Two future superstars of harness racing stole the show at Menangle yesterday in the rich finals of the New South Wales Breeders Challenge for 2yr olds.
Heavens Trend dazzled in the fillies' final, rating a slashing 1.52.9 mile in beating Hot Shot Woman and outsider Boundtobemad.
Champion New Zealand trainer Mark Purdon was left smarting after his unbeaten youngster, Golden Goddess, faded to finish fourth after a hard run in that race, but it did not take him long to make his mark on this big day of six group 1 races.
Purdon was straight back into the winner's circle half an hour later when his unbeaten Somebeachsomewhere youngster, Our Waikiki Beach, claimed the 2yr old colts and geldings' final for his ninth win in succession.
Posted in the breeze for the mile journey, Our Waikiki Beach simply outstayed his rivals, rating 1:53.7 to beat Match In Heaven and El Major by 3.4m.
Gun Victoria reinsman Gavin Lang admitted Heavens Trend did not have a lot of fuel left in the tank in beating Australia's best fillies.
''I rate this youngster, for sure, but I won four group 1s on a 2yr old named Self Denial in 2003, so this horse has a lot to live up to if she is going to equal that. But she's certainly heading in the right direction.''
Purdon hinted Our Waikiki Beach was really ready to go on with things after beating the colts and geldings, his biggest and best win so far, but admitted the $125,000 final did not pan out quite how he thought it would on paper with Our Waikiki Beach forced to do it tough, racing without cover for the entire journey.
''He'll probably head to Victoria for the Breeders Crown next,'' Purdon said.
''He's really filled out and I expect him to go on with it now.''
Purdon added a comfortable win with Supersonic Miss in the 3yr old fillies final, stretching out to beat Ameretto by 5 lengths in 2.54.6 over the 2300m.
Purdon's task was much tougher in the 3yr old pacing colts and geldings final as Kept Under Wraps was under siege from the top of the straight but held on to win by a head over Pompidou for his owners, which include Margaret Creighton, of East Taieri.
Yesterday's meeting also ended on a high for former Dunedin reinsman Jack Trainor, who claimed the New South Wales rising stars' driving championship after the final heat yesterday.
Trainor won all three heats at Bathurst on Wednesday, and added a win at Newcastle on Saturday night to have a comfortable lead going into the final race yesterday. His fourth on Popfromthebeach was enough for Trainor to take the series.
