Harness racing pundits saw it as a good old fashioned Trans Tasman battle tonight at Addington in the New Zealand Sires Stakes heat when the Aussie raider Salty Robyn took on one of the best Kiwi two year old pacers in Chase The Dream.
Lauren Panella left the gate early from barrier three and slowly worked her way to the front with Salty Robyn with Three Ways and Dexter Dunn taking the trail.
Chase The Dream with Natalie Rasmussen in the bike worked her way to the death seat after 400 metres and was content to sit there on Salty Robyn's wheel.
A three wide train came around but Natalie kicked up and kept them out there and held the death seat.
Down the back straight Lauren upped the tempo with Salty Robyn but couldn't shake Chase The Dream and they turned for home together.
The two favourites settled down to fight it out but Chase The Dream sprinted past Salty Robyn at the 100 metres mark and went to the line a length clear of Salty Robyn who was well clear of Three Ways in third.
A minor highlight of the race was the run of Wannabet who came from near last at the 800 metres mark to run fourth.
Chase The Dream paced the 1950 metres in cool chilly conditions in 2:23.3, a mile rate of 1:58.2 with closing sectionals of 56.9 and 28.
Natalie was thrilled with the run of the colt by Bettors Delight.
" He was actually a bit fresh tonight and that caused him to over race a bit early."
" After that he settled well and really found when I asked him."
" He has just got such a wonderful attitude and that run will really improve him.
" Mark and I think a lot of him and think that he has a big future," Natalie said.
Shane Tritton, the trainer of Salty Robyn was proud of the son of Art Official after the trip over didn't go to plan.
" We faced delays on the trip from Sydney to New Zealand."
" We left home at one o'clock on Monday afternoon and didn't get to Mark Jones' until eight o'clock on Tuesday morning.
" He has been a bit quiet since his arrival and Lauren said he wasn't himself in the preliminary."
" Now that he has qualified, we have time to get him spot on so they will know we are there come the final," Shane said.
Shane has had another problem since his flight to New Zealand with his property near Newcastle in New South Wales badly hit by the storm there.
" There is no power or water on at the property but all the horses and staff are safe so that is the important thing."
"With a bit of luck we should be able to race the team this weekend," Shane said.
Race patrons in New Zealand don't get to see Australian raiders very often and the presence of Salty Robyn tonight at Addington created a fair bit of interest for a low key Thursday night meeting.
Harnesslink Media