Their wins, with Eamon Maguire’s 4yr-old pacers’ title, sent three Harness Jewels trophies south. Driver Dexter Dunn gave Pat’s Delight, raced by Pat Kubala, of Gore, a perfect run in the trail behind Sheriff.
Once he saw clear air in the straight, the Cran Dalgety-trained pacer sealed his win with an electric turn of speed.
"Travelling around the last bend I was nearly galloping, he was travelling that good," Dunn said after the race.
"He was spot on today. Cran had him perfect."
Dalgety said he was especially pleased for Kubala, as he turned down big money offers to buy the horse.
"Pat’s been marvellous and he’s here today with all his family," Dalgety told NZ Harness News.
"I’m thrilled for him, because he’s had a lot of money thrown at him for the horse, but at his age he wants the thrill of racing and hopefully today he got that."
There was a sense of redemption about the horse’s win after he was beaten narrowly by Sheriff in the New Zealand Derby.
"He was beaten in the New Zealand Derby by a nose and it was cruel," Dalgety said.
"He went as good as the winner [Sheriff] that night.
"But this win will go some way to making up for that."
Pat’s Delight’s blasted to the lead from barrier 2, before Dunn handed the lead to Sheriff to set up a similar finish to the New Zealand Derby’s, where Pat’s Delight trailed the winner into the straight.
"He was always going to have his chance today," Dalgety told NZ Harness News.
"If he got beaten, he wouldn’t have had an excuse, it’s as simple as that. The others were always going to have to work harder than him."
The victory gave Dexter Dunn a group 1 goodbye before he leaves for a driving stint in the United States later this month.
"I’m letting him go, but not for too long; he better come back," Dalgety quipped.
Mosgiel owners Phil and Margaret Creighton struck success in the first Jewels event with a phenomenal performance from Princess Tiffany.
The filly dealt to her rivals despite having a tough early run from barrier 8 and not having raced for more than a month before the race after suffering a horror hoof injury.
Rasmussen sent the classy filly around the field in the middle stages and once she found the front, it was game over for her rivals.
The Purdon-Rasmussen stable bagged wins in five of the group 1 races. The stable’s success continued with wins to 2yr-old trotter Enhance Your Calm and 3yr-old filly Shez All Rock in races 2 and 3, 3yr-old trotter Winterfell in race 8, and Another Masterpiece, steered by Tim Williams, in race 6, the 2yr-old male pacers’ final.
Blair Orange took out the 4yr-old trotters final with Habibti Inta for trainer Paul Nairn.
Ricky May combined with trainer Steven Reid to win the 4yr-old pacing mares final with Utmost Delight.
— NZ Harness News, additional reporting; Jonny Turner.
