Merlin the millionaire

“He’s a beast. What a thrill. It might be too early to say but that might be my biggest thrill in harness racing,” Zachary Butcher told Trackside viewers after Merlin (Art Major) showed all his courage to win the $1,000,000 Listed The Race By Grin at Cambridge tonight.

Early in the race Merlin sat parked, then Speak The Truth came round and provided cover.  Before turning into the straight Butcher brought Merlin wide and he wore down a game Don’t Stop Dreaming to win by a neck.

“They haven’t been coming from the back tonight but when I pulled him out at the 300 he was just trucking.”

Trained by Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, Merlin’s time of 2-35.1 was a new New Zealand record beating the 2-35.4 recorded by Ultimate Sniper in November 2019.

Pre-race there was plenty of hype about who would lead and in a pre-race interview Natalie Rasmussen stated she had designs on the lead with Don’t Stop Dreaming. And that’s how the race panned out.

“We had intentions of leading, but Nat was too quick. We had to adapt and change plans and it worked out. I’ve got to give all credit to Barry, Scott and the whole team.”

Bred by Southland couple Todd and Fleur Anderson and owned by Australian Dean Shannon, tonight’s winning stake of $450,000 made Merlin our latest millionaire pacer.

“I hope Dean’s watching. Dean you’re a bloody champion mate I love ya. We’ve had so many wins, but this is the best of the best.”

MERLIN REPLAY

Purdon and Phelan have done a wonderful job in managing Merlin through age group racing and Purdon said the entire went to the next level on his recent trip to Australia.

“He really stepped up, he really did.”

Over his forty six year training career Purdon has trained some champion pacers and Merlin is now in the top bracket.

“It feels great because my training partner Scotty has done all the work on Merlin, and I’m thrilled for him. It’s really nice to be involved in the twilight you’ve got to say. Merlin has proven now that he is a great horse. He’s up there with all the best ones.”

For complete Cambridge results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink