Cold Chisel (NZ) Speeds to Stakes Success for Winning Combination

Cold Chisel (NZ) (Always B Miki) sealed a hat-trick of wins with NZB Standardbred graduates for trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan and owner Dean Shannon in the $58,000 Group Two Breckon Farms Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes (1700m).

The two-year-old sped to his first stakes race success when dashing along the passing lane at Alexandra Park on Friday night for driver Zachary Butcher.

In the process, Cold Chisel led home a trifecta for the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan stable and a trifecta of NZB Standardbred graduates with Escape Artist (NZ) (Art Major) and Always B Elite (NZ) (Always B Miki) taking second and third placings respectively.

Cold Chisel was purchased by Dean Shannon’s Montana Park for $100,000 from breeder-vendors Mark and Pauline O’Connor and Owen Shaw at the 2022 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch.

The combination of Dean Shannon, the Barry and Scott Phelan stable and driver Zachary Butcher had already enjoyed success in the Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes in 2022 with Merlin (NZ) (Art Major) and in 2021 with Montana D J (NZ) (Captaintreacherous).

Butcher gave Cold Chisel a perfect run in the trail throughout his first test at stakes level and the classy colt took full advantage when producing a brilliant turn of foot to win a third Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes for Purdon, Phelan and Shannon.

“He went super,” the reinsman said. "He came off the gate and was lucky to land the trail behind one of the ones to follow.He got the cold shot up the lane and had a bit of speed and was just too good for them.It was a big thrill.”

Butcher was full of praise for Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan for the way they prepare their youngsters following their outstanding feat of producing the trifecta in Friday night’s feature.

“When you drive for Barry and Scotty, it makes our job a lot easier. You are driving a little professional with a lot of speed and ability.
I just sit there and point them in the right direction, all the hard work is done at home.”

Escape Artist and Always B Elite also showed what bright futures they have when powering to the line behind their winning stablemate.

Escape Artist was purchased for $60,000 by Barry Purdon Racing Stables from vendors Scherger Court Standardbreds at the 2022 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch.

Always B Elite was secured for $80,000 by the Clear View Trading Partnership from the Hollis & Robertson Equine Services draft at the 2022 National Yearling Sale at Karaka.

Photo: Alexandra Park