HOW fast can our two-year-olds go?
The mind boggles after watching Shane Tritton’s latest buzz juvenile Divine State smashed the clock in last night’s $50,000 Group 2 Sapling Stakes (1609m) at Menangle.
The son of former star Kiwi pacer Tintin In America worked his way to the lead and scorched a 1min51.6sec mile to thrash a strong field.
He left the previously unbeaten Thisbeachrighthere, who trailed him, 12.8m away in second spot.
The splits were 27.3, 29.1, 28.3 and 26.9sec and that was after and during the rain coming down.
Divine State’s mile took 0.5sec off the previous Australasian 2YO mile race record held jointly by Lettucerockthem and Heavens Trend.
“There was lots of talk about how good a few others were in the race, but I told everyone I’d be devastated if anything beat us because I know how good he is,” Tritton said.
“I worked him the other day with Katy Perry, who is going well and very quick, and she couldn’t get near him.”
Divine State is being set for next month’s Bathurst Gold Crown.
THE intimidating shadow of Dream About Me looms large, but her stablemate A Piccadilly Princess could not be going better heading into next Saturday night’s Group 1 Ladyship Mile.
Of all of A Piccadilly Princess’ big wins, her most impressive came in last night’s $50,000 Group 2 Robin Dundee Classic (1609m) at Menangle.
That’s because she never stopped working and still thrashed a good field.
A Piccadilly Princess was out three-wide for much of the first half, which the leader Millwood Liberty ran in a blistering 54.9sec.
Purdon worked around to sit parked and never panicked before pushing the button and zooming away from her rivals at the top of the straight.
They came at her late, but the win was awesome in a 1min51.5sec mile … and during driving rain.
This Ladyship has plenty of depth with the A Piccadilly Princess and Dream About Me joined by the likes of Cyclone Kate, Frith and others.
It will just another highlight on what promises to be a magical Miracle Mile night.
FORMER Kiwi pacer My Kiwi Mate scored the most important win of his career in last Friday night’s $50,000 Group 2 Bendigo Cup (2650m).
It’s not the biggest race he’s been in, but it marked his leap from exciting talent against his own age group to a serious open-class force.
The previous week co-trainer and driver Jodi Quinlan tried to lead throughout on My Kiwi Mate in the Terang Cup, but was nabbed late by a rejuvenated Flaming Flutter.
My Kiwi Mate and Quinlan turned the tables at Bendigo.
This time it was Flaming Flutter who sat parked, raced to the lead, but was unable to hold-off My Kiwi Mate’s big finishing burst in a very sharp 1min56.2sec mile rate for the long 2650m trip.
“Gee he deserved that one,” remarked co-trainer Craig Demmler after the win.
My Kiwi Mate’s greatest asset is his sit-sprinting ability and, judging by Bendigo, it is going to take him a long way in his open-class career.
The logical next step is the Cranbourne Cup on March 3.
Flaming Flutter showed his Terang Cup was a genuine return to form by doing all the work and fighting on gamely for second at Bendigo.
The disappointment was heavily-backed former topliner Guaranteed, who did some work at times, but faded late to finish 15m from the winner in sixth spot.
A big plunge on former Kiwi pacer Messini ($41 into $7.50) went astray when he led, but was spent on the home turn and only beat one rival home.
CLASSY Kiwi trotting mare Sunny Ruby is loving her time in Australia.
And trainer Sam Smolenski’s decision to leave her in Victoria after a slashing third in the Great Southern Star paid immediate dividends with victory in the $50,000 Group 2 Maori Mile at Bendigo last Friday night.
She’s raced here three times this trip for two wins, a third and earned $87,000.
Sunny Ruby, now in the care of Sonya Smith and Anthony Butt, took advantage of hot favourite Glenferrie Typhoon’s enigmatic manners to win at Bendigo.
Glenferrie Typhoon, winner of the Great Southern Star, was crunched from $1.90 into $1.50 and led, but never looked as though he was trotting comfortable.
Driver Kate Gath nursed as long as she could in front, but he broke stride coming to the final bend and lost all chance.
Anthony Butt drove with great poise and patience and Sunny Ruby did the rest, storming home to win without being extended by 2.3m in a slick 1min56.1sec mile.
IT was a good ripping night at the office for the Greg and Skye Bond barn at Gloucester Park last Friday.
They combined with stable driver Ryan Warwick to cause a minor upset in the $50,000 Group 2 Caduceus Club Classic (2130m) – a key WA Derby lead-up – with Rock Diamonds, a son of Rocknroll Hanover.
In a driving finish, Rock Diamonds beat a gallant Maczaffair by a whisker in a 1min57.7sec mile rate.
The disappointment was hot favourite Im Rockaria, who did plenty of work and sat parked, but tired late to beat only two rivals home.
Team Bond also won the fast-class race, the $50,000 RWWA Cup (2536m) with classy former Kiwi pacer Our Jimmy Johnstone, who landed a big plunge ($3 into $2.40).
The race was effectively over once Our Jimmy Johnstone found the lead and he cruised to 7.3m win over Bronze Seeker.
The other buzz horse in the race was Im Full Of Excuses, but he just battled into fourth spot.
Team Bond won four races on the night, the other two coming with Bettor Offer in race five and Our Regal Ideal in the eighth event.
LOST in the wash-up of another huge weekend was yet another win by the remarkable old fella Destreos.
The Ken Rattray-trained former Kiwi pacer lifted after looking beaten numerous times to post his 92nd career win – from a staggering 419 starts – at Albion Park last Tuesday.
And he led throughout for driver Kelli Dawson to pace a slick 1min53.3sec mile rate for 1660m as well.
Destreos is nicknamed “King of the Creek” because his amazing record at Queensland’s harness home, Albion Park. He raced there 306 times for 69 wins.
COULD Clover Mac be the new K D Muscles?
Just as K D Muscles struggled for wins in NZ and thrived when she came to Andy and Kate Gath’s Aussie barn, Clover Mac has started the same way.
Clover Mac ran second at her first Aussie run, but has since won three on end.
It was the seven-year-old’s latest win at Melton last night (Saturdau) which looked most exciting.
Kate Gath extricated her from a pocket before the home bend and once in daylight she exploded past the leaders to win running away by 8.2m in a slick 2min0.2sec mile rate for the 2240m standing start.
She left classy trotters like Conon Bridge and My Tribeca standing.
Adam Hamilton