Stellar Line Up of Fillies Head Inaugural Harness Million Event

1 October 2020

Group Three winner Town Echo (NZ) (Art Major).

A sparkling last start win shows La Rosa (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) is peaking just as the lucrative $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Fillies Pace (1980m) has arrived. 

 

The Mark Jones trained pacer will clash with a star studded line up of NZB Standardbred’s 2019 National Yearling Sale graduates when the first ever Harness Million Sale Race Series event for fillies is run at Addington on Friday 2 October.

 

After producing consistent form, La Rosa ran to a strong victory after doing a power of mid-race work to down fellow Harness Million Series rival, Manhattan (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), at the same track last week.

 

Her pleasing training since has her trainer Mark Jones convinced La Rosa is as ready as she can be for her shot at the NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Fillies Pace.

 

“We have looked after her, this is her first main aim and she is as ready as she can be,” Jones said.

 

La Rosa has clinched a premium draw in Friday night’s event, starting from barrier 2 for driver Samantha Ottley.

 

That gives the reinswoman the option to put her horse when she wants to depending on the early speed from her rivals.

 

“From there you have a few options, it definitely helps,” Jones said.


“She has got good gate speed, but there is good gate speed inside and outside of her.


“She has got a few options, but she can go forward if she has to.”

 

To win, La Rosa must down a powerful team from Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen’s All Stars stable.

 

The trainers start leading chances Avana (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) and Town Echo (NZ) (Art Major) in Friday night’s $150,000 feature.

 

The classy pair come in to the race after filling the quinella in the latest South Island heat of the Magness Benrow Sires' Stakes Fillies Series at Addington.

 

Both put in excellent performances, with Avana powering down the outer to down Town Echo, who was forced to sit parked for a good part of the race.

 

The All Stars pairing beat home La Rosa, who finished fourth in the heat, which should prove a key form reference for the Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Fillies race.

 

Show Me Heaven (NZ) (Somebeachsomewhere) will again be a threat, despite starting wide on the front line in barrier 8, following her strong effort for third in the Sires’ Stakes Series heat.

 

Her stablemate from the Steve and Amanda Telfer’s barn, Miss Hathaway (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) also has a tricky draw in barrier 1 on the second row.

 

Platinum (NZ) (Art Major), who starts from barrier 6 for trainer-driver Tony Herlihy, also makes up the three-strong North Island team in the NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Fillies Pace.

 

Shanika (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), who is one of four pacers Robert Dunn has in the $150,000 feature, starts ahead of Miss Hathaway in barrier 1.

 

Dunn also starts Passion And Power (NZ) (Art Major) from barrier 3, Off N Gone (NZ)  (Somebeachsomewhere) from barrier 12 and With Grace (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) from barrier 13 in the first ever Harness Million Race Series event.

 

The $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Fillies Pace (1980m) will be run as Race 4 at 6:38pm on Friday 2 October at Addington.

 

Horse Draw Comments Trainer Driver
Shanika 1 Shanika (NZ) (Bettor's Delight) has claimed three second placings and two third placings from eight starts in her career. She was purchased by Mrs W Nordqvist for $40,000 from Roypark Lodge at the 2019 National Yearling Sale.  Robert Dunn Ricky May
La Rosa 2 Last start winner La Rosa (NZ) (Bettor's Delight) is another serious contender for the Listed Harness Million Series Fillies race. The Mark Jones trained pacer will be looking to continue her fine form after claiming one first, one second and three third placings from seven starts. She was secured for $100,000 from Wairau Farm.  Mark Jones Samantha Ottley
Passion And Power 3 Art Major filly Passion And Power (NZ) will be looking to redeem herself after the stellar start she had to her career claiming three consecutive victories from her first three races. She has now had six starts and earned a total of $38,025 in prizemoney. She was picked up by trainer Robert Dunn for $52,500 from the draft of Breckon Farms at the 2019 National Yearling Sale.   Robert Dunn Gavin Smith
Simply Shaz 4 Newbee Simply Shaz (NZ) (American Ideal) is just starting out her career after claiming one second placing from two starts for trainer Paul Kerr. She was purchased for $18,000 by Mr KJ Ovens from Breckon Farms at the 2019 National Yearling Sale. Paul Kerr Bob Butt
Avana 5 Winner on debut and last start victor Avana (NZ) (Bettor's Delight) will be one to watch on Friday evening as she contests the Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million Series 2YO Fillies Pace (1980m). She has now claimed two wins from four starts, winning $16,500 in stakes. Flying the flag for All Stars Racing Stables, she cost $16,000 as a yearling and was secured from Broadfield Lodge's draft.  Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen Tim Williams
Platinum 6 Experienced performer Platinum (NZ) (Art Major) has secured one victory and two third placings from eight starts. The North Island based filly has now earned $17,750 in prizemoney and was secured for $85,000 by trainer-driver Tony Herlihy from Wairau Farm in 2019.  Tony Herlihy  Tony Herlihy 
Shards in Manhattan (E1) 7 Trained in partnership by Nathan Purdon & Chrissie Dalgety, Shards in Manhattan (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) is unplaced from four tarts. She was purchased for $72,500 from Shard Farm at the 2019 National Yearling Sale.  Nathan Purdon & Chrissie Dalgety  
Show Me Heaven 8 Show Me Heaven (NZ) (Somebeachsomewhere) was bought for $40,000 by Stonewall Stud from Dancingonmoonlight. She has won one of her three starts, placing third on another occasion and earning just over $7,760 to date. Steve & Amanda Telfer Craig Thornley
Braeview Kelly 9 Winner on debut Braeview Kelly (NZ) is by titan sire Bettor's Delight and has picked up two wins and two second placings from her six starts to date. She was secured for $27,500 by Braeview Ltd from P. A. Boyle in 2019.  Tony Stratford Blair Orange
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Miss Hathaway 10 Newcomer Miss Hathaway (NZ) (Bettor's Delight) won on debut for trainers Steve & Amanda Telfer and has now had two starts. She was bought by Stonewall Stud for $52,500 from Rosedale Farm at the 2019 National Yearling Sale.  Steve & Amanda Telfer Matthew Williamson
Town Echo 11 Talented All Stars Racing Stables filly Town Echo (NZ) (Art Major) has a solid chance of claiming the Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Fillies Pace (1880m). After winning on debut Town Echo also won the Group Three ‘Downbytheseaside’ Leonard Memorial Stakes (2000m) and placed third in another Group Three 2200 metre race. She was purchased for $30,000 from Breckon Farms at the 2019 National Yearling Sale.  Mark Purdon & Natalie Rasmussen Mark Purdon
Off N Gone 12 Trained by Robert Dunn, Off N Gone (NZ) (Somebeachsomewhere) has now claimed two wins from six starts and $12,280 in stakes. She was purchased by BD & SM Williams and GA & KJ Woodham for $37,500 from A. D. Edmonds in 2019.  Robert Dunn  John Dunn
With Grace 13 Bettor's Delight pacer With Grace (NZ)  be looking to secure a win for trainer Robert Dunn after claiming one third placing from six starts to date. She was purchased by Grant Enterprises for $50,000 from Broadfield Lodge.  Robert Dunn  Korbyn Newman(J)
Get Back (E2) 14 Unplaced from three starts, Get Back (NZ) (Bettor's Delight) was purchased for $50,000 by Mrs BK Boag from Norwegian Wood Breeding at the 2019 National Yearling Sale.  Murray Edmonds Jim Curtin
Manhattan 15 Mitchell Kerr trained Manhattan (NZ) (Bettor's Delight) comes into this race with promising form securing two second placings from just two starts. She was bought by for $44,000 from Studholme Bloodstock in 2019.  Mitchell Kerr Scott Phelan