Racing: Vincent sets up clash with Lazarus

NZ Herald·

31 Dec, 2017 08:09 AM3 mins to read

Natalie Rasmussen drives Vincent (4) to victory over Titan Banner (2) in the $250,000 Auckland Cup at Alexandra Park tonight. Photo / Dean Purcell

Auckland Cup hero Vincent won't be protected from champion stablemate Lazarus as the Miracle Mile looms as pacing's race of the season.

The red hot favourite led home a Purdon-Rasmussen trifecta in the $250,000 Cup at Alexandra Park tonight, downing Titan Banner and Heaven Rocks in a race of twists and turns.

After Titan Banner led early and Vincent trailed punters could have expected that order to remain unchanged but David Butcher driving Northview Hustler had other ideas, deciding he didn't want to sit parked so attacked for the lead.

He was successful, Titan Banner came out of the trail to re-take the lead and once that game of cat and mouse calmed down Vincent strolled to the front.

The magnificent four-year-old then dawdled through the middle stages before things lit up again when Heaven Rocks worked around to sit parked, attacked down the back straight and even headed Vincent at the 500m before racing erratically.

But the favourite kicked back in the style of a potential pacing great and at the line was easily holding Titan Banner.

"That was a huge win when you consider he is only four," said Purdon, who watched the race from the outside fence of the parade ring because he is suspended.

That meant training partner Natalie Rasmussen reined the winner and Purdon admitted it was a strange feeling watching rather than being out on the track.

"But it was great to see all three of them perform to that level and when Tim [Williams, driving Heaven Rocks] attacked it made the last lap exciting. The winner is a wonderful horse but I thought the other two went great and it was good to see Heaven Rocks get around in one piece."

The win was followed by Ashley Locaz winning the last race to give the All Stars a remarkable seven winners at the premier meeting from only eight races but now their gaze turns to Australia.

Lazarus returns to racing in Perth this Friday and the following two weeks before returning to the eastern states, where Vincent will contest the A$200,000 Chariots Of Fire in Sydney on February 10. If they continue on their winning ways both will be invited to the A$750,000 Miracle Mile on February 24 and Purdon says he will not keep the pair apart.

"If they are both going well enough and win their way into the Miracle Mile then I wouldn't be scared to start them against each other," he said.

So could the new Auckland Cup winner beat the two-time New Zealand Cup winner in Lazarus?

"I think he could," says Purdon of Vincent.

"I am not saying he would but it is not impossible as Vincent is a very good horse and any horse, even Lazarus, is beatable as we saw in the early heats of the Inter Dominions.

"So that could be the first time they clash and I think if it eventuated it would be great for the industry."

Earlier, Temporale ended the argument over who is the best trotter racing in New Zealand when he outstayed Speeding Spur in the $100,000 National Trot, the second time he has beaten him this month and suggesting he has earned himself a trip to Victoria next month.