Millwood Nike Looking to Extend Unbeaten Run in Harness Million

Superstar filly Millwood Nike (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) will put her unbeaten record on the line in the $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Three-Year-Old Fillies Final (2200m) at Cambridge on Friday night. 

The NZB Standardbred graduate will aim for a perfect nine wins from nine starts starting as the hot favourite in the lucrative feature.

Millwood Nike was secured by the All Stars Racing Stables for $75,000 from Millwood Farm’s draft at the 2021 Christchurch National Yearling Sale.

Trainers Mark and Nathan Purdon bring the brilliant filly into her second Harness Million tilt fresh up, following her devastating victory in the Group One Ace Of Diamonds at Addington in December.

Though she has not raced since, her trainers have full confidence in the filly being forward and ready for a big effort.

“She seems really good, as the season went on last year she matured and I think she is better again for this little break she has had,” Mark Purdon said.

“I think she is pretty forward – she has had the two trials and we have been pleased with her.”

Millwood Nike has previously scored in the 2022 $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Two-Year-Old Fillies Pace (1980m) at Addington, and will be looking to score a second consecutive victory in Friday night’s feature.

The Purdon stable also start Sucitra (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) in the Harness Million Three-Year-Old Fillies Final. She also comes into the lucrative feature fresh up and will be having her first start for the Purdon barn.

Sucitra has trialled extremely well ahead of her return to racing, winning at both Rangiora and Pukekohe.

“She’s kept improving over the time we have had her,” Mark Purdon said.

“She had a trial before we got her and she’s had another two for us and she seems quite a nice filly.”

Sucitra was offered at the 2021 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch as part of Broadfield Lodge’s draft.

Strong recent efforts from tough barrier draws have shown Seaclusion (NZ) (Sweet Lou) can make an impact in the Harness Million Three-Year-Old Fillies Final.

The filly has shown grit to notch placings in her two starts ahead of her Harness Million tilt for trainers Graeme Rogerson and Dylan Ferguson.

Seaclusion was purchased by Rogerson Bloodstock for $35,000 from the Woodlands Stud draft at the 2021 National Yearling Sale in Auckland.

The filly is among a select field of eight NZB Standardbred graduates set for an exciting clash in the $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Three-Year-Old Fillies Final at 8.43pm on Friday night.

Barrier	Horse	Breeding	Driver	Trainer	Breeder	Owner	Sale	Purchaser	Vendor	Sibling in 2023 Sale
1	Diamond Mounted	Betterthancheddar x Zenardle	David Butcher	David Butcher	L C Driver	L C Driver	2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $16,000	Mr L Driver	M. Smolenski
2	Poetry In Motion	Bettor's Delight x Nitouche Franco	Tony Herlihy	Mark Jones	Mrs D C Cournane, N J Cournane	H A Scott, Dr K M Lawson, G Smith, G M Saunders, Mrs S J Saunders, G W Hulston, G T Stewart	2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $25,000	Mr MP Jones	Boyd Racing
3	Seaclusion	Sweet Lou x Classy Beach	Dylan Ferguson	Graeme Rogerson & Dylan Ferguson	Mrs A Luxton	G A Rogerson, C A Leishman, Croon Bloodstock Ltd, M R Pitman, L Te Keeti, Fourminusone Syndicate, J R Wheeler, C C Hobbs	2021 Auckland Yearling Sale, $35,000	Rogerson Bloodstock	Woodlands Stud (NZ)
4	Twist Little Girl	Vincent x Twist N Shout	Maurice McKendry	Jeremy Young	Alabar (NZ)	Organ Donation Saves Lives Syndicate, Zinnycef Syndicate, Breckon Farms Ltd, P A Curran, M T Mulhern, C Lea, J Stewart, T W Butts	2020 All Age Sale (Gavelhouse), $8,500	Todd Butts	Alabar (NZ)
5	Judine	Art Major x Sem's Delight	John Dunn	Robert & Jenna Dunn	Breckon Farms	A D Neumann, I M Neumann, B W Clarke, J A Slack, Diamond Racing Stables Ltd	2021 Auckland Yearling Sale, $80,000	Diamond Racing	Breckon Farms	Full Brother, B.C, (Art Major x Sem's Delight) Lot 111
6	Millwood Nike	Captaintreacherous x Albuquerque	Mark Purdon	Mark & Nathan Purdon	Mrs K Carville	S J Byrne, S R Thompson, B R Irvine, F M Endacott ONZM, S R Endacott	2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $75,000	All Stars Racing Stables	Millwood Farm
7	Sucitra	Bettor's Delight x Solandra	Blair Orange	Mark & Nathan Purdon	P I Renwick, Mrs P M Renwick	P I Renwick, Mrs P M Renwick	2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, Psd, Res $50,000		Broadfield Lodge	Full Sister, B.F, (Bettor's Delight x Solandra) Lot 376
8	Fergalicious	Art Major x Spin To Win	Zachary Butler	Robert & Jenna Dunn	Breckon Farms	Westview Racing No.22 Syndicate	2021 Auckland Yearling Sale, $30,000	Diamond Racing	Breckon Farms	Half-Sister, Br.F (Bettor's Delight x Spin To Win) Lot 117