Betterthancash Goes Back-To-Back At Menangle

Betterthancash (NZ) (Art Major) continued his resurgence when making it back-to-back wins in the Listed St Johns Park Bowling Club Les Chant FFA (1609m) at Menangle last Saturday. 

Fresh off downing Hi Manameisjeff (NZ) (Art Major) in the Listed Kevin Robinson FFA (1609m) as a $51 outsider, Betterthancash returned to the New South Wales track seven days later in a bid to continue his winning ways.

Punters weren’t caught off guard this time, backing him into a $3.40 second favourite, and he didn’t disappoint.

Driver Will Rixon was positive off the mobile arm, pushing his charge forward and found the lead heading into the back straight, however, Betterthancash soon found himself in the trail behind the improving Ripp (Somebeachsomewhere).

Heading into the straight, Betterthancash was in search of a gap and finally found it along the marker pegs where he was able to scoot up the inside of Ripp to win by 1.5m.

“This horse has probably made me look good in the last couple of weeks the way he has been finishing off,” Rixon said. “Juddy (trainer Chris Judd) has had him spot on and he’s a lovely horse.

“It was a perfect run off Ripp’s back. At the top of the straight I was really confident because Ripp normally gets up the track a little bit under pressure, but Bernie (Hewitt, trainer-driver) was trying to keep me in. I knew once Bernie went for his horse the run would come and it worked out.”

Betterthancash is out of three-win mare Betterthankaty, a half-sister to Group One winner Katy Perry, Group One performer Cash N Flow and Group Three winner Pitch Perfect.

He was offered at NZB Standardbred’s 2022 National Yearling Sale at Christchurch where he was purchased by trainer Regan Todd for $62,500.

He won seven of his 25 starts in New Zealand for Todd, including the Listed NZ Country Championship Final (3200m) at Addington Raceway in May, before crossing the Tasman and subsequently joining the barn of Chris Judd.

Betterthancash now has 10 career wins to his credit and has earned nearly $200,000 in prizemoney.

Vendor	R. G. Anderson
Purchaser	Mr RW Todd
Owner(s)	G J Kennard, P I Kennard, G A Hand, K J Woodham, G A Woodham
Breeding	Art Major - Betterthankaty
Sale	2022 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($62,500)
Breeder(s)	R G Anderson,M J Stevens