Millwood Nike (NZ) Confirms Star Status in Epic Group One Win
5 December 2022
Millwood Nike (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) proved again she’s a once-in-a-generation talent with her epic win in the $100,000 Avon City Ford Ace Of Diamonds (1980m) at Harness Racing New Zealand’s 2022 Grand Prix meeting.
The NZB Standardbred graduate overcame a tough trip in stunning style to record a national-record-breaking win for trainers Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen at Addington Raceway.
Millwood Nike was secured by her trainers for $75,000 from Millwood Farm at the 2021 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch.
With a perfect record of eight wins from eight starts, including three Group One titles, Millwood Nike completed an unbeaten two-year-old season with her brilliant victory.
Her stunning performances and her outstanding record are enough for Purdon to rate her among the very best of the incredible line up of two-year-old fillies he has trained.
"She has got to be up with the best we have had, you can't fault her,” Purdon said.
Millwood Nike didn’t just win the Ace Of Diamonds, she defied logic to do it. The star filly sat parked throughout the Group One event at a national-record-breaking speed, before breezing by her rivals at the top of the straight.
When asked what makes her so special, Purdon said it was not only her speed and stamina but also her race smarts.
“She has just got all of the attributes, she didn’t take anything out of herself sitting parked.”
“That is very important when you are racing at this level and things don’t quite go your way.
“We did think it might work out that way, that she would be left parked, but she relaxed nicely and was able to quicken when I asked her to.”
Millwood Nike stopped the clock in the Ace Of Diamonds in a brilliant 2-20.3 time for 1980 metres. In doing so, she broke the 2-21.2 national record time she set in the Group One Sires Stakes Fillies Championship on Show Day.
The star filly is raced by rugby league identities Frank and Shane Endacott, Stephen Byrne, Steve Thompson and Bruce Irvine, following her purchase at the Christchurch National Yearling Sale.
Millwood Nike headed a quinella of NZB Standardbred graduates with Aardiebytheseaside (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) running a brave second after setting a hectic pace. Aardiebytheseaside was purchased by Razor Ridge Farm for the bargain price of $1,500 from Woodlands Stud’s draft at the 2020 Auckland All Aged Sale.
| Vendor | Millwood Farm |
| Purchaser | All Stars Racing Stables |
| Breeding | Captaintreacherous x Albuquerque |
| Sale | 2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, 75,000 |
| Bred by | Mrs K Carville |