Who’s Ya Daddy On Song For Harness Million

Who’s Ya Daddy (NZ) (Elite Stride) will be seeking to upset the applecart when he heads to Alexandra Park tonight to try and snare the lion’s share of the $75,000 purse on offer in the Listed NZB Standardbred 3YO Trotters Harness Million Mobile Trot (2200m).

In a small but select field, the son of Elite Stride is the third elect ($7.50) in a market headed by Tony Helihy’s undefeated filly Our Col (NZ) (Father Patrick) ($1.65) and Australian raider Kyvalley Ray (NZ) (Bold Eagle) ($2.35).

Who’s Ya Daddy earned a confidence-boosting win in his season debut at Alexandra Park last week, much to the delight of trainer Trent Yesberg who said his gelding had a far from ideal lead-up at home.

“It hadn’t been plain sailing up until then, he actually got knocked over in one of his trials and then he didn’t agree with the piece of gear I tried in his second trial,” Yesberg said. “It was a bit of a question mark whether he had the fitness, but it’s a testament to the horse who keeps himself in pretty good nick.

“I was very happy with him and I think it was key to go that way around before tonight.”

Bred by Alabar, Who’s Ya Daddy was initially purchased by Yesberg under his Ripple Creek banner for $8,000 out of their 2023 NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sale draft.

“He is a beautifully balanced horse,” Yesberg said. “This breed is becoming more like thoroughbreds, very light on their feet and very nimble, he is like a ballerina almost, he is very sure-footed. That is what I have been looking for in my yearlings. 

“He had a great walk and was very athletic, it looked effortless for him.”

Who’s Ya Daddy has gone on to vindicate Yesberg’s early assessment, winning on debut as an early juvenile last season before placing on eight occasions, including the Group One Sires’ Stakes Series 2YO Championship (1980m), Group Three 2YO Southern Classic (2200m), Group Three NZ 2YO Trotting Stakes (1980m), Group Three “The Sundon” 2YO Mobile Trot (1980m), and Listed NZB Standardbred Harness Million 2YO Mobile Trot (1980m), and he returned to winning form in his northern debut last week.

“He is a lovely horse, it is a real pleasure to train him and he has certainly come back a lot better,” Yesberg said. “He ran second in the race last year so hopefully we can go one better tonight.”

Who’s Ya Daddy has drawn the ace marble in the five horse field and will be driven again by northern reinsman Josh Dickie.

“Hopefully he can get a nice, cushy run and the two favoured runners take each other on and he can be out the back smoking the pipe would be nice,” Yesberg said.

“It is only a small field but I think pretty much any horse can win it. Our Col is the new kid on the block but they are trotters and they have all shown that they can do things wrong. 

“It is a very high quality field and I think a national record might be on the cards if the weather plays ball. They are a strong bunch of horses and he will give it his best that’s for sure.”