CRUZ BROMAC WINS SECOND GROUP ONE

Cruz Bromac notched a second Group One win within four months in the $200,000 Woodlands NZ Free-For-All at Addington on Friday, November 16.

Last July, the Falcon Seelster-Crown Defender gelding won the Group One Len Smith Mile at Menangle, in New South Wales, when trained by Kevin Pizzuto.

Transferred to the Allstars trainers, Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen, two months ago, the grandson of long-time Bromac Lodge broodmare Classic Blue Jeans furthered a remarkable week for the trainers at Addington.

With a touch more luck, he would have finished closer than fourth in the first of the big Group Ones at Addington, the New Zealand Cup on November 13, according to co-trainer Mark Purdon.

As it was, the Purdon/Rasmussen team won eight of the 12 races on NZ Cup day, including the $800,000 NZ Cup, when the Allstars four starters in the race ran first (Thefixer), third (Dream About Me), fourth (Cruz Bromac) and fifth (Eamon Maguire).

They won a further four on Show day, extending their domination in the NZ Free-For-All, with Cruz Bromac giving Natalie Rasmussen the NZ Cup/FFA driving double.

Cruz Bromac controlled the front end, holding comfortably by a length and a quarter from lightly-raced 4YO star, Turn It Up, a son of Courage Under Fire, driven by Mark Purdon.

The speed was on throughout with the winner rating a NZ record of 2:18.5 (1:52.5 mile rate) for the relatively new 1980m journey, 0.5 of a second quicker than Ultimate Sniper recorded in Tuesday’s Sires Stakes 3YO Final.

Besides Falcon Seelster siring the winner, there were further “Falcon” credits from the race, with the siring legend’s mares leaving third and fourth place-getter’s, Jack's Legend (third after trailing), and fast late closer, Pat’s Delight.

Falcon Seelster followers can still breed a “Falcon” this season, with frozen semen available, by contacting Bromac Lodge.

Cruz Bromac was a firming second favourite for the Free-For-All, while outright favourite Tiger Tara, after improving parked beginning the final lap, was beaten turning for home, dropping away to run last.

Winning driver Natalie Rasmussen said: “Mark thought Cruz Bromac was very unlucky in the Cup. We knew he had a ton of gate speed, so he was going to be a strong chance today."

“He was pretty casual and kind out there today, but was travelling well at the finish.”

Co-trainer Mark Purdon was of the opinion Cruz Bromac could well have won the New Zealand Cup had he paced better down the straight on Tuesday.

However, in hindsight he changed angles with the pacer a bit too quickly early in the run home, otherwise it would have been interesting.

Friday’s win was the 17^th in 34 starts for Cruz Bromac, lifting his earnings just over the $400,000 mark.