Sooner The Bettor Secures NZ Cup Berth

Holmes DG (NZ) (Holmes Hanover) was the pin-up for Barry Purdon’s barn for many years, so it was only fitting that the Clevedon horseman’s colours were to the fore in the race named in his honour. 

The stable’s multiple Group One winner Merlin (NZ) (Art Major) may have been the odds-on favourite to take out last Friday’s Group Three The Holmes DG Handicap Pace (2700m), but it was stablemate Sooner The Bettor (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) who upset the applecart when taking out the Alexandra Park feature.

In the hands of junior driver Harrison Orange, Sooner The Bettor was the best away when the tapes were released and took an early lead. He set the pace upfront until driver Zachary Butcher launched Merlin around the field down the back straight to take control of the race.

Sooner The Bettor enjoyed an economical passage before taking advantage of the passing lane down the home straight and scooted up the inside of Merlin to score by a neck, with a further 1-½ lengths back to Better Knuckle Up (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight) in third, giving trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan the trifecta.

With the victory, Sooner The Bettor earned himself a guaranteed start in next month’s Group One New Zealand Trotting Cup (3200m), where he will be joined by Merlin.

“He (Sooner The Bettor) is racing great and I was a bit surprised he could run past Merlin, but of course there was 20m between them at the start,” Phelan said.

“They will both be in the Cup now and they will fly down next week, with the Canterbury Classic their next start then at this stage we will take them both to Kaikoura.”

Purchased by Barry Purdon for $130,000 from Kufra Farm's 2021 yearling draft at Chirstchurch, Sooner The Bettor is out of unraced In The Pocket mare Lucky Pocket, a full-sister to multiple Group One winner and former Champion Sire and New Zealand Harness Horse of the Year Christian Cullen, and half-sister to multiple Group One winner Kate’s First.

Lucky Pocket has proven to be a blue hen herself, being the dam of multiple Group One winner (The) More The Better and Sooner The Bettor.

Sooner The Bettor has now won 10 and placed in 22 of his 47 starts to date, including victories in the The Holmes DG, Listed Sires’ Stakes Sophomore Classic (1700m) and placings in the Group One Miracle Mile (1609m), Group One Chariots Of Fire (1609m), Group One New Zealand Pacing Derby (2600m), Group One Auckland Trotting Cup (3200m), Group One Roy Purdon Memorial Handicap Pace (2200m), Group Two Cordina Sprint (1609m), Group Two Pacers Flying Mile (1609m), Group Three Junior-Free-For-All (2600m), Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 3YO C & G Final (2200m).