SUPREME GEM RUNS 1:59.2 GRASS MILE
Smart racemare Supreme Gem added another string to her bow with a runaway win first-up on a grass surface in the $9000 First Christian Cullen Canterbury Mares Speed Series Heat at Methven on Sunday, December 11.
Luckily for Overport trainer-driver Mark Jones, a false start was called when she tangled in the score-up on the first occasion, but she had no problems in the re-run.
Mark sent her to the front with 900m to run and she was much too good over her last 800m in 57.2s.
The Christian Cullen-Flying Sands mare came clear to win by 3 1/2 lengths from Nancy Miles and early leader Kamwood Laughter, pacing the mile on the grass in 1:59.2.
The race also carried a harness plus bonus for Supreme Gem, who took her career record to 16 starts for five wins and three placings, for $29,467 in stakes.
Supreme Gem is ideally credentialled for the series _ eligible for 4YO and older mares, with up to five wins and less than $50,000 in stakes at nomination of the first heat.
She was the second most tightly-assessed for the Methven heat, with only Together Again, the winner of seven but only five penalty-bearing, the most tightly-assessed. However Together Again, after settling back, failed to quicken in the run home finishing seventh.
Other $9000 heats over 1609m in the Christian Cullen Speed Series for 4YO and older mares will be run at Ashburton on December 26, Nelson on January 6.
A $12,500 heat will be run over 1950m at Addington on Saturday, February 4, with the $16,000 final to be run at Ashburton on Saturday, February 11.