Inaugural Harness Million Series Lights up Alexandra Park

Harness racing fans can expect early fireworks when a star-studded field attempt to make history by winning NZB Standardbred’s first ever lucrative Harness Million Race Series event at Alexandra Park on Friday night. 

 

The barrier draws for the inaugural running of the $200,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Colts & Geldings Final (2200m) are set to see the favourites Krug (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) and It’s All About Faith (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) in an enthralling battle that will be crucial in deciding the first name initiating the Harness Million legacy. 

 

Krug, who was recently crowned the New Zealand 2YO Pacing Colt Or Gelding of the Year at the NZB Standardbred New Zealand Harness Racing Awards, will start as the hot favourite for the race after securing the prized ace draw in barrier one.

 

Krug will clash again with American Dealer (NZ) (American Ideal) after running second to him in last week’s $128,000 Group One Garrard’s Sires’ Stakes Final (1700m) at Alexandra Park.

 

American Dealer faces a bigger challenge to lead, as he did in his standout victory, after drawing barrier four on the second row this week.

 

It’s All About Faith, who nosed out last week’s fourth placegetter B D Joe (NZ) (Roll With Joe), will see a turnaround in circumstances when moving to the front row this week in barrier six.

 

That gives driver Mark Purdon the option to challenge Krug for the lead in the early stages.

 

How that early challenge plays out and what kind of run It’s All About Faith, Krug, American Dealer and B D Joe can secure after that should decide the race winner.

 

“The top four are very good horses and it is going to be the run that separates them,” Purdon said.

 

“It’s All About Faith is possibly going to be racing outside Krug this week, so he is going to have to be on his game.”

 

Purdon takes confidence in to the NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Colts & Geldings Final after It’s All About Faith’s strong effort to work around the field and run third in last week’s Group One Sires’ Stakes Final.

 

“He did more work than the two that beat him home and he wasn’t far from them,” Purdon said.

 

“So, I was pleased with him.”

 

Purdon and Rasmussen start a stellar line up of five horses in Friday night’s history making feature.

 

Aladdin (NZ) (Sweet Lou) looks a big player for the trainers after his eye-catching performance to flash home from last on the home turn to run fifth behind American Dealer last week.

 

Aladdin will track through B D Joe at the start from barrier two on the second row.

 

The All Stars stable also start Delightful Dude (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), Bettor Call Me (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) and Nevada (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) in the NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Colts & Geldings Final.

 

The inaugural event is set down as Race 4 starting at 7.53pm on Friday night at Alexandra Park.  

 

Horse	Draw	Comments	Trainer	Driver
Krug	1	The well-performed Krug (NZ) (Bettor's Delight) has won seven of his 10 starts with two second placings and $136,000 in stakes. Krug will attempt to continue his brilliant form after recently being crowned New Zealand 2YO Pacing Colt or Gelding of the Year. Krug was purchased by Kentuckiana Lodge for $155,000 from Smolenski Stables at the 2019 National Yearling Sale.	Nathan Purdon & Chrissie Dalgety	Blair Orange
B D Joe	2	Up-and-coming B D Joe (NZ) (Roll With Joe) is another serious contender for the Listed Harness Million Series race. The Steve and Amanda Telfer trained gelding won his second start and placed fourth in last weekend’s Group One Garrard’s Sires’ Stakes Final (1700m), in his third start. B D Joe was secured for $65,000 from Brent Smith by Stonewall Stud.	Steve & Amanda Telfer	Tony Herlihy
Meetmeinsorrento	3	Meetmeinsorrento (NZ) (Bettor's Delight) won his last start for trainer Graeme Rogerson, tallying up two wins and a second placing from four starts in total. He was picked up for $32,000 by Rogerson Bloodstock from the draft of Breckon Farms at the 2019 National Yearling Sale.	Graeme Rogerson	Dylan Ferguson (J)
Luke John	4	Last start winner Luke John (NZ) (Mach Three) could continue his form this Friday and take out the Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million for 2YO Colts & Geldings (2200m) at Alexandra Park. Trained by Logan Hollis and Shane Robertson, the Mach Three colt was purchased for $21,000 from White Stables at the 2019 National Yearling Sale. He has now earned $12,350 in prizomoney.	Logan Hollis & Shane Robertson
Delightful Dude	5	Delightful Dude (NZ) (Bettor's Delight) has now claimed one first, two seconds and a third placing from eight starts, winning $17,245 in prizemoney. Flying the flag for All Stars Racing, the gelding cost $80,000 as a yearling and was secured from Belmont Park's draft.	Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen	Scott Phelan
It's All About Faith	6	Impressive performer It’s All About Faith (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) is a star graduate who has now claimed four wins, two second placings and one third from just eight starts. A main season rival of Krug, It’s All About Faith was also a finalist for New Zealand’s 2019-20 2YO Pacing Colt or Gelding of the Year. He has now earned $66,104 in prizemoney and was secured for $130,000 from Breckon Farms in 2019.	Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen	Mark Purdon
Mr Fantastic	7	Trained in partnership by Steven Reid and Simon McMullan, Mr Fantasic (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) was purchased for $62,500 from Woodlands Stud at the 2019 National Yearling Sale. The exciting Harness Million prospect has had two wins and one second placing from just five starts.	Steven Reid & Simon McMullan	Zachary Butcher
Captain Nemo	8	Captain Nemo (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) was bought for $110,000 by Lincoln Farms from Price Bloodstock. He has won one of his 10 starts, placing third on another two occasions and earning just over $13,000 to date.	Ray Green	Andre Poutama
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Bettor Call Me	9	By titan sire Bettor's Delight, the promising Bettor Call Me NZ) has picked up one win, two seconds and one third from his six starts to date. He was secured for $50,000 by All Stars Racing from the draft of Breckon Farms.	Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen	Brent Mangos
Aladdin	10	Jean Feiss owned Aladdin (NZ) (Sweet Lou) has claimed one first, a second and a third placing earning more than $12,000 in stakes. He was a close fifth in the Group One Garrard’s Sires Stakes Final (1700m) last weekend. Aladdin was bought for $140,000 from Woodlands Stud at the 2019 National Yearling Sale.	Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen	Olivia Thornley (J)
Nevada	11	Racing in the Vela white and blue hoops, promising gelding Nevada (NZ) (Bettor's Delight) is compiling a good race record, having claimed one first placing, a second as well as a third from six starts and $12,965 in prizemoney to date. He was bred by the late Charles Roberts and was purchased for $40,000 by Sir Peter Vela as a yearling.	Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen	Joshua Dickie
Rock Legend	12	Scratched
American Dealer	13	Group One-winning graduate American Dealer (NZ) (American Ideal) will be looking to secure back-to-back victories in the Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million for 2YO Colts & Geldings (2200m) on Friday night. The Ray Green trained pacer showed himself to be a complete racehorse when taking out the Group One Garrard’s Sires Stakes Final (1700m) for driver David Butcher last week. His win became the latest in a lengthy list of Group One performers bred by leviathan breeder, the late Charles Roberts.	Ray Green	David Butcher
Hot and Treacherous	14	Trained by Brian and Gareth Hughes, Hot And Treacherous (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) will be fighting for the $200,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million for 2YO Colts & Geldings (2200m), set to be held at Alexandra Park this weekend. The gelding has had two wins from five starts and earned $15,678 in stakes. He was purchased for $60,000 from Brackon farms at the 2019 National Yearling Sale.	Brian & Gareth Hughes	Maurice McKendry
Romanee	15	Romanee (NZ) (Bettor's Delight) comes into this race with promising form, securing two wins, one second placing and one third from just seven starts. He was bought by trainer Graeme Rogerson for $34,000 from Woodlands Stud in 2019.	Graeme Rogerson	Peter Ferguson