War Machine and Simsfield Hardtimes continued their intense rivalry at the National Equestrian Centre at the weekend.

The two geldings grabbed a share of the fastest time of 1:02/1 at the Vesey Street racetrack on Saturday night in the Free for All division.

Mello Family’s War Machine and driver Philip Correia hit the mark first on their way to beating Simsfield Hardtimes by a fifth of a second on the rail in the opening heat.

“While he has done faster times than what he did over the weekend, he consistently gives it his all each time he races and that is all we can ask for,” said War Machine’s owner Colin Mello

Simsfield Hardtimes and driver Kirista Rabain later matched War Machine’s time on the way to winning the second heat between the two rivals.

“We had the outside in the first heat and Kirista and I came up with a plan basically not to push him and let him run his race,” said Simsfield Hardtimes’ owner Aaron Sims. “And that’s what she did, she just followed War Machine and never called on him or anything like that just to save his energy for the next heat because we knew we had the rail.

“The next heat we let him run his own race and let him go, and it ended up being a match race as we both had identical times each way.”

Simsfield Hardtimes’ time in the first heat was the second-fastest on the night, which was later equalled by Martins family mare Double Time, with driver/trainer Candyce Martins in the bike.

“I am impressed with her performance and I don’t want to push her,” Martins said. “I am just letting her run her races.”

Double Time’s effort was the third fastest overall this season and a fifth of a second shy of the Bermuda-bred mare’s best of 1:02/1 achieved last season.

Lee and Sergio Raynor’s stallion Special Gold clocked the night’s third-fastest time of 1:02/4 with driver Kiwon Waldron at the helm.

Simsfield Hardtimes holds the season’s fastest time of 1:01/2 which is a gelding record shared with War Machine.