Elle Mac, a $51,000 yearling sales purchase, began her racing career with a track record win in a $6000 race at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
Elle Mac ran the 2200m (mobile) in 2.43.4 (1.59.5 mile rate), 1.2sec inside the track mark set by the filly Ultimate Desire in 2015. The 2-year-old track record for all genders is 2.42.9 by Mach Time.
Elle Mac held off her stablemate, another 2-year-old filly, A Lister by a neck. Elle Mac settled fifth, joined the leader at the 600m and stuck on gamely. The pair are trained by Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen.
Elle Mac is raced by Jean Feiss, of Victoria. Elle Mac, a daughter of Bettor’s Delight – Goodlookinggirl was purchased at the 2016 Australasian Classic sale when offered by Breckon Bloodstock. Elle Mac is the third winner from as many foals to race out of Goodlookinggirl, a Christian Cullen mare who won as a 3yr-old from five starts when trained by Purdon and Grant Payne. Goodlookinggirl is a half sister to nine winners including Waitfornoone (group one Queen Of Hearts), Mark Dennis (39 wins mainly in Australia) and St Barts (15 wins).
Mrs Feiss has the leading 3-year-old filly Spanish Armada and Chase the Dream in the Purdon – Rasmussen stable. Her husband, Bill races Vincent, second favourite behind Ultimate Machete for the New Zealand Derby tonight.
Kyle Cameron drove Brite N Lovely and Natives Lasting Love to in trotting races on Thursday. He trains Native Lasting Love for Danny and Dawn McGirr and Austin Thornton. Brite N Lovely is trained by Cameron’s father, Ian, who races the 6yr-old mare with his wife, Jocelyn.
The 3-year-old filly Miss Fandango gave Peter Dynes, of Dunedin his first win as an owner when she led for most of the way. Dynes is in the Dark Horse syndicate along with Garry Aitken, of Timaru, Steve Herring and Gerard Darony, both of Christchurch and Shannon McEwan, whose father, Wayne trains Miss Fandango at Branxholme (Southland). She was having her third start for McEwan. She joined his stable seven weeks ago after twice finishing second in five starts for Ken Barron. Miss Fandango was a $22,000 purchase at the premier yearling sale.
McEwan was among three trainers who previously prepared Newmans Jet, a maiden winner for Steve Lock at her 75th start. The 7-year-old mare began racing close on five years ago. Lock was loaned a truck by Tom Kilkelly to transport Newmans Jet and three other horses to Dunedin from Invercargill. His horse transporter had a alternator problem.
Aymar was claimed for $10,000 by Menangle trainer Leon Jurd after finishing second to Machie Mach.
West Melton trainer Michael House, who won with Ask Me Art and Shillelagh said he would be racing his team at Forbury Park on a regular basis in the next few weeks. “It is brutal racing them at Addington under the ratings system,’’ he said.
Shillelagh was driven by Blair Orange who drove Miss Fandango and Its Elvis who led for most of the way in the rating 50 and faster trot.
Tayler Strong