Graduates Swarm Crucial Harness Million Stepping Stone

3 September 2020

NZB Standardbred’s class of 2019 will take important steps towards the inaugural running of the lucrative Harness Million Sale Race Series when they take to the track across New Zealand this weekend. 

2019 graduate It's All About Faith (NZ) (Bettor's Delight)
targets crucial Heat on the road to the Harness Million.  

 

All eyes will be on star colt Krug (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) when he steps out, alongside a host of his fellow National Yearling Sale graduates in a heat of the Garrard's Sires Stakes Series (1700m) at Alexandra Park on Thursday night.

 

The $155,000 Christchurch purchase swept all before him before the national lockdown hit and has continued that brilliant form with three sensational wins for trainers Nathan Purdon and Chrissie Dalgety since racing resumed in June.

 

The Bettor’s Delight pacer, from former star racemare Champagne Princess (NZ) (Soky’s Atom), goes in to Thursday night’s race after confirming his star status by downing his arch rival It’s All About Faith (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) at Addington.

 

Purdon told media this week Krug should strip a fitter horse for that outing when he starts on Thursday night.

 

Krug’s tricky barrier 12 draw gives his key rivals American Dealer (NZ) (American Ideal) and Hot And Treacherous (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) an excellent chance to test him and boost their prospects ahead of the $200,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Colts & Geldings (2200m) for last season’s two-year-olds held at Alexandra Park on 25 September.

 

The Ray Green trained American Dealer comes in to Thursday night’s race after ducking and diving his way to a good win over older horses at Alexandra Park last month.

 

The Brian and Gareth Hughes trained Hot And Treacherous, who starts from barrier 6, comes in to Friday night’s race after running strong wins in two of just three career starts.

 

The All Stars quartet of NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale graduates in Delightful Dude (Bettor’s Delight), Nevada (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), Stag Party (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), and Aladdin (NZ) (Sweet Lou) add depth to Thursday night’s exciting race.

 

It’s All About Faith will also continue his build up towards the NZB Standardbred Harness Million in a minor event at Addington on Friday night.

 

Though beaten, the Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen trained pacer was far from disgraced in his last meeting with Krug when running scintillating sectionals in his second placing.

 

The three-year-old should dispatch a lower grade field with ease on Friday night.

 

Despite her brilliant deeds before lockdown, Passion And Power (NZ) (Art Major) has not yet been rated the favourite in betting for the inaugural $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million for (last season’s) 2YO Fillies (1980m) at Addington on October 12.

 

That could quickly change when the Robert Dunn trained pacer lines up in heat two of the Magness Benrow NZ Sires’ Stakes Series (1980m) for 3YO Fillies Pace at the same track on Friday night.

 

Dunn told media this week the filly was fit and ready for her first post-lockdown assignment after having three workouts.

 

Starting from barrier 2, Passion And Power has a major draw advantage over the current favourite for the NZB Standardbred Harness Million fillies race in La Rosa (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

 

The speedy Mark Jones trained filly must overcome starting from the outside of the front line comes in Friday night’s race.

 

La Rosa comes in to the event after running third to a serious contender for the 2YO colts and gelding’s division of the Harness Million series in Shan Noble (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

 

La Rosa has made her way to the top of early betting for the Harness Million 2YO Fillies’ event by showing plenty of high speed in four placings from just four starts.

 

Passion And Power and La Rosa will clash with several Harness Million aspirants in Braeview Kelly (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), Get Back (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) and Avana (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

 

Harness Million Series 1 eligible graduates will also have the opportunity to contest their three-year-old races set to be ran in the new year.

 

The incentive scheme incorporates an easy one-time qualifying fee and one-off entry fee, with a total combined purse of $1 million to be raced for.

 

Garrard's Sires Stakes Heat 3 Pace for 3YO Colts & Geldings Pace (1700m) Thursday 3 September

Horse

Draw

Driver

Trainer

American Dealer  

1

David Butcher

Ray Green

Captain Nemo  

2

Andre Poutama

Ray Green

Delightful Dude  

3

Brent Mangos

Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen

General Montana  

4

Zachary Butcher

Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan

Cya Art  

5

Shane Butcher

Steve & Amanda Telfer

Hot And Treacherous  

6

Maurice McKendry

Brian & Gareth Hughes

Alta Wiseguy  

7

Benjamin Butcher

Steve & Amanda Telfer

Nevada  

8

Joshua Dickie

Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen

Stag Party  

9

Natalie Rasmussen

Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen

Wavethebill  

10

Todd Mitchell

Derek Balle

Aladdin  

11

Mark Purdon

Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen

Krug  

12

Blair Orange

Nathan Purdon & Chrissie Dalgety

 

Magness Benrow NZ Sires Stakes Series for 3YO Fillies Pace (1980m) Friday 4 September

Horse

Draw

Driver

Trainer

Lifes A Beach  

1

Sheree Tomlinson (J)

Tony Barron

Passion And Power  

2

John Dunn

Robert Dunn

Darling Me  

3

Mark Purdon

Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen

Bettor Twist  

4

Tim Williams

Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen

Itz To The Macs  

5

   

Braeview Kelly  

6

Blair Orange

Tony Stratford

Ariella  

7

Robbie Close

Dean Taylor

What's Your Secret  

8

Natalie Rasmussen

Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen

La Rosa  

9

Samantha Ottley

Mark Jones

Get Back  

10

Jim Curtin

Murray Edmonds

Avana  

11

Olivia Thornley (J)

Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen