Purdon & Phelan Clinch Quinella in Harness Million 2YO Trot
14 October 2022
Trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan started a lucrative night of Harness Million Series racing at Addington in style when their classy pairing of Southern Diamond (NZ) (Creatine) and Halberg (NZ) (Father Patrick) filled the quinella in the $75,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Trot (1980m).
Southern Diamond did his best to hold out his stablemate Halberg in a thrilling finish to the Harness Million Series event for NZB Standardbred two-year-old trotting graduates.
The quinella demonstrated Purdon and Phelan’s renowned eye for a standardbred yearling, with both trotters purchased by their trainers at the 2021 National Yearling Sale.
Southern Diamond was bought for $37,500 from breeder-vendors Dave and Dawn Kennedy’s Beaudiene Breeding when he was offered in Christchurch.
Halberg was secured by Barry Purdon Racing Stables for $60,000 from John Dickie’s draft at the Auckland National Yearling Sale.
Southern Diamond and Halberg showed their talent with outstanding performances in their last outings at Cambridge, in a repeat of their Harness Million quinella.
The winner was aided by a pinpoint drive at Addington on Friday night, from his regular pilot, Zachary Butcher.
Despite drawing a tricky barrier, wide on the second row, Butcher found a lovely spot in the one-one for Southern Diamond. The two-year-old peeled out on the home turn and got his nose in front right on the line.
Halberg was tenacious in defeat, fighting on strongly after working hard in the parked position throughout Friday night’s lucrative feature.
Just one length covered the first four horses home in the thrilling finish to the NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Trot.
One Over Da Line (NZ) (Majestic Son) followed the winner throughout and ran home stylishly for a meritorious third for trainers Robert and Jenna Dunn.
The gelding edged out her stablemate for his podium finish, with Kiss And Run (NZ) (What The Hill) producing a huge fourth placing.
The Dunn-trained filly made an early mistake which cost her valuable ground before she recovered and stormed down the outer.
One Over Da Line was purchased by McLean Racing for $110,000 from White Stable’s draft at the 2021 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch.
Kiss And Run was secured for $80,000 for the Dunn’s Diamond Racing from the Tardina Stud draft at the 2021 National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
Friday night’s results put NZB Standardbred graduates in prime positions ahead of next week’s Lone Star Sires Stakes Two-Year-Old Trotters Prelude at Addington.
| Consignor | Beaudiene Breeding |
| Purchaser | Purdon / Phelan Stables |
| Breeding | Creatine - Ugly Betty |
| Sale | 2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $37,500 |
| Breeder | W D Kennedy |