The Cheviot Harness Racing Club comes to town once a year when they run their annual meeting at Addington Raceway.
The highlight is always the Group3 Leonard Memorial for two year old fillies and this year was no exception with eleven fillies lining up in the time honoured classic.
Gina Grace led early from barrier eight through a first 400 metres of 27.2 before handing up to Emeli Maguire who then handed up to her stablemate Northern Velocity with a lap to run.
Northern Velocity looked to be doing it comfortably off the back straight before being joined out wider by another stablemate in Sophisticated Lady at the 500 metres mark.
Driver Matt Anderson let the brakes off on the corner and Northern Velocity shot away for an easy victory over a game Sophisticated Lady and Gina Grace who did really well for third after getting held up badly at the 400 metres mark by a tiring Emeli Maguire.
Northern Velocity covered the 2000 metres in 2:28.6, a mile rate of 1:59.5 with closing sectionals of 60.6 and 30
The big daughter of Mach Three had disgraced herself on debut when breaking for no reason at the quarter pole but never looked like putting a foot wrong today.
A $72,500 purchase out of last years Premier Sale at Christchurch, Northern Velocity is a half sister to the outstanding Pembrook Benny 1:53.6 ($907,890)
Northern Velocity had impressed at trials and workouts in Canterbury prior to her debut run and she must have made an impression on Mark Purdon as well as he bought her full sister at this years Premier Sale in Christchurch for $60,000.
The runner up is another daughter of Mach Three in Sophisticated Lady who is also a sales graduette having being purchased out of last years Australasian Classic for $70,000.
She is from a Christian Cullen half sister to the very smart Gentle Western 1:55 who won his first three starts from the All Star barn before being hurt in the big smash at last years Southern Supremacy Final.
The third place getter Linda Grace is a full sister to last seasons outstanding two year old filly in Linda Lovegrace 1:57.7 ($168,524) so all three placegetters have plenty to recommend them on the breeding front.
Harnesslink Media