NZ Trotting Derby trifecta

Harness racing’s Group 1 $103,500 NZ Trotting Derby, run at Addington, was a triumph for Haras Des Trotteurs as their sires Love You and Village Mystic sired the first three placegetters.

Nazareth, a lightly raced gelding by Love You, powered home from midfield at the half-mile marker to nip Mystic Max (by Village Mystic) in the last few strides with Highgrove (by Love You) third.

Nazareth’s winning mile rate of 1:59.6 for the 2600 metres mobile was a new lifetime mark.

Love You was represented by five Derby finalists and Village Mystic and Quaker Jet one each, giving Haras Des Trotteurs 50 percent of the 14-strong field from the blue riband classic.

The stud-sired Just Believe (by Orlando Vici) and Queen Elida NZ (by Love You) were the two highest point scorers for the $250,000 Inter Dominion Championship Grand Final at Melton next Saturday night (December 10).

Just Believe was unbeaten through his three qualifying heats, while Queen Elida took out the Shepparton heat and finished second in her other two heats.

Parisian Artiste (by Love You) also qualified for the Final.

Other recent winners sired by Love You include the three-year-old Florencita (Menangle) and Jasinova (Cambridge Raceway, NZ), while Brillantissime (Hopeful Beauty) and Used To Me (Champagne Charley) both sired winners in Victoria.

by Peter Wharton, for Harnesslink