Racing: Record times come thick and fast at Riccarton

Doubt surrounding the authenticity of the 1200m New Zealand record set by Nat Nat was a small cloud on a sunny horizon for the harness racing fraternity at Riccarton Park.

Nat Nat, owned by Mark and Vicki Purdon, clocked a stunning 1min 06.03sec for the 1200m, almost certainly a world record on a level track.

Soon afterwards Dantessa, having her first start for a newly formed 20-strong syndicate organised by Nigel McGrath, and featuring partners like Tim and Anthony Butt, Mark Jones, Blair Orange and several other familiar harness names, scored a stout win for the Mike McCann stable in the New Zealand Cup Trial.

But while Nat Nat's time was certified by the stewards on Saturday, the Canterbury Jockey Club was likely to investigate further before applying to have the record ratified.

This is the latest in a series of suspiciously fast times at Riccarton involving the 1200m start.

The strong nor'wester and the downhill sweep on the new track were factors in Nat Nat's favour besides his obvious class, but whether he ran two seconds faster than Classic Clare in winning the Canterbury Belle Stakes was open to question.

The national record is 1min 06.59sec, set by Victory Dais in the 1993 Telegraph Handicap at Trentham.

Riccarton should hold all the record distances up to 1200m since the new track was formed.

For some reason, Lady Libertine's 44.41sec for the 800m last season has not been ratified by Thoroughbred Racing New Zealand but the 850m, 900m and 1000m records have all been set on the track.

"There are a couple of matters I want to clear up on Monday before we proceed further," chief executive Tim Mills said.

"We want everything checked out thoroughly before we go to Wellington looking for a new record."

Private watches on the video recorded around 1min 07.5sec for the distance, though video timing is not foolproof.

In 1992 the Ray Harris-trained Methanol ran a sensational 1min 06.8sec for 1200m on the track but checks showed the time was suspect.

Cotton Club also broke 1min 07sec for the distance in the Stewards in 1993, but it was never ratified as a national record.

"Personally, I have wondered if there could be some interference to the signals at times, perhaps due to the airport because the problems always involve the 1200m start," Mills said.

"On the other hand, if everything is right the horse deserves to have the record credited to him."

Judge Rob Fielder gave the time as official though he was not happy or confident about how accurate it really was.

"I spoke to the stipendiary steward [Stewart Ching] after we had hand clocked a slower time on the video," Fielder said. "He said, correctly, that that was unlikely to be any more or as accurate as the electronic time so we had to accept that."

Nat Nat has now won three on end and will march on towards the New Zealand Cup meeting with an Australian autumn campaign beckoning, according to co-trainer Peter Williams.

McGrath was one of those who leased Dantessa before she was put into the ring at the South Island sale, where he bought her back for $12,000 and formed another syndicate containing previous lessees to continue racing her.

The investment in racing and breeding by the Vieceli family, of Christchurch, racing as the Kotuku Trust, paid off in spades when Classic Clare showed speed and spunk to add her name to the list of winners of the Canterbury Belle Stakes.

A well-judged ride by Jamie Bullard and a more searching preparation than most of her rivals was the difference as Classic Clare kicked back to beat Lady Libertine after being headed to win narrowly but well.

Trainer Shane Kennedy, in his first season as a professional trainer, took Classic Clare to the recent Wanganui meeting to keep her fitness levels up and that decision won him Saturday's race.

Classic Clare had also won at the Grand National meeting last month.

Lady Libertine, overcoming a setback early in the week and being caught five wide for much of the way, was having her first outing since May and the last few strides found her out.

Danamac, who went a huge race in front, made for a South Island trifecta though Spur Bird suggested she would be harder to beat next time with a big late run.

Brian Vieceli, a former Canterbury Jockey Club committee member and long time racing follower, and his son Lewis, who runs the Holy Grail bar in Christchurch, are the main movers in the Kotuku Trust.

The Kotuku Trust have two horses in work with Paul O'Sullivan and five with Kennedy, a former prominent Marist rugby forward, who trains at West Melton.

Mandy Brown's day started with custard and ended with champagne as Torlesse and Chestpeak chalked up wins for the stable.

Homespur, her first runner, almost put rider Terry Moseley on the deck earlier in the day after appearing to be sharply checked by the winner Blue Cavalier.

Blue Cavalier's rider Jason Laking beat a charge of careless riding over the incident, which certainly cost Homespur any winning chance.

Torlesse, who is virtually unbeatable fresh, held out a late bid from Perceptible and Chestpeak was all class winning the last race.

- NZPA