Mrs Murrell, who was born in England, celebrated her 41^st birthday several days before the race.  According to the Perth media, Mrs Murrell is a ‘battling single mother of two daughters.’  This is her first share in a pacer which cost the three owners a total of $130,000 little more than two months ago. 

The extremely well performed Divisive has been somewhat disappointing since winning the Miracle Mile at Harold Park on November 28.  However, when trainer-driver Peter Rixon took the horse from Bathurst to Perth, it was sent out favourite in the Fremantle Cup despite having been handicapped off the lone back mark of 20m.  It turned in a grand effort with a sound second to Power Of Tara NZ, trained by Greg Harper. 

Under the free-for-all conditions of the WA Pacing Cup, it was generally considered that Divisive would make amends starting off the second line, with plenty of money also for Power Of Tara NZ, suggesting it would be a real danger off the front line. 

When the mobile despatched the field on Friday night, Scruffy Murphy (Mark  Reed) began best, grabbing the early lead from out wide. Power Of Tara NZ had begun safely but not fast from the pole, with 22-year-old Ryan Bell moving him off the inside line as soon as he could. 

Queensland horseman Luke McCarthy had his mare Fleur De Lil one-out and one-back in the early stages, and would continue to give her a good run throughout. Mr Yankee NZ, a stablemate of Power Of Tara NZ, was not away well and would remain at the rear. 

Scruffy Murphy continued to lead from Sneakyn Down Under NZ, Washakie NZ and Power Of Tara NZ, and the Queensland mare.  Backers of the favourite would have been happy as Rixon had his gelding well placed for it at mid-field. 

At the 1100 metre mark, Bell took off on Power Of Tara NZ, with Divisive latching onto its back to get a good cart into the race at the right time. 

But no sooner had Power Of Tara NZ briefly got to the front and seemed a likely winner, the gelding downed tools and ran up the white flag. 

Sneakyn Down Under NZ eventually managed to take the lead 500 metres out, with Divisive coming through in fine style.  

Hayton Brain NZ, ninth and three wide at the bell, had then moved out four wide coming to the home turn, which then forced Mysta Magical Mach NZ out five wide when making its sweeping run from near the tail of the field.  

Divisive looked all over a winner up the straight and even when Mysta Magical Mach NZ lunged on the line, the one on the inside appeared to many punters to have just hung on.  But the photo print showed otherwise, with third place to Hayton Brain NZ (Don Harper). 

In hindsight, Mysta Magical Mach NZ probably put the writing on the wall for a good run in the WA Pacing Cup when at 83/1 on the tote it had flashed home to be second in the classic race for the four-year-olds, the time-honoured Golden Nugget to Schinzig Buller.  This was just two weeks after arriving in Perth.  

That Reed had set an extremely slow pace on Friday night when leading the field, was later confirmed with the slow mile rate of just 2:17.8 – by far the slowest seen on the Barastoc Pacers Grand Circuit this season.  Scruffy Murphy beat only two to the line despite having had it so well during the race. 

There seems to be only a slim chance of the winner being sent over to Melbourne to race this season, as connections pointed out after Friday night’s victory that Mysta Magical Mach NZ would start this weekend in the $125,000 Australian Pacing Championship at Gloucester Park, then a week later the $50,000 Western Australian Newspapers ‘Nights of Thunder.’