Got The Chocolates Enters Burgeoning New Rivalry

Got The Chocolates (NZ) (Art Major) and Marketplace (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) developed a mouthwatering rivalry last year, and this season the former has entered a burgeoning new rivalry with another NZB Standardbred graduate.

The Bob Butt-trained and driven The Lazarus Effect (NZ) (Lazarus) has been the talk of the town following his unbeaten streak in Auckland, which included downing Got The Chocolates in last month’s Group One Taylor Mile (1600m) at Alexandra Park.

Got The Chocolates wasn’t to be outdone again, returning to the Auckland track seven days later where the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained gelding turned the tables on his foe to take out the Group One Barry Purdon Racing Stables - Roy Purdon Memorial (2200m).

He didn’t do it the easy way, having all before him when turning for home, but driver John Dunn found a passage down the passing lane where Got The Chocolates sprouted wings and flew home to grab The Lazarus Effect on the line to win by half a neck.

John Dunn said Got The Chocolates thrived off his rivalry with Marketplace last year and he has returned a more mature horse this season, which is showing in his races.

“He is just so much stronger,” he said. “He relished those hard trips as a three-year-old, he bounced off them and got better. He is mentally and physically stronger. 

“Even tonight he got off the gate the best he has in a long time, which is great going forward.”

While pleased to add another Group One to his charge’s tally, Dunn said there is a bigger goal in mind, with the stable dreaming of a Group One New Zealand Trotting Cup (3200m) triumph on the second Tuesday in November.

“It was a stepping stone this one, we are looking at the big picture,” Dunn said. “We haven’t had a genuine Cup horse for a very long time, so hopefully this fella can be it. 

“We are taking it slowly the early part of his four-year-old season and hopefully he repays us come November.”

Got The Chocolates is out of four-win Bettor’s Delight mare Kate Black, a daughter of multiple Group One winner Kate’s First, and he was offered through Rosedale Farm's 2023 National Yearling Sale draft in Christchurch where he was purchased by Diamond Racing for $90,000.

He has now won 13 and placed in 13 of his 29 starts to date, and earned more than $691,000 in prizemoney.

Vendor	Rosedale Farm
Purchaser	Diamond Racing Stables Ltd
Owner(s)	R K Gordon, Mrs A L Gordon
Breeding	Art Major - Kate Black
Sale	2023 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale, Christchurch ($90,000)
Breeder(s)	K N Spicer,Mrs A M Spicer