Iron horse Eamon Maguire has narrowly won tonight's Group One $100,000 NZ Messenger.
Eamon Maguire showed blazing gate speed to lead early before handing up to Tony Herlihy driving Star Galleria.
In the straight Eamon Maguire (Art Major-Kim Maguire) was always the horse to beat given the great run in transit he had received and he levelled up to Star Galleria and clawed his way to a half head victory.
Driver Natalie Rasmussen gave a lot of the credit for the win to former trainer Graeme Anderson.
"We have only had the horse ten days," she said after the race, so a lot of the credit has to go to Graeme.
"This horse is a pleasure to have in the barn, he's got perfect manners and he zipped off the gate and got that perfect trail tonight.
"A few of them were getting pretty tired near the finish but my guy had that little advantage and held it," she said.
Eamon Maguire paced the 2700m mobile in 3-15.7 with a final 800m in 56.2 and 400m in 27.9 seconds.
Star Galleria battled on gamely for second to give sire Art Major the quinella in the race and A G's White Socks ran home well for third.
Eamon Maguire winning the Group One Messenger
Harnesslink Media