No stopping All-Stars as Have Faith In Me sets new Australasian record

28 February 2016 | Cody Winnell
Logo
Have Faith In Me in the Purdon blue overhauls Lennytheshark at the post to claim the Miracle Mile.

Have Faith In Me in the Purdon blue overhauls Lennytheshark at the post to claim the Miracle Mile.

It took the fastest performance in Australasian history to deny Lennytheshark victory in today’s Miracle Mile at Menangle.

Have Faith In Me (Bettors Delight/Scuse Me) broke his big sister Adore Me’s mile record, set this day last year in the Ladyship Mile, lowering the 1:47.7 mark by two-tenths of a second to a remarkable 1:47.5.

In doing so the exciting four-year-old, touted by one international trots man based in America (Peter Berry) as “probably the best pacer in the world right now”, became the All-Star Mark Purdon camp’s headline act.

“It was a great field ... he really made us proud,” Purdon said.

Winning reinswoman Natalie Rasmussen heaped praise on her charge.

“Credit to the little horse, he just tries so hard,” she said.

“He’s still so green. He still races a bit rough but he’s getting that little bit more mature each start.”

To win Have Faith In Me had to get past this season's Victoria Cup and Inter Dominion hero Lennytheshark, who sat one-by-one in the run for driver Chris Alford before cutting loose at the home turn to grab early leader Arms Of An Angel (Lauren Panella).

RE-LIVE THE ACTION OF THE 2016 MIRACLE MILE AND HAVE FAITH IN ME'S WIN

In the run Have Faith In Me followed Lennytheshark everywhere through quarters of 26.4, 27.4 and 26.5.

In the home straight Have Faith In Me set out after Lennytheshark and bit by bit ate up the required ground, only nailing the gutsy Victorian from the David Aiken yard with one final dive at the wire.

The final quarter was 27.2.

Another four-year-old, Arms Of An Angel, ran a huge race to finish third for trainer Shane Tritton.

CHECK OUT THE TROTS' PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE DAY

It was another red letter day for the Purdon camp, which also took the honours in the NSW Oaks courtesy of unbeaten filly Our Dream About Me (now 12 from 12), the NSW Derby courtesy of unbeaten gelding Our Waikiki Beach (now 16 from 16) and the Bohemia Crystal Free for All with Smolda, who has also picked up the Ballarat and Hunter Cups in Victoria this campaign.

 

Media enquiries:

CODY WINNELL
COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA MANAGER

HARNESS RACING VICTORIA
PO BOX 184, MOONEE PONDS, VIC 3039
400 EPSOM ROAD, FLEMINGTON, VIC 3031
t: 03 8378 0288 | f: 03 9214 0699 | e: cwinnell@hrv.org.au
www.hrv.org.au

 

Related News

29 March 2024
Gibson family honoured in more ways than one at Bathurst Carnival
SINCE the inception of the Bathurst Gold Crown in 1987, the Gibson family and their Success Stud have positively contributed to shaping the hugely-successful juvenile carnival. Originally based in Queensland before relocating to the idyllic Young region, the late John Gibson initially operated Success...
29 March 2024
Group 1 mares add star power to Riverina Championships
Four Group 1 winning mares - including two currently considered to be among the nation’s best - will clash in an intriguing battle at the Riverina Championships finals program at Wagga on Sunday. The meeting features two $100,000 finals for four and five year-old pacers - one each for the boys...
29 March 2024
Ford looking for Gold on Good Friday
The combined harness and greyhound meeting on Good Friday night in Hobart is fast becoming a Tassie racing tradition, and it’s back again with eight greyhound races and six harness events making up this year’s 14-race program. Driver Dylan Ford will be out to continue his excellent start...
28 March 2024
New HRV chair Adam Kilgour on challenges, opportunities
Newly appointed Harness Racing Victoria chair Adam Kilgour says his passion for a challenge and the people in racing drives his desire to strengthen the industry. Kilgour was yesterday announced to replace Dale Monteith as the head of the board, on which he has served since 2018, and said he was eager...
28 March 2024
La sun of a gun emerges as Blackbook zeros in on breeding line
La Machane won 20 of her 61 starts and more than $330,000 for connections in Ross and Greg Sugars' care and the mare's making just as big an impression in the breeding barn. Having given us La Puddie ($137,179) and La Captain ($182,020), the Bettors Delight mare has another nice type in Benbullan, who...
Click for more