Merlin (NZ) Conjurs Brilliant Group Two Win Ahead Of Million Dollar Tilt

Merlin (NZ) (Art Major) showed what a force he will be in next week’s $1,000,000 The Race by Grins (2200m) with his brilliant win in the $57,000 Group Two McMillan Equine Feeds Cambridge Flying Mile (1609m) on Thursday night.

The NZB Standardbred graduate worked harder than his rivals and still proved too slick for a star-studded line up.

Merlin was purchased by Dean Shannon of Montana Park for $120,000 at the 2021 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch when he was offered by breeder-vendors Taffy Ltd.

Merlin worked around the field in the early stages of Thursday night’s feature before finding the parked position for driver Zachary Butcher.

As his rivals made their moves on the home turn, Butcher asked Merlin for an effort and the star pacer rallied strongly to win in a brilliant 1.52.0 time for trainers Barry and Scott Phelan.

The reinsman was full of praise for his brilliant pacer following his outstanding win.

“It was a super effort, 1.52.0 around Cambridge, parked from a wide enough draw after working to get there and held on,” Butcher told Track Chat NZ.

“Super happy – he gave the feel like he would sharpen up with that and get a little bit better.”
“That is always a positive going into a million-dollar race.”

Fellow NZB Standardbred graduate and Sooner The Bettor (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) led throughout and fought on gamely to run second to his stablemate.

The four-year-old backed up his outstanding second in the recent Group One Miracle Mile (1609m) to boost his claims ahead of The Race by Grins.

 Don’t Stop Dreaming (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) charged home from the rear of the field to run third in the Cambridge Flying Mile, rounding out a trifecta of NZB Standardbred graduates.

The four-year-old showed he is right on track for his The Race by Grins tilt when scorching home wide on the track.

Following their outstanding final lead up runs, Thursday night’s trifecta-makers have been rated at the top of betting markets for The Race By Grins.

Don’t Stop Dreaming has been rated the race favourite ahead of Monday’s draw for the million dollar event.

Merlin has been installed the second favourite, with Sooner The Bettor rated fourth-equal favourite.

Photo: HRNZ