She is bred to be a harness racing superstar and judging by her debut at Tabcorp Park Menangle yesterday, Our Golden Goddess is set to live up to her bloodlines.
Not only did the Mark Purdon-trained youngster easily account for her rivals, she set an Australian record in the process.
Competing in a heat of the New South Wales Breeders’ Challenge, Our Golden Goddess covered the mile in a scintillating 1:54.3, with her time shaving two-tenths of a second off Hazels Girl national mark.
Hazels Girl set the two-year-old fillies’ record at the same venue last March.
Thrilled with Our Golden Goddess’ performance, owner Merv Butterworth is confident his latest promising pacer can continue her winning way through the series.
“She has the semi-finals next on the 13th, then hopefully onto the Final a fortnight later,” Butterworth said. “Mark has had a fair opinion of her all along and hopefully she can convert that onto the racetrack.
“That was a terrific debut, and going on that run, she is capable of going through the series unbeaten, but we all know anything can happen in racing.”
With Purdon in the cart, Our Golden Goddess worked to the lead from barrier four before cruising to a six-and-a-half metre win from Merrywood Ruby, with Lettuce Go Pippa a metre-and-a-half away third.
By super sire Art Major, Our Golden Goddess is from exceptionally-bred mare Localize – a daughter of former top mare, Sabilize.
The family also includes Sushi Sushi, Royal Mattjesty, Sable Matters, B Dramattic, Sabelvision, Dragon’s Lair and Cole Muffer.
Our Golden Goddess’ victory was the opening leg of a double for Purdon, who also scored with outstanding three-year-old, Kept Under Wraps.
The son of Bettors Delight led throughout to complete an eight-and-a-half metre win from Toolijooa Dawn, with El Chango three-and-a-half metres away third.
With the final 800 metres run in 57.1 seconds, Kept Under Wraps covered the mile in 1:54.2, taking his record to six wins and five seconds from 16 starts.
Paul Courts