Racing: Methven Cup joy for Rasmussen

Australian harness racing trainer-driver Natalie Rasmussen. Photo / Greg Bowker

Natalie Rasmussen had a memorable first New Zealand win when she drove Vi Et Animo in the $35,000 Methven Cup yesterday.

Rasmussen, who made her name as the trainer and driver of the champion Australian pacer Blacks A Fake, shifted from Queensland to Christchurch a fortnight ago. She is now the partner of Mark Purdon, who along with Grant Payne, took over the training of Vi Et Animo three weeks ago.

The 6-year-old was having his first race from his new quarters.

Vi Et Amino, owned by Wayne and Alison McCulloch, of Myross Bush and Mary-Jane Thomas, of Invercargill, won 16 races when trained at Invercargill by Gil Shirley.

"I felt he deserved his chance in Canterbury and there was not much point in me dragging him up there all the time," said Brent Shirley, his former driver. "The owners took the advice and it has paid off."

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The Purdon-Payne stable won the Methven Cup last year with Ohoka Dallas, who lost his chance at the start yesterday. Vi Et Animo is entered for the New Zealand Cup on November 8. The Purdon-Payne stable also have Auckland Reactor as a leading contender for that race after his fresh-up win in the New Brighton Cup.

Flashing Red won the Methven Cup-NZ Cup double in 2006.

Vi Et Animo has amassed $230,402 in stakes, an outstanding return for the $5200 Wayne McCulloch paid for the son of Pacific Rocket-Blondie's Pocket as a weanling at a Christchurch sale in 2006.