Double Delight (NZ) Breaks National Record in Jewels Win
8 June 2021
Unbeaten filly Double Delight (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) lived up to her name when brilliantly clinching both a Group One victory and a national record at the Harness Jewels in Cambridge on Sunday.
The NZB Standardbred graduate stormed home to reel in second placegetter Mystic Max (NZ) (Village Mystic), keeping her perfect race record intact by taking out the $100,000 Group One Montana Food & Events 2YO Ruby (1609m).
Aided by champion driver Tony Herlihy, the master horseman also produced a brilliant training performance to help his filly take her record to three starts for three wins.
Though Double Delight was left three-wide early in Sunday’s Group One feature, some typical Herlihy driving magic secured her a nice sit on the outer following Mystic Max.
“I have been rapt with the way she just kept training down and training on,” Herlihy said.
“She has come a long way this preparation and has just kept stepping up.
“I know it was a bigger ask today against those South Island two-year-olds, but she did us proud,” he said.
Double Delight lowered the national record of one of New Zealand’s greatest ever two-year-old trotting fillies in Jo Anne (Sundon) (NZ).
The record stood for more than 20 years before Double Delight scored in a smart 1.58.4 time in wet and cool conditions.
The filly was offered in the pacing section of NZB Standardbred’s 2020 National Yearling Sale in Auckland by Tony and Anne Parker’s Tardina Stud, with Herlihy securing her for $40,000.
Though she did not take to the pacing gait, Double Delight has not missed a beat as a trotter.
“We certainly tried her as a pacer a couple of times, but she didn’t like it at all and she just loves trotting,” Herlihy said.
Mystic Max hit the lead in the home straight and looked the winner until Double Delight unleashed her stunning burst of speed to win.
The colt’s second placing delivered another outstanding result for Mystic Max’s owner and trainer Michael Purdon.
Purdon purchased Mystic Max for just $9,501 through NZB Standardbred’s online subsidiary platform gavelhouse.com Standardbred.
| Consignor | Tardina Stud |
| Purchaser | Mr AG Herlihy |
| Breeding | Captaintreacherous x Dreamy Delight |
| Sale | 2020 Auckland National Yearling Sale, $40,000 |
| Bred by | Tardina Stud |