Racing: Major charges to victory

Major Mark showed all the courage and tenacity of a high class competitor leading throughout to score a narrow victory in the $200,000 2YO Emerald Final at Cambridge yesterday.

Co-trainer and regular driver Mark Purdon took full advantage of the barrier one draw charging out of the mobile gate during an opening 400m sectional in 28 seconds.

Purdon gave the favourite an easy time during the next 400m in 31 seconds. This proved to be the winning of the race.

The Muskeg Express confirmed the high opinion of trainer Tim Butt, sitting outside the pace-making leader for the closing 800m and getting within a whisker of him at the finish.

Night Of The Stars showed plenty of courage sitting three wide outside the leaders for the closing 800m and fighting on gallantly to finish third.

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De Lovely responded to an aggressive drive by David Butcher to post a New Zealand record winning time in the $200,000 3YO Fillies Final.

Butcher was adamant that from barrier one he was going to lead and punched straight to the front.

De Lovely was allowed an easier time during the middle stages of the race and slipped into over-drive on the home turn, powering clear of the field to win by 1 lengths over the solid finishing Lancome.

A further 2 lengths away third was Meredith Maguire.

De Lovely covered the mile in a slick 1:54 with closing 800m and 400m sectionals of 56.3 and 27.7 seconds. The closing 800m and 400m sectionals of the race gave those runners racing beyond midfield no realistic winning chance.

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I Can Doosit appreciated the drop back to age group racing when effortlessly out sprinting the opposition to win the $100,000 4YO Mobile Trot.

The 4-year-old gelding was not disgraced in his last start when finishing fifth in the (Group One) Rowe Cup behind Sundon's Gift.

Patiently handled by Mark Purdon, I Can Doosit, sat off the speed and pounced quickly on the leaders in the home straight easing down to defeat Dr Hook and Great Getaway.

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Dexter Dunn didn't waste any time when teaming up with hot favourite Beaudiene Bad Babe in the $200,000 Nevele R Stud 4YO Mares Diamond.

The daughter of Badlands Hanover had to overcome a second row draw and Dunn had no intention of being unlucky in the running.

Beaudiene Bad Babe was punched forward three wide at the start to loop the field and lead for the last lap scoring by two lengths over the solid finishing Indrah. Three-quarters of a length away third was Imagine Me.

A 1:55.7 winning mile time in a Group One event and her record of 21 wins and seven placings from 36 starts will only increase her broodmare value.

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Kylie Ree was out in front and out of trouble in the $100,000 Harness Jewels 2YO Ruby in an easy victory for co-trainer and regular driver Mark Purdon.

Kylie Ree powered straight to the front at the start and took control to win by three-quarters of a length over Madisonz Luck with a further 1 lengths back to Bohemian (third).

The hot favourite Paramount Geegee flew into a wild gallop at the start and lost all chance.

"We had the ideal draw and she crossed to the lead easily enough and we got it pretty easy in front," said Purdon.

Kylie Ree covered the mile in 2:00.1 with closing 800m and 400m sectionals of 58.8 seconds and 29.6s.

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Bettor Cover Lover overcame from the outside of the second row to effortlessly win the $200,000 2YO Fillies Diamond in the hands of trainer-driver Brent Mangos.

Mangos punched her forward three wide from the start and took the 1200m out.

The favourite scored by 1 lengths over Miss Elsie with three-quarters of a length to Bettor Move It in third.