Bettor’s Delight filly breaks Australasian record

Bettor’s Delight filly Major Delight set a major benchmark at Menangle tonight (Oct. 15) lowering the Australasian 1609m two-year-old fillies harness racing record by more than a second.

Major Delight stopped the clock in 1:50.5, eclipsing the previous record of 1:51.8 set by Soho Almasi in 2020, to win a semi-final of the NSW Breeders Challenge.

Mark Pitt drove the Emma Stewart-trained filly straight to the top.

From there rolled through her record-breaking quarters were 27.3, 29.2, 27.2 and 26.8 seconds.

“It’s crazy the times they are going but she’s a pretty special horse,” Pitt said post race on Sky Active.

“She hasn’t quite figured out what to do but when she does, she will be a very serious horse.”

MAJOR DELIGHT REPLAY

That was Major Delight’s fifth race start where she has remained unbeaten in all of her official appearances.

Out of the prolific broodmare Lady Euthenia (Art Major), Major Delight held off Peaceful – the first foal out of former top mare Frith – who raced outside the leader.

Both fillies are now through to the $150,000 Group 1 NSW Breeders Challenge Final at Menangle on October 29.

The other semi-final winner for the two-year-old fillies on the night was the daughter of Warrawee Needy, Saveeon.

Racing behind the leader, driver Ashlee Grives angled her away from the pegs in the home straight to beat race favourite Treasure Stride in a rate of 1:53.2.

SAVEEON REPLAY

“I would have liked more speed on mid-race as my filly can overrace,” said Grives.

“She had a nice run and just sprinted the last quarter.

“It’s a really good bunch of fillies this year and it will be a good final.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Amanda Rando, for Harnesslink