Talented Fillies Out for More Treasures at Harness Jewels
5 June 2021
Harness Million champions La Rosa (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) and Off N Gone (NZ) (Somebeachsomewhere) are perfectly poised for success in the $100,000 Group One Dunstan Horsefeeds 3YO Diamonds (1609m) at this weekend’s Harness Jewels.
The classy pair of NZB Standardbred graduates will be tough to catch, after landing perfect front row barriers in the Cambridge feature.
La Rosa looks the likely leader in the Group One event from barrier 3 for trainer Mark Jones and driver Samantha Ottley.
If the three-year-old can produce a repeat effort of her gallant last start effort in the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2600m), she will prove hard to beat.
“She went super in the Oaks, we couldn’t do anymore,” Mark Jones told HRNZ.
“She got driven perfectly and just got beaten by a better horse on the night.
“She has travelled up good and is fit and well, things are on track ahead of Sunday,” he said.
La Rosa showed her class when leading to win the inaugural running of the $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Fillies Pace (1980m) at Addington last season.
The star filly was purchased by Mark Jones for $100,000 at NZB Standardbred’s 2019 Auckland National Yearling Sale from Wairau Farm.
Off N Gone showed incredible toughness to win the $150,000 Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 3YO Fillies Pace (1980m) at Addington earlier this season.
The classy filly’s speed will be called upon from her barrier 1 draw.
Trainer Robert Dunn is hopeful Off N Gone and driver Tim Williams can make full use of the prime draw.
“She is quick, very quick out,” Dunn said.
“It is the perfect spot for her, she will either lead or trail La Rosa, depending on what La Rosa does at the start.
“La Rosa likes to roll, that is her way of going and that is going to put us in a lovely spot.”
Breeder-owners Brent and Suzanne Williams and Gary Woodham offered Off N Gone at the 2019 Christchurch National Yearling Sale, where she was knocked down for $37,000.
The Group One Dunstan Horsefeeds 3YO Diamonds (1609m) will be run as Race 3 at 1:11pm on Sunday 6 June at Cambridge Raceway.
2021 2YO (Fillies) Diamonds Field
| Barrier | Horse | Driver | Trainer | Sale | Purchaser |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Off N Gone | Tim Williams | Robert Dunn | 2019 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $37,000 | BD & SM Williams and GA & KJ Woodham |
| 2 | Shes No Lady | Zachary Butcher | Steven Reid & Simon McMullan | ||
| 3 | La Rosa | Samantha Ottley | Mark Jones | 2019 Auckland Yearling Sale, $100,000 | Mr MP Jones |
| 4 | Sweet Belle | Gerard O'Reilly | Gerard O'Reilly | ||
| 5 | Commander Cathy | John Dunn | Steven Reid & Simon McMullan | ||
| 6 | Santa Maria (E1) | Tony Herlihy | Tony Herlihy | ||
| 7 | Cloudy Bay | David Butcher | Steve & Amanda Telfer | 2019 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $43,000 | Stonewall Stud |
| 8 | Bettor Twist | Natalie Rasmussen | Hayden Cullen | ||
| Second Line | |||||
| 9 | Ruby Mach | Craig Thornley | Steve & Amanda Telfer | ||
| 10 | The Honey Queen | Joshua Dickie | Brian & Gareth Hughes | ||
| 11 | Darling Me | Benjamin Butcher | Steve & Amanda Telfer | ||
| 12 | Lifes a Beach | John Morrison (J) | Tony Barron | ||
| 13 | Braeview Kelly | Blair Orange | Mark Jones | 2019 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $27,500 | Braeview |