Coastal Babe Powers to Group One Win With NZ Record

Coastal Babe (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) set a New Zealand record in her powerful victory in the $104,000 Group One Caduceus Club Fillies Classic (2200m) at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

The NZB Standardbred graduate was having just her third race day start when she proved impossible for her rivals to catch.

Coastal Babe was secured at the 2022 National Yearling Sale at Karaka for $65,000 when she was offered by her breeders Woodlands Stud.

The filly is trained by Steven Reid and raced by owners Summit Bloodstock, Aaron Bain Racing, Jeanine Browne, Matthew Dedini, James Roberts, Brad Fitzgerald, Jordan De Mamiel, James Kontis and Maria Smith.

Reid admitted he had a few nervous moments when Coastal Babe was setting a hot pace that would equal the New Zealand record for two-year-old pacing fillies over 2200m.

But driver Matthew White showed he had the situation well in control and their filly’s huge staying motor shone through.

“In the middle stages I was talking to myself saying Matty was going way too fast,” Reid told HRNZ.

“But when he came back in, he said she was just jogging it.”

“She is improving that much and her work had suggested she improved heaps since her last race.”

While Reid went into the first Group One event of the New Zealand spring with confidence in his filly, drawing barrier six meant the trainer didn’t know exactly how the race would pan out.

But the event would go on to produce one of the biggest thrills of his lengthy and outstanding training career.

“I’ve been training for over thirty years and it doesn’t get any better than this,” Reid said.

“I’m absolutely stoked that in her third start, she’s gone that good.”

Coastal Babe’s winning time of 2-39.5 has seen her share the National 2200m record for two-year-old fillies with fellow NZB Standardbred graduate True Fantasy (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

Coastal Babe completed a hat-trick of wins in the Group One feature for NZB Standardbred graduates.

True Fantasy won the race in 2021 with unbeaten star Millwood Nike (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) scoring in 2022.

Coastal Babe headed an NZB Standardbred quinella with Ultimate Racy Girl (NZ) (Ultimate Machete) running on strongly into second.

The two-year-old was purchased by Barry Purdon Racing Stables for just $15,000 when she was offered by Alabar at the 2021 National Weanling Sale.

Photo: HRNZ