Merlin has won this afternoon’s Group 2 NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes, a key lead-up race to the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway on Tuesday, November 12.
The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained star began well from his wide draw, before arch rival Don’t Stop Dreaming went round the field three wide to sit parked before going on to lead.
That gave Merlin the perfect trail and he then darted up the passing lane to beat Don’t Stop Dreaming. It was a favourites quinella with Alta Meteor running on well into third.
Merlin is the second favourite behind Aussie hotspot Leap To Fame for the New Zealand Cup in little over a fortnight. Leap To Fame is at $1.55, with Merlin at $4.50 and Don’t Stop Dreaming at $6.50.
It was Merlin’s 20th win from 31 starts.
Bet N Win hugely impressive in Trotters’ Sprint
In the day’s big trot, Bet N Win won his seventh race in a row with another impressive victory in the Group 3 What The Hill Ashburton Sprint Mobile Trot.
The David and Stacey White-trained four-year-old led from start to finish and cruised home in the end. Main rival Oscar Bonavena was not quick from the mobile despatch and at one stage was eight lengths off the leader.
He ran home ok into third, with Fiery Bandito a very game second after being parked for the majority of the trip.
Bet N Win has now won nine from 16 and will next line up against the $400,00 Renwick Farms Dominion Trot against Aussie superstar Just Believe.
It was the first leg of a Group-winning double for Bob Butt
He then trained and drove Princess Meritaten to win the Group 2 Mid Canterbury Owners Ladies Sprint Mobile.
Quick off the gate Princess Meritaten got the trail behind Mr Kaplan before capitalising via the passing lane.
Hot favourite Mantra Blue got back from her second row draw, finishing on into fourth.
Earlier, Bring On the Muscle produced a big upset in the Neumanns Tyres Vipal Hambletonian Mobile Trot, coming from a long way back to win the Group 3 for trainer Clark Barron and driver Brent Barclay. Bring On The Muscle paid $31 for the win, ahead of the heavily favoured Empire City and Tyron Eros while fellow southerner, Branxholme trainer Nathan Williamson won the Listed Garrard’s Sires Stakes Sophomore Classic Mobile Pace with Dreams Are Free.
