We Made Some Notes — Asked a Few Questions Over Coffee This Week!
The Friday Night Lights opener quickly became a follow‑the‑leader and then whistle‑home fastest with the nor’wester up your crupper!
A gale‑force 26 point 5‑second final 400 and just pixels between two beautifully bred fillies — I’m The Boss and Lean On Me.
Cullen Racing loved and bought the winning Bettor’s Delight filly for $70,000 from the 2025 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales in Christchurch out of the Price Bloodstock draft, selling her on behalf of her breeders. Second dam is the champion filly One Dream, so she’s got street cred and ‘boss’ bloodlines en masse.
Lean On Me (Bettor’s Delight) was one of those fillies spotted as a standout in the weanling paddocks of North Canterbury by the sharp eyes and ears of bloodstock experts for Mick Boots — looking for the next Captains Mistress, no doubt.
Next question for all concerned: Do we go to the Caduceus Club Final in Auckland, September 18th?
Because, this group are the horses you’ve gotta beat — and they’re sharp as tacks!
Jacob Dunn had a plan for the second heat in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Two‑Year‑Old Pacing Fillies Series:
“I’ll just go to the front and dom the rest. Beat them good!”
It worked… just!
It was a successful contrast for the fast Downbytheseaside filly Daisy Bay, who became a worthy 600th winner for champion training partnership of Robert and Jenna Dunn.
The filly was a victim of a rearward run in round one at Cambridge, finishing fast for fourth that night — so from her close‑in barrier this time, making her own luck in front was the best‑laid plan.
But Belle Biddy may have laid down a marker for this two‑year‑old filly group. After a gutsy win from the death in that first heat, the daughter of Bettor’s Delight was no less impressive in second here under a hands‑and‑heels sulky drive from trainer Tony Herlihy.
Tardina Stud nabbed a breeder’s bouquet with the quinella with a filly 'bargain bought' for $20,000 by Diamond Racing at Karaka 2025, and then a yearling the stud kept to race with friends instead of selling.
Might be best for business all round in the end.
Now the burning question: Which of these fillies has the edge so far? We’ll find out in that Caduceus Final first — because they’re all paid up for it!
Lucky Luka (Bettor’s Delight) got the glamour boys underway with what’s quickly becoming his trademark — an effortless swish past all the others when they’re all out for the finish!
That’s three wins from four starts so far for the $55,000 yearling sales purchase by Tony Herlihy.
The driving legend looks so laid‑back he’s horizontal in the sulky right now — hands‑and‑heels to the line again. Winter holidays away are great, eh?
The battle of the pro‑breeders saw Breckon beat Woodlands (Omaha Lincoln), then Taffy (Dino).
Faith Not Fear (Captaintreacherous) and Tour Party (Bettor’s Delight) probably shared the points in an opening salvor on the Addington support card.
Sticking with the how much theme — the winner, a full brother to Captains Mistress, fetched $160,000 for Taffy Ltd from Cullen Racing clients, while Tour Party went for $150,000 to Cran and Chrissie Dalgety’s Kentuckiana the same day from Price Bloodstock.
So, about as much between them on sales day as there was last Friday!
So, where’s the two‑year‑old stronghold right now — North or South?
This is some stakes spring that's brewing, eh?
It’s not strictly Sires’ Stakes racing, but following through on the yarn of the spring so far…
Westport breeder Bob Higgins wasn’t the only one watching his mare Francent face her biggest race since landing in Canada last weekend. She took on the best mares again in the Group 2 Milton Stakes — including world champion Twin B Joe Fresh — and smoked them in a record‑smashing 1.47.3! Another former kiwi, Louie’s Girl, was second.
It was such an exciting race and performance from the ex pats it’s worth linking to the post‑race story and video:
Francent N turns $20,000 gamble into $255,000 Milton glory - Harnesslink
Meanwhile, on the same night at Mohawk, Dexter Dunn and Super Chapter followed up their Hambo win with victory in the Canadian equivalent, the Maple Leaf Trot.
Man, are we great at this game or what!
