Got The Chocolates (Art Major) once again turned the tables on arch-rival Marketplace in today’s $30,000 Ashburton Three Year Old Showcase.
Driver John Dunn didn’t have the lightning speed of Marketplace or Rubira, but he gathered enough speed to become handy, albeit in the parked position.
In the 600 meters, Marketplace and Got The Chocolates cut off from the five other runners and went to battle.
“At the 600 I gave him a little beep and we were sprinting a long way from home. I’ve always said this guy has great cruising speed and he can keep it up for a long time,” Dunn said.
It took Robert and Jenna Dunn training the length of a three-year-old’s straight to master Marketplace and at the line there was three-quarters of a length between the great rivals, with Rubira three and a quarter lengths back in third.
“Unfortunately they bothered me again and I had to sit out. But he dug deep, so he deserves it.”
I have the chocolate replay
The winning time of 1-58.1 (mile speed of 1-51.7) was a new race, track and New Zealand record. The previous record of 1-59.2 was held by last year’s Showcase winner Dreams Are Free.
The last 800 was run in 57.6 and the last 400 in 27.3.
Master driver Mark Purdon knew the filly Arafura (Sweet Lou), trained by Hayden and Amanda Cullen. was a good stayer and he rode her accordingly in the final heat of the Nevele R Fillies Series.
Purdon didn’t rush her early, making a move mid-race and taking the front of Duchess Of Kent.
“She’s a good stayer and it was the right time to go with her. And once she rolled forward, she always took a lot of hits,” he said.
Thus, the two favorites finished one neck ahead of the southern filly at the end of the 1700 meter tour with Arafura.
“She’s a real knucklehead and is a great filly. I always knew it was going to be hard to get past.”
ARAFURA REPEAT
The winning time was 2-01.1 (mile pace of 1-54.6) with the last 800 meters cut in 56.8 and the last 400 in 27 seconds.
Francent (Vincent), trained by Mark Jones, continued her advance rose the mares’ rankings when she won the $60,000 Group Two Mid-Canterbury Trotting Owners Ladies’ Sprint.
Driver Sam Ottley took the four-year-old to the top, while favorite Ruby Roe came around. Halfway through the straight, Ruby Roe looked the winner, but Francent fought back to win by a neck, while Lakelsa finished an unlucky third a length and a half away.
FRANCENT REPEAT
“She’s just getting better and better. Gate speed is a great thing and she certainly has plenty of that. I looked across and crossed them just for fun and that was without pressing the real go button. It’s a great asset to have in these big races. She’s won a few races up front and she’s just so tough. Nat (Nathan Williamson with Ruby Roe) dove through, led her and then she went back to work,” Ottley said.
Francent’s winning time was 2-00.8 (mile speed of 1-54.8).
While Others Made Mistakes, Ya Rite Darl (What The Hill) trotted all the way in the $40,000 Group Three Hambletonian Three Year Old Classic.
Driver John Dunn rolled to the front early and the three-year-old filly was too well-behaved and well-behaved for her rivals.
“She had a pretty bad heat today, but she has great manners and puts herself in a good position from the start,” Dunn said.
YA RITE LOVE REPEAT
This year it was the 40e performance of the three-year-old trotting classic and fillies have a great record in the race, fifteen of which have won the three-year-old.
The result was great for both the Neumann and Dunn family race day sponsors as they won the Hambletonian with Five Wise Men in 2021 and Valloria in 2018.
“It’s a great race to win because the Neumann family is a big supporter of our stable.”
The winning time of 2-03.0 was a new track record, bettering Isolate’s time of 2-03.3 in 2023.
Dunn says it is now highly likely that Ya Rite Darl will start in the $500,000 The Ascent on Show Day in Addington.
Ripples (Bettor’s Delight) trained at Burnham by Mark Jones raised her hand as a serious contender for the final when she won the fourth heat of the Dunstan Two Year Old Fillies Series.
From gate five, driver Jonny Cox pushed her forward and soon had the top.
“Like a lot of races you have to try to be crafty. Obviously she’s done a lot of Aussie races and she knows how to get out of the gate,” he said.
Ripples was challenged in the straight by Secret Wish, but Cox planned to stay where he was.
“She was half waiting for it and I had to clip her when Blair came along, but once she got back on the bit she ended up doing it quite comfortably. The last hundred were quite easy.”
RIPPLES REPEAT
At the end of the 1700 meters Ripples was three quarters of a length over Cath with one and a half lengths back to War Cry in third.
The winning time was 2-00.5 – a mile pace of 1-54.1, with the last 800 meters run in 56.5 and the last 400 in 28.6. The track and New Zealand record of 1-59.1 is held by Millwood Nike.
Freeze Frame (Bettor’s Delight) showed a lot of courage today when he won the $30,000 Woodlands Two Year Old Colts and Ruin Sires’ Stakes heat.
On the straight the race seemed to be between Zeus Lightning, driven by Blair Orange, and Fugitive, driven by Carter Dalgety.
FREEZE IMAGE REPEAT
“I thought Blair and Carter were too far away from us. I thought they were off and gone just as we were waiting for the gaps. Credit to the little guy, he got the gap. The long straight helped, but he really dug in deep to pick them up from afar,” said driver Kim Butt after the Cran and Chrissie Dalgety-trained colt took his place for the final over two weeks booked.
Butt was full of compliments for the Dalgety-trained runner.
“You know, if you jump on one of Cran and Chrissies, they’re well-mannered and nice to ride. I told Carter after the line that he can’t trade right now. We’ll see how that goes (laughter).”
The Nathan Williamson trained Clotilde Wainwright (Majestic Son) took the R40 to R50 trot.
After slowly moving away, she looped through the field and headed to the line to win by three-quarters of a length from favorite One Over Da Moon.
CLOTILDE WAINWRIGHT REPEAT
“She is a very high-strung little girl. She has good motor skills but she is still learning the game. We are taking her to the Cup meeting for the two mile trot on Cup Day, which will probably suit her if she can bring her manners and she qualifies for the Harness 5000,” said Williamson.
The win was compensation for the Zuidland trainer. He had to scratch Duchess Maria (Father Patrick) on Friday evening and Captains Mistress (Captain Treacherous) of the current Nevele R Fillies Heat.
It was discovered that Duchess Maria had a minor foot problem but is expected to take her place in the $120,000 IRT Sires’ Stakes Two Year Old Trotters Championship on Show Day. Captains Mistress was scratched after experiencing tying issues.
Her diet has been adjusted and Williamson expects to enter her in the Cup Day trial and then also start on Show Day in the $500,000 The Velocity.
For full race results, click here.
Through Bruce Stewartfor Harnesslink
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