Coastal Babe Seals Status as NZ's Best 2YO Pacing Filly with Harness Million Victory

Coastal Babe (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) confirmed her status as New Zealand’s best two-year-old pacing filly with her outstanding win in the $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Fillies Final (1980m) at Addington on Friday night.

The Group One-winning filly led throughout and proved too fast for a stellar field to catch as she ran to victory for trainer Steven Reid and driver Matthew White.

White was thrilled to win a second lucrative Harness Million title after taking out the $75,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Trot (1980m) with Paramount Kiwi earlier in the evening.

The reinsman was not only thrilled to bag the double, but he was also left impressed by Coastal Babe’s continual improvement.

“I think that is the big thing with Coastal Babe, she is just getting stronger all the time,” White said.

“She is a really happy horse, and she was happy to roll along in front tonight.”

“It has been a great night; I am absolutely rapt.”

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.

Reid said Summit Bloodstock’s Jamie Dernberger-Smith hatched a plan to secure a Downbytheseaside pacer, and in Coastal Babe, they certainly have an outstanding one on their hands.

“Jamie told me Downbytheseaside was going to be the next big thing, and that he wanted a Downbytheseaside.”

“He gave me a list of six yearlings, I took a look at the six, and this is the one we picked out.”

Ultimate Racy Girl (NZ) (Ultimate Machete) ran a big race to get within a neck of the winner at the finish.

The two-year-old charged home wide on the track for trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan and driver Tony Herlihy.

Ultimate Racy Girl was purchased for just $15,000 at the 2020 National Weanling Sale by Barry Purdon Racing Stables.

The NZB Standardbred quinella-makers also finished one-two in last month’s Group One Caduceus Club Fillies Classic (2200m) at Alexandra Park.

Melody Banner (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) also hit the line powerfully, running on into third place in the NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Fillies Final for trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer and driver Tim Williams.

The filly was purchased by Stonewall Stud for $55,000 at the 2022 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch.