Escapee easily won the New Zealand Trotting Oaks in race record time at Addington last night.
She gave Mark Purdon, the trainer-driver of Escapee, his fourth win in the race. Purdon and co-trainer Grant Payne won the Oaks with Emma Hamilton in 2010 and Pocaro in 2009. Purdon drove Emma Hamilton and the 2008 winner, Lady Eskay.
Pocaro was raced by Trevor Casey, of Christchurch, the owner-breeder of Escapee.
Escapee is by Sundon and the second foal of Una Bromac, who won eight races for Casey.
Escapee ran the 1950m (mobile) in 2.25.3 (1.59.8 mile rate) and 1.7sec inside the race record held by Emma Hamilton and Lady Eskay. Her time was within 0.6sec of the NZ record for a 3yr-old trotter set by Kahdon in 2010.
Escapee settled fifth on the outer with a trail, six lengths from the leader, Not Likely.
Escapee joined Not Likely at the 700m, went clear at the 300m and won by six and a-quarter lengths.
• Smolda gave Purdon his eighth Flying Stakes win last night when he outfinished stablemate Fly Like An Eagle.
Smolda trailed Fly Like An Eagle and came along the passing lane. The last 800m was run in a brilliant 54.6 after Fly Like An Eagle had set a leisurely pace.
The Flying Stakes has proved a good guide to the New Zealand Derby. Gold Ace won the Derby last year after dead-heating with Terror To Love in the Flying Stakes. Purdon has won the Flying Stakes-Derby double with Il Vicolo (1995), Jack Cade (2002), Auckland Reactor (2008) and Sleepy Tripp (2009).
• Gold Ace added to his great record at Addington with success in the group two Superstars Championship last night.
He won the Sires' Stakes Final, Flying Stakes (dead-heat) and New Zealand Derby there last season.
Gold Ace had been off the winning list since he won the Gold Nugget in Perth late in November. His trainer, Steven Reid, will now decide between the Chariots of Fire at Menangle or the Easter Cup for Gold Ace.
• Paramount Geegee regained winning form against his own age group in the Four-Year-Old Trotters Championship. The $13,360 winning stake advanced him to the top 12 for the Harness Jewels which he won as a 3yr-old last season.
