Both horses ran to emphatic Jewels victories for trainers Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, who again dominated New Zealand’s richest day of harness racing.
Rasmussen revealed Westwood Beach trainer Graeme Anderson may have a fight on his hands to get Eamon Maguire back in his stable after his win in the 4yr-old male pacing final.
Rasmussen and training partner Purdon have been so impressed with the horse since taking over his training from Anderson in April they do not want to let the pacer out of their sight.
“I have jokingly said to Graeme you’re not getting him back,’’ Rasmussen said in her post race interview.
Rasmussen praised Anderson for the developing Eamon Maguire in to a group 1 winning pacer.
“We can’t take any of the credit for this horse, Graeme has done everything with him and he couldn’t get away to come north and he left him with us.’’
‘’He is just a beautiful horse.’’
Eamon Maguire punched through from his second row spot to land a perfect position in the one-one before going on to win comfortably over Star Galleria and A G’s White Socks.
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 raced for over a month prior to the race after suffering a horror hoof injury.
Rasmussen sent the classy filly around the field in the middle stages of the race and once she found the front it was game over for her rivals.
The Southern success continued when on Harness Jewels day when Pat's Delight took out the male 3yr-old pacers' final.
The Cran Dalgety trained colt was dynamic in the home straight, racing away from away for a comprehensive victory.
Driver Dexter Dunn gave the pacer, raced by Pat Kubala, of Gore, a perfect run in the trail behind Sheriff.
"Travelling around the last bend I was nearly galloping, he was travelling that good,'' Dunn said in his post-race interview.
''He was spot on today, Cran had him perfect.''
The Purdon-Rasmussen stable bagged wins in five of today's Harness Jewels races.
The stable's winning run continued in the next two events after Princess Tiffany's victory with wins with 2yr-old trotter Enhance Your Calm, 3yr-old trotter Winterfell and 3yr-old filly Shez All Rock.
Later, Tim Williams would steer Another Masterpiece to win the 2yr-old male pacers’ final for the All Stars stable.
Leading reinsman 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.
