Dunn runner upsets in Sales Graduette

All the harness racing pundits thought tonights $20,000 yearling sales graduette was a gift for the All Stars barn runner Northern Velocity.

The big strapping daughter of Mach Three had been in great form at trials in Canterbury recently and the punters made her a short priced favourite.

Away well, driver Mark Purdon settled her in the one by one early before moving up to the death seat outside the leader Flyingretna with 800 metres to go

Passing the 400 metres mark Northern Velocity suddenly went into a wild gallop losing all chance in the process.

Just when it looked  like the other All Star runner Emeli Maguire would get home, Sem's Delight with John Dunn in the bike swooped down the outside to nab the win right on the line.

The daughter of Bettor's Delight had disgraced herself on debut at Timaru when galloping but showed the benefit of having had a raceday run tonight.

John Dunn has a good opinion of the filly.

" I have always really liked her but I didn't think she had the ringcraft to win the race with the Purdon duo in there."

" Last week wasn't really her fault as it was only her third time off the place in her life."

"She is very green still and just needs a bit more experience," John said.

Sem's Delight, a $44,000 purchase at last years Australasian Classic sale by Robert Dunn on behalf of long time clients Clive, Rona and Shona McKay is providing some consolation to Clive and Rona who have had a hard luck run recently with their star pacer Franco Nelson.

John was of a mind to back off a bit now.

" She has come a long way in a short time and with two runs in a week it may pay to back off her now."

" There is a really good race for her next week (Leonard Memorial) but it may pay to miss that with all that she has done recently, "John said.

Mark Purdon was at a loss to explain why Northern Velocity galloped.

" She was travelling really well at the time but just seemed to lose her concentration at the 400 metre mark."

"I am at a loss to explain why she did that," Mark said. 

Tonights win by Sem's Delight highlights once again that there is no such thing as a certainty in racing.

Harnesslink Media