True Fantasy (NZ) heads NZB Standardbred Graduates in Fillies Series Final
4 November 2022
Star filly True Fantasy (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) heads a big representation of NZB Standardbred graduates in the $140,000 Group One Nevele R Fillies Series Final (1980m) at Addington on New Zealand Cup Day.
The four-time Group One winner heads a field dominated by National Yearling Sale purchases, with eleven NZB Standardbred graduates among a star-studded line up of fifteen fillies.
The timing looks perfect for True Fantasy as she attempts to make it Group One victory number five in the Nevele R Fillies Series Final.
The classy pacer was a $70,000 purchase by Jean Feiss out of the Studholme Bloodstock’s draft at the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale.
True Fantasy’s biggest rival is another filly from the Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen stable purchased and raced by Jean Feiss.
True Fantasy was narrowly defeated in her last start in a heat of the Nevele R Fillies Series by her stablemate from the All Stars Stable in Queen Of Diamonds (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).
Queen Of Diamonds was also purchased by Jean Feiss for $35,000 from Frank Cooney’s draft at the 2020 Auckland National Yearling Sale.
Trainer Mark Purdon goes into Tuesday’s race rating both of them close together.
“True Fantasy is a class filly and she has got a nice draw to work with,” Purdon said.
“Queen Of Diamonds has a tricky draw but on her work and the way she has been racing she would go a very good race if she was able to get a run somewhere.”
Rakero Rebel chased home Queen Of Diamonds and True Fantasy in a gritty last-start third at Ashburton ahead of Tuesday’s feature.
The Phil Burrows-trained filly has a draw advantage over her two main rivals, starting from a sweet spot in barrier 3.
True Fantasy starts from barrier 5, with Queen Of Diamonds landing a tricky spot in barrier 10.
Rakero Rebel was purchased for $22,000 by her owners Dawe Contracting from breeder-vendors Dancingonmoonlight at the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale.
Dance Till Dawn (NZ) (Art Major) charged home late to finish fourth in the final heat of the Nevele R Fillies Series at Ashburton.
Though she faces a tricky draw in barrier 13, the filly clearly has the talent to make an impact in Tuesday’s race.
Dance Till Dawn was purchased by Diamond Racing Stables for $40,000 at the 2020 Auckland National Yearling Sales from breeder-vendors Taffy Ltd.
The $140,000 Group One Nevele R Fillies Series Final (1980m) will be run as Race 7 at 3.06pm on Tuesday 8 November.
| HORSE | Breeding | DRAW | SALE | PURCHASER | TRAINER | DRIVER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icee Styxie | Bettor's Delight-Free As A Bird | 1 | 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale, $28,000 | Mr AN & Mrs JE Rich | Trent Yesberg | Matthew Williamson |
| Monaco Grace | Bettor's Delight-Grace Way | 2 | Mark Jones | Samantha Ottley | ||
| Rakero Rebel | Rock N Roll Heaven - Timeless Perfection | 3 | 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale, $22,000 | Dawe Contracting Ltd | Phil Burrows | Gavin Smith |
| Artisan | Art Major-Under The Odds | 4 | Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan | Zachary Butcher | ||
| True Fantasy | Bettor's Delight-Secret Notion | 5 | 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale, $70,000 | Mrs JL Feiss | Mark Purdon & Hayden Cullen | Natalie Rasmussen |
| Perfect Bet | Bettor's Delight - Ideal Belle | 6 | Arna Donnelly | Benjamin Butcher | ||
| Obsession | Captaintreacherous-Pure Magic | 7 | 2020 Auckland National Yearling Sale, $40,000 | Stonewall Stud Ltd | Steve & Amanda Telfer | Tim Williams |
| First Rose | Bettor's Delight-Righteous Franco | 8 | Robert & Jenna Dunn | |||
| Chambray | Bettor's Delight-Cullens Counsel | 9 | 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale. $50,000 | PI & GJ Kennard Bloodstock Ltd | Mark Purdon & Hayden Cullen | Jonny Cox |
| Second Line | ||||||
| Queen Of Diamonds | Bettor's Delight-Diamonds And Dust | 10 | 2020 Auckland National Yearling Sale, $35,000 | Mrs JL Feiss | Mark Purdon & Hayden Cullen | Mark Purdon |
| A Bettor You (E2) | Bettor's Delight - Onlyforyou | 11 | Mark Purdon & Hayden Cullen | Blair Orange | ||
| Miki Montana | Always B Miki - Cullens Princess | 12 | 2019 Auckland All Aged Sale, $22,000 | Montana Park P/L | Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan | David Butcher |
| Dance Till Dawn (E1) | Art Major - Shimmy Shoes | 13 | 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale, $40,000 | Diamond Racing | Robert & Jenna Dunn | John Dunn |
| Lady Of The Light | Bettor's Delight - Steel The Light | 14 | 2020 Auckland National Yearling Sale, $16,000 | Mr JM Young | Jeremy Young | Maurice McKendry |
| Fernleigh Blackbird | He's Watching - New Revenue | 15 | 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale, $16,000 | Mr RW Todd | Regan Todd | Robbie Close |