Anything Goes powers up to win at Addington

He was drawn to lead and win.  And hot favourite Anything Goes (American Ideal) delivered in the $40,000 Listed Betavet Uncut Gems Classic tonight (May 5) at Addington, the home of South Island harness racing.

Recently purchased by American owners from the Steve Dolan stable, Anything Goes was transferred to Mark and Nathan Purdon’s, and tonight was his first start for them.

“He feels like he’s a horse with a bit of bottom to him, and he’s shown it tonight,” Nathan Purdon said.

When the mobile pulled, driver Natalie Rasmussen pushed forward from gate three and instantly commanded the respect that she and the All Stars colours have when in front.

“Leading hasn’t been in his arsenal to date but he’s added to it now. We felt he could (run the gate) if he was woken up a bit.”

Rasmussen wasn’t challenged during the running and Anything Goes was travelling sweetly throughout. The pace was picked up inside the last 500 making it extremely hard for any runners from the back to make ground. Turning in Rasmussen looked inside and out for possible challenges and with an air of confidence she let Anything Goes open up. He powered away to beat Happy Place (Rock N Roll Heaven) impressively by six lengths with Hesashorething (Somebeachsomewhere) three quarters of a length back in third.

“He seems pretty versatile. It wouldn’t matter where he sat, he’s trackable enough to race round the field as well because he’s a very relaxed horse. So, it wouldn’t matter too much where he was.”

The winning time was 2-22.0 with the last 800 run in 55.7 and the last 400 in 27.2.

Purdon says there are no firm plans in place for Anything Goes.

“I haven’t looked too far ahead but there’s nothing in New Zealand. Maybe there’s a slight interest to go to Brisbane for a couple of nice races over there or we’ll turn him out and look for a race at the end of the year.”

He says long term Anything Goes looks like a New Zealand Cup horse.

“He’s got the scope to run in that sort of race. Self Assured has been a great horse and hopefully we’ll get another season out of him but it’s nice to have fresh legs coming onto the scene.”

ANYTHING GOES REPLAY

Anything Goes ran second in the race last year. Tonight, was only the horse’s sixteenth start and Dolan’s patience with the five-year-old will stand the gelding in good stead for the bigger goals later in the season.

The win was one of three for the Purdon stable. Earlier in the night Bronson (Vincent) won on debut and Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) impressively won the last heat of the Garrards Sires’ Stake Series beating arch-rival Merlin (Art Major) by three lengths.

“He’s quite a nice two-year-old really. He doesn’t have the ringcraft and is not as professional as Vessem. He’s a horse on the up but we’re probably twelve months away from seeing the best of him,” Purdon said of Bronson.

He added that he’ll head to the Welcome Stakes on the 12^th of May while Don’t Stop Dreaming has the Group One Sires Stakes Final as his next assignment on the same night.

“He’s (Don’t Stop Dreaming) got all the attributes of a top horse and he can put himself in the right spot no matter where he draws. And as you saw tonight, he can make his own luck.”

The draw on Tuesday for the Sires Stakes Final will be the first indication of who is likely to start favourite, a toss-up between the two super star pacers in what could be a midseason harness racing highlight.

“There’s nothing better than watching a couple of good horses race each other, that’s for sure.”

For complete Addington race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink