Akuta (NZ) Confirms Star Status in Epic Derby Win

Mark Purdon has warned the best is yet to come from Akuta (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) following his standout win in the $228,000 Group One Woodlands Stud Northern Derby (2700m) at Alexandra Park last week.

The star colt headed a quinella of NZB Standardbred graduates from the All Stars Racing stable when he charged home to beat Bollinger (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) courtesy of a pinpoint drive from Purdon.

Akuta was a $170,000 purchase from Broadfield Lodge at the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale. He was secured by All Stars Racing Stables who race the colt with Ian Dobson of Cullen Breeding.

A star from the moment he stepped on to the track and clearly New Zealand’s leading three-year-old male pacer, Mark Purdon expects even more from Akuta. The master trainer now plans to spell the Northern Derby winner and expects him to thrive and return and even better proposition.

“I am looking forward to getting him to the paddock,” Purdon told HRNZ.

“He has done a wonderful job and is a high-class horse but a break will help him because he has rarely had an easy run his entire campaign.”

The victory registered Akuta’s third win at Group One level. In just 11 race day starts, the pacer has banked $450,580 in earnings.

Purdon had Akuta third early before slotting the colt into the one-one for the final lap. Akuta held out the late finish of his stablemate Bollinger by a neck margin at the line.

Bollinger charged along the passing lane in an excellent effort in his first start in Group One company for driver Maurice McKendry. The colt was a $200,000 purchase by Jean Feiss from the Georgia Brooke Lodge draft at the 2020 Auckland National Yearling Sale.

Signalling the strength of NZB Standardbred graduates, all but one of the starters in the Group One Woodlands Stud Northern Derby were purchased from the auction house.