By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Everyone said he was unbeatable and that’s exactly how it turned out for Marketplace in the $200,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Final for the 3YO Colts and Geldings at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
He’s a superstar in the making and the Regan Todd-trained son of Bettor’s Delight was never really in danger of being upset.
Driver Craig Ferguson bided his time early. They were three wide briefly before taking up the lead until John Dunn and Got The Chocolates took the initiative and went to the front.
That gave Marketplace the perfect run in the trial and the favourite, who had been backed into $1.14, duly exploded along the passing lane to register his seventh win in just 12 starts.
Ferguson would double up in the very next race with Don’t Stop Dreaming just edging out a fast finishing Mo’unga in a gripping Group 2 $60,000 Auckland Co-op Taxis 300-3000 Free For All.
A last start winner for Mark and Nathan Purdon at Menangle, Don’t Stop Dreaming was having his first start for Hayden and Amanda Cullen.
Favourite Republican Party was aggressive at the start with Carter Dalgety sitting parked outside the leader Kango.
Chase A Dream was in the trail and looking a huge threat only to fade in the run home.
Mo’unga meanwhile was three back the markers and flew over the concluding stages and was only denied by Don’t Stop Dreaming who had been buried on the fence at the 400.
It was a brilliant finish with both now very much in the frame for the $1m Race by betcha at Cambridge as part of their Night of Champions on Friday April 4.
“I’ve only had him two weeks,” Hayden Cullen said post race, “and he turned up in tip top condition.”
As for Republican Party, trainer Cran Dalgety said his multiple Group 1 winner was clearly “tired” after the race.
“But that will harden him up for the big race on April the fourth.”
Earlier in the $150,000 NZB Standardbred Harness Million Final for the 3YO Fillies it was hot favourite Stella Rouge who took the spoils, but only just.
Tim Williams settled the Stonewall Stud runner midfield before going round the field to sit parked with a lap to go.
Hayden and Amanda Cullen-trained stablemates Arafura and Winelight were ideally positioned but in a torrid home stretch battle it was Stella Rouge who prevailed by a nose.
It was her fifth win in nine starts.
Post race Stonewall Stud’s Jill Stockman said “we are over the moon ..she’s pretty special.”
To kick off what was a top night’s action, Eyre I Will won Race 1, the $35,000 Dunstan Speedfeed Metro Series Trotters Final for trainer Jeremy Young while Brian and Gareth Hughes quinellaed the Pacers Final with the well-favoured Runkle Crunch and Carrera Hombre.
Down south at Addington there was a fairytale finish for Regal Sierra in the night’s feature, the $30,000 Bob Rochford Seddon Shields Trotting Championships.
Driven by Matthew Williamson, the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained Regal Sierra got the perfect run as favourite Nellie Doyle went hard up front.
Regal Sierra, who is in foal to On A Streak, was just waiting for the right moment and she burst away from them with 200 metres to go to win easily.
She finishes her career with eight wins from 40 starts.
The win, worth $16,500, takes her well past $100,000 in career earnings.
At both Addington Raceway and Alexandra Park drivers wore black armbands as a sign of respect for Hunter Myers who died in a race day accident in North America during the week. He was racing at the Meadows in Washington. Myers was just 27.
