Akuta (NZ) Shows True Class in Hannon Win

Akuta (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) took a substantial step towards his New Zealand Cup campaign with an incredible victory in the $27,000 Group Three Placemakers Hannon Memorial (2600m) on Sunday. 

Though his winning margin was small, the NZB Standardbred graduate’s performance was epic considering he worked harder than his older rivals in the running, then beating them impressively.

Akuta was a $170,000 purchase from breeder-vendors Paul and Pauline Renwick at the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale.

The three-time Group One-winning star was secured by Mark Purdon’s All Stars Racing Stables, with the trainer going on to race the colt with Ian Dobson of Cullen Breeding.

Two NZB Standardbred graduates fought out an epic home straight duel with Akuta getting his nose in front of a valiant Alta Wiseguy (NZ) (Mach Three) right on the line.

Purdon was full of praise for his pacer’s determination to get his nose in front when it counted.

“The other horse had the perfect run and he was always going to be tough to beat, but I really admire this guy’s tenacity and the way he stuck to it,” Purdon said.

Purdon has publicly declared that he won’t rush into a decision on whether Akuta will fulfil his nomination for the upcoming Group One New Zealand Cup.

However, his outstanding Hannon Memorial victory showed the pacer is well placed to foot it with New Zealand’s established Open Class stars.

What is certain after Sunday’s win is that the Purdon camp can move forward to further standing start races with confidence after Akuta aced his first stand attempt in the Hannon.

“I was happy with him, the main thing was that he was safe and he made a good beginning,” Purdon said.

Purdon is now aiming Akuta for the Lazarus Stakes before he considers any further New Zealand Cup lead up events like the Ashburton Flying Stakes and the Kaikoura Cup.

“There is a three-year-old race for him coming up at the end of the month, so we will go that way if it goes ahead.”

“There are other races like Ashburton and Kaikoura that we have options on.”

Alta Wiseguy lost no admirers in his very narrow second placing, making ground on the winner when speeding up the passing lane.

His second placing was another excellent effort for Steve and Amanda Telfer’s stable in a New Zealand Cup lead-up race, following his Group Three New Brighton Cup victory earlier this month.

Alta Wiseguy was purchased for $30,000 by Stonewall Stables from Alta Dream Lodge’s 2019 Auckland National Yearling Sale draft.

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