Will lightning strike twice?
Enthusiastic owner Jeroen Nieuwenburg is certainly hoping so following his stable star Needle winning her 9th race from 10 starts in Brisbane at Albion Park yesterday (Tuesday).
The four-year-old Muscle Mass mare has been a revelation in the Sunshine State since being purchased late last year from Christchurch owner/breeder Trevor Casey.
Needle has already claimed the $20,630 Jim McNeil Memorial Trotting Championship Final at Albion Park back in March and the excellent form has continued.
Starting as a clear favourite, Needle scored impressively again winning the Pryde’s Easifeed 1660m mobile start event in a time of 1:57.5.
And now, Nieuwenburg has purchased another talented New Zealand trotter in Musculus.
It could be a lethal one/two combination.
“I’m certainly hoping he can do a similar job to Needle but she’s been remarkable and set a very high standard. With Needle aiming towards the winter carnival features at Albion Park next month, Musculus will also be set for those same features but there is no guaranteed he will be ready.” Nieuwenburg said.
Musculus is scheduled to arrive in Brisbane this Friday.
Originally prepared by Phillip Iggo before joining the All Stars stables of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen for his past two starts, the four-year-old has always shown good ability.
The Muscle Mass gelding was unplaced behind Habibi Inta at his most recent start in the Gr.1$125,000 Ruby at Cambridge on Jewels day on June 1.
He made a costly break while looking a place possibility in the home stretch.
Musculus has won 3 races with 11 minor placings from 20 starts to date while banking over $50,000.
Nieuwenburg will place Musculus in the same stable as Needle, with his good friend Brad Connelly.
During the Racing Queensland winter carnival, trotting features include the Gr.2 $30,630 Queensland Trotters Cup over 2647m on July 14 followed by the Gr.3 $20,630 Trotters Marathon over 3157m the following week.
Both events will be staged at Albion Park.
Chris Barsby | RQ Web News | June 11 | Photo by Dan Costello