Perfect; The All Stars Stable of Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen made a great start to their 2017 Brisbane winter carnival campaign with victories in the Premiers Cup and Provincial Oaks.
The All Stars have arrived for the 2017 Brisbane winter carnival.
And their campaign started in the best possible manner tonight (Saturday).
Represented by The More The Better and Partyon, both made successful starts to their Sunshine State stints with victories in the Gr.3 $30,630 The Badcock Group Premiers Cup and the Listed $25,540 Egmont Park Provincial Oaks respectively at Albion Park in dominant fashion on the opening night of the carnival.
Former Queensland based driver Natalie Rasmussen took the winning drives on both pacers for her partner Mark Purdon.
Starting at prohibitive odds, The More The Better justified his short quote with an easy victory in the 2647m stand start feature defeating Timmo Time and Paternity Suit in a time of 1:59.1.
The last half was covered in splits of 28.8 and 27.5 seconds.
The Bettors Delight colt will start again next week in the Gr.3 $30,540 Egmont Park Provincial Derby before his main target of the $75,000 Queensland Derby on July 15.
The victory in the Premiers Cup was the third for the All Stars stable after previous success with Best Deal Yet (2012) and Gentle Western (2015).
Star filly Partyon remains unbeaten on Australian soil with a hard fought victory in the Provincial Oaks downing Victorian filly Shartin and My Casino Belle in the 2138m mobile start feature.
Despite racing without cover over the final stages, the multiple feature race winner proved too strong in a time of 1:56.8.
The Bettors Delight filly ran her last quarter in 26.9 seconds.
Partyon will start next week in the $75,000 Queensland Oaks.
The All Stars stable won the Oaks double two years ago with Fight For Glory.
In the Gr.3 $30,540 Ted and Edna Badcock Memorial 4yo Championship, race favourite Leos Best led throughout for trainer/driver Grant Dixon to beat Mattgregor and Cherish The Moment in the 2138m mobile start feature.
The Cammibest gelding rated 1:55.1 while covering his final half in 27.5 and 27.8 seconds.
Consistent Goulburn pacer Spare Me Days proved triumphant in the Listed $25,540 Mr Feelgood Open Pace for trainer/driver Brad Hewitt.
Racing three wide without cover over the final stages, the tough five-year-old scored a determined victory over The Space Invader and Majestic Major in a time of 1:55.0 for the 2138m feature.
It was maiden his Albion Park victory.
Spare Me Days will start next week in the Gr.2 $50,000 Garrards Sunshine Sprint followed by the Gr.1 $200,000 UBET Blacks A Fake the following week.
Next week, night 2 of the carnival, the features include the $75,000 Queensland Oaks, $50,000 Sunshine Sprint, $30,000 Provincial Derby, $20,000 Fleur De Lil Ladyship Stakes and the $15,000 Trotters Marathon.
