Coney Island Lou (NZ) Clinches Listed Victory with Searing Speed

Coney Island Lou (NZ) (Sweet Lou) produced searing speed to win the $40,000 Listed Woodlands Stud Sires Stakes Harness 7000 (1980m) at Addington on Friday night.

The three-year-old headed a domination of the black-type event by NZB Standardbred graduates when clinching his first success at stakes level.

NZB Standardbred graduates made up seven of the Listed event’s field of eight runners and those seven runners filled the first seven placings.

Coney Island Lou was purchased for $40,000 by Western Australian buyer Peta-Ann Congerton when he was offered among Laura Smith’s draft at the 2021 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch.

Congerton and her racing partners placed the classy pacer with trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety, who prepared him for his outstanding victory at Addington.

Cran Dalgety has always had high hopes for Coney Island Lou and he has the confidence to aim the horse at the elite level.

“We were thrilled with that effort tonight, he had a good horse in front of him and he had to be good himself to chase him down,” Dalgety said

“We have been thrilled with the way he has come up.”

“He did a super job last campaign and he only got better as he went on.”

“With the benefit of some time out, he is even stronger now.”

“He is just a lovely horse, he has never lacked any speed and he just seems to get stronger with more time.”

“He beat a top liner tonight and he has still got improvement to come, with it being his first run back.”

“Hopefully we are in for an exciting time with him.”

“We hoped to head towards some bigger targets and tonight he has shown he is on track to take on the big guns."

Coney Island chased down a gallant runner-up in Triple G (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) to win.

Like the winner, Triple G is sure to be better for his outing given it was his first race of the spring.

Already a Group One placegetter, the Robert and Jenna Dunn trained pacer is on a path towards the upcoming Group One features for three-year-olds this spring and more clashes with Coney Island Lou.

The Dunn stable also produced the Double Time (NZ) (A Rocknroll Dance) to run third.

The three-year-old powered home from off the pace in an excellent effort.

Fellow NZB Standardbred graduates Bluto (NZ) (Sweet Lou), Watermelon Sugar (NZ) (Sweet Lou), Dalton Shard (NZ) (Always B Miki) and Herb (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) were next across the line.