing manners - tending to over-race fiercely when leading - and has proved a dilemma for punters.

The daughter of Mach Three capitalised on a handy barrier one draw when leading and relaxing before running her rivals into submission, clinching the victory with blistering closing 800m and 400m sectionals of 54.9 seconds and 26.2 seconds.

Harness Jewels driving king Blair Orange ensured the win with a brutal closing 400m sprint off the front which gave those runners beyond midfield no chance, including hot favourite Lauraella who simply got too far back.

Orange has been a dominant driver on Harness Jewels Day - this victory his fifth in three years.

The win, in a national record time of 1:54.4, was half a second ahead of the previous mark held by Impish.

BRENT MANGOS had a simple pre-race driving plan with well-bred filly Gotta Go Harmony in the $200,000 2-Year-Old Fillies Final.

Mangos was adamant that Gotta Go Harmony was the filly to beat in the mile event and intended to drive her like she was the best runner.

Gotta Go Harmony was not rushed out of the gate at the start, sitting outside the leader before punching forward to take control of the race.

Mangos sealed the victory with a stunning closing 400m lead sprint of 26.5 seconds to win by 1 lengths from Lancome with a further two lengths back to Nevermind Franco.

Pakiri Beach owner-trainer Sue Martin has another outstanding age performer to travel and race. The daughter of Christian Cullen, from former outstanding pacing mare Elect To Live, has scored four wins and one minor placing from seven starts.

2-YEAR-OLD Smiling Shard became the fastest male pacer to win a race in New Zealand when scampering over the mile in 1:53.7 in winning the $200,000 2-Year-Old Emerald.

The son of Grinfromeartoear covered a stack of extra ground scoring a gallant 1-length victory over pacemaker Courage To Rule. Five Star Anvil was a further length away third.

THE ALL-CONQUERING partnership of trainer Geoff Small and David Butcher had to wait until the final event, the Stallion Station 3-Year-Old Emerald, for recompense after Lauraella's luckless effort.

Handy pacer Tintin In America beat the Mark Purdon runner Sleepy Tripp and favourite Stunin Cullen in a slick 1:53.29.