Cold Chisel (NZ) Sets Up Epic Derby Clash With Group Three Victory
5 March 2024
Cold Chisel (NZ) (Always B Miki) turned the tables on his archrival Chase A Dream (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) when speeding to victory in the $55,000 Group Three Alabar Classic (2200m) at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
The NZB Standardbred graduates repeated their quinella from the recent $200,000 Listed Harness Million Three-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Final (2200m) at the same track last month.
Except this time, it was Cold Chisel who took top honours in after a stirring home straight battle with Chase A Dream.
Montana Park’s Dean Shannon secured Cold Chisel for $100,000 when he was offered by breeder-vendors Mark and Pauline O’Connor of Denario Breeding at the 2022 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch.
After their narrow but gallant defeat in the Harness Million Final, driver Zachary Butcher was delighted to be able to turn the tables on Chase A Dream and Natalie Rasmussen on Friday night.
“We went good in the Million but we had to swallow the pill, we got beaten by a better horse on that night and all credit to them,” Butcher told Track Chat NZ.
“But it was good to get this one back and it is going to be a great rivalry all year I think.”
Cold Chisel is the veteran of just 10 starts, but he has made an incredible impression in that time.
Butcher was impressed by progression he saw in the horse’s game on Friday night when he elected to trail Major Hot (NZ) (Art Major) and Tony Herlihy with a lap to go.
“I think he is starting to learn, last time in the Million he got a little bit keen at times,” Butcher said.
“But when Tony came around he was just beautiful.”
“Everything he did was just easy to him, when we pulled those plugs, he has got such acceleration.”
“He is a really fast horse and that is going to take him places and he showed tonight he can do a little bit of work early, too.”
Chase A Dream lost no admirers when running on strongly to get within three-quarters of a length of Cold Chisel at the line.
The archrivals are now set for another epic clash in the $150,000 Group One Northern Derby (2700m), later this month.
Major Hot fought on well after making a mid-race move to take the lead, sealing a trifecta of NZB Standardbred graduates.
Emerging talents Christopher Dance (NZ) (Sweet Lou) and The Surfer (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) continued the dominance of the Alabar Classic by NZB Standardbred graduates with their fourth and fifth placings, respectively.
Vessem (NZ) (Vincent) ran a respectable race for sixth after working hard throughout the event, meaning NZB Standardbreds filled the first six placings.