Sooner The Bettor (NZ) Dominates Sires Stakes Sophomore Classic
24 October 2023
Sooner The Bettor (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) left his rivals with absolutely no excuses in his stunning victory in the $38,000 Listed Sires Stakes Sophomore Classic (1700m) at Ashburton on Monday.
The NZB Standardbred graduate worked hard sitting parked throughout the feature event, but he shrugged off that work when running to an outstanding win for trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.
Sooner The Bettor was purchased by Barry Purdon Racing Stables for $130,000 when he was offered among the Kufra Farm draft at the 2021 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch.
As much as his speed and power carried Sooner The Bettor to victory, champion reinsman Tony Herlihy praised the horse’s outstanding tractability.
“He relaxed out there and it felt like they sprinted really hard from the top of the straight.”
“He’s a bit of a character and does no more than he has to,” Herlihy said.
Scott Phelan admitted Sooner The Bettor has never had much luck throughout his career.
Monday’s feature was no different, but the horse’s class shone through.
“He has always show plenty of ticker,” Phelan said.
Sooner The Bettor led an outstanding result for NZB Standardbred graduates in the Sires Stakes Sophomore Classic.
NZB Standardbred graduates filled the first five placings with Triple G (NZ) (Downbytheseaside) charging along the passing lane to run second.
Who’s Delight (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) took third, ahead of Carrera Rapido (NZ) (Art Major) and Jolimont (NZ) (Sweet Lou).
Sooner The Bettor claimed the second leg of an outstanding double for the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan stable at Ashburton on Monday.
The trainers produced another NZB Standardbred graduate in Cold Chisel (NZ) (Always B Miki) to win a heat of the Sires Stakes Series.
The victory came in the pacer’s first start since his victory in the $200,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Colts And Geldings Final at Addington.
His recent victories now rate Cold Chisel as arguably the best two-year-old male pacer in New Zealand.
Photo: HRNZ