Akuta Speeds to Debut Stakes Success

Sensational speed saw NZB Standardbred graduate Akuta (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) clinch stakes race success on debut at Wyndham last week. 

 

The Hayden Cullen trained two-year-old got his career underway on the perfect note when heading a trifecta of NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale graduates in the Group Three $22,000 Macca Lodge Kindergarten Stakes (1609m).

 

Though he may not have had a hands-on role in this year’s edition, Akuta continued the remarkable record that Champion trainer Mark Purdon has in the Southland feature.

 

Purdon’s All Stars Racing Stables purchased Akuta from Broadfield Lodge’s draft at the 2020 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale in Christchurch for $170,000.

 

After winning seven of the last eight Kindergarten Stakes as a trainer, this year Purdon enjoyed success as an owner, alongside Ian Dobson of Cullen Breeding.

 

Akuta was bred by Canterbury breeders Paul and Pauline Renwick from their Christian Cullen mare Adore To Our Dreams (NZ), who notched up yet another victory for prolific broodmare sire Christian Cullen.

 

Akuta’s Kindergarten Stakes victory accentuated the brilliant speed his sire and dam-sire are known for.

 

Driver Blair Orange controlled the two-year-old feature before unleashing the colt at the final 400m for a sizzling 26.9sec closing split.

 

Also on debut, Bollinger (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) claimed the second placing in a game effort just half a length from his stablemate. 

 

Bollinger was a $200,000 purchase by Victorian owner Jean Feiss at the 2020 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale at Karaka out of Georgia Brooke Lodge’s draft.

 

Akuta and Bollinger will contest this week’s $50,000 Group Two Avon City Ford Welcome Stakes (1980m) at Addington.

 

You’re So Fine (NZ) continued a fine week for emerging sire Always B Miki with his excellent effort to run into third in the Kindergarten Stakes.

 

You’re So Fine was a $14,000 purchase by trainer Brett Gray at the 2020 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale at Christchurch out of Ripple Creek’s draft.

 

Less than a week prior to the colt’s fine effort, his sire Always B Miki produced his first winner in New Zealand.

Montana Glory (NZ) (Always B Miki) was last and clearly detached from the field on the home turn of the $17,500 Magness Benrow Sires Stakes Series Heat Two (1700m), before she produced a stunning finish to win the race.

 

With her brilliant winning performance, Montana Glory headed a quinella for his sire when fellow NZB Standardbred graduate Miki Montana (Always B Miki) (NZ) ran second.

 

The victory qualified Montana Glory for the Group One Magness Benrow Sires Stakes Series at Alexandra Park on 30 April.

 

Fellow NZB Standardbred graduate Play Philly (NZ) (Art Major) also qualified for the Group One feature following her win in the $22,500 Group Three Downbytheseaside Leonard Memorial Stakes (2000m) at Addington in March.

 

Another NZB Standardbred Graduate True Fantasy (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) qualified for the lucrative event by winning Heat Three of the Series at Addington on Saturday night.

 

Last week’s Kindergarten Stakes served as a qualifier for the Group One Garrard’s Two-Year-Old Sires Stakes Series Final at Addington on 21 May.

 

So far, every qualifying event for the Group One feature has been won by a NZB Standardbred graduate.

 

Montana DJ (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) qualified with his win in the $18,800 Breckon Farms Young Guns Heat Four (1700m) at Alexandra Park in February.

 

Franco Mac (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) also secured his ticket to the Group One event with his win in the $16,000 Garrard’s Two-Year-Old Sires Stakes Series Heat One (1980m) at Addington in March.

 

Vendor	Broadfield Lodge
Purchaser	All Stars Racing Stables
Breeding	Bettor's Delight x Adore To Our Dreams (NZ)
Sale	Lot 272, 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale, $170,000
Bred by	Paul and Pauline Renwick