True Fantasy (NZ) Shows Class in Fourth Group One

True Fantasy’s (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) champion qualities shone through when she headed an NZB Standardbred trifecta in the $142,000 Group One Pascoes The Jewellers Northern Oaks (2700m) at Alexandra Park on Friday 25 March. 

The star three-year-old overcame an interrupted preparation in glorious style by holding out the fast-finishing runner-up Lady Of The Light (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight).

True Fantasy was purchased by leading owner Jean Feiss at the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale from Studholme Bloodstock’s draft.

Leading into the Group One event, trainers Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen had worked to help True Fantasy to overcome a respiratory ailment which was evident in the filly’s shock last-start defeat.

That work together with the filly’s champion qualities produced a brilliant Northern Oaks win.

“It has been a tricky few weeks for her,” Purdon told HRNZ.

“The respiratory thing didn’t seem to affect her work but it would have affected her racing and missing the prelude last week means she can’t have been at her peak.

“So to win this tonight was a big effort and she is ready for the paddock and she is so brave she will be a force in the second half of the season for sure.”

The victory registered the fourth Group One win of True Fantasy’s outstanding career. Mark Purdon had True Fantasy in the trail early before retaking the leading and trailing again for much of the race.

After hitting the lead in the home straight, the filly held out the late challenge of Lady Of The Light. The runner-up was a $16,000 purchase by trainer Jeremy Young out of the Woodlands Stud draft at the 2020 Auckland National Yearling Sale. Lady Of The Light was just half a neck from the winner at the line.

Cover Girl (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) rounded out a trifecta of NZB Standardbred graduates. After getting back in the field from a tricky draw, the Bob Butt trained filly charged home from last at the 400 metre mark to take third. Cover Girl was a $95,000 purchase out of the Breckon Farms draft at the 2020 Auckland National Yearling Sale.