Natalie Rasmussen was back doing what she does best at Cambridge on Thursday night, and the punters who stuck with Self Assured loved every second of it.
Rasmussen, who had not driven in a race this season until Thursday, produced a gem of a drive to get Self Assured home in the $45,000 Flying Mile even after he started from the outside of the front line.
The race was the final lead-up to the $1 million The Race next Friday and the defending champion did exactly what he did in the slot race last season, kept his powder dry early before sweeping into the race at perfect time and sling-shotting Copy That.
The latter was big and bold in second while Akuta, who worked harder mid-race, closed again for third with Old Town Road, who burned early, fourth.
The top four were so similar in merit of performance the TAB bookies instantly opened them all $4 for The Race before Monday night’s barrier draw.