Merlin (NZ) Primed for Harness Million Challenge
17 February 2023
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 |