Akuta Keeps Options Open with Brilliant Group One Win

Pacing powerhouse Akuta (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) showed his brilliance with a scintillating victory in the Group One Airpark Canterbury Three-Year-Old Flying Stakes (1980m) at Addington on Friday night. 

The brilliant pacer kept his spring options open when heading a trifecta of NZB Standardbred graduates after clinching his fourth title at the elite level for trainers Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen.

Akuta was purchased for $170,000 by the All Stars Stable from breeder-vendors Paul and Pauline Renwick at the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale.

Purdon clearly took a liking to Akuta when he was a yearling and the master trainer is thrilled with the horse he has developed into.

“He is a strong horse, he is a really imposing horse now,” Purdon told Harness Racing Unhinged.

The startling news for Akuta’s future rivals is that Mark Purdon thinks he will be an even bigger force with the benefit he will take from his Group One win.

“I was rapt with his performance, I think tonight the run will improve him.”

“He is still a little bit round and he worked hard early.

“He was doing his best work [at the finish].”

Akuta looked exceptionally hard to beat, with Purdon able to find the lead after the first corner.

The brilliant pacer then went on to unleash a stunning 54.1sec final 800 metres, making him impossible to get past.

Akuta has a host of feature races at his mercy in the coming weeks. The only question is which lucrative events the Purdon-Cullen stable will aim him at.

Akuta will now target the Group Two Kaikoura Cup on October 31 as the All Stars Racing stable decides whether the star three-year-old will start in the New Zealand Cup.

Franco Mac (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) added another Group One placing to his stellar record when filling the quinella behind his stablemate.

Franco Mac was also purchased by the All Stars Stable at the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale. The pacer was secured for $60,000 out of breeder-vendor Spreydon Lodge’s draft.

Republican Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) ran a brave third in his second placing at Group One level.

The colt sat parked outside Akuta before digging in for a gallant placing for trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety.

The Dalgety's secured Republican Party for $210,000 when he was offered by breeder-vendors Price Bloodstock at the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale.

Consignor	Broadfield Lodge
Purchaser	All Stars Racing Stables
Breeding	Bettor’s Delight x Adore To Our Dreams
Sale	2020 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $170,000
Breeder	P I Renwick & Mrs P M Renwick