La Rosa (NZ) Primed for Second Harness Million bid

La Rosa (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) is primed and ready for her shot at back-to-back Harness Million Sale Race Series victories at Addington on Friday night. 

 

The emphatic winner of the inaugural Harness Million Listed 2YO Fillies Pace will attempt to back up her two-year-old final victory by winning the $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 3YO Fillies Pace (1980m).

 

She was purchased by trainer Mark Jones for $100,000 at NZB Standardbred’s 2019 National Yearling Sale out of Wairau Farm’s draft.

 

A standout performer amongst her age group, La Rosa has been freshened and guided back to full fitness by Mark Jones after competing in Group One events in Auckland over the summer.

 

La Rosa has shown she is ready to run in Friday night’s feature when storming home to place second at Addington last week in her first start since returning to Canterbury.

 

The Bettor’s Delight filly will reunite with driver Samantha Ottley who guided to her front-running victory in the $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Fillies Pace (1980m).

 

Ottley comes into Friday night’s race after becoming just the second woman in New Zealand harness racing history to reach 500 driving wins on Wednesday.

 

Victory in Friday night's final would top an outstanding week for the talented reinswoman.

 

“That is fairy-tale stuff, she is a nice filly and she is going super,” Ottley said.

 

Ottley goes into her second Harness Million Series Final pleased with La Rosa’s late-closing second at Addington last week.

 

“She is a biggish filly and we knew she would need the run and she has improved with it.”

“She seems really bright and well at home, she has worked nicely during the week.

“In the big races you need a little bit of luck, but I wouldn’t want to be driving anything else,” she said.

 

While La Rosa starts from barrier three on the second row of the mobile, her stablemate Braeview Kelly (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) starts from the sought after number three alley.

 

She was purchased by Braeview Ltd for $27,500 from the 2019 Yearling Sale in Christchurch out of P. A. Boyle’s draft.

 

Trained by Mark Jones, the filly was desperately unlucky in her lead up run at Addington last week.

 

Braeview Kelly has shown a brilliant turn of foot in her short career, running fourth behind La Rosa in the NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Fillies Final last year.

 

The Mark Jones-trained pair clash with the four-strong team trainer Robert Dunn has qualified for Friday night’s event.

 

Dunn has fillies positioned right across the field, with $50,000 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale purchase With Grace (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) starting from barrier one, she was secured by Grant Enterprises from Broadfield Lodge in 2019.

 

While Passion And Power (NZ) (Art Major) will start just outside her in barrier three, a $52,500 purchase by Robert Dunn from Breckon Farms 2019 Auckland Sale draft.

 

The three-year-old comes into Friday’s Harness Million Final after storming home to secure a strong win at Rangiora on Sunday.

 

Dunn has the in-form Off N Gone (NZ) (Somebeachsomewhere) starting from barrier eight, she was purchased by BD & SM Williams and GA & KJ Woodham for $37,000 from A. D. Edmonds 2019 Christchurch draft.

 

The three-year-old faces a big ask from her wide draw, but she must still rate highly given the excellent performance she has put in lately.

 

Dunn also lines up $40,000 2019 Christchurch purchase Shanika (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) from barrier two on the second row, just inside La Rosa. Shanika was secured by Mrs W Nordqvist from Roypark Lodge.

 

Shanika will be out to go one better than her second placing behind La Rosa in Friday night’s clash.

 

The three-year-old has just had one start since, producing a nice second placing at Addington preparing her for a big run on Friday night.

 

Avana (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) looks to be the biggest threat to the Jones and Dunn camps.

 

The Hayden Cullen-trained filly ran third behind La Rosa and Shankia in their clash in the Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Fillies Final.

 

Avana was purchased for $16,000 by All Stars Racing Stables from Broadfield Lodge’s 2019 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft.

 

A strong benefit of the 2021 National Standardbred Yearling Sale is that all unbroken yearlings purchased at Auckland and Christchurch sessions are eligible to be nominated for the lucrative NZB Standardbred Harness Million Sale Race Series, with an estimated one million dollars in the prizepool.