Marketplace hot in Sires Stakes Final

The Regan Todd trained Marketplace (Bettor’s Delight) is the hot pot for tomorrow’s harness racing juvenile feature the $200,000 Group One Woodlands Stud Sires’ Stakes Series Two Year Old Colts and Geldings Final.
He was a stunning winner at his last start and was back at the trials last Wednesday.

“I was really pleased with him. They didn’t go very quick. We’d already taken him there the week before and he’d had a good hit out. It’ll be a little over a month since his last race but we can’t fault him. His trackwork this morning (Sunday) was just as good as it’s ever been. He looks a picture and hopefully he races accordingly,” Todd said.

The quality gelding draws outside of the front with his main rival Captain Sampson getting the one marble.

“I’m not too worried about the draw. It does give us options. Craig (Ferguson) will work it out. It’s a Group One and I can’t see them having a Sunday stroll.”

Cup Day will be the young trainer’s biggest day at the races with not only Marketplace in the Sires’ Stakes Final but Mo’unga in the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup.

“I’m feeling surprisingly good. It might be different on the day. Knowing the horse (Marketplace) and what he’s done I think you have to be more excited than confident.”

Northern trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan have Confederate (Bettor’s Delight) in the two year old feature and he gets a good draw at three.

“He seems pretty good and improving but he needs to be. He needs a nice run to be in the finish. Hopefully he gets it,” Scott said.

Mark and Nathan Purdon line up two quality runners in the race.

Demon Blue (Art Major) got sling shot at Ashburton after doing the pace making. He draws nicely at four.

“Every start he just gets a wee bit better. They went a really good time that day too (1-51.7 mile rate). I think if he could run the gate and put himself in a handy spot he’s got to be a first three chance. If he got to the front and got his own terms he’s the sort of horse that could pull the win off to be honest.”

Purdon says when early three year old racing starts in Auckland in the new year, Demon Blue will be ‘even better again.’

Their other starter Rubira (Always B Miki) draws two on the second row following out Sacetas.

“He’s a horse that’s never got a good draw. He seems to be the one doing the work all the time. It’d be nice to see him one out and three back. If it’s a genuine run race he’s best suited to be driven for one run. In previous years they’ve gone like the clappers. If it’s a genuine run race he’s a very strong winning hope.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink