Group Two Victory Was Meant To Be

The Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan-trained Meant To Be (NZ) (Father Patrick) was rewarded for his consistency when winning the Group Two Lone Star Alexandra Park Lyell Creek Stakes (2200m) at Alexandra Park last Friday.

The son of Father Patrick had been winless since his victory in the Group One NZ Sires’ Stakes 3YO Trotters Championship (2200m) last May, which culminated a golden run of eight successive victories.

While he has been absent from the winners’ circle since then, he has placed in five of his subsequent six starts, including a runner-up effort behind Belle Neige (NZ) (Love You) in the Group Three Greenlane Trotting Cup (1700m) last start.

On Friday, Meant To Be was taken back to sit at the rear of the field by driver Zachary Butcher, who kept a cool head throughout, leaving his charge for one run. 

He presented Meant To Be three-wide at the 400m, and while pacemaker Bell Neige faded, new leader Hillbilly Blues (NZ) (What The Hill) entered their sights, and they were able to run down the Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett-trained gelding to win by a neck over the fast-finishing Oscar Bonavena (NZ) (Majestic Son).

“It was a very good effort, he was a wee way back,” Butcher said. “Full credit to this horse, it was his third run against the big guns now and he has shown the ability that he has, so hopefully we can keep going forward with that.

“He has willpower and a great attitude and his manners are nearly perfect now.”

Bred by Breckon Farms, Meant To Be is out of Group New Zealand Trotting Derby (2600m) heroine Luby Lou (NZ) (Muscle Hill), and was offered through their 2023 National Yearling Sale draft at Karaka where he was purchased for $145,000 by his trainers.

Meant To Be has now won 10 of his 19 starts to date and has earned more than $530,000 in prizemoney.