The all-conquering stable of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen dominated yesterday's showpiece Harness Jewels meeting at Cambridge with six winners on the nine-race group one card.
And it was fitting that Australasia's top stable produced the first Australian winner at the Jewels when super filly Shez All Rock treatedher rivals with contempt in the 3YO Diamond.
In a brilliant front-running performance, she stopped the clock at 1.51.9 for the 1600m with a five-length margin to her contemporaries.
Although she won in the name of Purdon and Rasmussen, she wore the green colours of her homeland and will head back across the Tasman to former trainer Mark Pitt.
Purdon, usually reserved, was in raptures with the filly's performance. "She was just beautiful today and it was just brilliant the way she did it ... she could have gone a second quicker if I asked her too."
Purdon picked out Shez All Rock, the Victorian and New South Wales Oaks winner, for good friend Chris Ryder, a former Kiwi based in the US.
Just as quickly as Purdon and adoring New Zealand fans fell in love with Shez All Rock, they will have to say goodbye — she's off to Australia next week and, eventually, America.
"She'll go back across to Mark now and contest the Vicbred and Breeders Crown before heading to America."
Earlier, Princess Tiffany started the stable roll with a dominant display in the 240 Diamond, while Enhance Your Calm was too good in the 2YO Ruby trot. The stable's other winners were Another Masterpiece, Eamon Maguire and classy trotter Winterfell.
There were jubilant scenes, the likes of which haven't been seen for a long time on a New Zealand harness racing track, when Pat's Delight took out the final race. The Dexter Dunn-driven second favourite won a stirring home-straight battle over Sheriff, sending a section of the grandstand in to raptures.
The Boys Get Paid group, a collection of like-minded 20 and 30-some-thing racing enthusiasts and punters, roared in delight as Pat's Delight went over the line and proceeded to chant Dunn's name, and their own group's initials for minutes after the race.
Dunn, soon off to American on a working holiday, acknowledged the group as the winner returned.
