Race record win in Trotting Oaks

Double Delight (NZ) (Captaintreacherous) added more black type success to her impressive harness racing resume when justifying her red-hot favouritism to win the $29,000 Group Three Alabar Northern Trotting Oaks (2200) at Alexandra Park on Thursday 5 May.

Following a gallant second to New Zealand’s leading male three-year-old trotter and fellow NZB Standardbred graduate Highgrove (NZ) (Love You) on 22 April, the classy filly kept punters happy when winning at a $1.50 quote.

Double Delight was purchased for $40,000 by her trainer-driver Tony Herlihy from breeder-vendors Tardina Stud at the 2020 Auckland National Yearling Sale.

Herlihy took no chances with his classy filly in the Group Three Alabar Northern Trotting Oaks, making a mid-race move to sit parked at the bell. From there, Double Delight outstayed her rivals and registered a new race record time of 2.46.0.

“She did what she had to and was very professional about it all, she was a bit too strong at the finish and I was really pleased with her,” Herlihy said.

Double Delight is no stranger to beating the colts and geldings, having done so to win her maiden Group One title at last year’s Harness Jewels.

The filly will take on the boys again in her next start in the Group Two New Zealand Sires Stakes Three-Year-Old Trotters Championship (2200m), setting up a rematch with Highgrove.

“She has got the Sires’ Stakes in a couple of weeks and will perhaps head to the Trotting Derby after that,” Herlihy said.

Double Delight is also likely to clash with Mystic Max (NZ) in the New Zealand Sires Stakes Three-Year-Old Trotters Championship. The three-year-old gavelhouse.com graduate won the opening event on the Northern Trotting Oaks night card at Alexandra Park.

Like Double Delight, Mystic Max was also bred and sold by Tardina Stud. Owner-trainer Michael Purdon purchased the trotter from his breeders in a gavelhouse.com auction for the bargain price of $9,501.

by NZB Standardbred