Coastal Babe (NZ) Claims Second Harness Million Title in Thrilling Finish

The best could be yet to come from Coastal Babe (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) after powered to her second Harness Million title in the $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Three-Year-Old Fillies Final (2200m) at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

Trainer Steven Reid and driver Matthew White produced their star NZB Standardbred graduate to double up on her win in last year’s $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Fillies Final (1980m) at Addington with a brilliant front-running display.

Coastal Babe held out Kiss (NZ) (Always B Miki) in a thrilling finish, though Reid had a nervous wait until the judge confirmed his filly had secured her second lucrative Harness Million title.

“At the end of the day, a nose or six lengths, a win is a win,” the trainer said.

Reid hopes his already powerful filly will only get better following her Harness Million victory.

The run was just the filly’s second start this time in and she has big targets like the Group One Northern Oaks (2700m) in front of her.

“This filly came back from down south and she probably did too well,” Reid said.

“It has been a bit of an effort to get her to this point today.”

“I am hoping she is still on the way up, we will see what happens in the coming weeks.”

Reid has made a habit of winning Harness Million titles, with Magic Four (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) adding to the trainer’s tally of three wins in the lucrative NZB Standardbred series.

Coastal Babe is raced by Summit Bloodstock, Aaron Bain Racing, Jeanine Browne, Matthew Dedini, James Roberts, Brad Fitzgerald, Jordan De Mamiel, James Kontis, and Maria Smith. The filly was secured at the 2022 National Yearling Sale at Karaka for $65,000 when she was offered by her breeders Woodlands Stud.

Woodlands Stud will offer an outstanding draft at the 2024 National Yearling Sale at Karaka on Monday, February 19.

Kiss was only denied her own Harness Million victory by the barest margins after she rallied strongly along the passing lane to be in a photo finish with the winner.

Her stablemate from the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan barn, Ultimate Racy Girl (NZ) (Ultimate Machete), fought on bravely to run third.

Both Purdon-Phelan fillies were sourced from the Alabar draft at the 2021 National Weanling Sale.

Alabar will be back at the Karaka sales ring at the 2024 National Yearling Sale at Karaka on Monday, February 19, with a stellar draft of yearlings.

Irresistible (NZ) (Sweet Lou) and Follow Your Dream (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) were next across the line in a thrilling edition of the NZB Standardbred Harness Million Three-Year-Old Fillies Final.