Tintin In America set a New Zealand record when he won the $150,000 New Zealand Messenger at Alexandra Park last night.
Tintin In America ran the 2700m (mobile) in 3.15.8, which was 1.4sec inside the previous best of 3.17.2 set by Flashing Red in the 2007 Auckland Cup.
The 4yr-old entire by McArdle from Zenterfold settled second last and followed Captain Joy up three-wide with 1000m to run. He was fourth on the home turn and finished strongly to beat the Perth pacer Bonavista Bay by three-quarters of a length.
The last 800m was run in 56.9, the final 400m in 28.4.
Tintin In America is raced by the ATC Trot 2008 Syndicate which recently turned down $800,000 for the horse.
Tintin In America took his stake earnings to $817,836 with the win, his 14th from 33 starts.
Tintin In America is trained at Patumahoe by Geoff Small, who won the Messenger in 2004 with Elsu in the hands of David Butcher.
The win was the second in the group one race for Butcher, whose brother, Philip, was successful behind Abdias in 1992. Abdias was trained by their father, John, at Cambridge. He also prepared Josias, who won in 1975 in the hands of Robert Mitchell.
•Bettor Cover Lover set a New Zealand record for a 2yr-old when she won the $170,000 Sires' Stakes Fillies Championship.
The daughter of Bettor's Delight and Front Cover Lover ran the 1700m (mobile) in 2.01.5 bettering the previous best of 2.02.3 set by Zenstar last year. The NZ record for the distance is 2.01.1 set by Elsu in 2005.
