Babe back

Once the barrier draws were allocated, Coastal Babe (Downbytheseaside) was going to be hard to beat in tonight’s (Feb. 16) NZB Standardbred Harness Million for Three Year Old harness racing fillies.

Regular pilot Matthew White took the three year old straight to the top from barrier two and she was never pressured by any of her seven competitors. It was left up to the Purdon/ Phelan pair of Kiss and Ultimate Racy Girl to challenge her late in the piece.

It got close at the end with Coastal Babe winning by a nose from Kiss who came up the passing lane, with a head back to Ultimate Racey Girl in third. The fourth runner was six lengths back.

“It’s great to win this one. It’s my third one (Harness Million) and second one with her, but my god it’s niggly to win it like that,” trainer Steven Reid told Trackside presenter Nicole Sims.

The winning time was 2-42.8. with the last 800 run in 56.1 and it gave none of the backmarkers a chance.

“She came back from down south and she probably did too well, and it’s been a bit of an effort to get her to this point. I’m hoping she’s still on the way up, so we’ll see what happens in coming weeks.”

Reid was quick to credit the small team at his stable that helped to prepare Coastal Babe ready for tonight’s assignment.

“It’s only been a few months since Simon McMullen left me in the training partnership, but he’s still there and a big big part of the operation. Bella Storer does a lot behind the scenes as well as Isabel Elsley. It’s not a big team but it’s good to get a result for them as well.”

Tonight’s win was Coastal Babe’s fourth in her short career and elevates her stakes earnings to more than $200,000. She was purchased at the 2022 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sale in Auckland for $65,000.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink