Well bred harness racing filly Sweet On Me capitalized on a better draw this week to comfortably win the $138,000 Magness Benrow NZ Sires Stakes 2yo Fillies Champs at Alexandra Park.
Driven confidently tonight by driver Mark Purdon Sweet On Me (Sweet Lou – Adore Me) settled back early before launching to the lead with a lap to go.
In the straight Purdon was always in control and Sweet On Me held out the stable mate Amazing Dream by three quarters of a length at the line. The Robert Dunn trained Tiffany Rose ran home well for third.
The win by Sweet On Me gave the training partnership of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen it's fifth win straight in the race, with the winner pacing the 1700m mobile in a 1-57.3 mile rate. The last 800m was run in 57.3 seconds and the final 400m in 26.8.
Mark Purdon thought the speedy filly was better tonight.
"She was good tonight. She came off the gate nice without being to quick and settled handy but I thought I would make a move at the 1400m and take her to the front," he said.
"I thought she might have got home last week,but she could have been in season a little bit and that may have had a bearing on it."
Sweet On Me winning the Gr1 NZ Sires Stakes for 2yo Fillies
Earlier in the night the All Stars Stables trained Enhance Your Calm put in a huge performance to win the Gr1 $90,000 2019 Breckon Farms Northern Trotting Derby.
Despite breaking behind the mobile and losing 50m the Majestic Son 3yo caught the field after 800m before driver Mark Purdon looped the field to lead with a mile to run. From there he was never in danger of defeat running a slick last 800m in 56.4 seconds to win easily by 2 1/4 lengths from the Robert Dunn trained Resonate.
Purdon was not sure what caused Enhance Your Calm to gallop.
"Look I can not put my finger on why he is galloping.
"Afterwards he was faultless and he made a really swift move down the back with a mile to run, but I really am at a loss to explain why he has done that out of the gate," he said after the race.
"We will get him to the Jewels and then he can have a good rest," he said.
Enhance Your Calm winning the Northern Trotting Derby
Harnesslink Media