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There was a buzz in the province in 2008 when harness racing trainers Mark Purdon and Grant Payne decided to bring Auckland Reactor (Mach Three) south for a tilt at the Southern Supremacy Stakes.
The pin up pacer had been on a winning streak of ten which included two heats of the Supremacy at the Northern Southland and Wyndham meetings plus a win in the New Zealand Derby where he beat Georgetown and stablemate Fiery Falcon.
In the $50,000 Southern Supremacy Stakes Final on Saturday 26th April 2008 Auckland Reactor started as the shortest priced favourite ever at $1.10 to win and $1.00 for a place.
Purdon from a wide draw, stayed out of the early rush as Fiery Falcon took up the role of pacemaker. As they passed the winning post for the first time he started to move the colt forward and with 1800 metres to run they’d hit the front. From there Purdon dictated the pace though Washington Seattle added some pressure.
Untouched, Auckland Reactor cruised down to the winning post beating stablemate Fiery Falcon by two and three quarter lengths with Themightyquinn half a length back in third. Lord Forbes was eight and a half lengths back in fourth.
When the last 800 metres was announced as 54 seconds the crowd was stunned. A time for a last half of that speed had never been posted on the Ascot Park track. His last 400 of 25.9 was just as impressive.
He was to extend his winning streak to seventeen before defeat came at Cambridge in the Group Two Four Year Old Futurity Stakes. He broke at the start settling 50 metres from the early leader and made up massive ground before going down to All Tiger by three quarters of a length.
This Sunday the Invercargill HRC host Diamonds Day at Ascot with a host of feature race including the $110,000 Group One Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic, the $60,000 Group Two Macca Lodge/Nevele R Southern Oaks, the $60,000 Group Two Alabar Supremacy Stakes, the $50,000 Group Three Entain Two Year Old Mobile Trot and the $40,000 Regent Car Court Southern Country Cups Final.
A truly spectacular day of racing which gets underway at 12 noon.
by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink
