Merlin (NZ) Primed for Harness Million Challenge

A familiar challenge awaits star colt Merlin (NZ) (Art Major) in the $200,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Three-Year-Old Colts And Geldings Final (2200m) at Cambridge on Friday night. 

The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained pacer is one of a stellar line up of 13 NZB Standardbred graduates set down for an enthralling clash in the lucrative feature.

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

Merlin has had to call on his brilliant speed and incredible toughness in his outstanding career after being handed a run of tricky barrier draws.

The colt faces another tough alley in barrier 11 in his Harness Million quest, which is far from a new challenge for him.

“He hasn’t had a good draw yet, so it is nothing new for him,” Scott Phelan said.

“A lot will depend on what some of the other horses around him do.

“He has definitely benefitted from his first up run.”

“He’s come through it well and we couldn’t have been happier with him.”

The Purdon-Phelan stable also start Sooner The Bettor (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) in the Harness Million Three-Year-Old Colts And Geldings Final.

The colt was purchased by Barry Purdon Racing Stables for $130,000 from Kufra Farm’s draft at the 2021 Auckland National Yearling Sale.

Sooner The Bettor put together back-to-back wins before chasing fellow NZB Standardbred graduate Son Of Mac (NZ) (American Ideal) home in his last start at Alexandra Park.

The three-year-old has fared much better than his stablemate with his draw in barrier 4.

“He is getting better, his last run was OK, it was a race where you had to be on the rails,” Phelan said.

“He has been improving and we have been happy with his work.

“We will definitely be looking to go forward and settle handy.”

Like Merlin, Son Of Mac has been handed a tough draw in barrier 8.

But the Kyle Marshall trained three-year-old has shown he has the kind of quality needed to overcome during his impressive career.

Son Of Mac heads into the Harness Million Three-Year-Old Colts And Geldings Final after impressing in his return to racing at Alexandra Park recently.

The three-year-old was purchased by Kyle Marshall for $60,000 from Leanach Lodge’s draft at the 2021 Auckland National Yearling Sale.

The powerful Mark and Nathan Purdon stable also start three quality horses in an incredibly talented field for Friday night’s feature.

With Style (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), Sherlock (NZ) (Vincent) and Sinbad (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) have all been handed challenging draws but each horse rates a genuine winning threat.

The $200,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Three-Year-Old Colts And Geldings Final is set to be contested at 8.10pm at Cambridge Raceway on Friday night.

Barrier	Horse	Breeding	Driver	Trainer	Breeder	Owner	Sale	Purchaser	Vendor	Sibling in 2023 Sale
1	Frankie Major	Art Major x Delight Me	Maurice McKendry	Ray Green	Tate Bloodstock	Lincoln Farms Bloodstock Ltd	2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $60,000	Lincoln Farms Bloodstock	Broadfield Lodge
2	Two Eye See	Art Major x Runaway Star	Andre Poutama	Logan Hollis & Shane Robertson	Dancingonmoonlight	S M Robertson, Mrs C Aickin, Miss G M Woolston, A G Mason	2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $35,000	L Hollis & S Robertson	Dancingonmoonlight
3	SCRATCHED
4	Sooner The Bettor	Bettor's Delight x Lucky Pocket	Scott Phelan	Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan	C N Radford, W E Radford, Ms D E Richardson	Mrs K J Purdon, Montana Park Pty Ltd, R Cole, Mrs C Nausbaum, Mrs M McKay, D J Tonks, B K Parker	2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $130,000	Barry Purdon Racing Stables	Kufra Farm
5	Alta Meteor	Art Major x Alchemist	James Stormont	Steve & Amanda Telfer & Hayden Cullen	Alta Breeding	Stonewall Stud Ltd	2020 All Age Sale (Gavelhouse), $25,000	Stonewall Stud	Alabar (NZ)	Half sister, B.F (Always B Miki x Alchemist) Lot 7
6	Charlie Brown	Art Major x Gold Elite	John Dunn	Robert & Jenna Dunn	D G Moore	R K Gordon, Mrs A L Gordon	2021 Auckland Yearling Sale, $75,000	Diamond Racing	Hollis & Robertson Equine Services
7	With Style	Bettor's Delight x My Style	Brent Mangos	Mark & Nathan Purdon	Studholme Bloodstock	F Tong, W R Pengelly	2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $200,000	Mrs JL Feiss	Studholme Bloodstock	Half brother, Bl.C (Betting Line x My Style) Lot 334
8	Son of Mac	American Ideal x Lusty Mac	Tony Herlihy	Kyle Marshall	K H Bowles, Mrs I Bowles, S M Bowles, Mrs M A Bowles	B Barnett, L Dixon, D J Rowe, R L Herbert, S M Bowles, K H Bowles, Dr I H MacKay, R D MacKay, T Walker, Lads Go Trotting Syndicate	2021 Auckland Yearling Sale, $60,000	Mr KJ Marshall	Leanach Lodge
9	Sherlock	Vincent x After Party	Blair Orange	Mark & Nathan Purdon	Spreydon Lodge	Mrs J L Feiss	2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $67,500	Mrs J L Feiss	Spreydon Lodge
10	Lou Baby	Sweet Lou x Mach's Excuse	Steven Reid	Steven Reid & Simon McMullan	Dr A R Grierson	L C Purdon	2021 Auckland Yearling Sale, $10,000	Mr J Curtin	Woodlands Stud (NZ)
11	Merlin	Art Major x Imaginary Bet	Zachary Butcher	Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan	Taffy Limited	Montana Park Pty Ltd	2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $120,000	Montana Park P/L	Broadfield Lodge
12	Sinbad	Downbytheseaside x Panforte	Mark Purdon	Mark & Nathan Purdon	Woodlands Stud (NZ)	Mrs J L Feiss	2020 All Age Sale (Gavelhouse), $26,000	Jean Feiss	Woodlands Stud (NZ)
13	Who's Delight	Bettor's Delight x Cullen Who	Peter Ferguson	Robert & Jenna Dunn	G J McKenzie, G W Simon, Mrs M W Simon, T R Barron, A B Clark, Mi	A D Neumann, I M Neumann, B W Clarke, G R Evans, J A Slack	2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $130,000	Diamond Racing	Barron Bloodstock	Full brother, B.C (Bettor's Delight x Cullen Who) Lot 247