Akuta scores second Hannon Memorial

Multiple Group One winner Akuta (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) doubled his win tally in the Hannon Memorial (2600m) when taking out the Group Three feature at Oamaru on Sunday.

The six-year-old was fair away from his front-line draw and driver Mark Purdon, who co-trains the gelding in partnership with his son Nathan, was able to find the one-one position before being left parked when Renegade improved to take the lead.

Purdon elected to remain parked and only called on his charge down the straight, and Akuta duly responded, running out a 1-1/2 length victor.

Purdon was pleased to return to the winner’s circle with Akuta, who had finished fifth last-start in the Group Three New Brighton Cup (2600m).

“That’s the fourth run under his belt and he is on the right track,” he said.

“He did go very well in the New Brighton Cup, I just had to work a little hard to get around the horse that was parked at the time, and it just took its toll, but he was just beaten two lengths, so it was a meritorious run. He got a better run today.

“He relaxed great out there, he wasn’t taking anything out of himself and Bob (Butt, driver) was keen on staying there (lead with Renegade) so I didn’t put any pressure on him. He just cruised along and only responded when I asked him.”

It was Akuta’s second win in the race after tasting previous success in the North Otago feature in 2022 when trained by Mark Purdon and his former training partner Hayden Cullen.

Purdon hasn’t set a firm plan in place for Akuta but said the Group Three Alabar Methven Cup (3000m) could be his next target.

“I haven’t finalised a plan as yet but just off the top of my head, maybe Methven,” he said.

Bred by Paul and Pauline Renwick, Akuta is out of unraced Christian Cullen mare Adore To Our Dreams and is a half-brother to Group One performer Aroda.

He was offered through Broadfield Lodge’s 2020 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale draft at Christchurch where he was purchased by All Stars Racing Stables for $170,000.

He has gone on to win 18 of his 35 starts for the harness racing juggernaut, including seven at Group One level, and has accrued more than $1.17 million in prizemoney.

 

Vendor	Broadfield Lodge
Purchaser	All Stars Racing Stables
Owner(s)	Cullen Breeding Limited, Mark Purdon, T F Shaw
Breeding	Bettor's Delight - Adore To Our Dreams
Sale	2020 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($170,000)