B D Joe stamps his class

B D Joe (Roll With Joe) secured his place in New Zealand’s richest harness racing race with a commanding win in the $50,000 Group Two Lamb & Hayward Canterbury Classic (2600m) at Addington on Friday night (Sep 30).

The NZB Standardbred graduate showed speed, stamina and perfect manners to gain entry into next month’s Group One New Zealand Cup for trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer.

B D Joe was purchased for $65,000 at the 2019 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch by Stonewall Stud, when offered by breeder-vendor Brent Smith.

In Friday night’s win, B D Joe went one better than his stirring second in the Group Three New Brighton Cup behind his stablemate and fellow NZB Standardbred graduate Alta Wiseguy (Mach Three).

After making a solid beginning, driver Benjamin Butcher took charge of the Canterbury Classic, taking B D Joe to the lead to set up his powerful front-running victory. From there, the further the pacer went, the faster he got.

“I was very happy with him and the way he travelled, and he looks to just be on the up and up from here,” Butcher said.

B D JOE REPLAY

Co-trainer Amanda Telfer admitted after B D Joe’s win the horse holds a special place in her heart. Telfer and the four-year-old Group One winner are just about inseparable.

“I’m really stoked for him, and he really deserves it, I’m just so happy,” Telfer said.

“There were some nice horses out there tonight and he did well to hold them off.

“I have always liked him from the moment we bought him as a yearling.

“He was with Michael House for a while and I always followed him, but when he came back home, I made sure nobody was allowed to touch him.

“He’s a very chilled horse and is so easy to get along with,” she said.

B D Joe gained automatic qualification to the New Zealand Cup with his Canterbury Classic win.

That gives the Telfer stable the ability to plan the pacer’s lead-up perfectly, without the need to boost his ranking for the race.

That means B D Joe is likely to have just one more start before the New Zealand Cup, in the Group Two Ashburton Flying Stakes.

“He is going to go straight to Ashburton and hopefully that will be enough for him,” Steve Telfer said.

“Once he gets through Ashburton we will make a decision whether he needs to go to the Cup Trial.”

Stonewall Stud race their National Yearling Sales purchase alongside the B D Joe syndicate.

From NZB Standardbred