Headstart No Hindrance in Highgrove’s Stunning Win

NZB Standardbred graduate Highgrove (NZ) (Love You) showed incredible talent winning the $28,200 Group Three Majestic Son New Zealand Two-Year-Old Trotting Stakes (1980m) at Addington last week. 

 

Despite losing valuable ground early, the Robert Dunn trained two-year-old confirmed his star status by running to an emphatic four and three-quarter length victory in the first stakes event of the season for two-year-old trotters.

 

Highgrove was purchased by Dunn at NZB Standardbred’s 2020 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch for $34,000 from Laura Smith’s draft.

 

The stunning victory by the son of Love You meant the trotter kept his unbeaten record intact, cementing his status as one of best two-year-old trotters in New Zealand.

 

Initially he galloped and drifted out of camera shot as the mobile left.

 

The two-year-old quickly caught up with his rivals and tacked on to the back of the field before driver John Dunn started a three-wide move.

 

After racing outside the leader, Highgrove took over at the 600m before powering to his brilliant stakes victory.

 

Last week’s event is the first in a string of feature races Highgrove can target.

 

Highgrove’s three outstanding wins to date make him the early favourite for the $75,000 Harness Million Listed 2YO Trot (1980m) at Addington on 14 May.

 

The two-year-old can then contest the Group Two Lone Star Sires' Stakes 2YO Trotters Series at Addington just a week later.

 

Highgrove’s three career wins have assured him of a start in the Group One Harness Jewels Two-Year-old Ruby Trot at Cambridge on 6 June.

 

The star trotter currently sits well clear at the top of the qualifying rankings for the Queen’s Birthday Weekend feature.

 

A full brother to Highgrove was offered at the recent 2021 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales at Christchurch.

 

Like Highgrove, the Love You colt from Focus on Me (NZ) (S J’s Photo) was prepared by Laura Smith and purchased by Canterbury trainer Tom Bagrie for $39,000.

 

Vendor	L. Smith
Purchaser	Diamond Racing
Breeding	Love You x Focus On Me (NZ)
Sale	2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale, $34,000
Bred by	Tavistock Breeding Limited