Horse Racing: Smash won't stop Rasmussen

Natalie Rasmussen. Photo / Christine Cornege

Natalie Rasmussen isn't surprised by her shock recovery from a horrific race smash to now be driving in Tuesday's $750,000 New Zealand Trotting Cup.

Because while doctors initially thought she would miss the great race after the smash at Methven less than three weeks ago, Rasmussen never gave up hope.

"To be honest, knowing myself I thought I was always a chance," Rasmussen told the Herald.

"The arm was broken and is still healing but it is not an injury which affects my driving.

"I was still able to work over the last two weeks and it was last Sunday when I took the sling off and decided to find out whether it would be fine for Cup day.

"It still has the same strength, just not for twisting my arm certain ways but they are things you would never do driving.

"It is also my left arm, so not the one I carry the whip in, not that I am a big whip driver anyway.

"So it might be a bit sore on Wednesday, but it will be fine to drive. I never gave up hope because I know I heal quickly."

The main reason Rasmussen wanted to be back was to pilot Messini in the Cup, which means leading Australian driver Chris Alford, who was on call for the drive, will now not be at Addington.

"I will also be on Chase The Dream in the Sires' Stakes Final and we will sit down tonight and look over all the other drives and see where else I can help, but they are the main two."

Messini has emerged as one of the knockout hopes in the Cup, his charging second at Kaikoura on Monday seeing him record a sub 54 second last 800m. But Rasmussen says he is still second pick to stablemate Smolda as their best chance in the race.

"Smolda is stronger and can make his own luck in a race, whereas Messini probably needs to follow the speed, which means we will need some luck somewhere."

Smolda is the $3.70 second favourite for the Cup but could start tote favourite on the day, with the TAB bookies' $3.20 price for Sky Major an overreaction to his easy NZ Cup trial win on Wednesday.

While the Purdon-Rasmussen team will have 17 reps at Addington on Tuesday, they have also already begun their summer assault on the Alexandra Park riches, with three starters there tonight.

"We are going to have a big team up there over Christmas but we will work that out after Cup week," says Rasmussen.

"But horses like the maidens we have racing up there this week, it makes sense for them to be there because they are $12,000 maidens, which is a lot better than they race for down here."

Rasmussen believes Stroke Of Luck in race one is a smart maiden and will be suited by the right-handed track so he will be a hot favourite to start the northern campaign with a win. And while she is not as confident of All Star Angus being totally comfortable with the track on his northern debut, he meets a weak field so should win unless his manners let him down in a big way.

Cup comeback
- Natalie Rasmussen has been cleared to drive Messini in Tuesday's NZ Cup.
- She broke her arm in a race smash just 19 days ago.
- The stable has three starters at Alexandra Park tonight, two of them hot favourites.