American Dealer Strikes Again

American Dealer (NZ) (American Ideal) produced a perfect dress rehearsal for the upcoming $200,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Colts & Geldings Final (2200m) with an emphatic victory at Alexandra Park on Friday night. 

 

The colt impressed when powering home from well off the speed with a devastating finish to win the $42,000 Group Two Alabar 3YO Classic (2200m).

 

The Ray Green trained three-year-old gave his rivals few excuses when drifting back to second last from a wide draw before he swooped on the leaders in the home straight courtesy of a pinpoint drive from David Butcher.

 

“He is just a little pro and a lovely horse to drive,” Butcher told HRNZ.

 

“He just loves it out there, loves racing and cops it so well.”

 

“But that was big tonight - he has gone super.”

 

American Dealer’s Group Two win added another highlight to his already glittering resume.

 

The $23,000 purchase at the 2019 National Yearling Sales in Christchurch has now won seven of just fifteen starts, including victory in the $128,000 Group One Garrard’s Sires Stakes Final (1700m) at Alexandra Park in September.

 

The Alabar 3YO Classic is set to be a key form reference for the NZB Standardbred Harness Million 3YO Colts & Geldings Final at Alexandra Park on 31 December.

 

The entire field is eligible for the inaugural running of a three-year-old event in the lucrative Harness Million Race Series.

 

Shan Noble (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) went down fighting and showed he will be a major threat in the upcoming Harness Million Race Series on 31 December with his second placing behind American Dealer.

 

The Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen trained pacer endured a tough trip outside the leader B D Joe (NZ), before digging deep in the straight to go down by just half a length.

 

The winner of September’s $14,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Colts & Geldings Consolation, Luke John (NZ) (Mach Three), flashed home for third with an eye-catching finish from the rear.

 

Pace N Pride (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) took fourth, with B D Joe fifth.

 

B D Joe is set to take significant improvement out of the Alabar 3YO Classic as it was his first race since his huge effort to run second to It’s All About Faith (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) in the $138,000 Group One Woodlands Stud Sires Stakes Final (1980m) on New Zealand Cup Day.

 

Aladdin (NZ) (Sweet Lou), who was third in the Addington feature, took a different path than his main rivals to prepare for the Harness Million 3YO Colts & Geldings Final.

 

The Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen trained three-year-old contested a minor event on Friday night’s card and produced an effortless victory.

 

At Addington on Friday night Pembrook’s Destiny (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) boosted his Harness Million hopes with a good maiden victory.

 

The Brendon Hill trained pacer dashed along the inner, running fast closing sectionals to win.

 

Consignor	White Stables
Purchaser	Lincoln Farms Bloodstock
Breeding	American Ideal x Maddison’s Delight
Sale	Lot 253, $23,000, 2019 National Yearling Sale, Christchurch
Bred by	C J Roberts