Unbeaten Stars Merlin (NZ) and Don’t Stop Dreaming (NZ) Set for Epic Clash
13 October 2022
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The wait is finally over for harness racing fans, as unbeaten stars Merlin (NZ) (Art Major) and Don’t Stop Dreaming (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) go head-to-head in the $200,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Pace (1980m) at Addington.
The profitable feature for NZB Standardbred graduates is set to decide which of the two brilliant juveniles can lay claim to being the country’s best two-year-old male pacer.
Although the certified racetrack stars won’t have the NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Pace to themselves, with a stunning field of brilliant bluebloods gathered for the $200,000 feature.
Since he was purchased by Dean Shannon’s Montana Park for $120,000 at the 2021 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale, Merlin has established himself as the dominant two-year-old in the North Island for trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.
The colt heads to Addington following arguably the most stunning of his seven wins from seven career starts.
Merlin came from second last at the 500 metre mark, powering down the outside of the Cambridge track to seal an incredible win in a heat of the Woodlands Stud Sires Stakes Series for driver Zachary Butcher.
The win added to an outstanding record which includes the colt’s victory in the Group Two Breckon Farms Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes.
Merlin has a tough draw in barrier 8 in Friday night’s lucrative event, but that is nothing new for the brilliant juvenile according to co-trainer Scott Phelan.
“He’s a pretty good horse and has that grounding now that comes from three runs at the start of a campaign,” Phelan said.
“One thing is he is used to the draw… I can’t remember him not drawing wide on the front line recently.”
Don’t Stop Dreaming brings his own brilliant record to the NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Pace.
The star colt has remained unbeaten at the races, following his purchase by All Stars Racing Stables who secured him for $250,000 at the 2021 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch.
The Mark Purdon and Hayden Cullen-trained colt recently returned from a spell to produce his own win in Woodlands Stud Sires Stakes Series.
In his last campaign, the pacer started his career in brilliant fashion, winning the Group Two Avon City Ford Welcome Stakes, the Group Two Diamond Creek Farm Classic and the Group Two Macca Lodge Kindergarten Stakes in his first three starts.
Don’t Stop Dreaming is part of a big team from the All Stars Stable.
Vinke B (NZ) (Vincent), OK Boomer (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), Final Collect (NZ) (Art Major), Wish Me Luck (NZ) (Vincent) and With Style (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) will all start Friday night’s feature in the Purdon-Cullen colours.
An outstanding field of 15 two-year-old colts and geldings has been assembled for the NZB Standardbred Harness Million Two-Year-Old Colts And Geldings Pace at 8.31pm on Friday night.
| HORSE | Breeding | DRAW | SALE | PURCHASER | TRAINER | DRIVER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gandalf (NZ) | Captaintreacherous - Hit The Spot | 1 | 2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $58,000 | Montana Park P/L | Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan | Scott Phelan |
| Vinke B (NZ) | Vincent - Imke B | 2 | 2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $42,000 | All Stars Racing Stables | Mark Purdon & Hayden Cullen | Natalie Rasmussen |
| Son Of Mac (NZ) | American Ideal - Lusty Mac | 3 | 2021 Auckland Yearling Sale, $60,000 | Mr KJ Marshall | Kyle Marshall | Robbie Close |
| OK Boomer (NZ) | Bettor's Delight - Onlyforyou | 4 | 2021 Auckland Yearling Sale, $130,000 | PI & GJ Kennard Bloodstock Ltd | Mark Purdon & Hayden Cullen | Jonny Cox |
| Spirit Of Arion (NZ) | Sweet Lou - Spirit Of Delight | 5 | 2021 Auckland Yearling Sale, $90,000 | Mr GJ Anderson | Graeme Anderson & Mike Love | Matthew Williamson |
| Who's Delight (NZ) | Bettor's Delight - Cullen Who | 6 | 2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $130,000 | Diamond Racing | Robert & Jenna Dunn | Gavin Smith |
| Final Collect (NZ) | Art Major - Collectable | 7 | 2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, Psd, Res $50,000 | Mark Purdon & Hayden Cullen | Blair Orange | |
| Merlin (NZ) | Art Major - Imaginary Bet | 8 | 2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $120,000 | Montana Park P/L | Barry Purdon & Scott Phelan | Zachary Butcher |
| Second Line | ||||||
| Wish Me Luck (NZ) | Vincent - I'm So Lucky | 9 | 2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $45,000 | Alabar (NZ) Ltd | Mark Purdon & Hayden Cullen | |
| Alta Meteor (NZ) | Art Major - Alchemist | 10 | 2020 All Age Sale on gavelhouse.com, $25,000 | Stonewall Stud | Steve & Amanda Telfer | Tim Williams |
| Charlie Brown (NZ) | Art Major - Gold Elite | 11 | 2021 Auckland Yearling Sale, $75,000 | Diamond Racing | Robert & Jenna Dunn | John Dunn |
| Watermelon Sugar (NZ) | Sweet Lou - Pacing Delight | 12 | 2021 Auckland Yearling Sale, $50,000 | Kentuckiana Lodge Ltd | Cran & Chrissie Dalgety | Carter Dalgety(J) |
| Major Torque (NZ) | Art Major - Real Torque | 13 | 2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $70,000 | Mr MP Jones | Mark Jones | Samantha Ottley |
| With Style (NZ) | Bettor's Delight - My Style | 14 | 2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $200,000 | Mrs JL Feiss | Mark Purdon & Hayden Cullen | Olivia Thornley(J) |
| Don't Stop Dreaming (NZ) | Bettor's Delight - Start Dreaming | 15 | 2021 Christchurch Yearling Sale, $250,000 | All Stars Racing Stables | Mark Purdon & Hayden Cullen | Mark Purdon |