Two year old filly Heavens Trend had harness racing statisticians checking the history books after her dominant performance at Tabcorp Park Menangle on Saturday night when she won a semi final of the Pepper Tree Farm NSW Breeders Challenge rating 1:52.1 for the mile.
The daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven shaved two seconds off the Australasian record for a two year old filly previously held by the Mark Purdon trained Supersonic Miss. Incredibly no three year old fillies have ever run faster in Australia. Heavens Trend’s time is half a second faster than the three year old fillies' mile record held jointly by Courageous Annie and Nike Franco at 1:52.6.
Driver Gavin Lang was impressed and believes the Emma Stewart trained filly could be a star.
“The performance was impressive, it is a bit scary to think what she could run on a warm night,” said Lang.
“I gave up seven drives at Melton on Saturday night to drive at Menangle but I’m yet to pull the earplugs on this one and for a filly to run 1:52.1 is very exciting.”
Heavens Trend led from barrier two and raced through the first quarter in 27.3.
“One of her greatest attributes is that speed off the arm, she’s just a natural, a free flowing filly that likes to go about her work and I think she’ll dominate for some time.
“She felt like she was doing it in second gear, she was away from home and in the new surroundings was probably a little bit keener than normal but that’s what she is capable of.”
Heavens Trend will next race in the Pepper Tree Farm NSW Breeders Challenge final on Sunday June 28.
“I don’t know about whether she is the best two year old I’ve ever driven, I’d have to go back through the records to work that out but I don’t know that I’ve driven a quicker one.”
Greg Hayes