Group One Anzac Cup for Higher Power

Higher Power (NZ) (Father Patrick) may have been the lesser fancied of Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan’s pair of trotters in last Friday’s Group One H R Fisken & Sons ANZAC Cup (2200m), but he didn’t show it.

Bred and sold by Breckon Farms, Higher Power is out of multiple Group One winner High Gait, and he was purchased by his trainers for $120,000 at the 2023 National Yearling Sale.

His stablemate Meant To Be (NZ) (Father Patrick) was backed into favouritism but blew his chance at the start when galloping away and in stark contrast, Higher Power began well from his inside draw and driver Harrison Orange elected to quickly hand up to Walkinonsunshine (NZ) (Creatine), and Higher Power enjoyed an economical run in the trail.

“He has been very consistent and he showed that with a good trip he can compete against the top ones,” Orange said.

“With a trip like that and rolling along nicely, it really suited him and it worked out a treat.”

Higher Power has now won nine and placed in six of his 26 starts to date and earned more than $243,000 in prizemoney.