With the top two harness racing mares in the country in Adore Me and Helena Jet having been retired recently, the title of New Zealand's best mare was up for grabs tonight at Addington in the $100,000 New Zealand Breeders Stakes.
Venus Serena was the public elect from barrier three and she showed last night that at her best, there is no better mare in the country at present..
Driver John Dunn let the daughter of Mach Three work her way to the front after 250 metres and from there she controlled the tempo of the race.
With a mile to go John started to up the tempo with Venus Serena and it was obvious a long way from home that most were struggling with the speed up front.
The well supported New Years Jay worked around to the death at the 1000 metres mark and the race just hotted up even more.
Down the back straight John turned the wick up again with a 27.9 quarter and most were struggling to make ground as they turned for home.
The way the race had been run was set up for a swooper and Willow who had been last at the 600 metres flew home along the inner but Venus Serena was still a length to the good at the line.
Pemberton Shard went her usual honest race running into third ahead of Here We Go Again who ran on well late for fourth.
In the very windy conditions, Venus Serena paced the 2600 metres in 3:12, a mile rate of 1:58.8 with the last mile in a very quick 1:55.7 and closing sectionals of 57.3 and 29.4
John Dunn was happy to see Venus Serena back to something like her best.
" That was such a gutsy run tonight and she felt more like her old self."
" There is a really strong wind out there tonight and she ran into it twice so it was a top effort."
" I eased off the speed early which I probably shouldn't have but once I let her roll she had them in trouble," John said.
Trainer Geoff Dunn was a contented man post race.
" She deserved that tonight as she hasn't really gone a bad race all season."
"Bad draws have cost her a few times this season and that was the first time she had had a decent barrier."
"Once she found the front, I knew she would be hard to beat."
Geoff has deliberately given Venus Serena a lighter season.
" Right through her two and three year old seasons, every race was a track or New Zealand record and that has to take a toll."
"So we decided to give her an easier time at four in the hope that if we look after her now, we will be rewarded down the line," Geoff said.
The only target left for the mare this season now is the Harness Jewels and last nights win has given her the bankroll to assure her a start in the May 30th feature.
Harnesslink Media