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Natalie Rasmussen knows better than to try and dance with the devil, so you won’t see Heaven Rock’s straying too far from the nest for the next few months.

The massive pacer with the big motor and even bigger bag of tricks was simply stunning when winning last night's (Saturday) Group One $100,000 Easter Cup at Addington after blowing the stand start and while he showed his best work for about 3100 metres of the 3200 metres, Rasmussen couldn’t help but ponder what could be if he was a little more tractable.

“He’s very, very good, there’s no doubting that,” she said.

“But he’s also a big orangutan.”

While there must be some temptation to go and take on the best in Australasia with such an exciting talent, Rasmussen, and her training partner, Mark Purdon are more inclined to stick to the proven and keep Heaven Rocks around the Rolleston base and make a bid at a second Jewels success.

“I don’t think at this stage, with some of his mannerism, sending him away would be the best thing for him.

“He’s getting better, but he’s still a ratbag and you certainly couldn’t leave him with someone, so we are better keeping him close by where we can manage, and handle him.”

That news will likely result in a shot at the Rangiora Classic in a couple of weeks before the Jewels preparation.

Becoming a dual, Jewels winners became a bit easier on Saturday night with Purdon officially withdrawing superstar Lazarus from the big race day.

Heaven Rocks has now won eight of his 14 starts and took his earnings past $200,000 on Saturday night for his connections; Phil and Glenys Kennard, Phil and Margaret Creighton, Gavin Douglas and Kevin Riseley.

After missing away from the stand start, he settled quickly into his work and Rasmussen took any further bad luck out of the equation and launched her way to the lead within the first 500 metres.

“He relaxed back to me really well which is a good thing because he can pull.

“He got a bit keen when the bell went at the mile marker, but again came back to me really well and was just travelling super from there on.”

They stopped the clock in a slick 3:58.7 with Captain Dolmio emerging from the ruck to run a valiant second while North Island visitor Maxim was a very good third.

Credit : Matt Markham writing in Harnesslink, April 2017


Credit: Matt Markham writing in Harnesslink, April 2017

When competing at the ultimate level it’s the small percentages that can often determine an outcome and for Spanish Armada they proved a major factor in her Group One success in the Nevele R Fillies Final last night at Addington.

The brilliant filly trounced her rivals in the $140,000 feature to cap a magical night for the All Stars team and particularly, Natalie Rasmussen who handled the driving duties on all four of their winners but it’s almost a case of what is still to come being as exciting as living in the moment of another premier night domination.

Rasmussen’s small percentage saves in the Nevele R Final came early on in proceedings when she threw a few form analysts books out the window by handing up to her stablemate, Partyon almost immediately. There had been some belief that she might try and take the bull by the horns and led throughout, but Rasmussen said she felt taking the sit was the better option.

“I knew Partyon would at least get me to the top of the lane,” she said.

“And I knew that Dexter (Dunn) would put the pressure on down the back which would help our chances a lot.

“But it all worked out perfectly and felt more like a bit of a trial than anything else, it was a really nice run to lead into next week’s Oaks. She’s pulled up really well this morning and you would hardly know she had run in a Group One last night.

“I’m just really hot on her at the moment, she’s in such a good place and thriving.”
Owned by Jean Feiss, Spanish Armada has now won four Group One races and more than $600,000 in stakes with some serious money still on offer over the next few weeks. While rapt with her performance there was a little bit of perplexity about the effort of Partyon who didn’t quite look herself.

“I think she just probably hasn’t come forward a lot from her two-year-old season, where the other fillies had.

“Mark said she was just ok last night.”

Judge Mark Gallagher was unable to split second place in the race with Bonnie Joan and Delightful Memphis declared in a dead-heat for the runner-up prize after strong performances from both, particularly Bonnie Joan who worked off the second row barrier draw.

Less than an hour later, Rasmussen found herself in the winners’ circle again when The Devil’s Own emerged from nowhere to claim the $200,000 PGG Wrightson NZ Yearling Sales Series Open Final.

The two-year-old pacer looked dead and buried around the final bend, but Rasmussen knew if she found clear air that he would charge to the line.

“He trailed up behind the so well and I knew if we got a gap that he would hook into it and really go but it was just a case of how early we would get it.

“I thought probably second or third was going to be our lot, but the leader started to tire a bit late and we managed to get past him, it was a pretty impressive performance.”

The Art Major colt has been a gradual improver since beginning his career and Rasmussen has high hopes for him as a three-year-old.

“He’s a pretty fair sort of horse, I quite like him.

“But he will be even better next year I think, he’s got a bit of improvement left in him yet.”

Harness Jewels contender, Heaven Rocks stamped his authority early in the night when winning the Free-For-All event, but despite the victory Rasmussen wasn’t overly convinced the gelding was 100 per cent.

“We had him checked this morning because I just felt he wasn’t quite right in his gait last night and he has a slight fetlock issue but it’s nothing serious and we have got on top of it early so it shouldn’t be an issue.

“The big bonus with him is that his manners are getting better and better, he jumped something last night when we turned around to score up and went off in a gallop but came back to me nicely which he wouldn’t have done a while back.

“So we will keep him on the unruly for now as I don’t want to ruin all that work we’ve managed to achieve with him.”

The fourth win came of under-rated pacer Star’s Align who made us of a good drive from Rasmussen to scoot up the passing lane and win comfortably while you could argue that the victory of Australian raider, One Muscle Hill for former Kiwi Nicole Molander was also an All Stars success with the two-year-old trotter currently domiciled at their stable.

Credit: Matt Markham writing on Harnesslink, May 2017